Young drivers go digital with Zuno SmartDrive

Zuno General Insurance, a digital-first insurer, announced significant early traction for its app-led usage-based car insurance (UBI) product, Zuno SmartDrive, launched in March 2025. Within just nine months, users have logged over 1 crore kilometers and completed 1.5 lakh trips, highlighting a growing preference among India’s young drivers for behavior-driven, personalized insurance.

To expand UBI adoption, Zuno recently introduced the Zuno Driving Quotient (ZDQ) Challenge, a five-day free trial for non-users. Participants complete a driving assessment via the Zuno app, receive a personalized driving score, and unlock discounts on car insurance and gift vouchers. This initiative positions Zuno as the first insurer in India to offer a large-scale, pre-purchase app-based driving test with tangible financial benefits.

Analysis of driving behavior shows that frequent harsh braking and rapid acceleration are the strongest predictors of risk, regardless of region or vehicle type. Major metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata recorded an average driving score of 91%, influenced by traffic congestion. Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu showed consistent scores above 92%, indicating safer driving behavior. Speeding was prevalent in Pune and Kolkata, while harsh braking was frequent in Guntur and Vizianagaram.

The data also dispels myths about gender and driving safety, showing men and women have virtually identical average scores (men: 92.81%, women: 92.83%). Additionally, high-scoring driving behavior is more common during daytime weekday trips, underscoring the risks of night driving. Zuno’s telematics insights reveal that drivers scoring 96–100 exhibit a 40% lower claims risk, reinforcing the link between disciplined driving and fewer incidents. Even seasonal changes like rain do not significantly affect high-scoring drivers, demonstrating consistent behavior across conditions.

The SmartDrive app also features India’s first real-time crash detection, which automatically alerts Zuno’s support team to coordinate emergency assistance, roadside help, and priority claims handling. Shanai Ghosh, MD & CEO of Zuno General Insurance, said, “SmartDrive enables a fair, transparent, and personalized insurance experience that reflects how young India drives. Early data shows safer, smarter driving, and we aim to reward good drivers while making roads safer across the country.”

India continues to face a serious road safety challenge. Provisional MoRTH data for 2024 shows over 4.7 lakh road accidents and 1.7 lakh fatalities, with unsafe driving, overspeeding, and low compliance with helmets and seat belts remaining dominant causes. These numbers echo 2023 figures of 4.81 lakh accidents and 1.73 lakh deaths, highlighting the need for prevention-focused, technology-driven safety solutions.

Formerly Edelweiss General Insurance, Zuno GI is a new-age digital insurer focusing on simplicity, transparency, and consumer-friendly solutions. Since its inception in 2018, Zuno has grown to over 8 million customers, partnering with leading automobile companies and digital platforms such as Maruti, Tata Motors, Mahindra, Skoda, Volkswagen, PolicyBazaar, PhonePe, and more.