Discount auto insurance is now available by how far you drive. It is now available on both coasts. The thinking behind this program has been around for a long time but now auto insurance carriers are starting to put in place a program. When getting your next auto insurance quote see if it is available.
The program first started on the west coast as a pilot discount auto insurance program and it was recently approved for New Jersey through Progressive insurance. There is only one other company that I am aware of that offers auto insurance quotes this way; and that is GMAC Insurance who only offer it to people that have Onstar in there vehicles.
Progressive insurance will attached a devise to you car to monitor the speed at which you drive, your breaking habits and mileage totals. GMAC’s Onstar includes GPS tracking devise but I’m not aware of how they calculate your driving habits. This causes concerns to many people.
Many government lawmakers and non-profit organizations have questions around the way the insurance companies will be monitoring there insured. Some feel by inserting one of these types of devises to your automobile you may be giving up some constitutional freedoms. Another greater concern is that people that live in country will not be able to benefit from this program because they have to drive further daily than people that live in cities.
The discount on your auto insurance could be as much as 9% over people that don’t participate in the program. My concern is how much can your premium be increased if your driving habits to fit what the insurance company has set as normal. Also how does the insurance company determine what is the correct breaking pressure?
A concern of mine is if this program is picked by all the main insurance carriers in the future if you don’t part take in the program will your premiums automatically increase. I understand the insurance company’s point of view of offering lower rates to more responsible drivers that do not drive that far but years down the road how will this affect all of us?
This program was released in New Jersey on August 8th of 2008. Let’s see how long it will take to be available in all states. It will also be interesting to see what other insurance companies adopt a similar program.
I believe it should be your decision to make if you want to participate in a program like this. You know how you drive and how far you drive. I am totally open to the concept but I am a little weary about how they might track my driving habits and what they are compared too.
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