Allstate Drivewise and other ODBII port insurance devices
Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2014 6:10 am
So roughly 6 months ago, I got a new insurance policy with Allstate and in part of the discounts, I signed up for the Drivewise program. What is it? It's basically a program in which your driving is monitored via an electronic device and based on scores from the device, your insurance rates can be discounted. As a new sign-up, I was given 10% off my premium for joining. There is no detrimental effect in terms of bad scores raising premiums so I thought there was nothing to lose by trying it.
How it works: It's a small device that is like a USB dongle (but obviously bigger) that plugs into your OBDII port. It records your speed, braking, time of vehicle usage, and mileage (distance traveled) for an overall score. It works by using cell sites for cell phones in sending the data to their data center to collect info based on these parameters. You then get a grade for each parameter and an overall score.
They state very clearly that they do not track your movements or locations and the device has no GPS functionality for location info.
In addition to the benefit of the 10% discount for signing up, Allstate claims that you can save up to 30% by scoring well with the device.
My observations: It's utter bullshit in terms of a good discount device. Let me explain:
The device apparently grades you on a national average or on what they think should be a good score. It does not take into account where you live, what you do (like have a job), and how that would affect your driving situation.
For example, here are my scores for the last 6 months:
Mileage: C+
Braking: C-
Time of Day: C
Speed: A+
Overall: C-
Projected discount: 0.0% for next policy term.
It's laughable. First of all, any middle schooler can tell you an average of a C+, C-, C, and an A+ is not a fricking C-.
Let's talk about my C+ mileage score: I drive roughly 34 miles a day, 5 days a week for commuting to and from work. That's roughly 8840 miles a year just for commuting if I calculate for no vacations or holidays. The average American drives roughly 13,000 miles a year (including all uses like commuting and personal/leisure). I've owned my Kizashi for nearly two years now and put roughly 20,000 miles on it since then. I basically drive less than the national average yet my score is a puzzling C+. Okay...
C- for Braking: I cannot help braking (really though, nothing harsh) given I drive in and around a major city. Stop and go traffic is an unavoidable reality and I don't even brake that hard. It's just I brake more than some dude cruising around North Dakota for obvious reasons: more cars, more traffic, and more street lights. It's as if Drivewise punishes your score for braking at all. I really don't brake hard nor suddenly, but simply have to brake frequently due to city driving conditions and the pathetic way DC fails to synchronize green lights. You basically catch every red light at intersections. Not sure why Drivewise does not take this into account and see that braking frequently, instead of abruptly, is just indicative on an attentive driver in a city driving environment. Pathetic.
C for Time of Day: It's ridiculous that driving in hours during or around rush hour should work against your score. I even avoid driving in rush hour as my job is flexible and is performance-based and not so much on-the-clock. It's no 9 to 5 job. I also vehemently hate traffic and avoid it at all costs. Yet, it's not good enough for Drivewise and they gave me a C despite I'm not like many who don't have a choice and must drive in rush hour. Looks like Drivewise hates employed people who have regular hour jobs.
A+ for Speed: Honestly, what causes more accidents and kills more drivers than speeding compared to the other parameters? Other than distracted driving, speed is what causes accidents. I even scored an epic A+. No score can be higher. Not only do I watch my speed, anyone familiar with the DC area knows this place sucks for fun driving with the ridiculously slow speed limits (especially aggravating for someone from California like myself), abundant speed cameras, and boring roads you can't even enjoy. So I don't have much of a choice and drive rather slow. It shows with my score yet Drivewise thinks an A+ for Speed isn't good enough and gives me an Overall score of C-. WTF.
Honestly, this program is just a gimmick to have people sign up to insurance companies that offer it. I know Progressive offers this nonsense too. I would not be surprised if they score drivers similarly. Honestly, the scores are so ridiculously calculated that to get notable discounts you have to be basically a retired senior citizen who drives a few miles in the middle of the day to Bingo and back while under the speed limit at all times in a rural area with no traffic. Seriously, you get scored all the same, regardless of where you are and what you do. Nonsense.
My proof of this? Drivewise data is accessible when you sign up and log in. In fact, my scores for Braking, Speed, and Overall are among the highest percentage of those in the program. Basically, there are more people getting C- scores for Braking than any other score. They are more people getting A+ for Speed than any other score. There are more people getting C- Overall than any other score. This goes to show Drivewise can care less where you drive and everyone nationally are ranked the same. Your situation, not your driving, determines your score. This is why my scores are quite common among those in the program. You just can't help it much. Rather not fair if you work in a city yet are graded against retired grannies in the countryside.
As you expected, when I renewed my policy, I paid more this time since I got no discount whatsoever with this program. I also asked the Allstate rep on the phone to come get their piece of shit back. He tried to talk me into keeping it and me working on improving my score but I told him it was simply unrealistic. I stated that it was obvious to me that they scored everyone on some national average they cooked up and that very few people can score good enough on it for worthwhile savings. I told him the realities of my driving situation that I cannot change will keep me from any discount so I rather not have this gimmicky device. He then stated he'd let the Drivewise program know and they'll send a self-addressed envelope for me to mail it back. Good riddance.
So, I was wondering if anyone else has tried Allstate's Drivewise or another insurance company's OBDII-based device for insurance "savings". If so, what were your observations?
