Tesla has launched an insurance service that uses ‘real-time driving behaviour’ to customers in Texas.
The Elon Musk-owned company already offers Tesla insurance to customers in California. However, the new insurance service for Texans will utilise real-time driving data and the company’s proprietary ‘safety score’, which it also uses to decide who gets access to Autopilot.
Tesla insurance using real-time driving behaviour is currently available to all Model S, Model 3, Model X and Model Y owners in Texas. Unlike other telematics or usage-based insurance products, Tesla does not require an additional device to be installed in your vehicle.
Tesla uses specific features within the vehicle to evaluate your premium based on your actual driving, a spokesperson explains. “You will make monthly payments based on your driving behaviour instead of traditional factors like credit, age, gender, claim history and driving records used by other insurance providers.”
According to US electric transportation website Electrek, Tesla’s safety score is based on five metrics: forward-collision warnings per 1,000 miles, hard braking, aggressive turning, unsafe following distance, and forced Autopilot disengagement.
Tesla also reckons that the drivers it deems ‘average’ in terms of safety could save between 20% and 40% on their insurance premiums, with the safest drivers saving between 30% and 60%.
