Tracking Driving Habits with OBDII port (for insurance savings)

[edmscan]

Does anyone use a Snapshot (Progressive Insurance in US) or Ajusto (Desjardins Insurance in Canada) for their OBDII port in their Yaris, to track their driving habits (for insurance purposes) ?

I am hoping that my insurance company offers this soon .. as they offer up to 25% off on your insurance rates.

This is what they are calling "Usage Based" insurance, and is apparently gaining popularity worldwide.

[Septembersrain]

>_< I think I drive good but I do speed...

[edmscan]

I don't know about the Progressive Insurance (US) program .. but the following is information on the Desjardins Insurance (Canadian) savings program. (just information I got from their website)

Annual savings are based on:

Kilometres. Do you drive less than 15,000 km/year? With ******, the less your vehicle is driven, the more you save—up to 10%!

Acceleration and braking. The more smoothly your vehicle is driven, the bigger your savings—up to 10%!

Are you a good driver?

You avoid accelerating fast and braking hard in your vehicle by not tailgating or speeding through yellow lights. It's these safe driving habits that make ******* perfect for you!

Travel times. Certain times of the day are less risky on the roads (example: weekend, during the day), and less risk means more savings—up to 5%!

Based on the data collected for these 3 driving habits, ********* Insurance will calculate if you are eligible for renewal premium savings.

Kilometres up to 10% savings

Acceleration and up to 10% savings
braking

Travel times up to 5% savings

Annual savings Up to 25%

[edmscan]

I think as a Yaris driver (I drive like a granny ... so I think it would be good for me, but it is not available yet in my area) .. this would be a very good option for saving on Insurance rates.

[nookandcrannycar]

I drive like a granny as well. I think I'm frugal and value conscious. People who live beyond their means usually think I'm cheap. I love my family. If my little cousin who inspired my Yarisworld screen name asks me to buy her a new car when she turns 16, I'll probably do it if it's okay with her mom (she's 11 now). If the U.S. was like many other industrialized nations (where if you move out of the country you don't owe income tax (yeah I know the U.S. has a limited credit if you are paying income tax to a foriegn government), you can come back a limited number of days each year, and you don't have to give up your citizenship) I would be gone in a heartbeat. However, the U.S. taxes on worldwide income and the only way (to my understanding) to get permanently disengaged from being beholden to the IRS (never again having to think about how to reduce or eliminate liability) is to do as Eduardo Saverin did-- give up your U.S. citizenship and pay what amounts to an 'exit fee'. I'm not willing to do either. When it comes to the IRS, the IRS gets exactly what I owe them. When it comes to corporations, I view them as wanting to extract as much money from me as possible and I'm out to make sure they get as little of my money as possible, with one exception: I'm not willing to give up more privacy just to save money. I think corporations are too intrusive. I don't have anything to hide. I'm just a libertarian who also thinks that our overreaching government (aided by technology) is eroding our civil liberties and constitutional protections to a degree that is unconstitutional, in the name of 'keeping us safe' . No offense meant to you personally (and I usually agree with you), I just think that such products in the U.S. market are among the most insidious offered by any corporation and I have a skeptical view re to what end the information would be used. Perhaps if I were more familiar with all of the ins and outs of how a like scenario would work/play out in Canada, I would feel as you do re how such a product would apply to your situation.

[edmscan]

I have nothing to hide, as I feel I am a good driver. I too am frugal, for lack of a better word. (ok call me cheap, but I am not too cheap, but do like saving a buck.)

The only concern I have is that people have said since installing their "Snapshot" device, they have had issues with drained batteries. This would be a deal breaker for me, as I am not accepting for problems with my car just to save a few bucks.

Maybe someone can inform me if the device when plugged into your port would actually be capable of draining your battery ? I know that my ScanGauge shuts itself off when I turn off the ignition.

I am not terribly concerned about any privacy issues with such a device at this point. It has been stated that the devices will NOT be used to raise insurance rates, but solely to determine if people would qualify for a discount.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by edmscan

It has been stated that the devices will NOT be used to raise insurance rates, but solely to determine if people would qualify for a discount.

It would be unfair to flat out claim the above is untrue, but I'm just too cynical to think that it is likely.

I forgot to include one thing on my previous post -- generally, my cynicism in that post DOES NOT extend to the military. If other parts of our government were run as well as many parts of the military are, the government, IMO, would have fewer problems/issues. I've generally had that same impression within Canada as well re Canadian personnel.

I don't know if the device you mention would drain the battery or not.

[edmscan]

I have learned that the "Ajusto" device (the device used in Canada) goes into "Sleep Mode" when the car is shut off, much like a ScanGauge device.

