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“Excessive speeding” on Tesla Insurance is a confusing and frustrating new metric for many Tesla owners.
Unlike a traditional speeding ticket, it’s not just about exceeding a set speed limit. Tesla’s system also penalizes you for driving more than 20% faster than the car in front of you, even if you are well under the speed limit. This can happen in many everyday situations, such as passing a slower car on the highway or navigating around stopped traffic. The result is that even when you drive cautiously, your “Safety Score” can drop significantly, leading to higher insurance premiums.
Xavier Aleman shares his frustration on the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Owners Club Facebook page regarding the Tesla insurance.
“Can someone please try to explain the new “excessive speeding” on Tesla Insurance, but like extremely dumbed down. Every time I turn off FSD while driving, I get hit with excessive speeding. I can’t close a gap without getting it, and on the highway, my score drops by almost one every time.”
“I currently own a Model 3 and Model Y Performance. I looked at other insurances, and that’s definitely not an option. Tesla is by far the cheapest, but I feel like I’m getting scammed with how often I get hit by excessive speeding while barely going 40 mph.”
“I went over the website a few times, tried new things, drove in chill and even started leaving huge gaps, yet nothing seems to work.”
Xavier is not alone. Another Tesla owner comments,
“Since I work remotely and rarely drive, I like to play something of a ‘high score’ game with my safety score. My typical range is 97-99.”
“So, imagine my surprise when my score suddenly dropped from 98 to 94 yesterday (which is around $40 change in monthly premium for me).”
“What I found was that the recent changes in how they identify hard braking, excessive speeding, and aggressive turning are so inaccurate that neither should be live.”
“Yesterday I got slammed for aggressive turning, and I was literally driving like a chauffeur (a previous career of mine). I had to stop suddenly for a yellow light to ensure I wouldn’t run a red light just beyond a school zone.”
“However, by Tesla’s new hard braking parameters, yellow light stops aren’t supposed to impact the hard braking rating.”
“So, for this morning’s trip, I watched very closely to ensure I didn’t speed at all and took turns at a snail’s pace. As you can see, even without speeding, I was still penalized for excessive speeding for most of the trip. The most interesting thing here is that at 7:20 and 7:25, I was passing by stopped traffic in turn lanes while driving under the speed limit.”
Why Tesla Owners Are Seeing Red Scores
Tesla has, for years, prided itself on disrupting established industries, and its foray into auto insurance is no exception. Offering policies directly to owners, often at rates traditional insurers can’t match, it seemed like a game-changer.
The Secret Sauce?
A “Safety Score” derived from real-time driving data ostensibly rewards cautious drivers with lower premiums. However, a growing chorus of discontent from the Tesla owner community suggests this innovative approach is becoming a source of frustration, with owners feeling unfairly penalized by a non-transparent system. Recent discussions on platforms like the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Owners Club Facebook page highlight significant anxieties, particularly around newly tweaked metrics.
Xavier Aleman encapsulates the core problem.
He laments a persistent issue with what Tesla Insurance labels “excessive speeding algorithm changes,” even when driving at seemingly moderate velocities or simply attempting to navigate typical traffic flow.
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His experience points to a crucial update in Safety Score Beta v2.2, which, beyond flagging speeds over 85 mph, now penalizes drivers for going 20% faster than a leading vehicle if that vehicle is traveling over 25 mph and within 100 meters. This change drastically impacts common driving scenarios, such as passing or closing a gap, suddenly turning what was once normal into an “excessive speeding” event, regardless of the actual speed limit.
Another Tesla owner echoes this sentiment.
He reveals how the safety scores of the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y directly impact premiums. This individual, who typically maintains a high Safety Score of 97-99 by treating it as a “high score” game for their low-mileage driving, was shocked when their score plummeted from 98 to 94 overnight—a change equating to an approximate $40 increase in their monthly premium.
This abrupt shift highlights a serious disconnect between perceived safe driving and the algorithm’s interpretation, making it difficult for owners to predict or control their insurance costs. These real-time assessments are at the heart of the concerns about real-time driving behavior insurance gripping the community.
The issues aren’t confined to speeding. The Tesla owner also pointed to “aggressive turning” and “hard braking” as culprits, despite what they considered perfectly reasonable driving. “Yesterday I got slammed for aggressive turning, and I was literally driving like a chauffeur (a previous career of mine),” he stated, underlining the absurdity of the system’s sensitivity.
The Frustration Deepens
The frustration deepened when a necessary stop for a yellow light, beyond a school zone, was still penalized as a false positive detection, despite Tesla’s own stated parameters indicating that such stops, when a yellow light is detected, should not impact the score. This suggests a potential flaw in the sensor’s ability to consistently identify yellow light scenarios, or an overly stringent definition of what constitutes a “hard” brake.
Despite diligent attempts to adapt—driving in “chill” mode, leaving “huge gaps,” and taking turns at a “snail’s pace”—owners report that nothing seems to work. Xavier’s lament, “nothing seems to work,” is a common refrain. The Tesla owner’s morning trip, where he “watched very closely to ensure I didn’t speed at all and took turns at a snail’s pace,” yet still received “excessive speeding” pings, perfectly illustrates the system’s puzzling nature.
One particularly baffling incident involved being “pinged for excessive speeding for most of the trip” even when “passing by stopped traffic in turn lanes while driving under the speed limit.” This further solidifies the argument that the implications of the Understanding Tesla Safety Score Version 2.2 are far from clear to the average driver.
The intertwining of driving modes with insurance metrics also raises questions, particularly regarding the impact of FSD on Tesla Insurance rates.
While Tesla generally states that metrics like speeding, hard braking, and aggressive turning are not factored in when Autopilot is engaged, Xavier’s direct observation that his score drops when he disengages FSD suggests a complex interaction.
It could imply that the system is susceptible to the sudden shift in driver behavior immediately after taking manual control, or that there are underlying biases in how manual driving is judged following an FSD session.
Given that Tesla’s own insurance entity has reportedly been “bleeding cash,” with a combined ratio exceeding 100% in recent quarters, one might speculate that tightening algorithms could be a means to improve profitability, indirectly contributing to the unexpected rise in Tesla insurance premiums for many.
Conclusion:
The core dilemma for Tesla Model 3 and Model Y owners is apparent: the promise of cheaper insurance is being undermined by a data-driven system that appears arbitrary and punishing. When drivers, even those with “chauffeur” experience, cannot decipher the logic behind their “Safety Score” deductions, it ceases to be a tool for safer driving. It becomes a source of anxiety and unexpected expense.
It’s Your Turn
Do you have Tesla insurance, and what is your experience with the “Safety Score”? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.
Check out my Tesla Model 3 story: My Tesla Model 3 Passed a Slower Car, Pulled In Front of It, and Slowed Down, the Car Passed Me and Gave Me the Finger, Now, I’m Ready to Cancel FSD
I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news, covering owner stories, and providing expert analysis, ensuring that you are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on X @DenisFlierl, @WorldsCoolestRides, Facebook, and Instagram
Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Xavier Aleman
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Source: torquenews.com
