The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

I recently switched to All-State for insurance, because I got a better rate.

As part of that, there is additional incentive for plugging this thing into your car that takes data and sends it to the insurance company.  Speed, amount of driving, "extreme braking events', etc.

It lowers your rate by 10% just by installing it, and can lower it as much as 30% depending on what it finds.  As I understand it, 30% is damn near impossible unless you're a grandma who doesn't drive.

Does anyone do this?  What is your experience?

I wouldn't do that at all.  Insurance companies look for any and every reason to increase your rates.  The less they know about me the better.

Only an idiot would have one of those things installed.  Once they have your information they can share it with other insurers.  Imagine you are going 5 mph over the speed limit and someone hits you, next thing you know they are denying your claim and canceling your policy because you are a reckless driver.  Then other companies won't insure you either.  You end up in an assigned risk pool paying triple what you should be paying.

I don't drive "recklessly", but yeah, installing one of those would be a bad move on my part. 

you don't keep it installed, you have it for about 3 weeks and then you ship it back to them

Does it have a voice recorder with it that catches you when you are screaming obscenities at other drivers? 

Or a camera that can catch you throwing pennies at other drivers for driving like idiots?

I did this several years ago since I am normally a pretty safe driver.  I've never had a ticket, or accident, and in the couple of weeks that I had the thing plugged into my car, the insurance company determined that I was an Indy race car driver with a passion for tight curves and quick stops. I definitely wouldn't do this again.  I actually drove more cautiously than normal while I had it, and it didn't work out in my favor!  I also drive 30 miles in the country with no stop signs each day, and only about a mile of city driving, so if you live in a city, for sure don't do it.

But based on what Dave said, you get a 10% discount right off the top for installing it.  So even if you drive like Andretti, you're still paying less... and if they determine that you don't drive aggressively (if that's even possible), you could have an even bigger discount.

^ That's my understanding.

I'm not sure what's in it for them, except that it gives them better data on who to discount, rather than the general age/gender/income/education/car color, etc.

It also isn't just how you drive, but when you drive and how much.

Best times are weekend days, followed by weekday nights, then weekday days, then weekend nights are the riskiest.

I have read reviews and it's all been pretty positive....just they're paying for data, I guess.

I really think it's a bad idea Dave, I think you should reconsider.  I can't state enough that Insurance companies are evil and the less they know about you the better.  They will use any and everything to their advantage to fuck you on a claim and to raise your rates.

You want to know who the bad drivers are there's an easier way to do it. You hand out dart guns and 3 suction darts that can be tracked by satellite to everyone with a valid drivers license. Whenever someone sees another person driving poorly they shoot their car with one of the darts. Anyone getting more than 3 darts in a 2 day window is a poor driver.  >:D

I can't take credit for this idea, it was Gallaghers. He suggested that police just drive around and write a ticket to anyone with more than 3 darts. Sounded like a great plan to me.

it actually is that hard, best way how to predict what drivers are going to get into an accident in the future is they are the ones who got into an accident in the past.

I got about a sentence into that and thought "I sure hope he gives Gallagher credit on this one..." ;)

Allstate does not guarantee a 10 percent  discount. It is up to 10 percent. I'll give you one guess how many people get the full discount. No way I would ever install one of those things.

Incorrect.  It is up to 30% depending on quality of driving.  10% (or up to 10%) just for signing up.

I think it`s a great idea. Be sure and use your Alexa to set it up.

You need to visit the website because their language says up to 10percent. I'm not making it up.

^ From their website:

Save up to 10% when you sign up
Save up to 30% every six months for your everyday safe driving

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I logged into the website portal and I got the full 10% for the signup part.  In six months, they'll evaluate and go based on that.  I'm only 4 days of data in.

According to Dave they are going to re-evaluate in six months, so this must be a different program that what you are talking about.

I don't know about Florida Car Insurance, but up here in NYS you can save on your insurance by taking a Defensive Driving Course.  You save 10% off of liability coverage and 10% off of collision/comp coverage.  The classes last for 6 hours, usually two -  three hour classes, and the discount is good for 3 years, at which time you have to retake the class to continue the discount.  I haven't done it in awhile but I used to take them every three years to save money, it also took points off your license if you had had traffic tickets, which is why I first took them over 30 years ago.  If you want to save some money I'd do this before inviting Big Brother into my car.