HPDE Insurance is a specialized auto insurance policy designed for drivers participating in High Performance Driver Education (HPDE) events, time trials and track day events. Whether you’re bringing your daily driver to a local track day or trailering a dedicated track car across the country, HPDE Insurance can help protect your car while you’re driving on a closed course.
As HPDE event participation has grown, so has the need for coverage that addresses the unique risks of the track environment. Traditional auto insurance policies are often not designed for these activities, leaving many drivers in need of a solution specifically for educational driving events.
Here’s everything you need to know about what HPDE Insurance is, who needs it, what it covers and doesn’t cover, and how to find coverage for your next track day event.
What Is HPDE Insurance?
HPDE Insurance, also called track car insurance, track day insurance or single-event track day insurance, is a physical damage policy designed to protect vehicles participating in High Performance Driver Education events, time trials and track day events.
Unlike everyday on-street driving, HPDE events focus on driver development and vehicle control on a closed course or track. Common activities include classroom training, in-car instruction, lead-follow exercises and advancing levels of solo track sessions, as skills improve.
Because track driving presents different risks from everyday driving, most regular auto policies don’t cover it, and special HPDE coverage is needed to protect cars on the track. Coverage is purchased on a per-event basis and can help pay for damage or loss if the insured vehicle is damaged or totaled while participating.
For many motorsports enthusiasts, HPDE Insurance provides the peace of mind needed to allow you to focus more on improving your driving skills rather than worrying about the financial consequences of wrecking your car.
Who Should Consider HPDE Insurance?
HPDE Insurance is helpful for anyone who wants to drive their car on a closed track. There’s a common misconception that HPDE coverage is only for owners of pricey exotics, classics or custom high-performance vehicles.
In reality, all kinds of drivers purchase HPDE coverage, including:
- New motorsports drivers attending their very first track day
- Experienced drivers driving in multiple events each year
- Owners of budget-friendly Fords, Hondas, Mazdas, Toyotas, Subarus and more
- Drivers of sports and muscle cars like Corvettes, Mustangs and Camaros
- Car club members who drive a variety of Audis, BMWs, Porsches and more
- Drivers using their daily driver street cars on the track
- Motorsports enthusiasts with purpose-built track cars trailered to events
HPDE coverage is flexible enough to protect a wide variety of vehicles, and drivers of all sorts find it worth having — since whether your vehicle is worth $10,000 or $100,000, track incident repair costs usually far exceed the cost of insurance for an event.
Why Do Drivers Purchase HPDE Coverage?
Most participate in HPDE events to become safer, more capable drivers. Yet even in a controlled, educational environment, track driving introduces new risks. Higher speeds, limited runoff areas, challenging weather conditions and accidental driver errors can all lead to vehicle damage.
For many, the decision is straightforward: pay a few hundred dollars for coverage to help protect a much larger investment in the vehicle.
HPDE Insurance is particularly attractive for drivers who:
- Have invested a lot in vehicle modifications
- Use their primary daily driver for track days
- Have perfected their car’s track setup
- Drive an expensive-to-replace vehicle
- Want to not worry about having an accident
With investments of potentially many tens of thousands of dollars, transferring a portion of the risk to an insurance provider can make smart financial sense.
What Does Lockton Motorsports HPDE Insurance Cover?
Lockton Motorsports HPDE Insurance is designed to protect your vehicle from the cost of physical damage while participating in an HPDE, time trial or track day event, up to your agreed limit of insurance. The basic policy is designed to cover you for a specific event at a specific track on a specific date or dates, from the moment you drive onto the track until you exit the track.
It’s important to note that not all track day insurance products are structured the same way. One of the advantages of Lockton Motorsports HPDE Insurance is its flexibility for the motorsports enthusiast community. Beyond the basics listed above, other key coverage features of the Lockton Motorsports policy include protection for:
Licensed Street Cars
Drivers can obtain coverage for street-legal vehicles participating in eligible HPDE events. Whether you’re taking your daily driver to its first event or bringing a heavily modified sports car to a weekend at the track, coverage is available for a wide variety of makes and models.
Non-Licensed Track Cars
Many experienced drivers eventually build or purchase a dedicated track vehicle. Lockton Motorsports HPDE Insurance provides coverage options for many non-licensed track cars, helping address a need that some drivers assume is difficult to insure.
Two Drivers at Each Event
Drivers sometimes do a track day together with a friend, family member or spouse. Lockton Motorsports HPDE policies make it easy to add a second driver at no extra cost when you get coverage for an event, providing valuable flexibility for those who split seat time.
