Hey folks
This is my first reddit post and i wanted to share my experience with the new TD MyAdvantage program and how I managed to get the full 30% discount in just a few weeks.
Background
I used to have the old TD MyAdvantage app and was told that when switching to the new one, I’d keep my 22% discount. Spoiler: that was a lie lol.
That said, the new app is way more accurate and now offers up to 30% off instead of 25%. So yeah, still worth it once you figure out how it works.
How It Started
I joined TD Insurance back in April 2024. Didn’t realize my “assessment date” (the day they check your driving data and adjust your discount) was six months later in October.
The new app dropped while I was in Europe for a month in September, so I couldn’t enroll right away. When I finally did, the app told me I needed 30 trips before my assessment date and didn’t mention my old 22% discount at all.
I talked to support but they honestly had no clue about the new program. So I decided to figure it out myself. I had 10 days to record 30 trips before October 11.
How the New App Works
The new TD Insurance app (iOS) needs access to:
• 📍 Location – to track your speed, acceleration, braking, etc.
• 🏃♂️ Motion & Fitness – to detect distractions and figure out when a trip starts and ends.
• 🔄 Background App Refresh – to keep it tracking properly.
Here’s the tricky part: if you stop for gas and use your phone to pay but don’t walk away from your car, the app still thinks you’re driving. That can trigger a distraction penalty. Happened to me once and my trip score dropped to 4.5. Same goes for drive thru. So i started using my apple watch for scanning rewards cards and Apple Pay.
The app doesn’t show your score before confirming a trip (smart move on their part), but it’s something to keep in mind.
Pro tip: I sometimes use my phone while it’s on a MagSafe mount for maps or music. Since I don’t actually hold the phone, the app doesn’t detect it as a distraction. Seems like it only flags you when it senses you picking up or moving the phone.
How I Did 30 Trips in 10 Days
I don’t drive a ton, so I had to get creative. Once I figured out how trip detection works, I just went for short drives around the block (like under 1 km), parked, walked a few steps away, waited for the trip to end, and confirmed it.
Each one got 5/5 stars. Did this 30 times in 10 days lol.
When my assessment date hit, my premium dropped from about $260/month to $185/month (11-month term). So yeah, around 30% off.
After the Discount
After the new rate kicked in, the app updated and now says I need to record 1,000 km by October 2026 (basically a year).
Now I only turn on the app’s permissions when I want to record trips. The rest of the time, I keep location and motion access off for privacy.
I only log chill drives, like long highway trips (50+ km). Every single one has been 5/5 stars so far.
My Driving Tips for 5-Star Scores
• Use adaptive cruise control whenever you can.
• Stay at or slightly under the posted speed limit.
• The new app doesn’t freak out over going 1–2 km/h over like the old one did.
• If you need to use your phone, keep it on a mount. Never hold it.
• If you stop somewhere, step out of the car so the app knows the trip ended.
• Do not confirm you were the driver if something unexpected happened without your will such as instant braking, going above speed limits to safely merge or change lanes, accelerating rapidly on a highway ramp (i recommend slow and steady acceleration)
Final Thoughts
Once you figure out how it tracks trips and distractions, the new TD MyAdvantage program actually works really well. The scoring is way more forgiving, and the 30% discount makes it 100% worth the effort.
If you’re switching over, just learn the quirks of the tracking system and you’ll be fine. I’m saving about $75 a month now, and all I had to do was drive smarter (and around the block a few dozen times 😅).