For six months, I decided to put my driving habits under the microscope by participating in Progressive’s Snapshot Discount program. Like many, the promise of savings dangled by the insurance giant, often featuring their ubiquitous character Flo, was tempting. The program involves plugging a small device into your car that diligently records your driving activity and transmits this data back to Progressive. My experience, and the real impact of Snapshot, might be quite revealing, and it’s crucial information if you’re considering enrolling in this monitoring program.
When I first signed up, the intricacies of the Snapshot program were a bit of a blur. However, after a month of living with the device, I gained some valuable insights about these car monitoring technologies that every insured driver should be aware of.
Diving Deep into Progressive Snapshot: How It Works and What to Expect
The allure of “saving up to 30 percent” as advertised by Progressive’s Snapshot Discount program is hard to ignore. Intrigued and in the midst of quickly securing insurance for my new 2014 Mustang, I opted into the Snapshot program somewhat hastily, lured by the potential discount without fully grasping the implications.
I reasoned, “What’s the worst that could happen?” Even a modest discount seemed worthwhile for simply participating. However, a nagging question arose: what price was I putting on my privacy? The answer, as you’ll see, became clearer as my experience unfolded.
Within the first week of having the Snapshot device in my car, a wave of dislike washed over me. Yet, the engineer in me was also intrigued by the access to my own driving data. Once you commit, completing the program’s “term” is advisable; otherwise, your rates might increase based on a limited and potentially skewed data collection period. To give you a clearer picture of the program’s mechanics, I’m sharing the data Snapshot collected on my driving.
Ask anyone using Snapshot about their biggest annoyance, and you’ll likely hear about the dreaded “BEEP-BEEP-BEEP” sound. This auditory signal is the device’s way of saying, “Progressive just got notified because you slowed down a tad too quickly!”
Understanding the Progressive Snapshot Device: More Than Just a Tracker
The Progressive Snapshot device is a compact module designed to connect to your car’s On-Board Diagnostics Type 2 (OBD-II) port. This port is typically used by mechanics to diagnose vehicle issues, providing access to a vast array of your car’s systems, from the engine and brakes to the transmission and electronics. Essentially, if your car has it, the OBD-II system can likely monitor it.
Packed into its small 2” X 3” frame, the Snapshot device is surprisingly sophisticated. It contains a memory chip, a cellular radio, and a GPS radio that communicates with satellites for location purposes. A deeper dive into the patent reveals the technological intricacies within. While you drive, the Snapshot device continuously transmits your vehicle’s data to Progressive’s servers. My device utilized a quad-band GSM module (datasheet), which makes sense given Progressive’s partnership with AT&T for data services.
Progressive states on their website that they monitor vehicle speed, but explicitly claim not to track location data. This is a self-imposed limitation, not a technical one. Functionally, it operates similarly to a cell phone connected to the AT&T network. The precise vehicle data points tracked remain somewhat opaque – are they also monitoring RPMs or throttle position? The full scope is unclear, but technologically, the capability to track a wide range of data is certainly there.
Since I initially enrolled, Progressive has refined their recommendations regarding who benefits most from Snapshot. Interestingly, this information is restricted to existing customers, accessible only within their authenticated account portal. Their publicly available FAQs regarding the program tend to present a more optimistic view.
Furthermore, the complete terms and conditions of the Snapshot Discount program are not readily available until after you’ve agreed to participate. To save you the effort of searching, here’s a direct link to the Snapshot Terms & Conditions. This is one set of terms and conditions worth reviewing carefully.
My agreement included a clear warning against reverse-engineering, disassembling, or tampering with the device. While I adhered to this, technically inclined individuals could potentially investigate the data flow. Perhaps with tools like Stingray scanners, one could intercept the cellular data transmission. Alternatively, the OBD-II protocol itself is relatively open, allowing for monitoring of data exchange between the port and the device – a classic man-in-the-middle approach. But that’s a technical tangent.
How Progressive Snapshot Might Penalize Your “Risky” Driving
The Snapshot device seems to primarily focus on two types of driving data that can negatively impact your discount. The first is rapid deceleration, or “hard braking,” which I’ll explain in detail. The second is the time of day you drive, logged the moment you start your car. Data logging occurs even if the vehicle isn’t moving. (In one instance, starting my car late at night after some garage tinkering registered as “driving” at 11 PM, considered a high-risk driving period.)
Surprisingly, neither vehicle speed nor acceleration appear to be directly penalized. In theory, aggressive acceleration wouldn’t trigger a negative mark. However, rapid deceleration will. This brings up the issue of false positives.
