As a car enthusiast and expert at obd2global.com, I’ve always been intrigued by technologies that bridge the gap between our vehicles and actionable data. When I first heard about Progressive’s Snapshot program, which utilizes a device that plugs into your car to monitor driving habits in exchange for potential insurance discounts, my interest was immediately piqued. After personally participating in the program for six months, I’m here to provide an in-depth review, specifically focusing on the “Progressive Obd2 Plug” at the heart of this system, and help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.
Like many, the allure of saving “up to 30 percent” on car insurance, as advertised by Progressive, was hard to ignore. The promise of the Snapshot Discount, fronted by the ever-present Flo, prompted me to sign up without fully grasping the intricacies of the program. In my haste to insure my new 2014 Mustang and drive it off the lot, detailed research on the Snapshot device took a backseat.
“What’s the worst that could happen?” I thought. Even a small discount seemed worthwhile for simply plugging in a device. However, a nagging question lingered: what was the price of my driving privacy? As you’ll discover, the answer is more complex than a simple percentage.
My initial week with the Snapshot device was marked by frustration. The constant “BEEP-BEEP-BEEP” served as an unwelcome reminder of perceived driving infractions. Yet, the engineer in me couldn’t resist the appeal of accessing concrete data about my driving behavior. Committing to the full “term” of the program became crucial, as early termination could negatively impact insurance rates based on incomplete data. Now, let’s delve into the specifics of the data collected by this “progressive obd2 plug” and understand how the Snapshot program truly operates.
Understanding the Progressive Snapshot OBD2 Plug
The core of the Progressive Snapshot program is a compact device, the “progressive obd2 plug,” designed to connect to your vehicle’s On-Board Diagnostics Type 2 (OBD-II) port. For those unfamiliar, the OBD-II system is a standardized interface in modern vehicles that allows technicians to diagnose a wide array of vehicle systems – from the engine and transmission to brakes and electronics. Essentially, the OBD-II port grants access to a wealth of your car’s operational data.
This small Snapshot device is surprisingly sophisticated. Packed within its roughly 2” x 3” frame are a memory chip, a cellular radio for data transmission, and a GPS radio for location tracking. A patent inspection reveals the technological depth within this unassuming gadget. While you drive, the “progressive obd2 plug” continuously streams vehicle data to Progressive’s servers. My device utilizes a quad-band GSM module, aligning with Progressive’s partnership with AT&T for data services.
Progressive publicly states that they track vehicle speed but not location data. It’s important to note that this is a policy choice, not a technological limitation. The device, connected via the AT&T network, is technically capable of transmitting location data, much like a cell phone. The precise vehicle data points monitored beyond speed remain somewhat opaque. Are they tracking RPMs, throttle position, or other parameters? Progressive doesn’t explicitly disclose this, but it’s reasonable to assume the “progressive obd2 plug” has the potential to access and transmit a comprehensive range of vehicle data.
Interestingly, Progressive has updated its guidance on who benefits most from the Snapshot program. This specific information is only accessible to existing customers within their account portal, highlighting a distinction between marketing and the realities of the program. Their publicly available FAQs tend to present a more optimistic view of the potential benefits.
Equally important, the complete terms and conditions of the Snapshot Discount program are not readily available until you commit to participation. To save you the effort of searching, here is a direct link to the Snapshot Terms & Conditions. Reviewing these terms is crucial before deciding to use the “progressive obd2 plug.”
The agreement to participate in the program includes a strict warning against reverse-engineering, disassembling, or manipulating the device. While I respected this agreement, from a technical standpoint, examining the data flow wouldn’t be overly complex. One could potentially use OBD-II protocol analysis tools to monitor the data exchanged between the port and the device, effectively performing a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack. However, such actions would violate the terms of service.
How the Progressive OBD2 Plug Influences Your Insurance Premiums
The “progressive obd2 plug” primarily focuses on two data points to assess your driving: deceleration rate (braking) and time of day. The device registers driving time whenever the car is started, irrespective of whether the vehicle is in motion. (An instance of starting my car late at night for maintenance registered as “driving” during a high-risk period).
Surprisingly, acceleration and velocity are not directly penalized. In theory, rapid acceleration wouldn’t trigger a negative mark. However, rapid deceleration or “hard braking” is flagged. This brings up the issue of potential false positives.
