A Progressive representative told KIRO 7 by phone that the claims are untrue, the Snapshot does not drain batteries, and the device is not harmful to vehicles. The representative said “the Snapshot uses no more battery power than plugging in your smartphone.”

Does snapshot mess up your car?

Snapshot is not great for cars that log a lot of miles, have a variety of drivers or younger drivers who might inadvertently increase your insurance rates with a lot of miles driven and a lot of hard stops. Progressive says that 2 in 10 drivers actually increase their insurance rate after using Snapshot.

How long does Snapshot stay plugged in?

How long does the Progressive Snapshot program last? You have to keep the Progressive Snapshot device in your car for however long it takes to gather enough driving data to determine a performance discount. That typically ranges from 75 days to a six-month policy term.