Insurance App Battery Usage: How Much Power Do Telematics Apps Really Consume?
As of April 2024, over 35% of UK electric car owners use telematics-based insurance apps to lower their premiums. But despite what insurers might tout, the impact of these https://www.greencarguide.co.uk/blog/the-top-5-telematics-insurance-providers-for-electric-cars-2026-edition/ apps on your smartphone battery is not always clear. Between you and me, I’ve had a few run-ins with clients who swore their battery life tanked after installing tracker apps like Zego or Admiral LittleBox. And honestly, I wasn’t convinced until I dug into the details, because these apps are supposed to be “lightweight.”
Telematics insurance apps collect data such as driving speed, acceleration, braking, and routes to calculate risk and adjust insurance rates . The key point is that they must run continuously or at least semi-continuously to collect enough data. This continuous operation inevitably uses battery power, but how much is the big question. For instance, the Zego app, one of the most popular for gig economy EV drivers, uses GPS and motion sensors quite intensively. On the other hand, By Miles tends to use lower sample rates for location tracking, relying more on the car’s mileage data from its On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) plug, meaning less direct battery hogging.
Cost Breakdown and Timeline
From my experience reviewing several apps since early 2023, battery usage depends on a few factors: the smartphone’s age and battery health, the app's sampling frequency, and whether background refresh is optimised by phone OS versions. In one notable case last October, a client using the Zego app on an older iPhone XR noticed battery drain shooting from a daily average of 10% to nearly 30% while driving, quite a jump. It’s important to know that the app itself rarely causes overnight drain since it mainly works when driving, but that can still amount to 5-10% additional battery use on typical daily commutes.
Required Documentation Process
Digital privacy policies have become key documents to check before installing these apps. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) ensures insurers must disclose exactly how much data their apps gather and how they protect it. Zego, for example, offers clear permissions that include location, device motion, and accelerometer access, but you can control some of these in your phone’s app settings. Surprisingly, turning off background app refresh can cause logging gaps, which may lead to skewed insurance scores. So, it’s a balancing act between privacy, performance, and battery preservation.
Ever notice how some insurers brag about “zero impact” telematics? It’s misleading. Even the best apps use some juice because GPS and sensors aren’t free. But, it turns out, regenerative braking in EVs can improve telematics scores, rewarding smoother driving while potentially reducing app activity length. More about that later.
---Zego App Power Consumption: Analyzing Its Impact Compared to Other Telematics Solutions
Let’s talk specifics. The Zego app power consumption has been a hot topic among delivery drivers using electric vehicles in the UK, especially since Zego rolled out their 2026 Edition policies last December. They specifically target gig economy workers who need flexible coverage, a growing segment in telematics insurance.
But how does Zego stack up against the competition regarding smartphone drain? And more importantly, what am I seeing on the front lines?
Zego’s Power Use Compared to Others
- Zego: Uses high-frequency GPS data during active driving periods, which spikes battery use. Despite optimisations, a 2023 independent test showed Zego app draining around 15% more battery per hour of use than By Miles. Caveat: this varies based on phone model and OS updates. By Miles: Primarily OBD-based tracking reduces the direct app power footprint on the phone, but depends on the vehicle’s telematics system. Surprisingly, this method is often more battery-friendly but less detailed in driving behaviour analytics. Admiral LittleBox: Uses a separate OBD device, offloading most data collection from the phone. This means minimal app battery impact but requires another device to carry, which some find inconvenient (and forgettable).
Power Management Features and User Controls
Zego introduced a “low power mode” in mid-2023, which throttles GPS sampling when speeds are low or during stop phases, reducing power use by roughly 20% according to user reports. However, the trade-off includes less precise data and potentially less favourable insurance scoring. Also, Apple’s iOS 17 update added more restrictions on how often apps can ping GPS in the background, which has helped somewhat to limit app power consumption across the board.
Interestingly, when I once advised a client last March who was frustrated by daily battery drops, we discovered their Zego app permissions were set to “Always On,” which was unnecessary when most of their driving happened in daylight and short bursts. Adjusting to “While Using” mode dropped app battery use by half but required manual app start before journeys.
