How To Get Free UBI Devices
Note: Your Free Usage Based Insurance Device costs $100 to $150 if you do not send it back in good condition.
Usage Based Insurance Devices have become popular with consumers because they offer savings that have not been seen from any other type of discount. For example, in some cases good drivers can save up to 30% on their insurance, and in some places where coverage is expensive this can equal hundreds of dollars in reduced payments every year.
These little plastic devices plug into your On Board Diagnostic Port which will be located somewhere within your car if it was made after the year 1996. Sometimes the device is under the driver’s side dashboard, under the steering wheel, or in the console, but there is usually one somewhere. The device should not have any trouble plugging in since it is used for analysis by auto mechanics, automotive emissions, and diagnostic testing. The OBD-II port also makes it possible for you to find out what your “check engine” light means, and there are many auto parts stores that will do a reading for you so you don’t have to go to dealerships or repair shops which will not only charge you an excessive amount of money to plug their computer into the device, but will also start recommending OEM parts the minute they find the slightest thing wrong. There are even some OBD readers that can clear out the old codes that might turn on a light but not turn it off despite the fact that the engine problem has been repaired, cheaply, by you.
For most usage-based car insurance plans, plug-in devices are required in order to secure insurance. You also need to drive a requisite number of hours in order to make sure the device gets a good idea of how you drive. The good news is that the device can also tell if you don’t drive too often, and are therefore eligible for low-mileage discounts. Although you may think it is a good idea to unplug the device when your teenager is driving, and then plug it back in later, your insurer may wonder about mileage and time gaps that could indicate the need for further questions.
Behaviors Monitored by Telematics Gadgets
What does a typical UBI telematics device measure? In some states, like California, they can only legally report mileage. In other states, they may be reporting time of day, all the readings from your car (such as speed, braking, engine statistics and alerts, and acceleration) and other data that is gathered by sensors. For example, some telematics plug-ins may have GPS, Wifi, BlueTooth, and accelerometer and gyroscope electronics that give a clear picture of speed and location. Many devices also include GPRS cellphone equipment that can either send data back to the insurer or send out an alert in a sudden deceleration event or a crash where airbags are deployed.
In fact, many companies will send you a telematics device with no obligation, in order to show you how much you’d save if you were a good driver. Progressive, for one, will indicate discounts to people who plug the device in for 30 days. Just watch out for Flo hanging out in a dark alley handing out Snapshot sensors. Some companies also will partner with OnStar to use the Onstar System to reveal your driving habits, so you don’t have to plug anything into the OBD-2 port. Companies like Safeco, which offer deals for people who may have had accidents or tickets, can avoid rate increases by installing devices and then proving their trustworthiness over a four month period.