If you haven't tried it and actually enjoy driving or have a job, I suggest you treat this program and device like an email from Nigeria asking for some advance-fee in promise of future riches. The promises in both cases are bullshit but at least for this, there is some hope for the gullible elderly.
How it works: It's a small device that is like a USB dongle (but obviously bigger) that plugs into your OBDII port. It records your speed, braking, time of vehicle usage, and mileage (distance traveled) for an overall score. It works by using cell sites for cell phones in sending the data to their data center to collect info based on these parameters. You then get a grade for each parameter and an overall score.
They state very clearly that they do not track your movements or locations and the device has no GPS functionality for location info.
In addition to the benefit of the 10% discount for signing up, Allstate claims that you can save up to 30% by scoring well with the device.
My observations: It's utter bullshit in terms of a good discount device. Let me explain:
The device apparently grades you on a national average or on what they think should be a good score. It does not take into account where you live, what you do (like have a job), and how that would affect your driving situation.
For example, here are my scores for the last 6 months:
Mileage: C+
Braking: C-
Time of Day: C
Speed: A+
Overall: C-
Projected discount: 0.0% for next policy term.
It's laughable. First of all, any middle schooler can tell you an average of a C+, C-, C, and an A+ is not a fricking C-.
Let's talk about my C+ mileage score: I drive roughly 34 miles a day, 5 days a week for commuting to and from work. That's roughly 8840 miles a year just for commuting if I calculate for no vacations or holidays. The average American drives roughly 13,000 miles a year (including all uses like commuting and personal/leisure). I've owned my Kizashi for nearly two years now and put roughly 20,000 miles on it since then. I basically drive less than the national average yet my score is a puzzling C+. Okay...
C- for Braking: I cannot help braking (really though, nothing harsh) given I drive in and around a major city. Stop and go traffic is an unavoidable reality and I don't even brake that hard. It's just I brake more than some dude cruising around North Dakota for obvious reasons: more cars, more traffic, and more street lights. It's as if Drivewise punishes your score for braking at all. I really don't brake hard nor suddenly, but simply have to brake frequently due to city driving conditions and the pathetic way DC fails to synchronize green lights. You basically catch every red light at intersections. Not sure why Drivewise does not take this into account and see that braking frequently, instead of abruptly, is just indicative on an attentive driver in a city driving environment. Pathetic.
C for Time of Day: It's ridiculous that driving in hours during or around rush hour should work against your score. I even avoid driving in rush hour as my job is flexible and is performance-based and not so much on-the-clock. It's no 9 to 5 job. I also vehemently hate traffic and avoid it at all costs. Yet, it's not good enough for Drivewise and they gave me a C despite I'm not like many who don't have a choice and must drive in rush hour. Looks like Drivewise hates employed people who have regular hour jobs.
A+ for Speed: Honestly, what causes more accidents and kills more drivers than speeding compared to the other parameters? Other than distracted driving, speed is what causes accidents. I even scored an epic A+. No score can be higher. Not only do I watch my speed, anyone familiar with the DC area knows this place sucks for fun driving with the ridiculously slow speed limits (especially aggravating for someone from California like myself), abundant speed cameras, and boring roads you can't even enjoy. So I don't have much of a choice and drive rather slow. It shows with my score yet Drivewise thinks an A+ for Speed isn't good enough and gives me an Overall score of C-. WTF.
Honestly, this program is just a gimmick to have people sign up to insurance companies that offer it. I know Progressive offers this nonsense too. I would not be surprised if they score drivers similarly. Honestly, the scores are so ridiculously calculated that to get notable discounts you have to be basically a retired senior citizen who drives a few miles in the middle of the day to Bingo and back while under the speed limit at all times in a rural area with no traffic. Seriously, you get scored all the same, regardless of where you are and what you do. Nonsense.
My proof of this? Drivewise data is accessible when you sign up and log in. In fact, my scores for Braking, Speed, and Overall are among the highest percentage of those in the program. Basically, there are more people getting C- scores for Braking than any other score. They are more people getting A+ for Speed than any other score. There are more people getting C- Overall than any other score. This goes to show Drivewise can care less where you drive and everyone nationally are ranked the same. Your situation, not your driving, determines your score. This is why my scores are quite common among those in the program. You just can't help it much. Rather not fair if you work in a city yet are graded against retired grannies in the countryside.
As you expected, when I renewed my policy, I paid more this time since I got no discount whatsoever with this program. I also asked the Allstate rep on the phone to come get their piece of shit back. He tried to talk me into keeping it and me working on improving my score but I told him it was simply unrealistic. I stated that it was obvious to me that they scored everyone on some national average they cooked up and that very few people can score good enough on it for worthwhile savings. I told him the realities of my driving situation that I cannot change will keep me from any discount so I rather not have this gimmicky device. He then stated he'd let the Drivewise program know and they'll send a self-addressed envelope for me to mail it back. Good riddance.
So, I was wondering if anyone else has tried Allstate's Drivewise or another insurance company's OBDII-based device for insurance "savings". If so, what were your observations?
If you haven't tried it and actually enjoy driving or have a job, I suggest you treat this program and device like an email from Nigeria asking for some advance-fee in promise of future riches. The promises in both cases are bullshit but at least for this, there is some hope for the gullible elderly.