Car Insurance - Smart Ride

[JoePa]

My insurance company (Nationwide) has a plan where you can get a 5 % discount from your present rates if you install a electronic devise into the diagnostic port on my vehicles - this devise records data that will be used to determine what kind of driver you are - they say that depending on the data you could get discounts up to 30% - my question is - is anyone familiar with this kind of setup - and if so have you ever heard of this devise causing damage to you vehicle's computer - I don't know if such a plan is available up in Canada - thank you

[fishy steve]

yeah seen a few companies advertising that up here... havent herd of anybody using it yet... not a fan personally of somebody tracking my driving habits...

[Loony]

I would think it will work both ways, if you are an aggressive driver it gives them a excuse to jack up your rates.

[fishy steve]

I would think it will work both ways, if you are an aggressive driver it gives them a excuse to jack up your rates.

they claim that it will wont increase your rates... which is probably true until its time to renew lol

[Goosesniper]

I drive a jeep. I wonder what those things would indicate my driving as. Pretty much stay within the speed limit. It's not a vehicle you race around in. On the other hand though. What would it show for my 4 wheeling off road. I hope it comes with a wash your vehicle reminder.

[Mattones]

I have a friend who works for insurance and she has one in her car. Haven't heard anything about it or if she still has it in thre after a year LOL. It just plugs into where a mechanic reads your computer. It won't void any car warranty.

but she has said chances are your insurance will go up unless you drive like an old person. Passing someone? It will show the sudden acceleration then decrease. They don't know you are passing... they think you are just driving recklessly.

We all know how insurance company's work..

[fishy steve]

I drive a jeep. I wonder what those things would indicate my driving as. Pretty much stay within the speed limit. It's not a vehicle you race around in. On the other hand though. What would it show for my 4 wheeling off road. I hope it comes with a wash your vehicle reminder.

your insurance will go up, cant keep your vehicle on the road lol

[Goosesniper]

your insurance will go up, cant keep your vehicle on the road lol

Funny. They will screw You either way.

[SongDog]

I can see it now. Everyone that has one in their car is driving 80km an hour....Side by side.....No one gets ahead and huge cluster of traffic because of it. LOL

[oaknut]

Looked into these a while back. I thought they might have been a good idea for company vehicles. My research showed far more than I needed to see. These things track acceleration, braking, hard cornering, signal light use and the list goes on. Then I found some even track where your vehicle is and what speed you are travelling while there. This all sounded great for single driver company vehicles until you hear the horror stories some units (progressive US) cause to electrical systems. Wires burning, engines dying under acceleration and lights out scenarios. No thanks.