Tracking How I Drive With An Automated Device - Will I Save in this little Insurance Premium?
It does feel strange, like Big Brother is watching as I drive. But, however ,, Allsate says I have the opportunity save up to 30 % on my automobile insurance (which, to me, will be about $100 every half a year) and yes it makes me more conscientious about my driving habits, which overall I think is a great thing. So I'm giving Drive Wise an experiment run for 6 months.
I heard about Drive Wise from my Allstate agent, when he called me ahead of my policy renewal. He informed me that, yes, it might probably feel a tad intrusive in the beginning, but I could try it out and then take it back at any time if I didn't like while using device. He said I'd save a computerized, one-time minimum 10% discount for trying it.
The device arrived by FedEx and was simple to install. I now monitor my driving about the Drive Wise website, together with my projected discount. I'll help keep you up to date on my own experience.
Please permit me to - as well as others - know what you think utilizing a device such as this to save money inside the "duel" comments below.
Please set aside a second to answer this poll.
Do You Currently Use Drive Wise or maybe a Similar Device?
Yes, I'm currently using Drive Wise.
I'm using a machine similar to Drive Wise. (tell us about it from the guestbook below)
I'm not currently using Drive Wise or something similar, but I have within the past. (Let us know within the guestbook below)
No, I've never used Drive Wise or anything as it.
What Drive Wise Monitors
Here will be the driving details monitored through the Drive Wise device. Not all of this stuff are counted toward or against your discount, rather than all parameters get equal weight towards that discount. But we, the drivers, do not know the actual algorithm.
Hard and Extreme Braking
Hard and Extreme Acceleration (These aren't yet utilized in calculating the savings, because Allstate remains to be evaluating the risk-predictive worth of these events.)
Miles Driven Over 80mph
Total Cumulative Miles Driven
Trip Time, Duration and Distance, and Speed
This is exactly what the Drive Wise site says concerning the risk for several driving times on weekdays and weekends. When you log into the account, you can see charts showing you when you've been driving depending on these time slots...
Weekdays:
Lowest Risk 5am - 11pm
Notes within the Discount and Hard/Extreme Braking:
Per the Drive Wise site : For your first full policy cycle, you will get a 10% enrollment discount on the "major insurance policies." (I now must discover out just what exactly THAT means. I'd ASSUMED the discount was on my small whole policy cost but apparently not.) After that, your discount - if any - will probably be calculated on the rolling basis, based around the previous twelve months (or half a year when you begin) of driving.
As this system is currently build, your speed and agility rating cannot improve your premium, your rating doesn't guarantee which you discount either.
Regarding hard braking, the scoring model is considered to take into account the reality that some hard braking is occasionally necessary, even for the actual safest drivers. (For example, someone might get in front of yourself.) So you just aren't supposed being overly focused on any one event recorded in your device.
The Drive Wise risk models are built to look at "the real picture," and in addition they say that should your driving habits are generally safe, you'll work well over the long haul. Likewise, in the event you or someone driving your automobile could might leave a greater space cushion relating to the car as well as others, these devices is expected to help you notice that, after which you can monitor your progress.
If you've questions about Allstate's Drive Wise program, you are able to contact them at (877)431-7670.
What My Auto Insurance Agent Didn't Tell Me
I appreciate my agent and have absolutely known him for a long period. But he did don't tell me a few things about Drive Wise.
First, AFTER THE INITIAL TRIAL POLICY PERIOD, you will find there's $10 fee for every 6 month policy period per enrolled vehicle, for your use of the product. So that cuts into any discount at that time. IF one gets to be a discount whatsoever (because it is not guaranteed). That could mean paying $10 extra! (Update 3/2013: A comment was posted in this posting by an Allstate agent in another state, telling us that $10 is simply charged in most states, not others.)