Consider how the device interprets tire spin, relevant not just for spirited drivers but anyone encountering icy, unpaved, or wet road conditions. Spinning tires rotate faster than the vehicle’s actual speed, and when traction is regained, they decelerate quickly. The Snapshot device interprets this rapid deceleration as hard braking, even if the brake pedal wasn’t used. This is because the vehicle speed sensor is often located in the transmission, reflecting driveshaft speed. Hence, your speedometer might show 40 MPH while the car is stationary due to wheelspin.
The Subjectivity of “Hard Braking” According to Snapshot
Progressive defines a hard brake as any deceleration exceeding 7 miles per hour per second. This isn’t solely about brake pedal usage; coasting uphill on a steep incline could trigger it. While I lack definitive speed thresholds for triggering, my experience suggests consistency across various speeds.
I argue that the 7 MPH per second threshold is overly simplistic and impractical in many real-world driving scenarios. It’s a rigid rule that doesn’t fully account for inertia and basic physics. In urban driving, encountering situations that trigger “Hard Brakes” daily becomes almost inevitable. Once I understood this threshold, I consciously aimed for deceleration rates under 10 MPH per second, constantly monitoring my speedometer. This strategy was somewhat effective in reducing hard brake incidents.
To illustrate why 7 MPH per second (10.27 feet per second) might be an inadequate measure of “safe” driving, consider these common scenarios:
- Decelerating from 75 MPH (110 feet per second) to 25 MPH (36.67 feet per second) requires a minimum of 7.1 seconds to stay within the 7 MPH/second limit.
- Coming to a complete stop from 75 MPH (110 feet per second) necessitates at least 11 seconds of deceleration.
- A stop from 45 MPH (66 feet per second), such as when making a left turn, requires 6.4 seconds to avoid exceeding the threshold.
These examples highlight that safe deceleration is heavily speed-dependent. The constant factor is the distance between your vehicle and potential hazards. Urban driving presents more frequent, less severe hazards, while highways offer fewer but potentially more unpredictable and severe threats (like sudden rush hour congestion).
The counter-argument is that maintaining ample following distance allows for smoother deceleration, staying within Snapshot’s parameters while driving safely. However, in practice, this might mean occasionally missing a turn to avoid a perceived “hard brake” trigger. Yet, there’s a kernel of truth: controlled braking can reflect a driver’s heightened awareness of changing road conditions.
This naturally leads to the idea of “gaming” the system.
Strategies for Optimizing Your Score with Snapshot
Knowing what Snapshot tracks and the challenge of avoiding penalties, you might consider how to “play the game” effectively. As the saying goes, “don’t hate the player, hate the game”—or in this case, play it strategically.
Progressive’s discount calculation hinges on hard brakes, nighttime driving, and total mileage. Mileage, surprisingly, is the most easily manipulated factor to improve your score. The ratio of hard brakes to miles driven seems to be a key metric in their discount algorithm.
Therefore, you have two primary approaches: refine your braking technique to minimize hard brakes, or increase your mileage to dilute the impact of unavoidable hard brakes.
The Double-Edged Sword: Snapshot Data and Insurance Claims
Participating in Snapshot also means allowing Progressive to use your driving data against you in the event of an insurance claim. While this might not be a concern for most, it’s worth noting that your insurance company gains access to data that could negatively impact your claim outcome or future premiums. For example, if you were speeding at the time of an accident, this data could be detrimental to your defense. Conversely, the data could also support your claim if you were driving safely.
The intention is likely to curb fraudulent claims and fairly assign responsibility. However, if involved in an at-fault accident, one might be tempted to discreetly remove the Snapshot device, preventing the other party from potentially subpoenaing the data. The data, in this perspective, becomes solely between you and your insurer.
However, the data isn’t always detrimental. It can be incredibly valuable in cases of wrongful accusation. Notably, a man in Cleveland was exonerated of murder charges thanks to data from his Progressive Snapshot device, proving his location at the time of the crime.
Snapshot as a Driving Behavior Modification Tool
After six months of Snapshot use, I concluded its primary effect is enhancing driver awareness of their vehicle, driving conditions, and the importance of smooth deceleration. It took roughly two months to adjust my driving habits.
And it worked. After this period, I no longer consciously worried about triggering the Snapshot beep because I had naturally adapted to slowing down earlier. While I might have occasionally accelerated through yellow lights when safe, the general hesitation has diminished.
