I recently changed auto insurance to Progressive, and signed up to use Snapshot - a monitoring device that transmits data about your vehicle's speed, time of day and how long you drive, and how hard you brake. I thought it could be a good way to save a bit more - I don't have a long commute, don't speed, hardly ever drive between midnight and 4am, and don't brake hard except when I need to - in fact, my last set of brakes lasted 70,000 miles (and I had them replaced the moment the mechanic said it was time). I thought it would be a piece of cake to get a good driver discount. But it's only been a week and I think I've had enough. The gorram device beeps whenever you brake the least bit 'hard'. Of course it doesn't know whether you do so to avoid a collision with someone who's paying more attention to their cell phone than to traffic, or because you felt like slowing down for the yellow light instead of rushing it. In fact most of the times the thing has beeped at me it was because I slowed down for a yellow light (while going at or below the speed limit) and had to do so rapidly because our yellow lights are ridiculously short. And reading reviews online, it looks like drivers are just as likely to get a rate hike as a rate cut after using the device. It seems that 30% discount only benefits people who only drive on Sundays. So now I think I know why more and more people are rushing yellow lights all over the place - maybe they have these Snapshot devices that will beep and penalize them if they had slowed down! I think if I keep this thing in my car another six months it will cause me to develop bad driving habits. This wasn't a very intelligently designed system.
Cool, I was considering going with the Snapshot (I also have Progressive) but after what you said I don't think I will. There are way too many people out here who will pull out making you brake just as hard or harder than you would for a traffic light.
I had progressive a long time ago, and when i got married back in 1992, I switched to State Farm, Even after my divorce, I stayed with them. My rates are VERY good, and my agent is local. My Dad once told me your insurance is only as good as your agent is. Those devices will only raise your rates unless your a granny.
And the device has absolutely no security software installed, meaning you can hack it, or be hacked by it. Lots more at the link. While the odds of someone hacking it to turn your car into a killbot are pretty low, no doubt, folks will be hacking them so that it doesn't send flags to the insurance company, meaning they can drive how they want, and not have to worry about their rates going up.
I had progressive through last summer. I got a small initial discount for installing the device. When it came time to renew, my rate went up by about 50%. Needless to say I'm no longer with Progressive.
I honestly cannot believe anyone would allow that sort of thing into their vehicle. I would never want to feel like I was being monitored, even to save a buck, especially to save a buck.
The way I hit my breaks, this thing would have a field day with my car. Also, what Tucker said in post #4.
Think about what you are doing. The insurance company is looking for a way to up your rates. You put that thing in your car and all of a sudden they have data with no context. It cannot possibly work out well for you. I actually like progressive as an insurance company, but you do not want them having reasons to deny claims. All that monitor will be is a reason to deny your claims and raise your rates.
