Progressive Insurance has received a fourth patent for system technologies used with its optional Pay As You Drive insurance program, a usage-based form of car insurance. The patent relates to producing a driver safety score based on monitored driving data.
Progressive's usage-based insurance (UBI) program, Snapshot creates a personalized car insurance discount based on the customer’s driving habits. Drivers who sign up for Snapshot receive a small device that plugs into the on-board diagnostic port of cars. The device records data from the vehicle and sends it to Progressive, which uses that data to calculate potential discounts.
Over the past few years, Progressive has tested and refined its UBI program and today nearly half a million drivers have participated.
"For more than 15 years we have invested a great deal into the research, development, testing and piloting of usage-based insurance programs and will continue to do so," says Glenn Renwick, Progressive's president and CEO. "It's gratifying to know that the U.S. Patent Office recognizes the uniqueness of our system technologies."
In addition to its patents for usage-based insurance, Progressive also holds a patent for its methods of processing vehicle damage claims and two patents for computer technology related to its online policy servicing capabilities.
