South Carolina Drivers Could Save Big Bucks Based on How They ...

Are you the poster child for safe driving, always leaving plenty of space between you and the car ahead? Or a business traveler who parks your car at the airport or train station several days a week? Or maybe you have a car that you only take out for a spin on warm summer days. If so, your car is probably less likely to be involved in a crash, so shouldn't you pay less for car insurance?

Progressive thinks so, and that's why it's introducing an optional car insurance program that offers lower rates on vehicles that are driven in less risky ways. The behavior-based insurance program, called MyRate, gives drivers a customized rate based on how, how much, and when their car is driven. It is now available to South Carolina drivers who purchase policies directly from Progressive online or by phone.

"MyRate is designed for safe drivers," said Richard Hutchinson, Progressive's MyRate general manager. "It's for people who drive fewer miles than average, at low-risk times of day and keep alert for others on the road. They don't make fast lane changes or follow too closely behind other drivers so they don't have to over-react or slam on the brakes."

MyRate uses Progressive's patented technology to put consumers in control of their auto insurance rates. Drivers who choose to sign up for MyRate receive a device that plugs into a port in their car and measures how, how much and when the car is being driven. Cars driven less often, in less risky ways, and at less risky times of day can receive a lower premium.

Drivers with more than one car can select which, if any, of their vehicles to enroll in MyRate. For example, a person with a second car that isn't driven that often may enroll that car in MyRate but may decline to enroll their other vehicle if it is driven much more frequently or during higher risk times of day.

South Carolina drivers who sign up for MyRate could save as much as 25 percent or more on their renewal rate based on their driving habits. To cover the cost of the device and data transmission, a $30 technology expense is added to their premium for each policy term that they're enrolled in the program. No technology expense is charged during the first term a driver is enrolled in the program.

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Nationwide Launches Cartopia, New IPhone App

23.12.09

Nationwide Insurance is hoping to drive traffic, so to speak, to its auto insurance products with its second iPhone and iPod app called Cartopia. Unlike Nationwide's first such application, Nationwide Mobile, this one lets drivers start the post-accident claims process remotely by allowing them to take a photo of the accident with their Apple smartphone and send it to Nationwide.

The Cartopia app, developed with independent digital firm Rosetta, does things like list information on specific cars from multiple third-party sources and help consumers rate and store information about the vehicles they are considering. The application is a free download from the iTunes App Store.

Here's how it works. Car shoppers enter the make and model of a vehicle they are considering to see safety, pricing, payment and other information from various sources. They can also enter the vehicle identification number

Source: Mediapost.com

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