Progressive Snapshot is a usage-based insurance program that sets part of your rate based on how you actually drive. You join through the Snapshot mobile app or a small device that plugs into your car, and Progressive tracks things like hard braking, rapid acceleration, how much you drive and whether you drive late at night. Your results usually arrive at your first renewal, often after about six months.
Progressive says most drivers save with Snapshot, but not everyone does. In some states, risky driving can raise your rate, and Snapshot isn’t available in California.
Key Takeaways
- Snapshot uses the mobile app or a plug-in device to track hard braking, rapid acceleration, mileage and time of day. In some states, the app also counts handheld phone use.
- In most states, new customers get a participation discount just for signing up. It lasts for the first policy term and is then replaced by a personalized rate based on your driving.
- Snapshot can raise your rate in some states. Progressive says about 2 in 10 drivers get an increase, while New York doesn’t allow a Snapshot surcharge.
- You can opt out at any time, but timing matters. If you leave within 45 days, your driving isn’t considered. Leaving later can mean a surcharge in some states.
How Snapshot Works, Step by Step
- Enroll. You can join when you buy your Progressive policy or later by calling 1-877-329-7283, according to Progressive’s Snapshot FAQ.
- Choose the app or the device. The app runs on your phone. The device plugs into your car’s OBD-II port, which is usually under the steering wheel. Progressive’s terms make the participation discount contingent on completing registration within 45 days of enrolling.
- Drive as you normally would. Progressive sends progress emails along the way, and the plug-in device beeps when you brake hard.
- Get your results at renewal. Progressive says the Snapshot discount “is credited when you renew your auto policy with Progressive (usually after six months), assuming we’ve collected the required minimum driving data.”
- Keep going or finish, depending on your state. In some program versions, your score updates at every renewal. In others, it stays the same until Progressive asks you to take part again, and you return the device when the program ends.
What Snapshot Tracks
| What Progressive looks at | Details |
|---|---|
| Hard braking and rapid acceleration | Sudden changes in speed |
| Time of day | Progressive suggests avoiding driving between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m. on weekends |
| How much you drive | Your total mileage during the program |
| Phone use | Handheld phone use while driving, for app users in some states |
| Location | Collected, but Progressive says it doesn’t affect your Snapshot results. It may be used for underwriting. |
Both versions measure similar things, but only the app considers phone use. Progressive’s terms also say that “Where you drive is not used in determining your personalized rate.”
How Much Can You Save?
There are two kinds of savings. The first is a participation discount for new customers, credited in your first policy term and replaced by your personalized rate at renewal. Progressive advertises a “$164 Average discount at program sign up” but doesn’t explain how it calculated that figure. The Snapshot page says this discount isn’t available in New York, and the FAQ says it isn’t available in Hawaii or New York.
The second is the personalized rate you earn. Progressive says customers who renewed and earned a Snapshot discount “saved an average of $328.” That average only covers drivers who earned a discount, not everyone who tried the program. Progressive’s app terms also note that Snapshot can affect how much you save from its paid-in-full or automatic payment discounts.
Can Snapshot Raise Your Rate?
Yes, in some states. Progressive’s FAQ says riskier driving may lead to a higher rate at renewal, depending on your state and when you signed up for Snapshot. The Snapshot page puts it this way: “Your rate may increase with high-risk driving. But, only about 2 out of 10 drivers actually get an increase.”
New York is one confirmed exception. Progressive’s device terms say a surcharge isn’t applied there, although New York drivers must be monitored for at least 120 days and re-monitored every 36 months to keep participating. Progressive doesn’t publish a full list of states where Snapshot can raise rates, so ask for the rules in your state before you enroll, or call the Snapshot team.
Two other situations can cost you. If Progressive doesn’t collect enough data, you may lose the participation discount, and in some states you can be removed from the program with a surcharge at your second renewal. Opting out late can also lead to a surcharge in some states, as explained below.
Where Snapshot Isn’t Available
Snapshot isn’t offered in California, and Progressive says it isn’t available through all agents or “in all states and situations.” Progressive’s terms also note that customers in Maryland and Missouri who became policyholders before 2011 may have different program terms.
How to Opt Out of Snapshot
You can leave the program at any time by logging in to your account or calling 1-877-329-7283, though in some states you may need to call. What happens next depends on timing:
- Within 45 days of enrolling: Progressive says it won’t consider your Snapshot experience at all.
- After 45 days: If Progressive already has enough data, it can still use your score to set your rate at each renewal, and in some states you may get a surcharge at the next renewal.
- Either way: You lose the participation discount. If you have the device, wait for Progressive’s instructions before returning it. Not returning it in good working order can mean a charge of up to $30, and that charge still applies if the device is lost.
Is Snapshot Worth It for You?
Snapshot tends to reward drivers who brake smoothly, drive fewer miles and stay off the road late at night. It’s a harder sell if your commute involves heavy stop-and-go traffic, you drive a lot of miles or you regularly drive in the early morning hours on weekends, especially in a state where Snapshot can raise your rate.
If you try it, the 45-day window is your safety net: you can opt out early without your driving counting. RateFrog’s guides to GEICO’s DriveEasy program and State Farm’s Drive Safe & Save explain similar programs, and our list of common car insurance discounts covers other ways to lower your premium. Since telematics is only one pricing factor, it also helps to compare quotes from several insurers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Snapshot Track Where I Drive?
It collects location data, but Progressive says location doesn’t affect your Snapshot results, although it may be used for underwriting. Progressive’s terms say where you drive isn’t used to set your personalized rate.
Can I Switch From the Snapshot App to the Plug-In Device?
Yes. Progressive says you can switch by calling 1-877-329-7283. In some states, it will ask the other drivers on your policy to switch as well.
What Happens If I Lose the Snapshot Device?
Progressive charges up to $30 for a device that isn’t returned in good working condition, and it says that charge still applies if the device is lost.
Is Snapshot ProView the Same Program?
No. Snapshot ProView is for Progressive Commercial auto policies. Progressive says businesses get a 5% discount for enrolling and could save between 8% and 20% at renewal, though that isn’t available in all states.