Drivers who have been in a car accident can now have their vehicles, depending on make, help file a claim with their insurance company.
The technology is available to Toyota and Lexus drivers with State Farm insurance and allows them to instantly share crash data from their vehicles, speeding up the claims process.
State Farm, the largest auto insurer in the country, and its partner Connected Analytic Services, a Toyota affiliate, will let eligible customers with 2020 or newer Toyota and Lexus models authorize a one-time transfer of crash data after an accident using the State Farm app.
This feature is part of a larger trend in the insurance industry, in which companies use connected-car technology to verify crashes, send help faster, and settle claims more quickly. However, it comes after a series of high-profile controversies over connected-car data, including FTC allegations that General Motors collected and sold drivers’ location and behavior data without obtaining adequate consent.
Different from telematics programs
“Our service helps make the claims process easier by providing faster insight into what happened and what needs to happen next,” Jennifer Megargell, State Farm vice president of property and casualty claims, said in a news release announcing the program.
State Farm says this new service is only for handling claims, unlike conventional telematics programs that constantly monitor driving behavior.
If customers give clear consent through the Claims Hub in the State Farm app after an accident, claims representatives can access information from the vehicle, including:
Direction of travel
Vehicle speed
Point of impact
Crash location displayed on a map
State Farm says it accesses only data from the specific date and time of the accident. It then uses this information to resolve that claim and doesn’t use it to set a driver’s future rates or premiums.
Customers who choose not to share their information can still file claims as they normally would, and opting out doesn’t affect their coverage or claims process.
Joe Guerin, vice president of insurance products and data solutions at Connected Analytic Services, said vehicle-generated data provides insurers with “objective, vehicle-derived insights into loss events that can accelerate claim understanding.”
A growing industry trend
State Farm may be the first to use this technology for instant claims filing, but other insurers are also expanding their use of connected vehicle devices.
Among the largest insurers:
USAA uses crash detection in its SafePilot ecosystem to automatically capture details such as the time, location, and severity of impact before claims personnel contact customers.
Progressive, through partnerships with Cambridge Mobile Telematics, can detect serious crashes, monitor drivers, and use digital crash data to initiate repair and claims workflows sooner.
Liberty Mutual has developed technology that automatically imports telematics information from connected vehicles into its claims systems, reducing manual data collection.
GEICO notes that it could also use sensor, GPS, and trip information collected through its DriveEasy program during claims investigations.
Automakers have also built extensive connected-vehicle ecosystems.
General Motors’ OnStar has long provided automatic crash notification and emergency response. Tesla uses its own vehicle sensors to operate a proprietary insurance program that adjusts premiums according to real-time driving behavior.
Other manufacturers, including Ford, Hyundai, Kia, and Honda, offer connected-car apps that can transmit vehicle telemetry, sometimes via insurance data exchanges.
Privacy concerns arise around connected-car data
The fast growth of connected-vehicle data has also caused some controversy.
Earlier this year, General Motors discontinued its Smart Driver program after reports revealed that the manufacturer had shared driving behavior data with third-party data brokers, including LexisNexis Risk Solutions, which insurers could use to evaluate customers.
The episode sparked lawsuits, congressional scrutiny, and renewed questions about whether consumers fully understand how carmakers and insurance companies collect, share, and use connected-car data. Consumer advocates are warning drivers to read connected-services agreements carefully and check whether they’re enrolled in optional data-sharing programs.
State Farm’s new claims feature attempts to distinguish itself from those continuous-monitoring programs.
Instead of collecting months of driving data, the insurer says it asks for customer permission only after a crash and gathers information only from that specific event.
This difference could be important as insurers continue to add telematics features and consumers become more concerned about privacy.
What’s next? Connected cars are changing the insurance industry
State Farm’s announcement is part of a bigger change in auto insurance as connected vehicles become standard.
Insurers now use telematics for more than just claims. They encourage safer driving, provide emergency help, detect crashes automatically, fight fraud, and offer discounts based on how people drive.
State Farm already offers its Drive Safe & Save program, which allows participating customers to voluntarily share driving behavior — including acceleration, braking, cornering, speeding, and phone use — to qualify for possible discounts.
The company also offers Accident Assistance, a free feature in its mobile app that can detect crashes and help drivers connect with emergency support.
For insurers, having objective crash data can help reduce disputes, speed up fault determinations, and expedite repairs.
For consumers, the choice lies between convenience and privacy: How much vehicle data is worth sharing for quicker service after an accident?
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