Know what
your car
reports.
Six ideas that explain the vocabulary
Devices
Telematics
Plug-in devices, connected car feeds, and phone-only programs.
Distance
Mileage
How trips start, stop, and get counted toward distance.
Events
Braking events
What counts as a hard brake, and why thresholds differ.
Permissions
App permissions
What each phone permission enables, and what turning it off changes.
Summaries
Driving summary
Reading a trip map, an event list, and a program score.
Privacy
Privacy
Collection scope, retention, and deletion requests.
Situations that confuse people first
The trip you did not drive
A ride as a passenger can register as your own drive. Programs differ on how, and whether, you can correct it.
The device that stayed plugged in
Plug-in hardware keeps reading whoever is behind the wheel. Shared cars produce shared data.
The late night drive
Time of day is a measurement in many programs, recorded separately from how you actually drove.
The parts nobody explains
What the dashboard does not show
Vehicle instruments and program measurements are two different systems reading the same drive.
Long drives, short conclusions
Highway miles usually generate fewer recorded events than city miles over the same distance.
Parked, and still reporting
Some programs log location at the start and end of every trip, including where you leave the car.
Conditions are rarely measured
Rain, traffic, and visibility affect how anyone drives, but few programs record them.
Read first. Decide later.
Pick a concept
Start with the term you keep running into.
Read the short version
One page, plain language, no sign-up.
Choose your updates
Text messages are optional and separate.
Reply STOP at any time to end messages for that program. Reply HELP for program and contact information, or email learn@basicallyauto.com.
Common questions
Is Basically Auto an insurance company?
No. It publishes consumer information only, and is not a carrier, agency, broker, or comparison service.
Do I have to give a phone number?
No. Everything on this site is free to read without providing a phone number or any contact details.
Will I be signed up for text messages automatically?
No. Every text message option is unchecked by default and each one is agreed to separately.
How do I stop text messages?
Reply STOP to end messages for that program, or HELP for program and contact information.
Is my opt-in information shared?
No. Mobile opt-in data and SMS consent are not sold, shared, rented, or transferred to third parties for marketing or lead generation.