Toyota to Offer Nationwide’s Auto Insurance Product with Telematics

Toyota car owners can buy insurance that promises them up to 40 percent savings for safe driving.

Toyota Insurance Management Solutions (TIMS) has teamed up with Nationwide to launch what they are calling TIMS BrightDrive, a telematics offering that uses driving data collected from the connected Toyota vehicle to provide a discount based on the customer’s driving behavior. The program is based on Nationwide’s telematics product SmartRide.

Toyota customers who purchase an auto insurance policy and opt-in to share their driving data automatically receive an initial 10% participation discount. Upon completing the collection of driving data for 90 days, customers can earn up to a 40% final discount.

The TIMS BrightDrive is currently available in Arizona, Ohio, and Texas at participating dealers and online at BrightDrive.com for most vehicles equipped with Toyota’s Data Communication Module (DCM) model year 2018 through 2020.

Customers who drive Toyota vehicles without DCM technology will be eligible for the same participation and earned discounts that are available through the Nationwide SmartRide mobile app program or plug-in device. As customer feedback is gained and more connected cars come online, Nationwide and TIMS said they will look to expand the size and scope of the offering.

“Consumer expectations for insurance solutions that are fast, simple and add value continue to grow,” said Nationwide CEO Kirt Walker. “Nationwide and Toyota believe that customers should benefit from their personal data. We are excited to partner on the introduction of a new solution that will make the process even easier.”

TIMS is Toyota’s independent insurance agency for North America and is a joint venture between Toyota Financial Services and Toyota Connected, and Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Co., Ltd., Japan. TIMS is a licensed insurance agency in all states and D.C.

In addition to its main telematics offering SmartRide, Nationwide also offers a program called SmartMiles that caters to low-mileage drivers including those who frequently use public transportation or carpooling.

Topics Auto