Consider scenarios involving wheelspin, common in icy, wet, or unpaved road conditions. When tires lose traction and spin, they rotate at a speed faster than the vehicle’s actual speed. Upon regaining traction, they rapidly decelerate. The “progressive obd2 plug” can interpret this as hard braking, even without brake pedal application. This is because the vehicle speed sensor is typically located in the transmission, so wheelspin translates to driveshaft rotation and a falsely high-speed reading followed by sudden deceleration once traction is regained.
Deciphering “Hard Braking” with the OBD2 Plug
Progressive defines “hard braking” as any deceleration exceeding 7 miles per hour per second. This threshold is triggered even when coasting downhill or engine braking, not solely during brake pedal application. While a definitive speed threshold isn’t publicly disclosed, my experience indicates this 7 mph/second rule is consistently applied across various speeds.
In my professional opinion as a car expert, this 7 mph/second threshold appears overly simplistic and potentially flawed in real-world driving conditions. It’s a linear rule that doesn’t adequately account for factors like vehicle inertia and varying driving environments. In urban driving, triggering “hard brakes” daily becomes almost unavoidable. After understanding this sensitivity, I consciously aimed for deceleration rates under 10 mph per second, constantly monitoring my speedometer – a tactic that effectively minimized hard brake events.
To illustrate the impracticality of a fixed 7 mph/second threshold for safe driving, consider these scenarios:
- Decelerating from 75 mph to 25 mph requires a minimum of 7.1 seconds to stay within the 7 mph/second limit.
- A complete stop from 75 mph necessitates a minimum of 11 seconds to avoid triggering a “hard brake.”
- Even a moderate stop from 45 mph, like when making a left turn, requires at least 6.4 seconds of deceleration.
These examples highlight that safe deceleration time is heavily dependent on initial speed. The critical factor is maintaining sufficient distance to react to road hazards. In city driving, threats are more frequent but often less severe, while highway driving presents less frequent but potentially more dangerous and unpredictable threats.
The counterargument is that maintaining ample following distance allows drivers to stay within the Snapshot’s braking parameters while driving safely. However, the real-world consequence can be missing opportunities (like making a turn) to avoid a perceived “hard brake” penalty. That said, consciously controlling braking behavior can reflect a driver’s heightened awareness of changing road conditions.
This leads to the concept of “gaming” the system.
Strategies for Maximizing Discounts with the Progressive OBD2 Plug
Understanding how the “progressive obd2 plug” gathers data and the challenges of avoiding penalties naturally leads to exploring ways to optimize your discount. Progressive’s discount calculation considers hard brakes, nighttime driving, and total mileage. Mileage is the most easily manipulated factor. The discount is essentially determined by the ratio of hard brakes to miles driven.
Therefore, you have two primary strategies: refine your braking habits to minimize hard brakes, or increase your mileage to dilute the impact of any unavoidable hard brakes.
Potential Downsides: Using Snapshot Data Against You
Participating in the Snapshot program grants Progressive the right to use collected data against you in the event of an insurance claim. While not a concern for most drivers, it’s crucial to recognize that you are providing your insurer with detailed driving data that could negatively impact claim outcomes or future premiums. For example, if an accident occurs while exceeding the speed limit, this data could be used against you. Conversely, the data could also support your claim if you were driving safely.
The program’s intention is likely to reduce fraudulent claims and fairly assign responsibility. However, in an at-fault accident scenario, one might be tempted to remove the “progressive obd2 plug” from plain sight to prevent the other party from potentially subpoenaing the data. This data is primarily intended for you and your insurer.
However, the data can also be beneficial. In a notable case, Snapshot data helped exonerate a man wrongly accused of murder in Cleveland, demonstrating the potential for this technology to provide verifiable evidence.
Snapshot as a Driving Behavior Modification Tool
After six months of using the Snapshot program, I concluded that its most significant impact is fostering greater driver awareness of vehicle dynamics, driving conditions, and the importance of smooth deceleration. It took approximately two months to consciously adjust my driving habits.
Eventually, braking adjustments became second nature. I found myself anticipating stops and slowing down earlier, without consciously thinking about the “progressive obd2 plug’s” potential beeps. While I might still accelerate through a yellow light when safe, the overall tendency towards smoother, more controlled driving became ingrained.
The audible “beep” acts as a negative stimulus, while the promise of a discount serves as positive reinforcement. This creates a Pavlovian feedback loop, subtly shaping driving behavior over time.
Did the Progressive OBD2 Plug Actually Save Me Money?