Also, the laws specify the absolute minimum number of days that these devices must be installed so that you can earn a "Performance Rating." Specifically, that's 90 days above the course on the six-month renewal period. And there aren't exceptions to the rule, even should your car fights or you enter an accident and the car is from commission for some time. If you fall short on the 90-day minimum, your Performance Rating will likely be 0%, so you won't earn a reduction for that policy cycle. (But in the end you have the $10 fee. At least, I aren't seeing where it says you'll not.)
After getting my DriveWise oral appliance reading the small print, I spoke to my agent, anf the husband said he didn't know in regards to the $10 fee (now apparently discontinued in most states) or part about "major coverages" and wasn't even sure what are the latter means exactly. He said I'm website of his clients to work with this thing. He inquired about to keep him posted.. which I will.
Drive Wise installation
Installing the Drive Wise Device
As my agent said, it absolutely was indeed very all to easy to install the unit. But he did identify that if I had any problem with it, I could come by and hubby'd manage it in my opinion. I didn't need any help by any means.
There's a port on or perhaps under your dashboard, where auto mechanics stick a computer that does engine diagnostics. That's where you add Drive Wise.
Just you should never hit it along with your leg or foot when getting back in and out of your vehicle, if your port is simply to the left and below the tire like mine is. I hit it once and knocked off the trunk cover. I was competent to pop it back on making it sure it was still installed properly, there is however the potential of breaking it, I would say.
Maximizing Your Savings with Drive Wise
And as a safer driver
Allstate suggests....
Give yourself plenty of time to get where you're going, and "drive easy."
Eliminate distractions. (I'd declare that includes having a cell phone while driving.)
They say, "Practice the ability of not being there within the first place." (But I'm not exactly sure what which means. Stay home?)
Mileage management. (I suppose this will mean planning your trip-ie errands-which means you drive a simple yet effective route using the least possible miles.)
Time management. (Kind of may seem like the first denote me. That and never driving in the riskiest times when you can avoid it.)
The Latest Update on My Drive Wise Results
Drive Wise
I'll track my driving "events" here
I make money online and, with a daily basis, rarely drive not in the small area of Flagstaff. So my average daily mileage and speeds are relatively low. The exceptions are car journeys, usually only about three or four hours, one of the ways, at home.
Those car journeys usually involve driving around the freeway, where speed limits are up to 75mph. Since the unit monitors miles driven over 80mph, I'm looking to have some distance for the reason that category after a while, since I occasionally improve to pass a slower driver or semi truck.
Here, I'll keep an eye on any "events" the product records:
12/29: One demonstration of hard braking on my small first day with the product installed. I was going the velocity limit and approaching an eco friendly light. It changed quickly from green to yellow to red as I got close, and I chose to brake hard and prevent rather than check out light because it turned red.
1/16: On a long weekend holiday to Phoenix (a 2.5-hour drive), my partner did the driving and apparently had 2 installments of hard braking. I was obviously a passenger the full time, however, and I don't recall whatever I would have thought qualified therefore. I do know other drivers occasionally veered into our lane or designed a turn without signaling, and I'd certainly realize that we braked - we'd to! - but "hard breaking? Well, Drive Wise says so.
1/12: A hard acceleration event was recorded from in regards to a week ago. I don't recall doing that, nonetheless it may have been when I removed into a lane of traffic and was required to get up to speed rapidly. Acceleration "events," however, aren't designed to count against our Drive Wise discount, and I don't see the recorded event made any difference in mine.
2/17: Hard braking.. in order that it says. I'm so careful right now, I think I would have noticed. That Drive Wise device is either super touchy or lying.
2/27: Hard braking.. do you think you're kidding me?! Is this thing designed to SAY you braked hard regularly? I've been ultra careful about it, and I was attending to on that short drive yesterday. I definitely take issue with the product.
4/3: Well, it says I possess a total of 9 events until now, with two hard braking events added ever since the last time I updated here then one hard acceleration. I still take problem with some on the "hard braking" events (you should read several of the guestbook comments below about strange hard braking statistics with DriveWise), but my projected discounted has always been at 24% for quite a while now.
