New Intact Insurance, belairdirect offering in Quebec links driving behaviour to auto insurance discounts

Driving behaviour will serve as the basis for auto insurance premium savings of as much as 25% for select drivers in Quebec as part of a new offering announced Wednesday by Intact Financial Corporation.

In the weeks to come, Intact Financial reports that its affiliates – Intact Insurance and belairdirect – will launch a telematics-based solution that allows eligible good drivers in Quebec to save up to 25% on their annual auto insurance premiums based on driving behaviours.

Similar programs are expected to be rolled out in other jurisdictions in the coming months, notes a statement from Intact Financial, the largest provider of property and casualty insurance in Canada.

To take part, a driver will connect a telematics device to his or her car. Data on driving behaviour – specifically, driver braking patterns, driver acceleration patterns and the time of day when the vehicle is used – will be collected over a period of time to assess the level of discount, Intact Financial reports.

“Premiums will not increase as a result of these driving behaviours. Furthermore, the information gathered will not be used to cancel or refuse renewal of a policy,” the company statement emphasizes.

The potential savings on premiums are in addition to other discounts that are already offered. To encourage participation, Intact Financial notes that customers will receive a 5% enrolment discount upon registration.

“With the launch of this initiative, Intact Insurance and belairdirect will provide drivers the opportunity to better control the cost of their auto insurance by rewarding them for the quality of their driving,” Louis Gagnon, president and chief operating officer of Intact Financial Corporation, says in the statement. “While the immediate goal is to reward good drivers, ultimately the objective is to encourage better driving behaviours and make our roads safer,” Gagnon continues.

“Protecting the personal information of customers is paramount to us, which is why participants will be provided information on how the data will be collected and how it will be used,” he says.

Customers will be able to monitor their driving behaviours and potential discount through a secure website or through weekly e-mails, and may opt out of the program at any time, Intact Financial adds.