Electronic Privacy Information Center Archives

Usage based insurance is causing a growing privacy concern

March 28, 2013March 26, 2013 H. Cutner

Though consumers are keen to save money on their policies, they wonder if they might be sharing too much. With the increasing popularity of usage based insurance programs, individuals and organizations are starting to look beyond the potential for saving money and are discovering that a large amount of information is being shared with the insurers. This is causing them to question exactly what and how much data is being collected. A vehicle is already naturally collecting a great deal of information about the way that a driver uses it.…

Does Progressive’s Snapshot program offer a true auto insurance discount?

July 19, 2011July 20, 2011 Marc

Progressive has taken a new approach to car insurance, called the Snapshot program, that allows its policy holders to share their driving habit information for the opportunity to try to save money. According to the general manager of usage-based insurance at Progressive, Richard Hutchinson, the program is completely voluntary, so drivers who are not interested in taking part are not required to do so. Participating drivers have their cars fitted with a Snapshot transmitter device, which is compatible with most vehicles made in 1996 and afterward. The device monitors the…