Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance? New DriverScore App for Ford SYNC Helps Consumers with Good Driving Discounts
January 04 2017 - 11:00PM
Business Wire
- DriverScore®, first offered for Ford
SYNC® 3-equipped vehicles, helps drivers potentially lower
insurance rates
- New app develops score based on
individual’s driving behavior to be shared with insurance companies
for more personalized quotes
- DriverScore app provides drivers with
daily score updates to help encourage better driving
With car insurance premiums on the rise, Ford is first to
connect with the new DriverScore® smartphone app that provides a
personalized score based on individual driving behavior, which
could lead to lower insurance rates.
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With car insurance premiums on the rise,
Ford is first to connect with the new DriverScore® smartphone app
that provides a personalized score based on individual driving
behavior, which could lead to lower insurance rates. (Photo:
Business Wire)
Click here for a video demonstration of the DriverScore app
enabled for Ford SYNC AppLink.
Developed by IVOX™, DriverScore is a smartphone app compatible
with the Ford SYNC® AppLink™ platform. DriverScore empowers
consumers by giving them the option to share the score with
participating insurance providers. The higher the score, the
better.
“DriverScore is a great example of how SYNC AppLink makes it
easy for developers, like IVOX, to create apps that enhance the
ownership experience,” said Dave Hatton, Ford global manager,
mobile applications and emergency services. “Not only does it
encourage good driving, it incentivizes you with the potential to
save money on car insurance.”
A score specific to you
With DriverScore, driving behavior is associated with the user’s
smartphone, so every score is tailored to an individual since it
only works when connected to the car. That means a younger driver’s
inexperience won’t hurt a parent’s score. Likewise, a lead-footed
driver won’t affect the score of a more cautious spouse – if they
happen to share driving duties on weekends.
Other usage-model insurance programs score based on the
performance of a vehicle, which often has multiple drivers, so
driving behavior reported back to the insurance company isn’t
personalized. Some of these programs require raw vehicle data and
driving performance data be shared with insurance carriers –
information you might prefer to keep to yourself.
DriverScore accesses vehicle data to directly benefit consumers,
sharing only the score, not specific data points. The user can
agree to let the app’s sophisticated algorithm access vehicle data
to objectively analyze driving patterns. The app takes into account
speed, acceleration, braking, location and time of day.
Once downloaded and set up, it runs in the background without
any driver interaction when connected through SYNC AppLink. SYNC
AppLink provides drivers with the ability to control compatible
smartphone apps using their voice or the in-vehicle touch screen.
Developers can easily make their smartphone apps compatible with
SYNC by downloading and integrating the AppLink software from the
Ford Developer Program website.
An initial DriverScore is issued after the first 50 miles
driven. Every morning, users receive a smartphone notification of
their daily driving score, which is cumulative for the month. Users
can view their progress by comparing scores on a month-to-month
basis.
Insurance Discount Marketplace
According to data compiled by ValuePenguin, auto insurance
premiums are on the rise across the nation. The study cites a small
percentage of bad drivers causing most accidents, something
insurance companies can’t adequately distinguish, which results in
rate hikes for all.
Using the app’s DiscountZone™ feature, drivers can
simultaneously share their DriverScore with multiple participating
carriers and receive insurance quotes.
Insurers provide participation discounts at the beginning, then
adjust the rate at the end of every six or 12 months, depending on
individual policy terms.
For consumers, the insurance discount marketplace provides a
simple one-stop shop to obtain insurance quotes and select what is
best for their needs.
“DriverScore started as a tool for commercial fleets, but we
quickly realized it could be expanded to all drivers via Ford’s
AppLink platform,” said Gregg Warren, CEO of IVOX. “DriverScore
empowers drivers by giving them access to their personal driving
data in a simple application to get more personal quotes from
participating insurance companies. Simply put, consumers will have
more control over their own data and their insurance premiums.”
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company
based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 203,000 employees and 62
plants worldwide, the company’s core business includes designing,
manufacturing, marketing and servicing a full line of Ford cars,
trucks and SUVs, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. To expand its
business model, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging
opportunities with investments in electrification, autonomy and
mobility. Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor
Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its
products and services, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
For news releases, related materials and
high-resolution photos and video, visit www.media.ford.com.
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Ford Motor CompanyAlan Hall734.845.4410ahall32@ford.com
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