Auto Insurance using regen breaking

[Perry]

I currently use Progessive Insurance with an option called Snap Shot on my phone to reduce rate. I looked at my record and notice I only receive one star out of five stars because I had 15 hard breaks in one day. I hardly ever use my brakes due to the regen option. Found out if I continue my rates will increase a lot. Their algorithm is not compatible yet with electric car regen options. When I lift up on the gas pedal it shows up as a hard stop, Same problem May show up with other insurance companies.

 

[Last ICE]

Sounds to me that the problem is not the fact that you use regenerative braking, but rather you are releasing the accelerator too quickly which results in a hard braking event which, I would argue, is just as dangerous as a hard braking event with traditional brakes. The key is to refine the single pedal driving to be smooth.

 

[Amster]

I currently use Progessive Insurance with an option called Snap Shot on my phone to reduce rate. I looked at my record and notice I only receive one star out of five stars because I had 15 hard breaks in one day. I hardly ever use my brakes due to the regen option. Found out if I continue my rates will increase a lot. Their algorithm is not compatible yet with electric car regen options. When I lift up on the gas pedal it shows up as a hard stop, Same problem May show up with other insurance companies.

Is Snap Shot optional? What else does it report back to Progressive? Does it report your driving speed vs. speed limit as well? Since it's not compatible with the way an EV operates, it sounds like you shouldn't be using it.

 

[FA14]

Is Snap Shot optional? What else does it report back to Progressive? Does it report your driving speed vs. speed limit as well? Since it's not compatible with the way an EV operates, it sounds like you shouldn't be using it.

Yes, it’s optional and should not be enrolled to save a few bucks on insurance. They track everything including braking, aggressive turning, sudden acceleration and night time driving etc. totally takes out the joy of driving the car like normal people do. I had Tesla insurance for the first month and then switched to a regular insurance for my previous car.

 

[segbrk]

Agreed, those driver tracking apps are a kind of disturbing scam. They don't really make your insurance cheaper because they're making sure you drive safely, they make your insurance cheaper because your insurance company is then selling your location history and other data to advertising companies. They'll likely only work against you if/when you actually file a claim, because the insurance company can say "but you were speeding! [by 2mph]" or whatever they'd like to avoid paying out.

 

[FA14]

Agreed, those driver tracking apps are a kind of disturbing scam. They don't really make your insurance cheaper because they're making sure you drive safely, they make your insurance cheaper because your insurance company is then selling your location history and other data to advertising companies. They'll likely only work against you if/when you actually file a claim, because the insurance company can say "but you were speeding! [by 2mph]" or whatever they'd like to avoid paying out.

Absolutely! In my brief experience with Tesla insurance which tracks all these things…found myself driving with extreme caution and always thinking about not getting the safety score dinged; which increases the premiums. Took me a couple of weeks to realize, that this not only ruins the whole purpose of spirited driving, but also posed a grave danger of getting in an accident by overthinking every move e.g. braking less to avoid hard braking, following not too closely with other vehicle etc.

 

[Leftlane]

I use Progressive but no way I would give them access to that info. It’s already pretty reasonably priced anyway, and that data only benefits the insurance company.

 

[kort6776]

I currently use Progessive Insurance with an option called Snap Shot on my phone to reduce rate. I looked at my record and notice I only receive one star out of five stars because I had 15 hard breaks in one day. I hardly ever use my brakes due to the regen option. Found out if I continue my rates will increase a lot. Their algorithm is not compatible yet with electric car regen options. When I lift up on the gas pedal it shows up as a hard stop, Same problem May show up with other insurance companies.

do yourself a favor and get that app off of your phone. they are too binary and not well suited to drivers of EVs

 

[Steveinarizona]

Agreed, those driver tracking apps are a kind of disturbing scam. They don't really make your insurance cheaper because they're making sure you drive safely, they make your insurance cheaper because your insurance company is then selling your location history and other data to advertising companies. They'll likely only work against you if/when you actually file a claim, because the insurance company can say "but you were speeding! [by 2mph]" or whatever they'd like to avoid paying out.

Actually, I suspect that in many instances they may cause accidents. If you see the TV commercials (I forget which company) some or many drivers will delay hard breaking or sudden speed increases needed to safely avoid an accident because they are monitoring and watching their scores. To paraphrase Adlai Stevenson: so long as it is optional hell will freeze over before I select the option.

 

[OutrightPace]

Apps that allow insurance companies to monitor and judge one's driving are another step towards making 1984 a reality. They are not worth the loss of privacy - even if you drive like a grandma - no matter the discount they promise.

 

[borski]

Hard pass.

 

[dcase99]

Tried that app with an un-named insurance company once. Drove slower and more carefully sure. The score improved, but insurance costs didn't. Felt like the cost only went up. Removed the app, they complained, then removed the insurance company.

 

[HC_79]

Yeah, no way will I ever let an insurance company track everything i'm doing. You'll be screwed more than you're rewarded.

 

[bill1745]

Sounds to me that the problem is not the fact that you use regenerative braking, but rather you are releasing the accelerator too quickly which results in a hard braking event which, I would argue, is just as dangerous as a hard braking event with traditional brakes. The key is to refine the single pedal driving to be smooth.

