Whether you have a high-performance car that you like to push to its limits, or if you’re still an aspiring driver, you want to make sure that you have auto insurance coverage when you take your car to the track. Whether you are hitting the track for racing or instruction, your regular auto insurance company is unlikely to cover any loss that happens on the racetrack. This is true whether it was a race or an educational lesson.
This means that you have to get supplemental insurance for track days. Having the right standard insurance company will help you maintain cheap auto insurance. This way, you can easily afford track day coverage when you head to the racetrack. Our quote box is the result of careful research by our experts. They reviewed all the major insurance providers to find the best car insurance at the best prices. You can use our research by entering your zip code into the quote box to get free insurance quotes.
Your Insurance Probably Doesn’t Cover Track Days
The most important thing to keep in mind is that your auto insurance is highly unlikely to cover track days. This is not always the case, but more companies exclude races than those that include them.
One potential exception is if you already have a specialized plan for classic cars. Even then, there is no guarantee that your plan includes coverage for track days.
Most companies will carefully write their policies to exclude damage during preparation or driving in organized racing or speed contests. The wording will vary by company and the level of coverage you have.
These exclusions make a lot of sense. After all, driving a sports car or race car at high speeds and racing others can increase the risk of an accident.
The bottom line is that you should never assume that your standard auto insurance covers track days. You can read the fine print to confirm, but you should expect to need to buy separate track day auto insurance.
What Is Track Day Auto Insurance?
If you want track day auto insurance, you should look for high-performance driver’s education (HPDE) insurance. This typically covers racing days and instruction.
While major auto insurance companies do not offer HPDE insurance, you can get it from various specialty insurers. Some of the big names include Hagerty, OpenTrack and RLI.
It is worth mentioning that there is no legal requirement to have track day insurance. Because of this, you could theoretically skip it and take the risk. However, that is not typically a smart decision. Remember that if any property damage or bodily injuries occur while on the track, your standard insurance will not cover it. You would have to pay. On top of that, keep in mind that racing or driving at high speeds will increase the risk of accidents, potentially leading to damages or injuries. It is a risk that you should not take.
There are several types of track day auto insurance policies to choose from. Some HPDE insurance providers will offer annual plans to appeal to drivers who frequently drive on the track. This is worth considering depending on how frequently you head to the track.
For most drivers, the more common option of single-event coverage will make more sense. Most providers offer this type of single-event coverage. They also make it very convenient, letting you specify the day or days you will be on the track. In most cases, you can even buy it on the day of the event. This is particularly helpful for those times you hit the track spontaneously.
The following list gives you an idea of what type of coverage you may get from HPDE:
- Your personal vehicle while you participate in the track day event
- Your vehicle while it is in the paddock and on the track
- Any physical damage to your vehicle that is your fault
- Any physical damage to your vehicle that is the fault of your instructor
- Any physical damage to your vehicle that is the fault of another approved driver, in some cases
- Damage from fires after a crash occurs
- Liability insurance for damage you cause to another vehicle, possibly
- Liability insurance for damage you cause to track property or equipment, possibly
Liability coverage is not always part of an HPDE policy. Whether it is included varies by provider, and there may be an additional fee for this coverage.
Track Day Auto Insurance Extra Benefits
Compared to standard auto insurance, track day auto insurance offers a few additional benefits.
HPDE policies can be customizable. This lets you personalize your policy to include coverage for body kits, paint jobs or other customizations.
Another benefit is that track day auto insurance is agreed-value coverage. This means that you and your insurance company will agree on your vehicle’s replacement value. This contrasts with typical insurance policies, where the insurance company determines your auto’s replacement value.
You can usually choose whether to accept standard insurance’s value determination. However, this is still different from the agreed-value coverage from HPDE policies, as the agreed-value means that the insurance company values your input from the beginning of the valuation process.
How Much Is Track Day Auto Insurance?
The price of track day auto insurance will vary slightly, but you can typically expect to pay at least $300 for a day of coverage. This also depends on the value of your car and the provider you choose.
When it comes to deductible prices, there may be options. For example, here are Hagerty’s* two deductible options:
- $2,000 minimum to $12,000 maximum coverage with a 10% deductible
- $3,000 minimum to $18,000 maximum coverage with a 15% deductible
Our Recommendations for Auto Insurance
Remember that choosing the right standard auto insurance for your car will make it easier to afford track day coverage. After extensive research, our team suggests GEICO, Progressive and State Farm. Each of these insurance providers has excellent rates and coverage, which lets you save money to spend on supplementary HDPE coverage.
While these are our top recommendations, the most effective way to find the best insurance deals is to compare various providers. That is easiest to do with a comparison tool that lets you get free auto insurance quotes. Our quote box does just that, making comparisons a breeze.
GEICO: 9.1 out of 10
GEICO earned the title of Best Overall from our expert team with an overall rating of 9.1. GEICO earned a 9.0 rating for customer experience, a 9.4 for cost, an 8.5 for coverage and a 9.8 in industry reputation.
With GEICO, you may be eligible for discounts for buying a new vehicle, taking a driver’s education course or being a good student, among others. If your race day car is a classic car, you may want to look into GEICO’s extra coverage for classic cars.
Progressive: 9.1 out of 10
Progressive is our choice for high-risk drivers, but other drivers will also appreciate the company’s rates and coverage. Progressive’s 9.1 overall rating breaks down into an 8.9 rating for customer experience, a 9.3 for cost, a 9.0 for coverage and a 9.1 for industry reputation.
Progressive offers a range of expected discounts. You may get a discount if you pay in full, get an online quote or have continuous insurance. The company also offers classic car coverage.
State Farm: 9.1 out of 10
State Farm is not only among our top picks, but our experts found it has the Best Student Discounts. State Farm earned an 8.8 for customer experience, a 9.0 for cost, a 9.0 for coverage and a 9.9 for industry reputation.
State Farm also offers a range of discounts, including defensive driving course discounts, passive restraint discounts, and vehicle safety discounts. You can also get classic car coverage from State Farm.
FAQ: Auto Insurance for Track Days
Does my insurance cover track days?
No, your auto insurance will exclude track days. If you don’t get additional coverage, you will be financially responsible for any damage or injuries that occur on track days.
Does car insurance cover you on a track?
Standard auto insurance does not cover you on a track. Instead, you need to buy high performance driver’s education (HPDE) insurance – commonly called “track day” insurance – to supplement your standard coverage. Most companies offer it on a per-event basis, but some also offer annual plans.
Does GEICO offer track day insurance?
No, GEICO does not offer track day insurance. However, GEICO offers great rates that can help you afford a separate track day insurance.
Does Hagerty cover track days?
Yes. Hagerty is one of the specialized auto insurance providers that offer coverage for track days. This coverage includes protection for your car while it’s in the paddock or on the track, as well as protecting your personal vehicle against damage during the event. It covers physical damage to your vehicle that you cause, in addition to damage caused by either a pre-approved additional driver or your driving instructor. This coverage also includes reimbursement for a rental car, plus towing and storage for damaged vehicles.
Methodology
The Detroit Bureau collects data from every major car insurance provider to formulate rankings of the best insurers. Our in-depth rating system takes into account market share, coverage, auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, customer satisfaction and ratings from industry experts. Each insurer is given a weighted score in four categories, as well as an overall score out of 10.0.
We recommend auto insurance companies based on these rankings, but we also encourage you to perform your own research and compare quotes to find the best coverage.
*Pricing information and data was accurate at the time of publication. Insurance rates vary based on a number of criteria. Do not only rely on pricing data found in this article when deciding which insurance you will buy. Please get quotes from multiple providers to know current pricing data for you.
