While most of us try to live in our safe zones, there are many individuals who love to dabble in risky sport activities. These extreme sports, if not performed cautiously, can result in serious bodily injury, broken bones, and even death. Usually, if a hobby carries a factor of risk, you may not meet the criteria for preferred rates for life insurance, and you'll be placed in a higher rate class, irrespective of your overall health. Logically, this does make sense, since the insurance companies would end up being under a higher risk of having to pay out a policy benefit if you have an unsafe hobby.

People who participate in dangerous sports and pastimes, being considered a greater life insurance risk, are therefore subjected to some exclusions and higher premiums. Extreme sports are known as hazardous avocations in insurance lingo. Most insurers are wary of the adventurous applicants and they may add a surcharge, raise premiums or deny coverage altogether to these applicants. Of course, there are hundreds of dangerous sports that can push your premium rates significantly, however, here are the top 5 sports that you can avoid for the sake of your financial and physical safety:

1. Mountaineering/ Climbing
2. Motorsports/Auto Racing
3. Diving
4. Parachuting
5. Flying

Other than the above mentioned activities, skiing, ballooning, rodeo, boxing, hang gliding, wrestling, surfing, bungee jumping, boat racing, cave exploration, etc. fall into the hazardous avocations category.

When applying for life insurance, it is important to divulge information about your adrenaline-pumping hobbies to the insurer. If you are caught lying, the insurer retains the right to cancel your policy or even deny your claim on the grounds of material misrepresentation.

However, there are ways to reduce your premiums when taking part in these sports. Taking professional training and certificate courses in that particular sport, buying high-quality protection equipments and gear for safe performance in the sport and, eventually, restricting the frequency of your participation in the sport can help in lowering your rates. It is advisable to stay in touch with your insurer and inform them about your sports or change in the pattern of activities now and then.

In case you are unwilling to pay the extra surcharge for your policy, you can always look around for insurance companies who can insure you against any fatal event, excluding the high-risk sports. Start shopping wisely for insurance that covers your passion for extreme sports and offers the best deal without compromising your adventurous spirit.