4/10: Now, which is TOTAL B.S.! The gizmo apparently thinks I a hard-braking event today, and I know I failed to. Never once around my short holiday to town and back did I geton that brake at all that would constitute hard. I never stopped short as well as close to short. Now I'm convinced there will be something fishy in regards to the hard braking results. We'll see what my discount percentage does inside the next 7 days, nonetheless it had better not go lower. How bogus.
4/30: Two more totally bogus hard braking events were (supposedly) recorded two and 72 hours ago. I'm convinced that the unit is calibrated incorrectly or too sensitively OR dishonestly, penalizing safe drivers for slowing to stop for lights that turn yellow then red. I've been paying close attention at these times, as I approach lights at or below the posted speed limit. I don't brake hard during these moments. If I were close enough towards the light to require hard braking, I'd be in a position to legally and safely feel the yellow light. I tried to write down to Allstate with this, however their contact form continuously says, "No special characters allowed" inside the message when there aren't. I'm frustrated with this particular program, as you would expect.
5/16: I think my Drive Wise device is obtaining data from another person's vehicle. (Sarcasm) Now it shows a high braking event that I know failed to happen. I viewed the trip it "claims" included case, plus it was a short, slow drive at about 5am, when I was on my small way in your own home to the Search & Rescue building for just a non-emergency call. There were very little other cars for the road and I was paying close awareness of my driving and exactly how I rolled with a stop for the red light. I barely were required to touch the brake. So, I went on the website and wrote a note to Drive Wise concerning the bogus results. Here would be the response I got:
"Thank you for emailing us. A hard braking event will feel different in various vehicles, however in general, it's coming with a stop with plenty force to pitch the automobile forward, if even only slightly. A hard braking event triggers if you find a deceleration that is at least 8 m.p.h. within a second.
The threshold for a severe braking event is often a deceleration of 10 m.p.h. or more in a single second. For the most vehicles this sort of braking event will activate the passenger restraint system (momentarily locking the seatbelts in position). It might also activate the vehicle's anti-lock brakes - though some extreme braking events are far too brief for doing that."
..Which even makes me MORE adamant that NO hard or extreme braking happened. Oh, but my discount took place, and it also's shortly before my renewal. How convenient. For Allstate.
Does Drive Wise actually encourage unsafe driving?
I feel as if Drive Wise encourages running red lights. Maybe that's an exaggeration, but when I'm driving along at or perhaps slightly below the pace limit, plus the light I'm approaching goes from green to yellow to red rapidly-which usually happen lots around here-I must make a decision to brake just a little harder than usual or quicken and feel the red light after it turns. I don't SLAM in this little brakes to achieve that, but I sometimes ought to slow down so quickly. And each time that takes place, Drive Wise records an "event" and lowers my projected discount. I'd get worried that people who install Drive Wise could be tempted to tell you those lights more frequently.
Obviously, Drive Wise can't detect someone talking with a cell phone or texting while driving, or doing other distracting things while driving, and the ones are a lot more dangerous habits than some hard braking. And, keep in mind that, it won't seem to take much for Drive Wise to record hard braking.
One year later:
After the above, this may seem strange, but I haven't experienced a recorded hard-braking event in most months. I have no idea of if it's the brand new vehicle which drives differently or MY driving or what. Still, my discount won't rise beyond 20%. The max is supposedly 30, but I estimate that, despite the fact that I've had no events, I need to be doing something wrong.
And a few months later: Turns out, my device was apparently within the fritz. I kept getting emails from this software, telling me there was clearly no communication from that, thinking I'd taken these devices out, which I hadn't. So they wound up sending me a another one, as well as postage to come back the old one.. and now the revolutionary thing is recording hard braking events, which I STILL don't even think are accurate in any way. But there goes my 20% discount.
Tracking My Projected Auto Insurance Discount
The website demonstrates that percentage since it changes
As I register with my Drive Wise account online, I'll update my project discount, cumulative miles driven and cumulative "events." My renewal date for my car insurance policy is 6/24/12, so this is when my first discount will probably be finalized.
