Usage-based auto programs ask drivers to share how they actually drive. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) glossary puts a name on the hardware side of that bargain. A Telemetric Device, TDCI says, is “A devices installed on a vehicle that records and transmits data to the insurance company how the vehicle is driven.” The same entry adds: “Data captured includes rapid acceleration, hard braking, etc. This data is used in the rate making process.”
| Term | What TDCI’s glossary says |
|---|---|
| Telemetric Device | Installed on a vehicle; records and transmits how the vehicle is driven |
| Examples of data | Rapid acceleration, hard braking, and similar driving events |
| How insurers use it | In the rate making process |
Source: TDCI Glossary of Insurance Terms. Spelling and wording follow TDCI’s published entry.
Rate making is the point of the plug-in
TDCI’s definition is blunt: the data is used in rate making. That can mean a discount for calm miles, a surcharge for hard braking, or a program that never leaves the voluntary-discount lane. The glossary does not promise a discount. It only explains why the device is on the car.
What to ask before you enroll
- Is the program optional, and what happens to your rate if you unplug the device?
- Which events count — hard braking, late-night miles, phone use, or something else?
- Who sees the raw trip data, and how long is it stored?
- How does a telemetric rate interact with a filed rating plan you can look up on SERFF? Start with How Tennesseans look up insurance rate filings on SERFF Filing Access and TDCI’s monthly tables. and the current filing roundup at A 12.7% Tennessee Auto Rate Increase Just Cleared the State Filing System.
Related auto basics
- Collision vs. comprehensive: TDCI’s glossary separates collision coverage from comprehensive coverage.
- Liability limits and deductibles in Knoxville: Knoxville Auto Insurance: How to Choose Better Liability Limits, Deductibles, and Protection for Real-World Driving.
- If a premium or claim dispute stalls: How Tennesseans file an insurance complaint with TDCI’s Consumer Insurance Services.
This article is informational only. It does not promise that enrolling in a telemetric or usage-based program will lower your premium. Your policy forms, program terms, and declarations control.
Related reading from All Seasons
- A 12.7% Tennessee Auto Rate Increase Just Cleared the State Filing System
- How Tennesseans look up insurance rate filings on SERFF Filing Access and TDCI’s monthly tables.
- TDCI’s glossary separates collision coverage from comprehensive coverage.
- Knoxville Auto Insurance: How to Choose Better Liability Limits, Deductibles, and Protection for Real-World Driving
- How Tennesseans file an insurance complaint with TDCI’s Consumer Insurance Services.
Free policy review
All Seasons Insurance Group offers a free personal policy review. Call 865-263-1400 or visit asigtn.com/get-a-quote/. This article is informational only and does not promise coverage or eligibility; your policy forms control. Seasons change. So should your coverage.
What is a telemetric device under TDCI’s glossary?
TDCI describes it as a device installed on a vehicle that records and transmits data to the insurance company about how the vehicle is driven.
What data does it capture?
TDCI says data captured includes rapid acceleration, hard braking, and similar information.
How do insurers use that data?
TDCI says the data is used in the rate making process.
Does plugging in guarantee a discount?
No. TDCI’s definition explains the device and its use in rate making. It does not promise a discount. Program terms control.
Is participation required?
TDCI’s glossary entry does not say. Ask your insurer whether the program is optional and what happens if you decline.
Where do filed rates show up publicly?
TDCI posts monthly auto rate tables, and SERFF Filing Access holds the underlying filings. Related reading links those tools.
Is this a coverage or eligibility promise?
No. This article summarizes TDCI’s glossary definition only.
How can All Seasons help after reading this?
Call 865-263-1400 or visit asigtn.com/get-a-quote/ for a free personal policy review. Informational only; no coverage promises. Seasons change. So should your coverage.
