What telematics actually monitors
Modern telematics apps use the smartphone's GPS, accelerometer, and gyroscope to score five behaviors:
- Speed (especially >80 mph) and speeding-event frequency
- Hard braking (deceleration faster than ~7 mph/sec)
- Hard acceleration (>7 mph/sec — flags as aggressive driving)
- Time of day driven (11pm–4am is highest-risk window)
- Phone handling during driving (most carriers detect screen unlocks while moving)
Carrier-by-carrier comparison (2026)
Major US telematics programs and their discount ranges:
- Progressive Snapshot — 0–30% off; cannot raise renewal premium
- State Farm Drive Safe & Save — up to 30% off; cannot raise premium
- Allstate Drivewise — up to 25% off; CAN raise renewal premium based on score
- Geico DriveEasy — up to 25% off; cannot raise premium
- Nationwide SmartRide — up to 40% off; cannot raise premium
- Liberty Mutual RightTrack — up to 30% off; cannot raise premium
- Travelers IntelliDrive — up to 30% off; cannot raise premium
- Root — 100% telematics-based pricing; entire premium derived from driving score
Who should enroll — and who shouldn't
Telematics is a near-guaranteed win for: retirees, work-from-home drivers, suburban commuters with predictable routes, anyone who already drives carefully.
Telematics is risky for: rideshare drivers (high mileage + late nights penalized), trades workers (frequent stops trigger hard-braking events), parents whose teens borrow the car, anyone with a heavy phone-in-hand habit.
If you're unsure, choose a carrier whose program cannot raise your premium (Progressive, State Farm, Geico) — the worst-case outcome is zero discount, not a surcharge.
Privacy considerations
Telematics data is detailed: every trip's start point, end point, route, speed profile, and time is stored. Most carriers state they don't sell raw data to third parties but reserve the right to share aggregated/anonymized data with marketing partners. Several carriers have been subject to news investigations into sharing data with brokers like LexisNexis, which can then surface in your overall insurance score.
If privacy is paramount, choose a pay-per-mile carrier (Metromile, Mile Auto) that uses a dedicated odometer device instead of GPS, or skip telematics entirely and accept the foregone discount.