LexisNexis, which generates consumer risk profiles for the insurers, knew about every trip G.M. drivers had taken in their cars, including when they sped, braked too hard or accelerated rapidly.

Kenn Dahl says he has always been a careful driver. The owner of a software company near Seattle, he drives a leased Chevrolet Bolt. He’s never been responsible for an accident.

So Mr. Dahl, 65, was surprised in 2022 when the cost of his car insurance jumped by 21 percent. Quotes from other insurance companies were also high. One insurance agent told him his LexisNexis report was a factor.

LexisNexis is a New York-based global data broker with a “Risk Solutions” division that caters to the auto insurance industry and has traditionally kept tabs on car accidents and tickets. Upon Mr. Dahl’s request, LexisNexis sent him a 258-page “consumer disclosure report,” which it must provide per the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

What it contained stunned him: more than 130 pages detailing each time he or his wife had driven the Bolt over the previous six months. It included the dates of 640 trips, their start and end times, the distance driven and an accounting of any speeding, hard braking or sharp accelerations. The only thing it didn’t have is where they had driven the car.

On a Thursday morning in June for example, the car had been driven 7.33 miles in 18 minutes; there had been two rapid accelerations and two incidents of hard braking.

  • GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml
    ·
    7 months ago

    I think this should be legally prohibited. Also is it possible to physically disconnected the network modules so they can't send anything?

    • catloaf@lemm.ee
      ·
      7 months ago

      If it doesn't already, that's probably going to put you in the high-risk group with other car modders.

  • driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br
    ·
    7 months ago

    Moving from 64 to 65 also moves you from a different age bracket, I would guess that this is the main reason he saw a general rise on his insurance cost from all the other insurance companies.

  • ReverendIrreverence@lemmy.ml
    ·
    7 months ago

    Kinda like those who choose to be in the Progressive Insurance "Snapshot" program where you install an OBD2 dongle that reports a lot of data about your driving habits back to Progressive in the dim chance you drive so well that they will lower your rates.

    • delirious_owl@discuss.online
      ·
      7 months ago

      Surely theres someone who has a rasberi pi that reports fake data to this thing? Yes, insurance company, I drive like a Grandma. You're welcome, now give me my discount.

  • JIMMERZ@lemm.ee
    ·
    7 months ago

    My auto insurance rose 27% this year. My cars sit in a locked garage 20ft away from me practically all week long as I work from home. I was shocked to find my rates rose so high as I barely even drive at all anymore. Their solution was for me to get their data collection puck. What a fucking racket!

  • toastal@lemmy.ml
    ·
    7 months ago

    Not at all surprised by this. I sold my car a decade ago, I just hope motorcycles can stay dumb for longer.