12/29 - 10% enrollment discount showing
It does feel strange, like Big Brother is watching as I drive. But, however ,, Allsate says I have the opportunity save up to 30 % on my automobile insurance (which, to me, will be about $100 every half a year) and yes it makes me more conscientious about my driving habits, which overall I think is a great thing. So I'm giving Drive Wise an experiment run for 6 months.
I heard about Drive Wise from my Allstate agent, when he called me ahead of my policy renewal. He informed me that, yes, it might probably feel a tad intrusive in the beginning, but I could try it out and then take it back at any time if I didn't like while using device. He said I'd save a computerized, one-time minimum 10% discount for trying it.
The device arrived by FedEx and was simple to install. I now monitor my driving about the Drive Wise website, together with my projected discount. I'll help keep you up to date on my own experience.
Please permit me to - as well as others - know what you think utilizing a device such as this to save money inside the "duel" comments below.
Please set aside a second to answer this poll.
Do You Currently Use Drive Wise or maybe a Similar Device?
Yes, I'm currently using Drive Wise.
I'm using a machine similar to Drive Wise. (tell us about it from the guestbook below)
I'm not currently using Drive Wise or something similar, but I have within the past. (Let us know within the guestbook below)
No, I've never used Drive Wise or anything as it.
What Drive Wise Monitors
Here will be the driving details monitored through the Drive Wise device. Not all of this stuff are counted toward or against your discount, rather than all parameters get equal weight towards that discount. But we, the drivers, do not know the actual algorithm.
Hard and Extreme Braking
Hard and Extreme Acceleration (These aren't yet utilized in calculating the savings, because Allstate remains to be evaluating the risk-predictive worth of these events.)
Miles Driven Over 80mph
Total Cumulative Miles Driven
Trip Time, Duration and Distance, and Speed
This is exactly what the Drive Wise site says concerning the risk for several driving times on weekdays and weekends. When you log into the account, you can see charts showing you when you've been driving depending on these time slots...
Weekdays:
Lowest Risk 5am - 11pm
Notes within the Discount and Hard/Extreme Braking:
Per the Drive Wise site : For your first full policy cycle, you will get a 10% enrollment discount on the "major insurance policies." (I now must discover out just what exactly THAT means. I'd ASSUMED the discount was on my small whole policy cost but apparently not.) After that, your discount - if any - will probably be calculated on the rolling basis, based around the previous twelve months (or half a year when you begin) of driving.
As this system is currently build, your speed and agility rating cannot improve your premium, your rating doesn't guarantee which you discount either.
Regarding hard braking, the scoring model is considered to take into account the reality that some hard braking is occasionally necessary, even for the actual safest drivers. (For example, someone might get in front of yourself.) So you just aren't supposed being overly focused on any one event recorded in your device.
The Drive Wise risk models are built to look at "the real picture," and in addition they say that should your driving habits are generally safe, you'll work well over the long haul. Likewise, in the event you or someone driving your automobile could might leave a greater space cushion relating to the car as well as others, these devices is expected to help you notice that, after which you can monitor your progress.
If you've questions about Allstate's Drive Wise program, you are able to contact them at (877)431-7670.
What My Auto Insurance Agent Didn't Tell Me
I appreciate my agent and have absolutely known him for a long period. But he did don't tell me a few things about Drive Wise.
First, AFTER THE INITIAL TRIAL POLICY PERIOD, you will find there's $10 fee for every 6 month policy period per enrolled vehicle, for your use of the product. So that cuts into any discount at that time. IF one gets to be a discount whatsoever (because it is not guaranteed). That could mean paying $10 extra! (Update 3/2013: A comment was posted in this posting by an Allstate agent in another state, telling us that $10 is simply charged in most states, not others.)
Also, the laws specify the absolute minimum number of days that these devices must be installed so that you can earn a "Performance Rating." Specifically, that's 90 days above the course on the six-month renewal period. And there aren't exceptions to the rule, even should your car fights or you enter an accident and the car is from commission for some time. If you fall short on the 90-day minimum, your Performance Rating will likely be 0%, so you won't earn a reduction for that policy cycle. (But in the end you have the $10 fee. At least, I aren't seeing where it says you'll not.)