Instructor Laps
In-car instruction is one of the most important parts of HPDE. Lockton Motorsports coverage automatically covers your car for any laps your instructor drives, supporting the educational nature of HPDE that allows participants to benefit from professional instruction.
Vehicle Modifications
Track enthusiasts rarely leave their vehicles stock for long. Modifications often represent a significant investment, which is why coverage is important. Lockton Motorsports policies can cover custom paint jobs, body and turbocharger kits and certain electronic equipment.
What Does HPDE Insurance Typically not Cover?
When it comes to any type of car insurance, understanding what’s not covered is just as important as knowing what is. Circumstances not covered under a policy are called exclusions, and most HPDE policies have a number of standard exclusions, though it can vary from one insurance provider to another.
These are the most common ones to know:
Third-Party Liability
HPDE coverage is generally designed as a physical damage policy for the insured vehicle. Claims involving bodily injury, property damage, or legal liability involving other participants or bystanders are typically not covered under an HPDE policy.
Mechanical Failure
HPDE Insurance generally isn’t designed to cover normal wear and tear or mechanical breakdown. Engine failures, transmission issues and other such mechanical problems are generally excluded unless they occur as the result of an otherwise covered claim.
Track Property Damage
HPDE policies generally don’t offer liability protection for event host and track owner claims. So damage to barriers, guardrails, fencing, facilities or other track property is typically not covered. Drivers should make sure to review event rules to understand their responsibilities.
Routine Maintenance and Consumables
Similar to regular auto policies, HPDE coverage generally excludes routine vehicle maintenance and consumables. Costs for brake pads, tires, fluids, alignments and other maintenance-related expenses are higher and more frequent in HPDE, so drivers should plan accordingly.
How Much Does HPDE Insurance Cost?
As a general guideline, most drivers can expect to spend a few hundred dollars for a single-event HPDE Insurance policy, although premiums can vary based on the circumstances.
The factors that play the biggest role in the cost of HPDE Insurance typically include:
- Location and track facility
- Track event and organizer
- Vehicle make and model
- Past claims history
- Selected coverage limit
- Insurance deductible
- Vehicle modifications
- Total vehicle value
If you’re curious about the broader costs associated with participating in HPDE events, see our article on the costs of a typical track day.
Is HPDE Insurance Worth It?
Whether a driver considers HPDE Insurance a worthwhile purchase is often personal. The answer depends on several considerations, including your risk tolerance, what your vehicle is worth to you and your goal with your insurance purchase.
For some drivers, absorbing the potential loss of a vehicle may be financially manageable. For others, a major incident could mean the end of their season or a significant setback. A coverage purchase transfers that risk away from your wallet as a driver for a fairly reasonable fee.
Many view HPDE Insurance as a way to protect a substantial vehicular investment while continuing to enjoy the fun and learning of track driving. Insurance lets you safely learn skills and enjoy the use of your car at the track, while protecting your investment from accidental mishaps.
After all, the goal of HPDE is to become a better driver, not to spend the day worrying about what happens if something goes wrong. And that’s the goal with many policy purchases — peace of mind.
How to Purchase HPDE Insurance
Purchasing HPDE Insurance is usually a straightforward process. Before your event, gather this basic information:
- Your vehicle’s information, including make, model, year and VIN
- Vehicle modifications including their costs according to your receipts
- Event details, including the track, event name and its organizers
- Names of the drivers who will be participating
- Your vehicle’s current value, with and without its modifications
Coverage can typically be quoted online instantly, with the whole purchase process taking just a few minutes. Lockton Motorsports offers same-day coverage purchases. However, many drivers like to buy coverage right when they book their event, so they can turn all their focus to preparing their vehicle, reviewing their track maps and getting ready for a successful day at the track.
Protect Your Vehicle Before Your Next Track Day
Every HPDE participant accepts some level of risk when driving on a track. The question is whether you’re comfortable assuming the full financial risk yourself. For those who aren’t, insurance is a great option.
From daily drivers to dedicated track cars, today’s track enthusiasts often have significant investments tied up in their vehicles, modifications and equipment. HPDE Insurance helps provide a layer of financial protection so you can concentrate on learning, improving and enjoying your time on track.
Lockton Motorsports HPDE Insurance has helped thousands of drivers protect their vehicles at HPDE events across the country. With coverage options for licensed and non-licensed track cars, protection for modifications, instructor laps, and up to two drivers per event, the program is built specifically for the way HPDE enthusiasts participate today.
Before your next track day, explore your coverage options and get the protection that helps keep your focus where it’s needed — on the next corner, not the potential cost of an accident.