One piece of tech you definitely want to add to your vehicle for safety purposes is a dashcam. It’s a great way to ensure accountability if something bad happens like a crash with another car. Tap or click here to add peace of mind to your travels. Speaking of accountability, as a driver you’re going to need auto insurance — it’s the law. With the help of new technology, you might be able to find car insurance at cheaper rates, but there’s always a price to pay.
How much is your privacy worth?
Ford and Lincoln Motor Company announced they’re teaming up with Nationwide insurance to offer discounted rates — but there’s a catch. If you own a newer vehicle from one of these manufacturers with “connected” capabilities, you can sign up for a program that uses the car’s built-in modem to track your driving habits. You may also like: 6 gadgets to upgrade your car Once you purchase a policy, the connected car will track distance driven, hard braking and accelerating, idle time and night driving. This information is shared with Nationwide and used to establish a policy rate for renewal. Drivers who are more careful will receive bigger discounts. Customers are eligible for up to a 40% discount, which will be applied when the policy is renewed. While 40% off insurance rates sounds good, are you OK with sharing this type of data? It might feel a bit creepy having your every move tracked — similar to being online when companies like Google and Facebook track you to provide you with targeted ads. You may also like: Your private chats can be found with a quick Google search If handing over information like this doesn’t bother you and you want to sign up, simply fill out a form in either the FordPass or Lincoln Way app. The program is available now in 39 states and is expected to be ready in more soon.
