My 1LE and my insurance

[Mark T]

Ok, firstly, I am a cheap bastard.

So my insurance company gives me a discount for using the ODBII FOB. From zero to 30 percent discount based on my driving habits. It doesnt go below zero.

But I checked last Friday and found out my braking habits have totally wiped my discount.

Now you would think my speed or driving habits would ding me, but no. Just braking.

This bugged me because I havent been braking hard on my 1LE.

But then it occured to me my traction control was doing it under harder acceleration.

So now I am driving full time, same style, no nannies. And so far, no breaking events at all.

Moral to the story, if you want some spirited driving, AND you use one of those insurance fobs, take the nannies off. It will register as a hard breaking event when the antilocs chatter under hard acceleration.

[Nick S]

I went thru these insurance driving devices as well. For my 1LE I did it last winter when I put it away for the winter. All I had to do was drive it a couple miles once then I could let it sit the rest of the time. Had Zero events for the 90days then so I got the max 30% discount. For my other vehicles that I did it with I just drove like a grandma the entire time. The braking events were the easiest to get dinged on because if your speed reduced faster than 10mph/sec then I think I got dinged for it.

[97tj-neil]

When I park mine for the winter, I call my agent and remove all coverage except protection should the garage collapse on it or catch fire. I save a lot more than 30%.

[Nick S]

Originally Posted by 97tj-neil

When I park mine for the winter, I call my agent and remove all coverage except protection should the garage collapse on it or catch fire. I save a lot more than 30%.

Yes I normally remove liability and collision when it's in storage as well. But the savings the OP is talking about applies to your liability and collision coverage. So he is still saving more because you can still take that coverage off during storage but then when you put it back on the vehicle you save over the normal rate.

[Mark T]

Yes, I have my insurance on the Camaro put in storage mode for winter, but I am talking about driving.

I was just surprised that my braking events were being triggered by the traction control nanny while accelerating.

And you are right, the 10mph drop will also trigger it as a yellow braking event.

But as soon as traction control toggles the antilocs, it is now considered a hard red braking event.

[sherob]

The fact an insurance company wants to plug anything into your car to "watch" how you drive should be a red herring... as an IT guy.

[Mark T]

Originally Posted by sherob

The fact an insurance company wants to plug anything into your car to "watch" how you drive should be a red herring... as an IT guy.

I would normally agree, but this red herring can give me up to 30 percent discount on insurance on top of any other discounts.

It is a big brother device I can live with.

Just now, I have to make sure my car is in competetive mode when I drive to get the best rates.

Kind of ironic to say the least.

[sherob]

Google up "progressive snapshot dongle security"...

[Mark T]

I just did. And I use allstate.

I am not currently concerned. As of yet. Coupled with bluetooth connections and the onstar mechanism, I dont feel any less at risk than those two by themselves.

[ForcFed93]

I would totally do this with my car in the winter, however, Kansas is one of only a handful of states that will actually allow insurance companies to INCREASE rates based on driving habits from using the device.

No thanks.

[nvydvr]

My dealership told me to stay away from those devices because they are causing codes to be triggered. I use USAA and don't even think they offer it anyway.

[KaBoom1701]

I'll pay the extra 30%......and forget the device. ....

[Snoman]

Use Collector's insurance with stated value and avoid this discussion 100% with 50% savings for the win.

[Nick S]

The devices are only temporary for 90 days. Just to get an idea of your driving habits. With all the new vehicles having onstar they have way more access to your data all the time than this little insurance device does.