Smartcar
Connected vehicle API platform for usage-based insurance and mobility applications
Overview
Smartcar is a vehicle connectivity API platform for developers and enterprises building insurance, mobility, and energy applications. Founded in 2015 by Sahas Katta and Sanketh Katta, the platform provides standardized access to vehicle data from 40-plus automakers across 30-plus countries without requiring aftermarket hardware. In the auto insurance sector, Smartcar powers usage-based insurance (UBI) programs by delivering verified odometer readings, VIN data, garaging location, and real-time vehicle state drawn directly from a vehicle's cellular modem.
The platform connects to 2015-and-newer vehicles through their native embedded connectivity, supporting 45-plus car brands -- including 43 EV brands and 200-plus EV models -- representing approximately 161 million compatible vehicles in North America and Europe. Core capabilities include an OAuth 2.0 consent flow, webhook-based real-time data delivery, and an administrative dashboard for fleet monitoring. Insurance-specific features address mileage verification, premium leakage prevention, VIN validation, and garaging verification.
Smartcar has raised USD 36 million across three rounds. Its Series B in 2022 was led by Energize Ventures with participation from Andreessen Horowitz and New Enterprise Associates. The platform serves 500-plus companies including Uber, Lyft, ChargePoint, and insurance carriers through partnerships with Guidewire and True Mileage.
Products & Services
Signals
Vehicle telemetry access covering battery level, odometer readings, charging state, location, fuel level, and real-time vehicle state. Supports insurance carriers needing verified mileage data for UBI program pricing and claims validation.
Key Features
- Instant odometer delivery with no polling required
- Charging state and battery level for EV-specific programs
- Garaging location detection for coverage defect identification
- Time-of-day driving data for usage-based premiums
Target Users: Auto insurers, fleet operators, mobility platforms
Commands
Vehicle control capabilities including EV charging session management and digital car key issuance for integrated mobility applications.
Key Features
- EV charging start and stop via API
- Digital key issuance for seamless user handoff
- Integration with EV charging networks
Target Users: Mobility platforms, EV charging operators, fleet managers
Connect
OAuth 2.0-based user consent flow for secure, permission-based vehicle access without storing user credentials.
Key Features
- Transparent permission scopes with user control
- No user credential storage
- Supports SSO and role-based access control
- Granular team permissions for enterprise deployments
Target Users: Application developers, enterprise integrators
Webhooks
Real-time data delivery enabling event-driven architectures for insurance and fleet management systems without polling.
Key Features
- Push-based data delivery on vehicle events
- Eliminates latency from polling architectures
- Compatible with standard webhook infrastructure
Target Users: Insurers, fleet operators, telematics platform developers
Dashboard
Fleet management and API connection management portal with analytics, activity monitoring, audit logs, and team-based access control.
Key Features
- Connection activity monitoring and audit logs
- Team access management with granular permissions
- API analytics and usage reporting
Target Users: Enterprise administrators, fleet managers, operations teams
Insurance Solutions
Purpose-built capabilities for auto insurance carriers implementing telematics or usage-based programs.
Key Features
- Mileage verification with odometer readings
- VIN validation confirming vehicle make, model, and year
- Garaging location verification to identify coverage defects
- Pay-per-mile policy data feeds
- Premium leakage prevention averaging 5% recovery across mileage, garaging, and VIN issues
Target Users: Auto insurance carriers, MGAs, usage-based insurance program operators
At a Glance
- Founded
- 2015
- Headquarters
- Mountain View, CA, USA
- Employees
- 51-200
- Funding
- Series B
Category & Focus
- Category
- Data & Analytics
- Subcategories
- Telematics Usage-Based Insurance Vehicle Data API Connected Vehicle
- Insurance Verticals
- P&C Personal
- Target Customers
- Carriers, MGAs/MGUs
Customers
- Uber
- Lyft
- Recurrent
- Wallbox
- ChargePoint
- BluWave-ai
- Optiwatt
- Bidgely
- Paydrive
- Just Auto Insurance
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Last updated: 2026-04-09