Progressive auto insurance "Snapshot" discount?

[greenskeeper]

Probably a coincidence, if your alternator was bad it was only a matter of time before the battery would lose charge.

The snapshot probably sped up the process, and the added load from the device (even small) was enough to stress the battery when starting.

[bobebob]

They DO monitor your speed. A "hard stop" is defined as braking as more than 7 mph/second. But they don't have a GPS in it so they don't know where you are driving, therefore they don't know if you are speeding or not.

It's kind of neat to pull up the reports. I will update this in the future to see if I receive a discount!

Isn't that what is supposed to happen - unsafe drivers paying higher rates?

If not following the letter of the law had a direct corrolation to accidents for every driver I would agree with this statement.

However, I usually drive 5-10 over the limit. I take turns faster that posted. I accelerate quickly from stops. But I rarely need to break quickly.

But in 65,000 miles on motorcycle and easily over 100,000 miles in automobiles I have never (knock on wood) gotten into an accident.

In 25 years of driving, an insurance company has never had to pay anything out on me. But I'd be willing to bet that if I tried the Snapshot program my rates would go up. I just don't think that you can accurately predict the likelyhood of me having an accident by my driving habits.

Then there will be the people that drive less than the limit but text and dial their cellphones while driving. They are more likely to cause an accident than I am because although I speed I pay attention to the road and other drivers around me.

[neguy11]

UPDATE

I had the Snapshot plugged in from 7/26/11 through now and Progressive has given me an initial discount of 30%. I need to keep the device plugged in until I renew and at that time they will finalize the discount. The initial discount goes into effect with my next monthly payment.

During this "trial period," the device logged 3 hard brakes (all occuring on the very first day) and a weekly average of 110 miles. I had no high risk driving (between 12 and 4 am).

[Robert742]

If not following the letter of the law had a direct corrolation to accidents for every driver I would agree with this statement.

However, I usually drive 5-10 over the limit. I take turns faster that posted. I accelerate quickly from stops. But I rarely need to break quickly.

But in 65,000 miles on motorcycle and easily over 100,000 miles in automobiles I have never (knock on wood) gotten into an accident.

In 25 years of driving, an insurance company has never had to pay anything out on me. But I'd be willing to bet that if I tried the Snapshot program my rates would go up. I just don't think that you can accurately predict the likelyhood of me having an accident by my driving habits.

Then there will be the people that drive less than the limit but text and dial their cellphones while driving. They are more likely to cause an accident than I am because although I speed I pay attention to the road and other drivers around me.

Speeding does not increase your likelihood of being in an accident, but speed is a factor resulting in greater injury or damage if you are involved in an accident.

I've felt dubious about letting "big brother" monitor my driving -- they may rate for only a few things now, but they may be collecting other information about me they aren't disclosing.

But I like 30% discounts! Thanks for the update,neguy11. I'd appreciate it if you keep reporting back to us with your experience with the Snapshot program. I think I may look into it again, since I am with Progressive, too.

I've been reading about this new "usage-based" auto insurance will be the wave of the future. Safe drivers will take advantage of the lower rates, which will push the rates higher for those people not choosing the program. Safe drivers opt for the program, and drivers with greater risk factors stay out of the program -- making the rates outside the program more expensive.

Other than Progressive, I don't know of any other insurance companies in my area using this type of rating program, though I heard some insurance companies have pilot programs in some states.

[PetMom]

Those progressive insurance commercials are on all the time and they are using the ploy to track people? Usage based with their tracking system.

That is something I would not want.

I would not trust them with the info (already don't trust ins. co. that much anyway).

or how secure is their 'system' who could access your daily life habits and info.

[bobebob]

Isn't that what is supposed to happen - unsafe drivers paying higher rates?

Sure, let the unsafe drivers pay higher rates. However be careful how you difine "unsafe". Just because I drive assertively once in a while does not make me unsafe.

I've got a sporty little Mazda 3 and I like to punch it on occasion. But I pay attention to the road. I doubt that I would remotely be considered for any discounts using their model.

But in my 24 years of driving (easily 100,000 miles plus) I have been involved in exactly 0 accidents. No auto insurance company has EVER had to pay out on a claim for me.

So if this were used to potentially raise rates, it would affect me adversely. But it would be unjust since I have demonstrated over the years that I don't have accidents.

[bjl584]

Sure, let the unsafe drivers pay higher rates. However be careful how you difine "unsafe". Just because I drive assertively once in a while does not make me unsafe.

I've got a sporty little Mazda 3 and I like to punch it on occasion. But I pay attention to the road. I doubt that I would remotely be considered for any discounts using their model.

But in my 24 years of driving (easily 100,000 miles plus) I have been involved in exactly 0 accidents. No auto insurance company has EVER had to pay out on a claim for me.

So if this were used to potentially raise rates, it would affect me adversely. But it would be unjust since I have demonstrated over the years that I don't have accidents.

You've only demonstrated that you haven't had an accident YET. If you like to punch the accelerator on your Mazada and break the speed limit, you are breaking the law, and creating an unsafe environment for yourself and for others around you. That is the definition of an unsafe driver. The game of Russian Roulette that you've been playing may have yielded empty chambers for you so far, but eventually you will get the bullet.

I know people that have driven drunk for years and have never gotten caught. Are they safe drivers too?

[bobebob]

You've only demonstrated that you haven't had an accident YET. If you like to punch the accelerator on your Mazada and break the speed limit, you are breaking the law, and creating an unsafe environment for yourself and for others around you. That is the definition of an unsafe driver. The game of Russian Roulette that you've been playing may have yielded empty chambers for you so far, but eventually you will get the bullet.

I know people that have driven drunk for years and have never gotten caught. Are they safe drivers too?