I don't know about the SnapShot device used by Progressive in the US, but I am sure that their website probably has the answer.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by edmscan

I have learned that the "Ajusto" device (the device used in Canada) goes into "Sleep Mode" when the car is shut off, much like a ScanGauge device.

I don't know about the SnapShot device used by Progressive in the US, but I am sure that their website probably has the answer.

It is probably better (more beneficial to you) that you have the perspective you do, and there's probably a 99.9 percent chance that what is being presented to you is true. I just think the concept itself is insidious, and I wouldn't believe what is being claimed unless the technology was explained to me, I understood it, and could see for myself that the settings on the device match what is claimed. Earlier tonight I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in a few months. He has his own small company. He designs and installs elaborate security/computer/cameras systems etc....for some reason mostly for big ranches and ships registered to foreign oil companies. He's a really calm, health oriented guy. He said tonight 'Remember, never trust anyone'. I can't possibly go to that extreme, I just have a lot more cynicism than most people. Perhaps what he does has influenced him (kind of like a divorce lawyer not wanting to be married). With me, it's having experienced a lot of lies in personal situations.

[seth_man]

i used snapshot, used it for 3 months, got a 22% discount. still drove normally, pleanty of 80+mph highway cruises, just gotta watch the time of day you drive and how hard you decelerate or brake.

[edmscan]

Originally Posted by seth_man

i used snapshot, used it for 3 months, got a 22% discount. still drove normally, pleanty of 80+mph highway cruises, just gotta watch the time of day you drive and how hard you decelerate or brake.

I totally think that this would be a money saving option for me, as I am a pretty cautious driver.

Did you have any issues with your Snapshot ? Like car battery problems.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by seth_man

i used snapshot, used it for 3 months, got a 22% discount. still drove normally, pleanty of 80+mph highway cruises, just gotta watch the time of day you drive and how hard you decelerate or brake.

This may sound rhetorical, but were you already with Progressive because they were already the lowest quote you obtained? I obtained quotes from them in the past (BEFORE snapshot) and they were never the cheapest.

I must admit though, if you have to sit through a commercial, their commercials are better than most.

[edmscan]

Of course a consumer has to check the market to see if this "Usage Based" insurance is for them.

I pay about 900$ for my Yaris now, so if I got quoted $1200 for Usage Based insurance even with the maximum 25% discount, it just wouldn't make financial sense. So there have to be the right numbers for it to make financial sense.

I understand some people may have privacy concerns, but to me it is really a non issue. I don't care if my insurance company finds out whether I drive 5,000 or 10,000 km or if I drive at 7 PM at night or 2 AM. This really isn't an invasion of my personal privacy, so I don't have a problem with it.

As was mentioned above .. you will just get a bigger discount if you are a good driver and do the right things. Really if you think about it, the insurance company would obviously have a customer base full of good safe drivers as it will just save them money in claims. So it is a win-win for everyone involved.

The insurance company wins cause drivers are more cautious as they know they are being monitored and the driver wins cause they are being rewarded for their safe driving habits.

[Absolutely Red 12]

Originally Posted by edmscan

Does anyone use a Snapshot (Progressive Insurance in US) or Ajusto (Desjardins Insurance in Canada) for their OBDII port in their Yaris, to track their driving habits (for insurance purposes) ?

I am hoping that my insurance company offers this soon .. as they offer up to 25% off on your insurance rates.

This is what they are calling "Usage Based" insurance, and is apparently gaining popularity worldwide.

Better they not know my driving habits!!

[edmscan]

Originally Posted by Absolutely Red 12

Better they not know my driving habits!!

If you are not a safe cautious driver (or drive a "performance" Yaris) .. I can understand your desire.

My Yaris is stock .. so I don't go anywhere very fast.

[Absolutely Red 12]

They penalize for mileage, hard braking, and driving between midnight and 4 am!!

This is LA, hard braking happens evry 10 minutes, due to idiots out here.

Between midnight and 4 am is the quietest time of the day!!

Its stupid.

[edmscan]

Originally Posted by Absolutely Red 12

They penalize for mileage, hard braking, and driving between midnight and 4 am!!

This is LA, hard braking happens evry 10 minutes, due to idiots out here.

Between midnight and 4 am is the quietest time of the day!!

Its stupid.

I can understand your issues, it is not for everyone.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Absolutely Red 12

They penalize for mileage

When I changed my registration to Texas, that being 'kept track of' by the state took some getting used to. We have mandatory yearly vehicle inspections here and one of the bits of information transmitted to the state is your odometer reading.