'Got A+ Rating and Took $20 Off:' Texas Woman Starts Driving With Progressive’s Car Monitor. Then She Issues a Warning

"Not worth it."

Texas woman starts driving with Progressive insurance's car monitor. Then she issues a warning

Photo by: @chaoticallycarissa & @progressive

Stacy Fernandez

By: Stacy Fernandez

Jul 15, 2025 at 5:00am ET

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A woman’s vow to never again be yelled at by her Progressive insurance car monitor was tested sooner than she thought. And she’s not the only one irritated by the device.

TikTok user Carissa (@chaoticallycarissa) posted a video venting her frustration on June 12.

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The video starts with Carissa pointing the camera at the Progressive Snapshot device plugged into her car.

"If this lady yells at me one more time,” she says, before turning the camera around to display her annoyed expression. “Ha ha. I'm gonna lose it.”

The second clip is presumably right after “this lady” yelled at Carissa again.

“Well, that didn't last long,” she says. “If you know, you know. Suck it, Progressive."

In the caption, she writes, “It was real, but it wasn’t real fun.”

What Is the Progressive Snapshot?

The Snapshot program is a device that plugs into a car’s OBD-II port and determines a policy adjustment based on how you drive. It’s what you call a telematics system, which uses GPS to track your vehicle’s activities. That means Progressive will have access to the vehicle’s driving data, including speeds, trip time, and hard brakes.

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Drivers get an automatic discount at signup, which averages about $231, Progressive reports. If the driver is deemed safe by the Snapshot device, the average savings on their next policy is purportedly approximately $322.

Customers can monitor their progress via a mobile app, but the Snapshot device also beeps to let drivers know that they’ve committed a hard brake. The fewer the beeps as they drive, the bigger the discount at the end of your policy period.

To avoid these beeps, Progressive recommends driving more slowly, avoiding night driving, staying off your phone, and driving less overall. Of course, some users (like Carissa) might choose another option: Opting out of the program altogether.

Viewers Weigh in on Snapshot

In the comments section of the video, viewers took the opportunity to vent their own frustrations about the Progressive Snapshot program.

"THAT THING KNEW WHEN I GOT ON MY PHONE," wrote one former program participant.

"Got an A+ rating and it took $20 off of my insurance for six months of beeping," wrote a second. "Not worth it."

Another person said, "I've never had one because it's not my insurance company's business to know my every move."

One person defended the program.

"Y'all act like it was mandatory," they wrote. "Y'all signed up voluntarily. So stop complaining."

Does Progressive Snapshot Save You Money?

According to Bankrate, the Snapshot program does provide drivers with the opportunity to save money on their insurance premiums.

But the criticism from the commenters comes from a real place: Approximately 20% of Snapshot drivers actually see an increase in their premiums because of their driving habits, per Bankrate.

What do you think?

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So it’s really up to the individual driver to determine whether they can commit to not slamming on their brakes, abstain from late-night driving, limit mileage, and eliminate speeding and cell phone usage. If they can't, they might want to follow Carissa's lead and forget about Snapshot.

Motor1 reached out to Carissa via TikTok comment and direct message for comment. We also reached out to Progressive via email for comment. We’ll update this if either responds.