Progressive auto insurance "Snapshot" discount?

[neguy11]

I switched my policy to Progressive today and signed up for the "Snapshot."

Snapshot, Snapshot Discount: Pay As You Drive® (PAYD) – Progressive

Has anyone used this and if so did you get a good discount? If anything this will encourage me to drive better which should save me some $$ on gas.

[Sugaree5335]

Meh....I'm not a huge fan of the idea. First of all, I don't want a tracking device/GPS locator on my car. Yeah, I know that there is already one in my cell phone. But when does it go too far? Can Progressive guarantee that my personal information will not be released? What kind of security measures have been put in place to prevent this?

Next, I know the website says that rates will not be increased because of what this device reports, but I can definately see them finding other excuses to jack prices. I can see the "rates" staying the same, but having added surcharges to that base rate for stuff like driving often through intersections that are known to be dangerous or driving at night.

Unfortunately I can see this becoming standard operating proceedure for all auto insurance companies in the future though.

[nikon_62]

This snapshot idea worries me as well. If it's for a voluntary discount now it seems fine. So what happens when they say it's mandatory and "unsafe" drivers have to pay more? My driving isn't 100% exactly to the letter of the law and I'm sure most other people's aren't either.

I just feel it's a slippery slope before progressive and all the other insurance companies decide they can use GPS data as an excuse to force more fee's on drivers.

[Robert742]

I'm with Progressive, too, but I have not opted for the "Snapshot" option yet. Supposedly, you can save up 30%. If you don't put a lot of miles on your car, don't drive between midnight and 4 am, and are not prone to sudden stops, you should have a nice savings. I already get a lot of discounts, so I don't know how much more I can save.

I'm thinking of doing it, but in my state of Oregon, they can surcharge for driving behavior they don't like.

The device is only in your car for 30 days, but I have had battery problems in the past, and I don't want it to drain my battery.

I think if you don't like the program, you can opt out and go back to your old rates. But if you lose the device, you have to pay for it.

Ultimately, I'm concerned with privacy. Even though Progressive says they are not monitoring speed, I'm not convinced they are not collecting data they are not disclosing. I drive within the posted limits, so it is not a big issue for me.

I blogged about the "Snapshot" discount a while ago, if you are curious, check it out.

[Angio333]

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

[bjl584]

Originally Posted by Angio333

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

It's not forced. It's voluntary. Technology like that will always work in favor of the insurance company. Let's say that you slam on your brakes to avoid an impact from someone in front of you that slammed on their brakes for no apparent reason. Then, you swerve into the other lane and hit the accelerator hard to avoid being hit by the person that is behind you that is too busy texting on their phone to notice that you had slammed your brakes. That was pretty defensive driving, and it prevented you from having an accident (which would probably raise your rates), but that little sensor isn't going to knwo that the guy in front of you braked out of nowhere or that the person behind you was texting and not paying attention to the road. All that it is going to register is you slamming your brakes, swerving hard, and stepping on the gas. There goes any sort of discount that you could have ever gotten by letting Progressive monitor your driving habits.

[neguy11]

Originally Posted by Robert742

Ultimately, I'm concerned with privacy. Even though Progressive says they are not monitoring speed, I'm not convinced they are not collecting data they are not disclosing. I drive within the posted limits, so it is not a big issue for me.

I blogged about the "Snapshot" discount a while ago, if you are curious, check it out.

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!

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by nikon_62

So what happens when they say it's mandatory and "unsafe" drivers have to pay more?

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

[greenskeeper]

This thread made me check out a quote from progressive.

I was a customer from 2000-03 when I got married and was able to save with "teachers insurance" since my wife is a teacher.

I was shocked that Progressive is nearly half what I am paying now.

I will confirm but it could be possible that they screwed up the quote because teachers was approx. $300/yr cheaper than progressive.

The current quote from progressive is $482/yr

Teachers is $1026/yr

this is with full coverage, vehicles are 13 and 14 years old.

[Robert742]

Originally Posted by greenskeeper

This thread made me check out a quote from progressive.

I was a customer from 2000-03 when I got married and was able to save with "teachers insurance" since my wife is a teacher.

I was shocked that Progressive is nearly half what I am paying now.

I will confirm but it could be possible that they screwed up the quote because teachers was approx. $300/yr cheaper than progressive.

The current quote from progressive is $482/yr

Teachers is $1026/yr

this is with full coverage, vehicles are 13 and 14 years old.

Rates and rate programs change all the time. Also, your risk profile changes, too. It is not unusual to find big price differences between companies, and the company having the best rates 5 years ago, may not have very good rates now.

Lots of companies have discounts for teachers and other professions.

Progressive has a good rate for me, but USAA is slightly less expensive, and State farm is only slightly more expensive for me, but both State Farm and USAA have higher customer satisfaction ratings with JD Power than Progressive.

I need to bring over my condo to USAA for the lowest rate, but I like to keep my Condo insurance with State Farm, so I keep my auto with Progressive.

I received a GREAT quote from iMingle 6 months ago, which is a part of Unitrin Direct, and markets through social media with special discounts, but I think they are trying to buy market share, and their rates will go up in the future.

I know insurance is a pain for most people, but as boring as it might be, it pays to shop.

[Robert742]

@greenskeeper

One thing you want to check is if Teachers Insurance is an annual policy, and if Progressive is a 6 month policy.

You quoted a yearly cost for Progressive, but Progressive is usually for 6 months.

Progressive would not be quite as good if that is the case.

[greenskeeper]

Originally Posted by Robert742

@greenskeeper

One thing you want to check is if Teachers Insurance is an annual policy, and if Progressive is a 6 month policy.

You quoted a yearly cost for Progressive, but Progressive is usually for 6 months.

Progressive would not be quite as good if that is the case.

I doubled progressive to get the yearly amount

good catch

[landon.bruno]

Many auto insurance companies promote safe driving. My insurance carrier, AARP-The Hartford gave me a $150 discount on my deductible for having a clean driving record, and I get a $50 reduction on my deductible every year I manage to keep it clean.

[sylviaB]

The idea worries me as well. If it's for a voluntary discount now it seems fine.

[neguy11]

Update: I was having lots of problems with my battery and car not starting. It all seemed to start around the time I plugged in the "Snapshot." It may have been a coincience, but I cancelled the program and returned the device to Progressive. Turns out I needed a new alternator and replaced my battery while I was at it.

I just re-signed up for the "Snapshot" and it should arrive in a fe wdays. As long as I don't have any more power issues, I'll stick with it.

[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]

Originally Posted by neguy11

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!

Originally Posted by disneysteve

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]

Originally Posted by bobebob

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.