Car insurance driving monitoring OBDII thing - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

davidmash · #1 05-25-2019, 03:26 PM

I switch insurance to State Farm and they have this driving monitor thing and will offer a.discount between 1% - 50%. They said it will not penlize so it seemed.like a win. I know I'm a good driver. I'll or 10 over the limit with traffic but I don't weave around, slam the brakes, stop light race ...etc.

Has anyone had any experience with these?

rocky raccoon · #2 05-25-2019, 03:58 PM

Yes David ... sort of. We had a similar "black box" in our ambulances n Richmond. It monitored your diving habits; speed, acceleration, braking, turning (lateral g's) and backing without a spotter (outside pushbutton when in reverse). We all found it very intrusive and it was used to "score" us as drivers. Too many violations and we had to go back to driving school and in extreme cases, were fired.

I too have State Farm and have had for 30+ years. They made the same offer and I declined. I would not do it for 1% or for 20%. At 50% I would have to think about it.

My advice is to decline. I don't want them looking over my shoulder whenever I drive. On the flip side, lets say you are on the aggressive side as a driver. Are they justified then in raising your rates 1%, 20% or 50% ?

As a quick dig on the way out, your posts betray you as a pro-government type. Maybe you would like this as a forcing function to make you a better person.

Tony H · #3 05-25-2019, 06:44 PM

I had such a device on my company provided vehicle. I found my self driving to please the device instead of being aware of driving conditions. I feel it made me a less safe driver. The technology was problematic resulting in false alerts also. Shortly after I retired tracking equipment was installed to locate one's position-presumable to facilitate more efficient use of personal. Had a major effect on moral. It was the company's vehicle and they could do what they wished so the price for free transportation.

davidmash · #4 05-26-2019, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocky raccoon

Yes David ... sort of. We had a similar "black box" in our ambulances n Richmond. It monitored your diving habits; speed, acceleration, braking, turning (lateral g's) and backing without a spotter (outside pushbutton when in reverse). We all found it very intrusive and it was used to "score" us as drivers. Too many violations and we had to go back to driving school and in extreme cases, were fired.

I too have State Farm and have had for 30+ years. They made the same offer and I declined. I would not do it for 1% or for 20%. At 50% I would have to think about it.

My advice is to decline. I don't want them looking over my shoulder whenever I drive. On the flip side, lets say you are on the aggressive side as a driver. Are they justified then in raising your rates 1%, 20% or 50% ?

As a quick dig on the way out, your posts betray you as a pro-government type. Maybe you would like this as a forcing function to make you a better person.

State Farm told me that the devise would not be used to increase my rate.

I'm going.to.try it for 6.months and see how my rate is affected.

vwnate1 · #5 05-26-2019, 01:58 PM

Oh boy ~

All I see here is a slippery slope we'll never get back up again .

Surely you can see there's no possible way they won't use this to raise your rates .

I'd not do it if my insurance dropped to FREE because I like to drive quickly .

I never, _ever_ roll stop signs etc. but I do drive over the posted limit as much as I obey them .

davidmash · #6 05-26-2019, 03:32 PM

On surface streets I tend to go speed.limit. freeways I'll do 5-10 over traffic permitting. So I thought no I am safe even if they are going.to.use it to increase rates. I would think if they were doing this it would get out on the web and people would not go for it.

barry12345 · #7 05-26-2019, 04:34 PM

I have never managed to be at the wrong place at the right time. That is 65 years of driving without an accident. Is this really reflected in lowering my premiums. Not in any signifigant manner.

At my age I no longer speed at all. The cruise control is my best friend these days while driving. I want to hand in my license before I hurt anyone. Plus some ticket accumulations could make a retest request plus higher insurance premiums.

I still think I am a competent driver. In Canada your doctor is mandated to inform the authorities when he feels indications are you are no longer fit. I agree totally with this. You do not want people that are essentially out of their minds directing a ton or two of metal out on the roads and highways out there.

Allstate is one of the insurance companies with the worse name in Canada. Not that any providers have a really good name.

