Hyperdrive

Self-Driving Cars Might Kill Auto Insurance as We Know It

Without humans to cause accidents, 90% of risk is removed. Insurers are scrambling to prepare.

Illustration: Andrea Chronopoulos
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Dan Peate, a venture capitalist and entrepreneur in Southern California, was thinking of buying a Tesla Model X a few years ago—until he called his insurance company and found out how much his premiums would rise.

“They quoted me $10,000 a year,” Peate recalled.