During the initial month, the Snapshot program categorized me as a “terrible” driver. This probationary period sets the baseline for your discount for the subsequent five months.
My initial discount? A mere one percent, translating to $5.46. This felt like a negligible compensation for the data being collected. After the full six-month period, my discount increased to 12 percent, approximately $96. However, closer inspection revealed a less straightforward picture.
Reviewing my insurance declarations revealed that while I received a $96 discount, my base premiums had also increased. While premium fluctuations can be influenced by various factors, the timing of this increase, coinciding with the Snapshot program, was concerning. Despite vehicle depreciation, my premiums rose.
Original Premiums with Progressive ($741)
Six-month Renewal Premiums with Progressive ($836)
Progressive had increased my premiums by $95, almost negating the $96 discount. While other discounts remained constant, the base premium increase effectively reduced the net benefit of the Snapshot program to a mere dollar, or about 16 cents per month.
Therefore, while the Snapshot program may offer a discount, it’s crucial to scrutinize your policy renewal to ensure the discount isn’t offset by premium increases.
Examining the Data Provided by the Progressive Snapshot Program
Progressive provides customers with access to Snapshot reports via their website. These reports, not typically shown in marketing materials, offer insights into your driving data.
Snapshot Program Discount Details:
Weekly Trip Averages Report: This report compares your current week’s driving metrics to your overall averages. (Note: Data for the final seven days is unavailable after program completion).
Daily Trip Details Log: Provides granular data for each day, showing trip details. Examples include logs from the final and first week of the Snapshot program, illustrating changes in driving habits over time.
Trip Detail Report: Offers specific details for individual trips, such as a drive from Tucson to Phoenix, showing driving patterns on longer journeys.
Key Insights Gleaned from Snapshot Data Analysis
Progressive’s reports offer limited interpretation of the data’s significance. Therefore, I exported my data (a challenging process) and conducted further analysis in Excel, focusing on data from January to June.
Key Findings:
- Driving behavior significantly improved after approximately 70 days of using Snapshot.
- “Good” mileage can offset the impact of hard brakes in discount calculations.
- Shifting from city to highway commuting reduced hard brake occurrences.
- An 11% discount was achieved by the end of the six-month program.
Hard Brakes (Aggregated): Graphical representation of hard brake events over time, showing a decrease as driving habits adjusted.
Mileage: Data on total mileage driven, relevant to the discount calculation.
Trips: Aggregated data on the number of trips taken.
Hard Brake to Mileage Ratio: Illustrates the key metric influencing the discount.
The data revealed an anomaly: a spike in hard brakes on February 4th. This coincided with experiments attempting brake stands (burnouts) while learning to disable traction control on my Mustang.
Final Verdict: The Progressive OBD2 Plug and Driving Monitoring
The initial 30 days of using the Snapshot program were undeniably challenging. Knowing the specific impact of each hard brake event from the outset would have facilitated faster adaptation. Now, with a clearer understanding, adapting to driving monitoring devices becomes more manageable.
A primary concern is the current voluntary nature of these devices. While Progressive and State Farm offer incentives, the value of the collected data likely surpasses the offered discounts. Mandatory adoption of such monitoring systems in the future is a potential concern, raising privacy implications and the possibility of penalties for opting out.
For privacy advocates, this system raises valid concerns, particularly in light of NSA surveillance controversies. Law enforcement agencies could potentially leverage such data through subpoenas, gaining access to vehicle location and driving data. The “progressive obd2 plug,” with its cellular modem and SIM card, becomes a potential tracking tool.
Overall, the Snapshot program achieved its stated goal: it encouraged safer driving habits. While aspects of the program could be improved, it represents an evolving technology.
Future improvements from Progressive could include comparative driving performance metrics against other drivers with similar vehicles in the same state. This peer comparison, similar to Nest’s energy consumption benchmarking, could further incentivize positive driving behavior. Transparency regarding the specific data collected, retained, and discarded would also be valuable, even in technical detail.
If you are a driver with consistently smooth braking habits, limited nighttime driving, and primarily rural or highway driving, the Snapshot program could be beneficial. However, for others, the potential privacy trade-offs and questionable net savings might outweigh the perceived benefits of this “progressive obd2 plug” based insurance discount program.
UPDATE (2018): For further insights, read my recent thoughts on Progressive Snapshot, a follow-up to this review.
Photo credit: robertnelson