We sent in all the requested information on a break and enter claim we experienced some time ago. We should have seen a cheque by now. We do not need the money but obviously we could be a couple that did.

Perhaps they are waiting for us to call to try to lowball the claim. I almost feel a sense of paranoia when dealing with insurance companies.

The wife racked up three car claims over the years. I well understand the concerns people have with insurance companies as a result. Only one of those three claims went easy.

My first question to Allstate. Although I think an honest answer would not be forthcoming. Is why are you sacrificing premiums to want my driving style information? Plus if you do go along the percentage reduction of the premium will probably be only token in nature.

To get anywhere near 50 percent discount off the car would have to remain parked all the time probably. As the insurance company we are involved with now states in their literature. Our first job is to protect the premiums we collect.

Members should examine their household policies. In several insurance contracts I have read. They specify that special interest things have a maximum payout of only 1500.00 dollars or so. I suspect if we had a bad house fire my tools would be in this classification. That amount would just cover one heavy duty table saw and accessories at best.

Or I have a collection of model trains and small model aircraft engines in a display case. Some multi cylinder ones that are fairly rare. It would cost many times the 1500.00 to replace them.

tbomachines · #8 05-26-2019, 07:59 PM

If you drive an old diesel that cant pull 20sec 0-60s, youre probably going to save a bundle.

sno_duc · #9 05-27-2019, 11:01 AM

I wonder what the insurance companies would think if you took on of their devices to Germany?
10 laps around the ring, a few of the better mountain passes, and some time on unrestricted Autobahns in say a Mercedes AMG or BMW M or Audi S or Porsche GT3.

davidmash · #10 05-27-2019, 11:48 AM

Hey Mike, check this out. This moron was doing 150 and pulling multiple.G's, weaving all over the place... It hey. No accident. 30% discount applied. 😂

pj67coll · #11 05-27-2019, 12:13 PM

I have zero tolerance for the concept. I'll never have one in any vehicle I own as long as I live.

- Peter.

barry12345 · #12 05-27-2019, 11:18 PM

I understand and it is possibly true. After an accident the speed you were going can be recovered from most modern cars electronics. I suspect they only go looking there if a fatality is involved.

I am having some difficulty understanding just what Allstate is really up to. It might work in their favor if it slows drivers down. As I stated I felt somewhat required not to provide any issues with my driving. Starting at about age 70. Getting any ones attention. I will say this much finding you cannot drive anymore will probably happen to the majority while still alive.

An interesting statistic I read somewhere. In accidents at seventy six miles an hour and higher the rate of fatalities in accidents rises substantially.

Again something I cannot verify. I have heard that some cars may be transmitting a signal that seat belts that are not fastened that should be. Can be picked up by certain police equipment.

vwnate1 · #13 05-28-2019, 09:32 AM

Hey Peter ;

Pretty soon you might not have any choice if you buy a new car.....

Scary thought .

sloride · #14 05-28-2019, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmash

State Farm told me that the devise would not be used to increase my rate.

I'm going.to.try it for 6.months and see how my rate is affected.

State Farm is going to at their cost install something on your vehicle to help you lower your premium.

Why don't you just ask them if you have a safe record in regards to losses lower your premium and keep the cost of that device.
They already know your driving history, along with your credit rating.

davidmash · #15 05-28-2019, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloride

State Farm is going to at their cost install something on your vehicle to help you lower your premium.

Why don't you just ask them if you have a safe record in regards to losses lower your premium and keep the cost of that device.
They already know your driving history, along with your credit rating.

Fair point.

They could argue that I am a driver who has not had an accident. I have been in cars with people who I do not think are "safe" drivers yet have not been in an accident. They speed, change lanes often, roll stop signs ..etc. Perhaps State Farm is looking to encourage safer driving habits to help reduce the possibility of future occurrences. I have not been in an accident that I caused for as long as I have been driving. Haven't had a speeding ticket in probably close to 10 yrs.

According to State Farm that is exactly what they will do. I will try it for 6 months and if the rates do not decrease then I will discontinue the use of it. I do not see an up side for State Farm to lie to me regarding the device. If it does not do what they say, why would any one use it?