Branch and CMT to launch Community Drive
Ohio-based home and auto insurance company Branch and behavioral analytics solution provider Cambridge Mobile Telematics have partnered to launch Community Drive.
Community Drive combines Branch’s ability to help consumers access coverage options “quickly” with CMT’s safe driving technology. CMT’s telematics platform, DriveWell, will power the new program, enabling Branch to reward its community members with deeper discounts for safe driving.
“Branch is on a mission to make insurance less expensive, allowing more people to become insured. CMT’s technology equips us with real-time data that not only helps Branch members save, but also encourages safer driving behaviors, which naturally reduces the cost of insurance. Through Community Drive, clients are empowered to be better on the roads, creating safer communities for us all.” – Branch Co-founder and CEO Steve Lekas.
When drivers opt to participate in Community Drive on the Branch mobile app, they receive an automatic participation discount on their insurance, with options to continue receiving discounts after completing five drives within 90 days. If all of the drivers on a policy participate in Community Drive and drive safely, they could earn up to 20% off their auto premiums at renewal.
“We’re delighted to work with Branch on Community Drive to help drivers become better. By combining Branch’s innovations to make insurance accessible for everyone with our innovations in telematics and driver feedback, the program will reward safe driving with fair policy pricing.” – CMT Co-founder and CTO Hari Balakrishnan.
CMT’s scoring model applies driving behaviors such as sudden acceleration, sharp turning, hard braking, speeding and phone distraction to estimate driving risk. Branch’s app will provide this feedback to its drivers, based on sensors in the smartphone, to help them improve. In addition to the assessment of driving behavior, the DriveWell platform’s scoring model allows drivers to be “fairly” matched with policy prices, incentivizing safer driving habits and the opportunity to save money.
Community Drive will launch first in Ohio where Branch is headquartered with plans to roll out nationwide.
