Mercury makes usage-based insurance app available in Virginia

Mercury Insurance has announced that it has made its usage-based insurance app, MercuryGO, available to drivers in Virginia.

The app acts as a virtual driving coach, providing scores and real-time feedback on customers’ driving behavior. Mercury auto insurance policyholders who enroll to use the app immediately receive a 5% discount, and teen drivers receive up to a 10% discount. When MercuryGO customers renew their policies, they could receive up to a 40% discount depending on their driving score.

“Mercury Insurance wants to leverage technology to make driving safer, and we also want to reward drivers for being cautious behind the wheel,” said Mike Dawdy, director of product management at Mercury Insurance. “MercuryGO is an intuitive and easy-to-use app that helps you stay safe in the driver’s seat, and it puts money back in your bank account.”

The app generates a driving skill score that is calculated based on categories closely associated with car crashes: excessive speeding, hard braking, distracted driving and road type.

Mercury’s technology partner, Cambridge Mobile Analytics (CMT), is the world’s largest smartphone telematics provider. CMT pioneered usage-based insurance with smartphones, the measurement of phone distractions, behavior-based insurance, and real-time crash alerts with roadside assistance.

“Mercury Insurance is utilizing the DriveWell platform to help drivers reduce distracted driving, speeding, and hard braking by keeping them engaged and providing timely feedback,” said Ryan McMahon, vice president of insurance and government affairs at CMT. “MercuryGO will help make Virginia roads safer and has the potential to reduce the number of car collisions, injuries and fatalities.”

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Added benefits of the app include:

• A sharing option for families, which allows all participating drivers to see who is the safest
• The ability for parents to receive real-time feedback about their teen’s driving behavior, including when, where, and how fast they are traveling
• Licensed teen drivers age 18 and under who are registered for MercuryGO will instantly receive a 10% participation discount on auto insurance
• The opportunity to earn a discount of up to 40% at renewal

“It’s important to remember that driving is a privilege, and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly,” Dawdy said. “Drivers of all skill levels can benefit from the MercuryGO, while also putting money back in their pockets.”

MercuryGo is also available in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Texas.