Author Topic: Saving money on car insurance--does anyone use Snapshot?  (Read 3968 times)

FoundPeace

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Saving money on car insurance--does anyone use Snapshot?
« on: May 22, 2015, 12:10:10 PM »
I already have an inexpensive car with liability only; I shop around and compare prices on insurance about once a year.

I think I do a pretty good job on getting a good price on insurance. However, Mint.com is telling me, that because I spend 50% less on gas than average, I could save by using snapshot by progressive. Does anyone have any experience with it? It seems a bit like invasion of privacy to me, but I might consider it if the price is right.

NotJen

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Re: Saving money on car insurance--does anyone use Snapshot?
« Reply #1 on: May 22, 2015, 12:40:42 PM »
I did it, kind of accidentally, 3-4 years ago.

They offered it to me online, and I kept declining because it seemed like an invasion of privacy. Then I had to call in to separate my policy from my XH's, and agreed to getting it sent to me before I realized it.

I was curious, so I decided to go ahead and install it. I enjoyed looking at the data. After several months (I'm pretty sure it was less than 6), they sent me a package to return the device.  I "earned" a 13% discount on my policy. It carried over to my new car, though I did have to call to get the discount applied.

snuggler

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Re: Saving money on car insurance--does anyone use Snapshot?
« Reply #2 on: May 22, 2015, 01:50:38 PM »
I used something similar through State Farm.  However, after the first year of my "free trial," they wanted to start charging me a monthly fee for the device, which would have reduced the savings I was receiving to about $4/month. So, I just sent it back in. I guess a bugger discount was enough for me to give up my privacy temporarily, ha ha, but $4/ month isn't enough.   

Now, I'm praying they get it in the mail, otherwise I'll get hit with a $100 charge.

Overall, not sure if I'd do it again. It was a decent discount, but I expected more given that I only drive about 10 miles once every week and a half.


JLee

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Re: Saving money on car insurance--does anyone use Snapshot?
« Reply #3 on: May 22, 2015, 02:03:09 PM »
I did. I have 18% off forever now, as long as any future vehicles are set up as a "replacement" on the policy for the one I have now.

DrF

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Re: Saving money on car insurance--does anyone use Snapshot?
« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2015, 02:05:26 PM »
I used Snapshot, kind of a pain, you have to be super careful about braking hard. Braking hard by their definition is basically anything faster than taking your foot off the gas until you eventually come to a stop! Anyway, I saved ~13% I think (maybe $20-30 every six months). I could save double this, if I had installed it in my wife's car, I didn't because I would have had to pay much more after they say her driving (braking)!

JLee

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Re: Saving money on car insurance--does anyone use Snapshot?
« Reply #5 on: July 27, 2015, 03:50:21 PM »
I used Snapshot, kind of a pain, you have to be super careful about braking hard. Braking hard by their definition is basically anything faster than taking your foot off the gas until you eventually come to a stop! Anyway, I saved ~13% I think (maybe $20-30 every six months). I could save double this, if I had installed it in my wife's car, I didn't because I would have had to pay much more after they say her driving (braking)!
They don't raise rates based on a Snapshot report.

therethere

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Re: Saving money on car insurance--does anyone use Snapshot?
« Reply #6 on: July 27, 2015, 04:00:08 PM »
I tried it once and they kept sending me emails saying I didn't have enough data because I was riding my bike to work everyday. I had it on for a few months and they wouldn't count any of the time so I sent it back.

forummm

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Re: Saving money on car insurance--does anyone use Snapshot?
« Reply #7 on: July 27, 2015, 04:54:02 PM »
I tried it once and they kept sending me emails saying I didn't have enough data because I was riding my bike to work everyday. I had it on for a few months and they wouldn't count any of the time so I sent it back.

That's dumb. You're exactly the kind of person they should want to have as a client--you never use their product but still pay them!

JLee

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Re: Saving money on car insurance--does anyone use Snapshot?
« Reply #8 on: July 27, 2015, 05:00:50 PM »
I tried it once and they kept sending me emails saying I didn't have enough data because I was riding my bike to work everyday. I had it on for a few months and they wouldn't count any of the time so I sent it back.

That's dumb. You're exactly the kind of person they should want to have as a client--you never use their product but still pay them!

I had it on a vehicle I rarely used - I made sure to go turn the key on for a bit every so often just so it would check in.