You are at a “Driver Education” event, focusing on learning the racing line, when you spin into a tire wall. You file a claim with your track insurance provider, but two days later, they send a denial letter with a screenshot of a “Lap Timer” app from your phone or the event’s online scoreboard. Because you were being “timed,” your “Education” event was just reclassified as a “Race.”
Key Takeaways
- Timing kills coverage: Most track day policies explicitly exclude any event where times are recorded or published.
- “Education” is the magic word: Coverage applies to High-Performance Driver Education (HPDE). It does not apply to Time Attacks, Time Trials, or Wheel-to-Wheel racing.
- The Transponder Trap: If the event organizer hands you a transponder “just for fun,” you might be voiding your policy by accepting it.
- Check the policy definition: Some insurers allow “self-timing” (you looking at your watch), but forbid “official timing” (the track posting a list).
The “Why” (The Trap): The “Contest” Clause
Insurers distinguish between learning and competing. The risk profile changes the moment a clock is involved because drivers push harder (the “Red Mist”) when they are chasing a number.
The clause usually reads:
“Coverage is excluded for any event where travel times or top speeds are recorded, published, or used to rank participants.”
In 2026, this is tricky because almost everyone runs a Garmin Catalyst or a smartphone app. Some insurers have modernized their language to allow personal learning tools, but they still strictly ban organized timing.
The Investigation: I Reviewed the Fine Print
I compared the specific wording regarding “Timing” across three major track insurance providers.
OpenTrack
- The Rules: They are one of the most lenient. They generally allow “Time Trials” as long as it is not wheel-to-Wheel racing.
- My Analysis: If you are doing SCCA Time Trials where you are racing the clock but not other cars physically, OpenTrack is likely your safest bet.
Hagerty
- The Rules: Strict HPDE focus. They traditionally exclude events where times are “published.”
- My Analysis: If you see a sheet of paper stapled to a wall with lap times, or a URL with live timing, you are in the danger zone. Personal data loggers are usually fine, but clarify this in writing.
RLI / Lockton
- The Rules: They have specific definitions for “DE” (Driver Ed) vs “Competition.”
- My Analysis: They often ask during the quote process: “Is this a timed event?” If you check “No” and then participate in a Time Attack, you have committed material misrepresentation.
Comparison Table: Timing Rules
| Carrier | HPDE (Untimed) | Personal Laptimer (Garmin/App) | Organized Time Trial | Wheel-to-Wheel Racing |
| OpenTrack | Covered | Covered | Covered (Usually) | Excluded |
| Hagerty | Covered | Covered (Check policy) | Excluded | Excluded |
| Lockton | Covered | Covered | Excluded | Excluded |
[IMAGE: Screenshot of a policy exclusion listing “Time Trials” and “Contests of Speed”]
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Read the Event Description: Does the organizer call it a “Time Attack,” “Time Trial,” or “Competition”? If yes, standard HPDE insurance will not work.
- Ask the Organizer about Transponders: If they say, “We time everyone for safety groupings,” ask your insurer if that counts as “published timing.”
- Declare the Event Type: When buying the policy, if there is an option for “Time Trial,” select it. It will cost 10-20% more, but it is better than a denied claim.
- Use Private Data Only: If you want to know your times, use a Garmin Catalyst or AIM Solo that only you can see. Do not participate in events that blast your time to a public leaderboard app like RaceMonitor unless you have specific coverage.
FAQ
Can I race if I don’t care about the trophy?
It doesn’t matter what your intent is. If the event is structured as a race or time trial, the exclusion applies to everyone on track.
Does “Passing Point by Only” mean it’s not a race?
Usually, yes. HPDE events typically require a “point-by” to pass. This signals to the insurer that it is a controlled environment, not a race.
What if I have an instructor in the car?
Having an instructor is the best proof that you are in an “Education” event. It strengthens your claim that this was for learning, not racing.