What does a telematics app actually track?

What data do telematics programs collect from drivers?

Telematics apps collect data through your smartphone’s sensors or a plug-in device, then translate driving behavior into a score that carriers use to adjust your premium at renewal. The tracked factors vary by program, but most measure the same core set.

• Mileage. Traditional policies price mileage on what you estimate at application, a figure that is frequently wrong by a wide margin. The app measures actual miles driven, which is why drivers who genuinely stay under 7,500 to 8,000 miles a year tend to see the clearest savings.
• Speed. Programs flag sustained speeds above posted limits and record how often they occur. A single instance rarely moves a score; a pattern does.
• Hard braking and rapid acceleration. Sudden stops and aggressive pull-aways correlate with higher collision frequency in actuarial data. The app captures events that cross a threshold, usually measured in g-force, rather than every gentle brake.
• Time of day. Late-night driving (typically 12 a.m. to 5 a.m.) carries a higher crash risk per mile in federal crash data. Programs that weight this factor score late-night trips lower.
• Phone handling. Insurers now treat this as the most consequential signal. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration counted 3,208 deaths attributable to distracted driving in 2024. Research cited by the Insurance Information Institute found phone screen interaction on 58 percent of trips studied in 2022. The app identifies when the phone is moving with the vehicle and being handled simultaneously, and most programs weight that signal heavily against the score.

Where can I find the full list of factors my telematics program uses?

The exact list of factors and how each is weighted are disclosed in the program terms at enrollment, not always in plain sight, but they are required to be there. Some programs exclude certain data from claims use; others expressly permit it. Reading the enrollment terms before signing up tells you which category your program falls into.

For example, a program that permits telematics data to be used in claims investigation is different from one that limits data use to premium calculation only. Those two programs carry different tradeoffs for a driver who wants to enroll. The way these factors feed into a carrier’s underwriting decision is what ultimately sets the renewal number.

Does Georgia have rules about how telematics data can be used?

A handful of states restrict how carriers may use telematics data and require specific disclosures. Georgia has no telematics-specific statute as of mid-2026, but standard insurance data-handling rules still apply under state law. The program terms remain the binding disclosure regardless of state. Our guide to telematics auto insurance in Georgia walks through how these programs are structured for drivers in the state.

Is telematics participation required to get auto insurance?

Participation is voluntary in every telematics program available through Olive Cover. Drivers who do not enroll continue on traditional rating factors used to price auto insurance. The tradeoff is straightforward: the app gives the carrier real driving data instead of demographic proxies, which can benefit drivers whose actual behavior is better than their rating category would suggest, and can work against those whose habits score poorly.

For example, a driver classified as higher-risk based on age or ZIP code alone may score well on telematics because their actual habits are careful. Enrollment may produce a lower renewal premium in that case. A weaker score can push the premium up instead, which is covered in more detail in whether telematics can raise your rates in Georgia.

How do I find out which telematics programs are available for my vehicles?

If you want to know which programs are available for your vehicles and how they are structured, a coverage review with our team can walk through the options. Schedule a coverage review here.