Realistic Expectations on Battery Drain
From talking to dozens of drivers, including those using Zego for delivery vans and EVs on short trips, here's the gist: expect about a 10-20% battery drain increase on days with heavy driving app usage. If your phone battery is already weak (like mine was on a 3-year-old Pixel 5), this becomes more noticeable. For lighter-use drivers or those running the app intermittently, it’s manageable. So, if you’re noticing weird battery behaviour, maybe peek into your app’s background activity stats before blaming the phone entirely.
---Telematics App Performance: Practical Tips for Managing Battery Life and Data Privacy
Telematics app performance goes beyond just power consumption. Many UK EV drivers who rely on these apps for insurance discounts also worry about data privacy and accuracy. Let me share some actionable tips that can really help those juggling between fair pricing and conserving phone power.
You know what's funny? Many users don’t even check their phone’s battery usage section to find out which app is the culprit. Last November, I had a client who blamed "everything" on Zego, but it was actually a rogue social media app running wild in the background.
First off, understanding that telematics insurance apps like Zego or By Miles rely heavily on GPS is key, you want GPS accuracy but not at the cost of your daily phone use. Setting the app permissions smartly (like using “Allow only while app is in use”) can reduce unnecessary battery use but means you must remember to launch the app before driving.
Also, enabling “Low Power Mode” on your phone during driving can help save juice, but beware this sometimes restricts location updates, which may affect your insurance score. In my experience, EV features like regenerative braking indirectly improve telematics app scores, since smoother braking patterns appear as safer driving, potentially offsetting minor GPS sampling gaps caused by power-saving modes.
Document Preparation Checklist
Before fully committing to any insurance app, check:
- Phone compatibility and OS version updates Battery health and whether the phone needs service or replacement soon Privacy settings and GDPR compliance statements from the insurer
Working with Licensed Agents
If in doubt, consult agents familiar with telematics insurance apps for EVs. They often know subtle tricks, like whether your zip code or EV model affects scoring alongside app data. For example, I've seen some agents recommend switching to Admiral LittleBox for heavier EV drivers who want to eliminate phone battery concerns entirely.
Timeline and Milestone Tracking
Plan for a trial period of 2 to 3 months on any telematics app. This timeframe reveals battery usage patterns and insurance score stabilization. One client I advised in late 2023 switched from Zego to By Miles after 8 weeks, citing less power drain and almost equal premium savings.
---Telematics App Battery Usage Trends and Insights for EV Owners in 2024-2025
Looking ahead to late 2025, the telematics insurance landscape continues evolving rapidly. One big change expected by October 21, 2025, is the launch of stricter data privacy mandates linked to telematics apps across the EU and UK, reinforcing GDPR compliance and limiting over-collection of location data. For EV owners, this means apps might reduce tracking frequency, which is a nice win for battery life.
But there's a catch. This could impact how accurately insurers assess risk, potentially leading to more conservative (read: higher) premiums unless drivers demonstrate good behaviour differently, probably through regenerative braking and eco-friendly driving stats. Some experts suggest integrating vehicle data directly from EVs’ telematics systems, bypassing smartphones altogether.
2024-2025 Program Updates
Zego has already hinted at a cloud-based system that minimizes phone GPS use, shifting data collection to in-car devices or cloud analytics. Meanwhile, companies like By Miles plan to enhance integrations with EV manufacturers to pull mileage and driving style data directly from the car's system, reducing reliance on smartphone sensors and their battery impacts.
actually,Tax Implications and Planning
Interestingly, for gig economy EV drivers using telematics apps, government incentives on green driving can sometimes offset insurance costs if proper data is collected, meaning a good telematics app can do more than just save on premiums; it might qualify you for tax breaks or subsidies, depending on your local council.
And, speaking of tax, data privacy concerns keep surfacing, especially with location tracking apps. Between you and me, there’s still a lot of grey area on how insurers securely store and handle this flood of driver data post-collection. You might want to ask your insurer directly where your data goes before committing to a telematics policy.
---First thing you should do is check your current smartphone’s battery health and how much power your telematics app uses via your phone’s settings. Don’t just rely on hearsay about which app is “worst.” And whatever you do, don't disable app permissions entirely, many insurers require consistent tracking to validate your discounts. Keep in mind, telematics technology is still evolving, so staying informed about updates from companies like Zego or By Miles will give you an edge on balancing fair pricing with acceptable battery use. Midway adjustments during your policy year might save more than you think.
