Discount Auto Insurance - Based On How You Drive

Discount auto insurance is now available by how far you drive. It is now available on both coasts. The thinking behind this program has been around for a long time but now auto insurance carriers are starting to put in place a program. When getting your next auto insurance quote see if it is available.

First offered on the west coast as a pilot discount auto insurance program and has recently been approved for New Jersey through Progressive insurance. To my knowledge only one other company offers auto insurance quotes this way; GMAC Insurance who's program is only available to people that have Onstar in there vehicles.

Progressive insurance will have a devise attached to you automobile to track the speed you drive, breaking habits and mileage. GMAC's Onstar has a GPS tracking system and I'm not sure of how they measure your driving habits. This is what causes some concerns.

Many government officials and non-profit organizations have questions about the tracking measure that will be used. Some feel by adding one of these devises to your car you could be giving up some constitutional freedoms. The other concern is that it will not benefit people that live in rural areas because they need to drive further than the average city dweller daily.

You mat recieve a discount on your auto insurance as much as 9% over people who decide not to part take in the program. My concern is how much can your rates be increased if your driving habits to fit the insurance companies normal guidelines. Also how is the "correct breaking pressure" determined by the auto insurance company?

A concern of mine is if this program is picked by all the main insurance carriers in the future if you don't part take in the program will your premiums automatically increase. I understand the insurance company's point of view of offering lower rates to more responsible drivers that do not drive that far but years down the road how will this affect all of us?

This program was released in New Jersey on August 8th of 2008. Let's see how long it will take to be available in all states. It will also be interesting to see what other insurance companies adopt a similar program.

I believe it should be your decision to make if you want to participate in a program like this. You know how you drive and how far you drive. I am totally open to the concept but I am a little weary about how they might track my driving habits and what they are compared too.