Wow, that's pretty close to an attack for a "moderator". Not to mention incredibly narrow-minded.

While I'm sure that nothing I say will sway your opinion, I'd like to point out a couple of things:

1. Breaking the letter of the law does not neccessarily equal creating an unsafe environment. If you come up to a stop sign with a half mile of visibility in all directions, don't see anyone there and go through it without stopping you broke the law and could be ticketed, but you didn't create an unsafe environment for anyone.
2. Comparing my habits of slight speeding and assertive handling of my vehicle with drunk driving is ridiculous.
A. Drunk drivers only drive under the influence a small % of the time they drive. It is too small a sample size to evaluate statistically. And yeah the next time they go out they could cause an accident.
B. 165,000 miles over 24 years of driving without a single inccident IS a statistically significant amount of data to indicate that my style of driving probably isn't endangering anyone.
C. Drunk drivers dull their senses and make it more difficult to react to unexpected situations. Wheras I am hyper vigilant for anyone cutting me off, turning left against me, or comming out of a blind driveway, ect.

I am very selective about the environment where I speed. I don't speed through school zones or congested areas. And I don't close with other traffic at a high differential of speed. Most of the time that 5-10mph over just puts me with the average speed of the traffic in the left hand lane.

Oh, and "creating an unsafe environment. . . is the definition of unsafe driver." That IS groundbreaking!

[bjl584]

Wow, that's pretty close to an attack for a "moderator". Not to mention incredibly narrow-minded.

While I'm sure that nothing I say will sway your opinion, I'd like to point out a couple of things:

1. Breaking the letter of the law does not neccessarily equal creating an unsafe environment. If you come up to a stop sign with a half mile of visibility in all directions, don't see anyone there and go through it without stopping you broke the law and could be ticketed, but you didn't create an unsafe environment for anyone.
2. Comparing my habits of slight speeding and assertive handling of my vehicle with drunk driving is ridiculous.
A. Drunk drivers only drive under the influence a small % of the time they drive. It is too small a sample size to evaluate statistically. And yeah the next time they go out they could cause an accident.
B. 165,000 miles over 24 years of driving without a single inccident IS a statistically significant amount of data to indicate that my style of driving probably isn't endangering anyone.
C. Drunk drivers dull their senses and make it more difficult to react to unexpected situations. Wheras I am hyper vigilant for anyone cutting me off, turning left against me, or comming out of a blind driveway, ect.

I am very selective about the environment where I speed. I don't speed through school zones or congested areas. And I don't close with other traffic at a high differential of speed. Most of the time that 5-10mph over just puts me with the average speed of the traffic in the left hand lane.

Oh, and "creating an unsafe environment. . . is the definition of unsafe driver." That IS groundbreaking!

It sounds to me like you are trying to justify your speeding. Whether or not you get away with it has absolutely no bearing on whether or not it is safe or not. You admit that you speed. In selective areas, but you still admit to it. It's breaking the law. That defines you as an unsafe driver. Not my definition, Progressive Auto Insurance's definitions, and pretty much every law enforcement organization's definition. Maybe you are one of thse Autobahn type drivers that can drive well at higher speeds, but there are outside factors that you can't control. A deer jumps out in front of you when you are going 10 miles over the posted limit making it impossible for you to stop in time. Or worse, a small child runs out into the road while you are going 10 miles over the speed limit making impossible for you to stop. You say you have skills, I say that you are lucky. You should slow down. You might be the safest driver in the world, but it's the other guy that you have to look out for. And unfortunately, if the "other guy" does something that causes you to get into an accident with him, you might be found at fault if you were speeding when it occurred.

[stuartmnd]

Snapshot discount

Ok guys, I currently have the snapshot device in both my cars. Neither my husband or I have had an accident in over 20 years. We are good drivers, and everyone tells me that I drive like a grandma...lol

We have more "hard brakes" than a teenager. The device calls a hard brake when you pull into a parking spot... We were worried about our 15 year old driving the cars and causing the problem. I tell ya, it is more sensitive than 7 mph decrease. I highly doubt we will get a discount, and can honestly say that the devices seem pretty darn touchy. Will wait the last seven days and see what they say. Oh, and after 30 days, you still have to leave it in an additional six months to actually get your finalized discount.

[neguy11]

Well I've had the device in my car for a few months and they have finalized my discount: a full 30%! I just sent the device back and supposedly this discount will be in effect indefinitely (until they change their mind, I get a new car, etc.) During this trial period I had weekly averages of 53 seconds of "high risk" driving time, 99.29 miles driven, and 1.54 hard brakes.

After the 30 days you get the discount, but you still keep the device plugged in until you come up for renewal (in my case about 2-3 months). You definitely have to view the reports each day for the first few days so you can get accustomed to the hard braking.

Overall I am pleased!

[Robert742]

neguy, did you have to adjust the way you drive to cut down on the "Hard" brakes, or do anything else differently?

[neguy11]

Yes, it takes some adjusting for sure. Basically I had to do a lot more coasting, let off the gas well before stop lights & signs. And in general drive slower & leave more space between my car and the next. Its probably great for gas mileage but it does get frustrating when everyone else is flying by you!

[Andrew Jackson]

I have Progressive and I will leave if they even hinted at forcing me to put a tracking device on my car.

I agree. Much like Bank of America and Netflix, the consumers are still in control. And as long as their is competition another company should be able to step in and keep rates reasonable.

[RBurke83]

New Snapshot User

Hey all, I just installed the snapshot device in my Taurus. After the first day, i went to Progressive.com to check out the stats. Keep in mind I already strive for good gas mileage and smooth driving. 3 trips, 18.5 miles, 0 hard brakes. I drove very carefully and never exceeded 2000rpm, which can be a challenge. I will update after 29 days to let you guys know the initial discount, but I am aiming for the 30%.