One embodiment is directed to a method of selecting a communication profile for a vehicle telematics device to communicate over a vehicle electronics bus. The method includes receiving, at a server or a local computer, information identifying a vehicle to which the vehicle telematics device is to be connected. An indication of a communication profile to be loaded on the vehicle telematics device, or the communication profile itself, is sent from the server or local computer to the vehicle telematics device, wherein the communication profile includes communication related settings for the vehicle telematics device, the communication related settings corresponding to the vehicle electronics bus of the vehicle to which the vehicle telematics device is to be connected. The communication profile is then loaded on the vehicle telematics device, wherein the vehicle telematics device is field configurable to use one of multiple communication profiles.