Eff The Snapshot Discount

I just saw a commercial for Progressive Auto Insurance and they were hawking this product called Snapshot Discount.

What the hell is Snapshot Discount? Glad you asked.

Snapshot Discount is a program where you can save up to 30% on your car insurance. "Sweet," you say! "I drive a car and up to 30% is a lot! How does it work?"

Here’s how it works:

Plug the device into your car.
We’ll mail your Snapshot device to you, along with details on where to plug it into your car.

Okay. They send you a ‘device’ and you plug it into your car. It ‘keeps track’ of your good driving habits over the next 30 days. Doesn’t say anything about pointing it through your windshield or putting it on your dashboard. Doesn’t say anything about taking pictures. Just says ‘keeps track’ of your driving habits. You’d think – or most of their customers would think, they hope – that the word Snapshot means taking pictures?  

In this case, no. 

The Snapshot device records vehicle speed and time of day, and when the device is connected and disconnected from the vehicle. It also records the Vehicle Identification Number upon installation. Other information, such as miles driven and rates of acceleration and braking, is derived from the speed and time information recorded by the device.

‘Such as’ miles driven? ‘Such as’ phone conversations? ‘Such as’ what you had for lunch and how much change is in your pocket? Maybe. Who knows? Doesn’t say.

So basically, “Even though we’re already raping your wallet and offering little to no help when you actually need it, we’re going to collect sensitive information about you, your car and your driving habits and, in return, you can pay us a little bit less money.” That sounds just great.

Thankfully:

The Snapshot device does not contain GPS technology and does not track vehicle location or whether you’re exceeding the speed limit. We also don’t know who is driving the car

Well, that’s good news. And the other good news is

We will not sell personally identifiable Snapshot data to any third parties.

But they will give it to the police if you get into an accident and they will disclose it

As otherwise required by law.

As ‘otherwise’ required by law, like when the Feds start collecting all your personal information to enslave and control the masses? Perhaps. Perhaps not.  Who knows? Doesn’t say.

Oh, but drivers in Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, Rhode Island and South Carolina? If you want the Snapshot Discount:

The most you can save with Snapshot is 25 percent, which will be applied at the first policy renewal after enrolling in Snapshot. You could get a participation discount of up to 10 percent when you sign up for Snapshot. During each policy term you participate in Snapshot, you’ll be charged a $30 technology expense, which covers the cost of using the device to securely send your driving information.

Not only do you get less of a discount, you have to pay to get the discount! Awesome!

Who the hell, I’d like to know, is dumb enough to put this shit in their car?