After getting my DriveWise oral appliance reading the small print, I spoke to my agent, anf the husband said he didn't know in regards to the $10 fee (now apparently discontinued in most states) or part about "major coverages" and wasn't even sure what are the latter means exactly. He said I'm website of his clients to work with this thing. He inquired about to keep him posted.. which I will.
Drive Wise installation
Installing the Drive Wise Device
As my agent said, it absolutely was indeed very all to easy to install the unit. But he did identify that if I had any problem with it, I could come by and hubby'd manage it in my opinion. I didn't need any help by any means.
There's a port on or perhaps under your dashboard, where auto mechanics stick a computer that does engine diagnostics. That's where you add Drive Wise.
Just you should never hit it along with your leg or foot when getting back in and out of your vehicle, if your port is simply to the left and below the tire like mine is. I hit it once and knocked off the trunk cover. I was competent to pop it back on making it sure it was still installed properly, there is however the potential of breaking it, I would say.
Maximizing Your Savings with Drive Wise
And as a safer driver
Allstate suggests....
Give yourself plenty of time to get where you're going, and "drive easy."
Eliminate distractions. (I'd declare that includes having a cell phone while driving.)
They say, "Practice the ability of not being there within the first place." (But I'm not exactly sure what which means. Stay home?)
Mileage management. (I suppose this will mean planning your trip-ie errands-which means you drive a simple yet effective route using the least possible miles.)
Time management. (Kind of may seem like the first denote me. That and never driving in the riskiest times when you can avoid it.)
The Latest Update on My Drive Wise Results
Drive Wise
I'll track my driving "events" here
I make money online and, with a daily basis, rarely drive not in the small area of Flagstaff. So my average daily mileage and speeds are relatively low. The exceptions are car journeys, usually only about three or four hours, one of the ways, at home.
Those car journeys usually involve driving around the freeway, where speed limits are up to 75mph. Since the unit monitors miles driven over 80mph, I'm looking to have some distance for the reason that category after a while, since I occasionally improve to pass a slower driver or semi truck.
Here, I'll keep an eye on any "events" the product records:
12/29: One demonstration of hard braking on my small first day with the product installed. I was going the velocity limit and approaching an eco friendly light. It changed quickly from green to yellow to red as I got close, and I chose to brake hard and prevent rather than check out light because it turned red.
1/16: On a long weekend holiday to Phoenix (a 2.5-hour drive), my partner did the driving and apparently had 2 installments of hard braking. I was obviously a passenger the full time, however, and I don't recall whatever I would have thought qualified therefore. I do know other drivers occasionally veered into our lane or designed a turn without signaling, and I'd certainly realize that we braked - we'd to! - but "hard breaking? Well, Drive Wise says so.
1/12: A hard acceleration event was recorded from in regards to a week ago. I don't recall doing that, nonetheless it may have been when I removed into a lane of traffic and was required to get up to speed rapidly. Acceleration "events," however, aren't designed to count against our Drive Wise discount, and I don't see the recorded event made any difference in mine.
2/17: Hard braking.. in order that it says. I'm so careful right now, I think I would have noticed. That Drive Wise device is either super touchy or lying.
2/27: Hard braking.. do you think you're kidding me?! Is this thing designed to SAY you braked hard regularly? I've been ultra careful about it, and I was attending to on that short drive yesterday. I definitely take issue with the product.
4/3: Well, it says I possess a total of 9 events until now, with two hard braking events added ever since the last time I updated here then one hard acceleration. I still take problem with some on the "hard braking" events (you should read several of the guestbook comments below about strange hard braking statistics with DriveWise), but my projected discounted has always been at 24% for quite a while now.
