Automobile Insurance Driver Monitor
 

Many auto insurance companies offer either a "telematics" device or a smartphone app that can monitor your driving habits. In return for using their system they say you can save on your car insurance by driving safely. If you have used such a system what has been your experience? Did you actually save money on your insurance premium or did your premium go up?

Speed, which can show you take risks.
Hard breaking, which can indicate distracted driving.
Time of day the car was used to determine if you do a lot of nighttime driving.
GPS information, which tells the insurer if you enter high accident or vehicle theft areas.
Mileage and time you spend driving, which can both be used to determine how much you’re on the road increasing the likelihood of an accident.
Turning, which can be used with mapping systems to calculate whether you put yourself or others at risk.
Phone usage, which can be used to label you high risk or prove a pattern of distracted driving.
How often automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning has been activated.
I’ll pass

Wow!

Even Winston Smith and Julia would rip out that device

I don't have one, but I'm quite sure I've followed a lot of people who do. They're the ones driving 35 in a 45 on 466 in the left lane.

Love those drivers. Usually I'm fantasizing about the best way to run them off the road.

Just giving insurance companies evidence to deny claims

Or raise premiums

Used one twice when changing insurance companies. Rates went down both times.

The devices I used plugged into the OBP port in the car and had nothing to do with a phone or app. Not sure what is being used today.

I use the State Farm app on my phone. Rates went from $145.73 to $133.12 per month for two autos. But only one auto has the app registered. When I set it up I stuck a little device they gave me on the inside windshield so the company knows you are in the insured car and not riding on another vehicle. You have to have your phone with you when driving.
Yes, they will be able to tell if an accident was your fault, should you have one.
(BTW this should be in the non Villages forum)

And data collected will be used to deny or fight your claim(s) down the road.

My concern would be what else do they do with that data, do they sell it to other parties?

I was using it and was getting additional discounts, however it didn't always turn on and sometimes when it did, it tried to detect a trip, but couldn't find one and gave me an error message. It checked my speed (would flag anything over 79mph), the time of day I'm driving, and hard braking. Since the speed limit on highways around here is 70, I'd think driving under 80 is a reasonable expectation. I think it pinged me once, because I was passing someone, and someone else was on my tail and I just wanted to get out of their way and in front of the guy I was passing, so went up to around 85.

I feel no guilt about that, and I didn't have to pay extra insurance, I just didn't get the extra discount that month. I still have the "safe driver" discount.

I was thinking the same thing. Or who won’t turn left if it’s a flashing yellow light.

Use the Device, not the App
 

The device mostly registers sudden breaking and quick acceleration. It also detects what time of day you are driving and how often you drive. The app detects more, so I used the device and saved quite a bit of money.

Regardless, you can't pay me enough to have Big Brother riding in my passenger seat. I wonder, if like Alexa, it can record your private conversations, or other activity in your car:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

I have it with State Farm. The app on my phone rarely records my trips because I don't have location on. Still get the discount. They just email me asking for a mileage update.

You would need to read the 10-page privacy policy with a magnified glass.

its to provide reasons to raise your payment..... seriously not a good idea

Monitor
 

Big brother. It's not for your benefit you can be sure of that.

Several relatives tried these devices in the hopes of reducing their insurance cost. All found the required driving performance to be unobtainable. Example: To pass the braking requirement you almost needed to coast to a stop. Likewise to pass the acceleration requirement you needed to accelerate very, very slowly; so much so that drivers behind them became noticeably irritated. Unless you are prepared to adopt a very frustrating driving style I would stay away.

I like the way you think! Have you ever considered an electromagnetic device that discharges a very short but very powerful signal capable of disabling the cars ignition system? They do exist. Some police have them. This way the "left lane bandits" simple coast to a stop at the curb. Problem solved!

Drive 35 in a 15mph school zone that is not active at the time = speeding in a school zone.
Kid on a bicycle rides out directly in your path, you swerve and brake hard = reckless distracted driving.
Rates go up but you did nothing wrong. Maybe even saved a life. No thank you.

///

?
 

Do you want your driving habits out there for all insurance to see forever?

What's wrong with fast acceleration?

Does 1984 ring a bell ?

I read that they will share all info with law enforcement and lawyers

They promise you big discounts and then deliver a few dollars every 6 months even with perfect driving. If it is a phone app, as many are, you have to allow access to the app at all times to track your driving which eats up your battery and data. In the end it costs you more and they get all your data to use against you. Don’t do it man!

This device goes back to the eighties (when I saw the demonstration). I saw it in the eighties so it has probably been around since the seventies. Problem back then was when the engine stopped, power steering and brakes didn't work. I fantasized about PITng them.

Have had two companies that we used and both times we had excellent scores and had our rates jumped up so high we had to change companies. We are on our third now (State Farm} that uses a monitor, we'll know in May if same happens and we have to shop around again.

Have had it twice with good scores and still had to shop around for insurance when got renewal rate. On our third now (State Farm) will see what happens.

I use an app to ‘grade’ my driving
 

I allow an App to ‘grade’ each time I drive … 5 ‘grades’ on speed, phone usage, acceleration, cornering and braking. My rate is 1/3 of what it used to be. To be honest 95% of our driving is in The Villages … a place like most where a majority of the drivers tend to scoff at posted speed limits. The realization that my grades (& rates) depend on my driving habits have had a very positive on my driving. I don’t remember the last time I had an urge of ‘road rage’ 😎. … and by the way … I’m the guy driving 45 on 466 (with my cruise control on) while ‘you’ fly by … probably thinking I’m doing 35.

Exactly!

You could always fantasize about pinging them at a stop light. Evil thoughts for sure!

The app the insurance company put on our phone was grossly inaccurate, showing us leaving from places we never were at and going places we did not go. Off by three quarters of a mile. Every stop was a panic stop. It gobbled up the phone’s battery life. We deleted it.

I have USAA and it doesn't use speed to determine my score. It tracks phone use while driving and hard braking. I don't use phone while driving, but my automatic cruise control brakes too hard when a car cuts in front of me. I saved 25% on my 6 month renewal.

Personally, I'm more than willing to pay 25% to kick big brother to the curb.

Our old insurance company offered a 30 day plug in device, to save on policy. I used it on month long call. Drove 8.1 miles day one, every 12 hours moved car from shady spot, during the day to close to the back door at night. Every Sunday went to grocery 2.6 miles to pick up snacks because you get tired of the same food everyday. End of 30 days drove 8.3 miles home. Following day returned in prepaid envelope. Included a 30 day Onstar report that would mirror the same exact mileage.

Got an interesting letter 30 days, say device was defective, policy would remain as is.

We came from GM corporate family, so have always had big brother attached to my car once Onstar was invented. Even if you choose to not pay for service, it still tracks your vehicle.

Last year Onstar offered their own insurance, quote was $587 less per year. Will see what happens at renewal in May. I actually drive double the miles now, than while I was working.