Tesla Insurance Has Officially Gone Live in Texas

Tesla Insurance has been talked about for months, but the product has now been released to Tesla drivers in Texas. This product is only available in Texas at the moment, but it is expected to debut in more areas at some point.

Tesla Insurance overview

Since Tesla Insurance has now made its debut, it is more clear what features will be a part of the program.

The most important thing to note about Tesla Insurance is that it tracks and records someone’s driving behavior in real time. This is revolutionary because it gives a much more accurate picture of the driving ability of a given individual. Any driver could catch a bad break when involved in an accident that may or may not be their own fault. As a result, the wreck could raise a driver’s insurance rates by a lot.

Safety score system

Tesla Insurance tracks driving behavior and then compiles the data into a safety score. The safety score is made up of five categories:

1. Turning
2. Braking
3. Following distance
4. Autopilot use
5. Forward collision warnings

A higher safety score will result in lower insurance rates. Tesla has admitted that the safety score system still needs to be refined before it becomes fully entrenched in the insurance program.

Downsides to this program

Drivers may feel they are being unfairly graded on their driving, and that their rates are higher than they should be. The safety score system also may be overlooking certain aspects of what makes a good driver.

Upsides

One potential upside would be if moving violations were able to be recorded. This would help weed out red light runners which are deadly out on the road. Tesla Insurance is also expected to be a lot cheaper than the rates traditional insurance companies offer. The program would ultimately help incentivize people to drive with more caution which is a good thing.

Image: Tesla

Daniel Cappo reports Tesla developments at Torque News. He has had a passion for cars ever since age five when his grandparents let him drive their old golf cart around their property in Upstate NY. He has attended numerous auto shows, and even got the chance to drive a Ferrari California on the track. Ever since Tesla opened up a dealership at his local mall, he's been an avid follower of their cars and technology. Dan has a B.S. in Public Communication from U Vermont. Follow Daniel on Twitter and LinkedIn for daily Tesla News.