Better Drivers Pay Less for Car Insurance with Pay as You Drive Program from Progressive

MAYFIELD VILLAGE, OH--June 6, 2011: Business travelers who park their cars at the airport several days a week. Families with an extra car they only drive occasionally. Drivers who avoid slamming on the brakes. They're all less likely to be in an accident and can save money on their car insurance with Snapshot^SM, Progressive’s optional Pay As You Drive insurance discount program, a form of insurance also known generically as usage-based insurance.

“Snapshot is transforming auto insurance because, for the first time, drivers can pay for car insurance based on how they drive.”

With Snapshot, customers can save up to 30 percent on their car insurance based on their driving habits. Drivers currently enrolled in the optional program are already saving an average of $150 per year.

How it Works

• After drivers sign up for the Snapshot program, we send them a device that fits in the palm of their hand and plugs into the on-board diagnostic (OBD) port of their car. The device records and sends the driving data to us.
• After 30 days, customers will find out if they’re eligible for a discount -- up to 30 percent -- based on their driving habits and will see that discount applied to their policy. People who drive less, in safer ways and during safer times of day are more likely to get a discount.
• At the end of the six-month policy term we determine the renewal discount and the customer returns the device to us.
• We may periodically check in with customers to get an updated picture of their driving by asking them to plug in the device again.

Other Facts

• The Snapshot program is available to Idaho drivers who buy policies from Progressive.
• Customers can log in to their policy on progressive.com during the six-month period the device is plugged in to see how their driving habits affect their rate, and, if they choose, make changes that could lead to greater savings. Customers will also see whether they are on track for a discount after 30 days.
• Snapshot is voluntary and customers can opt out at any time. It won’t make customers’ rates go up.
• The Snapshot device measures how, how much and when customers drive their vehicle. It doesn’t have GPS, so it doesn’t track a vehicle’s location.

Snapshot is yet another Progressive “first,” reflecting the company’s longstanding culture of innovation and superior customer service. Among its long list of industry breakthroughs, Progressive was the first to offer claims service at the scene of an accident, the first to offer online auto insurance purchasing, and the first to offer Name Your Price^®, an innovative, easy-to-use online tool that helps customers choose the coverage package they want at a price that fits their budget.

Snapshot represents the next generation of usage-based insurance, which creates a personalized insurance rate based on a customer’s actual driving habits. Progressive has been awarded a series of patents on the methods and systems used in Snapshot, creating a program that’s unmatched in its advanced technology, security, and ability to optimize discounts for customers.