Here’s everything you need to know about telematics to determine whether installing a device or downloading an App, is right for you!
- Telematics devices are provided by the insurance company and plugged in by the driver. The device plugs right into your OBD-II port (we can help you find it!).
- Some insurers offer an App for the same purpose
- If you change insurers but stick with a telematics plan, you’ll need to swap out the old device for a new device or download the insurer’s specific App.
- Telematics devices record information about how you drive and transmit that information to your insurance company.
- The most common data points recorded include how often you brake hard, speed, and turn corners sharply as well as how often you drive, where you drive, and what time of day you drive.
- Telematics devices also record information leading up to, during, and immediately following a crash, making it easier for your insurance company to investigate and hold liable parties accountable for any loss you experience. Data recorded might include details about other vehicles involved, likelihood that an injury was sustained, and information on the damage sustained to your own vehicle. The speed at the time of the accident, location of the accident, and other demographic information may be recorded, too.
- Telematics has been shown to encourage safe driving, keeping all drivers safer even if only a portion of drivers on the road elect auto insurance policies that incorporate telematics.
- Choosing a telematics plan doesn’t limit your options to a single insurer; most of the insurers at Leonard Insurance offers a telematics option; Safeco, Erie, Hanover, Progressive, State Auto, MetLife, and other major insurers offer programs with incentives for using telematics.
- Drivers benefit from telematics programs in several ways: lower rates, safer driving, better observation of teenage driving habits in their household, and better protection should an accident occur.
- Some insurance companies offer telematics programs geared toward teenage drivers, giving parents access to detailed information about teen driving habits so they can foster safe decisions on the road.
- Insurance companies might use the data collected to remove the drivers who pose the highest risk of loss from the plan, protecting the insurance company and subsequently, it’s subscribers, from increased costs and even life-or-death risks on the road.
- Right now, your rate is based on the driving habits of people like you, which means you may be paying for the mistakes and poor decisions of other drivers. When you move to a telematics program, your rate is customized based on how you drive, ensuring you’re only accountable for your own decisions on the road.
Getting an Auto Insurance Quote Online
If you’re ready to explore telematics further (or just want to find out if there are lower auto insurance rates out there for you), the team at Leonard Insurance Services, Inc., wants to help. As an independent insurance agency, we’re able to provide you quotes from multiple major insurers to ensure you find the best rate for the best possible coverage.
To get started, you can stop by our office or request a quote online today.