The device’s audible beep serves as a negative reinforcement, while the discount acts as a positive incentive. It’s a classic Pavlovian conditioning loop.
The Verdict on Savings: Did Snapshot Really Save Me Money? (Spoiler: Not Really)
During my initial month, Snapshot deemed me a “terrible” driver. This is significant because Progressive employs a 30-day “probationary” period to assess your driving and set your initial discount for the remaining five months.
My first month’s “savings”? A mere one percent, or $5.46. That was the initial price of my privacy. After the full six months, my discount increased to 12 percent, roughly $96. However, a closer look revealed a less straightforward picture.
Did I actually “save” $96? Examining my Declarations pages provided a clearer financial picture.
My rates increased. Whether directly linked to Snapshot data or not, Progressive quietly raised my base premiums while crediting the “good driving” discount. While premium increases can stem from various factors, the correlation was unsettling. Typically, as a vehicle depreciates, insurance premiums should decrease. Progressive’s actions suggested otherwise.
Original Premiums with Progressive ($741)
Six-month Renewal Premiums with Progressive ($836)
As suspected, Progressive increased my premiums by $95, just shy of my $96 discount. Clever accounting indeed. While I receive other discounts, these figures represent my base policy premiums. These remained constant. Therefore, the net value of my privacy was effectively one dollar, or about 16 cents per month.
In conclusion, Snapshot might offer a superficial discount while potentially masking an underlying premium increase upon renewal.
Unveiling the Data: What Progressive Snapshot Reports Show You
Let’s explore the Snapshot reports accessible on Progressive’s website for program participants. This information is not part of their public marketing, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the data you can expect.
Discounts from the Snapshot Program:
Weekly Trip Averages Report (Comparing current week to your overall average): (Note: Data for my last seven days is unavailable due to program completion.)
Daily Trip Details Log (Final week of Snapshot):
Daily Trip Details Log (First Week of Snapshot):
Trip Detail Report (Example: Driving from Tucson to Phoenix):
Key Insights Gleaned from the Snapshot Data
Progressive provides limited interpretation of the data’s significance, leaving it to users and underwriters. I exported my data (a somewhat cumbersome process) and conducted basic analysis in Excel, focusing on the six-month period from January to June.
Key findings emerged:
- Driving behavior improved noticeably after roughly 70 days of program participation.
- Hard brakes could be mitigated by accumulating “good” mileage.
- A shift from city to highway commuting reduced hard brake incidents.
- An 11% discount was achieved by the program’s conclusion.
Hard Brakes (Aggregated):
Mileage:
Trips:
Hard Brake to Mileage Ratio:
The spike on February 4th? That was my experimentation with brake stands (burnouts) while figuring out how to disable traction control on my Mustang. 😉
Final Reflections on the Snapshot Program
The initial 30 days of Snapshot were undeniably challenging, at least for me. Had I fully understood the penalty associated with each hard brake, I would have been even more proactive in avoiding them. Now, with better understanding, adapting to driving monitoring devices becomes more manageable.
My primary concern is the current voluntary nature of these programs. Progressive and State Farm offer incentives for participation. However, the value of this driving data likely surpasses the offered discounts. I anticipate a future where such monitoring becomes mandatory, with penalties for opting out.
For privacy advocates, this system raises valid concerns. Amidst NSA controversies and government surveillance, these programs offer another avenue for tracking citizens. Armed with subpoenas from secret FISA courts, insurance companies and data providers might be compelled to monitor vehicle locations. Beyond national agencies, local law enforcement also possesses tools like Stingrays to monitor cellular traffic without user consent. (Remember, the Snapshot device has a cellular modem and SIM card. Patent details here).
Overall, the Snapshot program achieved its stated goal: it encouraged safer driving habits. While some aspects are debatable, considering its relative novelty, ongoing refinement is expected.
Future improvements I’d like to see from Progressive include comparative driving performance data against other drivers with similar vehicles in my state, similar to Nest’s energy consumption comparisons. This peer comparison leverages human psychology to reinforce positive behavior. Progressive possesses the data; they should utilize it to further educate customers. Greater transparency regarding the types of data collected, retained, or discarded would also be appreciated, even in technical detail.
If you consistently drive smoothly, avoid aggressive maneuvers, and primarily drive in favorable conditions, Snapshot could be beneficial. Otherwise, the tempting discount might not outweigh the privacy trade-offs.
UPDATE (2018): For further insights, read my recent thoughts on Progressive Snapshot, a follow-up to this review.
Photo credit: robertnelson