I think the problem is letting your insurance see your day-to-day driving. IMHO, it is just a mechanism for insurance companies to raise your rates, not cause a rate reduction. It will record every time you exceed the speed limit, hard brake, jackrabbit start, and other negative driving events. Just an opinion.

 

[borski]

I think the problem is letting your insurance see your day-to-day driving. IMHO, it is just a mechanism for insurance companies to raise your rates, not cause a rate reduction. It will record every time you exceed the speed limit, hard brake, jackrabbit start, and other negative driving events. Just an opinion.

In some cars, I’m fine with it. On the Lucid? No way.

 

[translux]

Yeah, no way will I ever let an insurance company track everything i'm doing. You'll be screwed more than you're rewarded.

This! It’s just another mechanism to bolster their data collection capabilities. I’m sure it’s for internal use but more importantly to add value to the their data sales. “'if you're not paying for the product, you are the product!”

 

[vav493]

Well, if 1984 is your worry, then many of the existing manufacturers already have you covered! /s

They’ve been selling our driving data to insurance companies for a while now. Lol don’t get me wrong; I think data privacy is great and how it should be but it’s just not the world we live in anymore. Google keeps track of where we make our searches from and where we’ve been (Google Timeline); Google or Apple Maps uses our location data while driving to determine traffic levels. I don’t even want to know what Amazon knows about me Target keeps an insanely detailed profile on everyone entering and exiting the store (picture, audio, video, what you grabbed, what you put back, what you scanned) for “loss prevention.” Telecommunications carriers share wild amounts of data; they did a study recently that showed the stark difference in how long Thanksgiving dinners lasted when people crossed over “political boundary lines.” Streaming and cable companies track which channels you’re watching, how long you stay for, what languages they’re in. e-Commerce marketplaces and merchant card processing companies know what you’re buying, what device you’re using, what browser you’re on, the IP and location when you place your order.

I have insurance through Tesla on my Model 3, and I suppose I’m in the minority but I liked the scoring model. I’m not saying I loved it and sure, I worried a lot about “fitting into a box” for their ideal driver, but I liked that I had control over that. My insurance has been like 50%-65% cheaper, which was an unexpected benefit on top of not paying for gas anymore, and it adjusts monthly for improvements in driving or reduction in miles driven. Legacy insurance companies source wild amounts of (sometimes stupid) data including credit history, driving history, income history, what color your car is, number of doors, age, median house prices in your area, etc. just to tell me that despite not having any accidents on my record, I should still be priced like a race car driver. Well then, fine - I will drive like a race car driver if I’m going to be charged like one get my money’s worth.

I don’t know if Lucid does or does not, so I’m not commenting on that but I’d imagine it would be smart to just keep the data for themselves haha

 

[Batteryman]

Well, if 1984 is your worry, then many of the existing manufacturers already have you covered! /s

They’ve been selling our driving data to insurance companies for a while now. Lol don’t get me wrong; I think data privacy is great and how it should be but it’s just not the world we live in anymore. Google keeps track of where we make our searches from and where we’ve been (Google Timeline); Google or Apple Maps uses our location data while driving to determine traffic levels. I don’t even want to know what Amazon knows about me Target keeps an insanely detailed profile on everyone entering and exiting the store (picture, audio, video, what you grabbed, what you put back, what you scanned) for “loss prevention.” Telecommunications carriers share wild amounts of data; they did a study recently that showed the stark difference in how long Thanksgiving dinners lasted when people crossed over “political boundary lines.” Streaming and cable companies track which channels you’re watching, how long you stay for, what languages they’re in. e-Commerce marketplaces and merchant card processing companies know what you’re buying, what device you’re using, what browser you’re on, the IP and location when you place your order.

I have insurance through Tesla on my Model 3, and I suppose I’m in the minority but I liked the scoring model. I’m not saying I loved it and sure, I worried a lot about “fitting into a box” for their ideal driver, but I liked that I had control over that. My insurance has been like 50%-65% cheaper, which was an unexpected benefit on top of not paying for gas anymore, and it adjusts monthly for improvements in driving or reduction in miles driven. Legacy insurance companies source wild amounts of (sometimes stupid) data including credit history, driving history, income history, what color your car is, number of doors, age, median house prices in your area, etc. just to tell me that despite not having any accidents on my record, I should still be priced like a race car driver. Well then, fine - I will drive like a race car driver if I’m going to be charged like one get my money’s worth.

I don’t know if Lucid does or does not, so I’m not commenting on that but I’d imagine it would be smart to just keep the data for themselves haha

Never will I sign up for anything like this. Takes enjoyment out of driving. Also, I bet you 90% have their rates go up.

 

[vav493]

Never will I sign up for anything like this. Takes enjoyment out of driving. Also, I bet you 90% have their rates go up.

No idea about Progressive. I’m sure they’ll manipulate their own system to their benefit (of course) so don’t blame you

 

[kort6776]

these units are not going to lower your rates. I would never voluntarily offer to give away this sort of data.
think about how you enjoy the capabilities of your car, everytime you stomp on the excelerator it goes down as aggressive driving, do you really want that?