Auto Insurance Snapshot: What's The Catch?

Progressive's Snapshot program offers a device that attaches to your car and transmits data about your driving activity. The program personalizes your car insurance rate based on your actual driving, which is technically called usage-based insurance. Progressive offers a discount for using Snapshot, but it can also increase your rates if it detects risky driving. The device beeps when it detects a hard brake, and drivers can see their progress online or through the Progressive app.

The plug-in device beeps when you brake hard, helping you improve your driving and save money

Auto insurance plug-in devices are offered by some major auto insurers, such as Progressive, to collect data about your driving habits. The device plugs into your car's diagnostic port and reports data back to the insurance company via a wireless connection. This data includes information such as your speed, acceleration, hard braking, and the time of day you are on the road.

The plug-in device beeps when you brake hard, providing instant feedback on your driving and helping you improve your driving skills. By reducing the number of hard brakes, you can increase your chances of getting a bigger discount on your auto insurance rates.

The device helps you become more aware of your driving habits and encourages you to drive more cautiously. It also allows your insurance company to assess your driving behaviour and provide a personalized rate based on your actual driving performance. This type of insurance is known as usage-based insurance, where your rate is determined by how you use your car rather than traditional factors.

While the device can help you save money by improving your driving, it's important to note that your rates could also increase if your driving behaviour is deemed risky. Additionally, some people may be uncomfortable with the idea of their insurance company tracking their every move.

Overall, the auto insurance plug-in device can be a useful tool to improve your driving and potentially lower your insurance rates, but it's essential to understand the potential risks and privacy concerns before deciding to use one.

The device plugs into your car's OBD-II port, which is usually under the steering wheel

The Snapshot device plugs into your car's OBD-II port, which is usually located under the steering wheel. The OBD-II port is an onboard computer that monitors your vehicle's emissions, mileage, speed, and other data points. Mechanics can use a special scan tool to read error codes from this port and diagnose vehicle problems.

The OBD-II port is typically located on the underside of the dashboard on the driver's side of the car. It has a 16-pin configuration, although the number of pins may vary depending on the type of vehicle. The port is easy to access and allows for a simple connection to the Snapshot device.

By plugging into the OBD-II port, the Snapshot device can collect data about your driving habits, including factors such as the time of day you drive, sudden changes in speed, and the amount you drive. This data is then used to calculate your insurance rate, with safer driving habits resulting in potential discounts.

The Snapshot device is a convenient way to monitor your driving behaviour and receive feedback on your driving performance. It provides an opportunity to improve your driving and maximize potential savings on your car insurance.

Progressive does not track location data but does monitor vehicle speed

Progressive's Snapshot program personalizes your car insurance rate based on your actual driving. This is called usage-based insurance. This means that your insurance rate is determined by how and how much you drive, instead of just traditional factors. Progressive does not track location data but does monitor vehicle speed, acceleration, braking, and other details each time you drive. This data is then reported to the insurance company.

The Snapshot program offers a discount for good driving. Progressive measures a variety of factors related to your driving, including the time of day you drive, sudden changes in speed, the amount you drive, and, for some customers, how you're using your mobile phone while driving. The program does not track your location data, but it does use GPS to calculate your speed over time, mileage, and driving behaviors such as hard braking.

The Snapshot program is available as either a plug-in device or a mobile app, both of which work very similarly. The plug-in device is installed in your vehicle's onboard diagnostic port under the dashboard, while the mobile app is downloaded onto your smartphone. Both options capture data on your driving activities and can result in a discount if you meet certain criteria.

While Progressive does not track location data, they do collect information about your driving habits, including speed, acceleration, and braking. This data is used to set your insurance rates and can also be useful for you to improve your driving habits and make safer decisions on the road.

It's important to note that Progressive's Snapshot program may not be the best option for everyone. Some people may be concerned about privacy and not want their driving data and whereabouts tracked. Additionally, if you have a long commute or drive frequently, the miles you drive could drive up your insurance costs.

The device continuously streams your vehicle's data to Progressive's servers while driving

Progressive's Snapshot program offers a device that you attach to your car that transmits data about your driving activity. The device continuously streams your vehicle's data to Progressive's servers while driving. Progressive discloses that they track vehicle speed, but not location data. However, they do not explain exactly what vehicle data they track. The device has a memory chip, cellular radio, and a GPS radio that communicates with satellites for location tracking. It has a quad-band GSM module, which makes sense considering Progressive's deal with AT&T to provide data service for the device.

The device appears to only "snitch" on two types of data: the reduction of speed (braking) and the time of day, which is acquired the moment you start your car. Progressive defines a hard brake as any condition where the vehicle decelerates faster than 7 mph per second. This threshold has been criticized as impractical for all conditions, as it does not account for inertia and other laws of physics. Driving in an urban city, for example, will inevitably trigger hard brakes daily.

The data collected by the Snapshot device can be used by Progressive to penalize drivers with higher rates if they exhibit riskier driving behaviors. Additionally, the data can be used against drivers in the event of a claim. Hypothetically, if a driver was going faster than the posted speed limit at the time of a claim, this data could be used against them.

While the device can help drivers become more aware of their vehicle and driving conditions, leading to safer driving behaviors, there are also privacy concerns associated with the continuous streaming of vehicle data.

The program is not mandatory but there are concerns it will become compulsory in the future

The Snapshot program from Progressive is a usage-based insurance program that monitors driving behaviour and rewards safe driving with discounts. The program is optional, but there are concerns that it will become mandatory in the future.

Snapshot is currently available as a mobile app or a plug-in device that drivers can choose from. The program collects data on driving habits such as speed, phone usage, time of day, mileage, and location. While Progressive states that it does not track location data, it is technically capable of doing so. This data is used to calculate a discount of up to 20% for safe drivers. However, Progressive also states that it raises rates for about 20% of Snapshot drivers due to risky driving behaviour.

There are concerns that the Snapshot program will become mandatory for all drivers in the future. This is a worrying prospect for privacy advocates, as it gives insurance companies and law enforcement agencies access to detailed driving data. Additionally, there is a risk that insurance companies will use this data to penalise drivers with higher rates.

While the Snapshot program is currently optional, it is important for drivers to carefully consider the implications of participating. The potential for increased rates and privacy concerns are significant factors to consider. In the future, drivers may not have a choice about participating in such programs, which could have a significant impact on insurance rates and privacy.

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