Save 25% on Car Insurance With GPS? Canadians Can

ICBC eyeing black boxes to track driving habits

By Jeff Nagel

Black Press

Jul 12 2006

ICBC is planning to install black box recorders to monitor the driving habits of 400 volunteer motorists.

But the auto insurance corporation says it’s doing so simply to keep pace with advancements in the insurance field – not as part of any plan to make widespread use of vehicle data recorders.

“That’s way down the road for us,” said ICBC spokesman Doug McClelland. “We figured we’d better get some experience working with this.”

Some private auto insurance firms in Canada are already using the devices, offering customers discounts on their insurance premiums in exchange for plugging in the black boxes to record how safely they drive.

Aviva Canada is offering Ontario drivers discounts of five to 25 per cent to participate… Rest of Article here:

For us south of the border folks the first thing that probably comes to mind if, who the heck is ICBC? The answer is, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. If you take the time to read the whole article you’ll see that a number of Canadian insurance companies are already using GPS tracking to voluntarily give savings to policy holders. Here in the US, I’m sorry to have to say this, but insurance companies just seem to revel in claims. The more accidents the more they can charge and the more they charge the more they make, so what’s for lunch.

This is far from the first time I’ve seen Canadian firms leading the way in the intelligent merger of technology and commerce. Why shouldn’t those who drive more cautiously and practice safe driving habits get a better insurance rate? For those of you who are worried about being spotted spending hours at the bar or visiting your girlfriend while you tell your wife you’re working late, well go ahead and voice your privacy moans. Myself? I’d prefer to save 25%.