I get where you’re coming from, but I’ll admit, I actually tried one of those telematics things last year just to see if it’d help with my rates. My car’s not exactly new (’09 Corolla), but the plug-in device worked fine. I did have to change a few habits—like no more late-night Taco Bell runs—but honestly, the discount was bigger than what I got from the defensive driving course. Not saying it’s perfect, and yeah, it can be picky about “hard” braking, but for folks who mostly drive during the day and don’t mind being tracked a bit, it can be worth a shot. Just depends on your situation, I guess.
My car’s not exactly new (’09 Corolla), but the plug-in device worked fine. I did have to change a few habits—like no more late-night Taco Bell runs—but honestly, the discount was bigger th...
I get the appeal, but I’m still a bit iffy about having my driving constantly tracked. The “picky about ‘hard’ braking” thing bugs me—sometimes you’ve just got to stop short, y’know? I did the defensive driving course years ago and at least that discount was guaranteed, no strings attached. Still, I get that for some folks, telematics is worth a shot… just not sure it’s for me.
Yeah, I hear you on the tracking. My ‘94 Mustang wouldn’t even know what to do with one of those plug-in things—she barely likes her own radio. I’d rather keep my privacy and just drive careful-ish. Defensive driving course felt like less hassle, honestly.
Title: Just saved a chunk of cash on car insurance after defensive driving course
My ‘94 Mustang wouldn’t even know what to do with one of those plug-in things—she barely likes her own radio.
That made me laugh—older cars definitely have their quirks. I get the privacy angle too. But have you ever wondered if the tracking devices actually make a big difference in rates, or is it more of a gimmick? I’ve seen some folks swear by the savings, but others say it barely moved the needle for them.
Also, did your insurer give you a decent discount for the defensive driving course, or was it just a token amount? Some companies seem to offer real savings, others not so much. Curious if you had to jump through hoops to prove you took the course, or if it was pretty straightforward.
I’ve actually seen both sides of the tracking device thing. Some drivers with spotless records barely saw a change, while others—especially folks who drive at odd hours or brake hard—ended up paying more. It’s not always the slam-dunk savings they advertise. As for defensive driving, my insurer knocked off about 10%, but I had to email them the certificate twice before it stuck. Not a huge hassle, but definitely not instant either.