4/10: Now, which is TOTAL B.S.! The gizmo apparently thinks I a hard-braking event today, and I know I failed to. Never once around my short holiday to town and back did I geton that brake at all that would constitute hard. I never stopped short as well as close to short. Now I'm convinced there will be something fishy in regards to the hard braking results. We'll see what my discount percentage does inside the next 7 days, nonetheless it had better not go lower. How bogus.
4/30: Two more totally bogus hard braking events were (supposedly) recorded two and 72 hours ago. I'm convinced that the unit is calibrated incorrectly or too sensitively OR dishonestly, penalizing safe drivers for slowing to stop for lights that turn yellow then red. I've been paying close attention at these times, as I approach lights at or below the posted speed limit. I don't brake hard during these moments. If I were close enough towards the light to require hard braking, I'd be in a position to legally and safely feel the yellow light. I tried to write down to Allstate with this, however their contact form continuously says, "No special characters allowed" inside the message when there aren't. I'm frustrated with this particular program, as you would expect.
5/16: I think my Drive Wise device is obtaining data from another person's vehicle. (Sarcasm) Now it shows a high braking event that I know failed to happen. I viewed the trip it "claims" included case, plus it was a short, slow drive at about 5am, when I was on my small way in your own home to the Search & Rescue building for just a non-emergency call. There were very little other cars for the road and I was paying close awareness of my driving and exactly how I rolled with a stop for the red light. I barely were required to touch the brake. So, I went on the website and wrote a note to Drive Wise concerning the bogus results. Here would be the response I got:
"Thank you for emailing us. A hard braking event will feel different in various vehicles, however in general, it's coming with a stop with plenty force to pitch the automobile forward, if even only slightly. A hard braking event triggers if you find a deceleration that is at least 8 m.p.h. within a second.
The threshold for a severe braking event is often a deceleration of 10 m.p.h. or more in a single second. For the most vehicles this sort of braking event will activate the passenger restraint system (momentarily locking the seatbelts in position). It might also activate the vehicle's anti-lock brakes - though some extreme braking events are far too brief for doing that."
..Which even makes me MORE adamant that NO hard or extreme braking happened. Oh, but my discount took place, and it also's shortly before my renewal. How convenient. For Allstate.
Does Drive Wise actually encourage unsafe driving?
I feel as if Drive Wise encourages running red lights. Maybe that's an exaggeration, but when I'm driving along at or perhaps slightly below the pace limit, plus the light I'm approaching goes from green to yellow to red rapidly-which usually happen lots around here-I must make a decision to brake just a little harder than usual or quicken and feel the red light after it turns. I don't SLAM in this little brakes to achieve that, but I sometimes ought to slow down so quickly. And each time that takes place, Drive Wise records an "event" and lowers my projected discount. I'd get worried that people who install Drive Wise could be tempted to tell you those lights more frequently.
Obviously, Drive Wise can't detect someone talking with a cell phone or texting while driving, or doing other distracting things while driving, and the ones are a lot more dangerous habits than some hard braking. And, keep in mind that, it won't seem to take much for Drive Wise to record hard braking.
One year later:
After the above, this may seem strange, but I haven't experienced a recorded hard-braking event in most months. I have no idea of if it's the brand new vehicle which drives differently or MY driving or what. Still, my discount won't rise beyond 20%. The max is supposedly 30, but I estimate that, despite the fact that I've had no events, I need to be doing something wrong.
And a few months later: Turns out, my device was apparently within the fritz. I kept getting emails from this software, telling me there was clearly no communication from that, thinking I'd taken these devices out, which I hadn't. So they wound up sending me a another one, as well as postage to come back the old one.. and now the revolutionary thing is recording hard braking events, which I STILL don't even think are accurate in any way. But there goes my 20% discount.
Tracking My Projected Auto Insurance Discount
The website demonstrates that percentage since it changes
As I register with my Drive Wise account online, I'll update my project discount, cumulative miles driven and cumulative "events." My renewal date for my car insurance policy is 6/24/12, so this is when my first discount will probably be finalized.
12/29 - 10% enrollment discount showing