System and method for the assessment, pricing, and provisioning of distance-based vehicle insurance

• US 7,890,355 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2006
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: Milemeter, Inc.
• Inventors: Duncan, Leonard D., McKinney, John C., Fellows, Jeffrey R., Gay, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, III; Thomas M
• Application Number:
  US11/563,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20070106539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 705/4
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00

Abstract

A method for assessing, pricing, and provisioning distance-based vehicle insurance is disclosed. Receiving identification information of a customer and an associated vehicle, a current odometer reading of the vehicle, and a garaging location of the vehicle is disclosed. The customer is provided with a quote including a policy rate identifying a cost per distance unit based on the customer and vehicle identification information and the garaging location. Performing a purchase transaction for an insurance policy in response to the customer selecting one of the items for purchase, wherein coverage provided by the insurance policy expires based on the earlier of an odometer expiration value occurring and a predetermined time limit is disclosed. The expiration odometer value is the sum of the current odometer reading and the total number of distance units included in the selected item. The current odometer reading is not audited prior to or during the purchase transaction.

Claims

1. A computer system for assessing, pricing, and provisioning distance-based vehicle insurance, the system comprising:

a computer processor; and

a computer memory accessible to the computer processor, the computer memory and computer processor being communicatively detached from a customer associated vehicle, wherein the computer memory comprises a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the computer processor, perform a method, the method comprising;

receiving identification information of a customer and the associated vehicle;

receiving, from the customer, a current odometer reading of the vehicle and a garaging location of the vehicle, wherein the odometer is the factory installed odometer and is representative of the original miles traveled by the vehicle;

providing a plurality of coverage types to the customer;

providing the customer with at least one quote upon receiving a selection from the customer of one of the coverage types, wherein the quote includes a policy rate identifying a cost per distance unit based on the customer and vehicle identification information and the garaging location;

providing the customer with a plurality of pre-calculated items based on the quote, wherein each item includes a total number of distance units for purchase at the policy rate; and

performing a purchase transaction for an insurance policy in response to the customer selecting one of the items for purchase, wherein coverage provided by the insurance policy expires based on the earlier of an odometer expiration value occurring and a predetermined time limit, wherein the expiration odometer value is defined as the sum of the current odometer reading and the total number of distance units included in the selected item, and wherein the current odometer reading is not audited prior to or during the purchase transaction.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

assessing a policy fee as a cost per unit distance.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving an updated odometer reading of the vehicle;

calculating whether the updated odometer reading is within a predefined number of distance units from the expiration odometer value; and

notifying the customer if the updated odometer reading is within the predefined number of distance units.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the updated odometer reading is received from at least one of emission testing of the vehicle, maintenance of the vehicle, sale of the vehicle, purchase of the vehicle, registration of the vehicle, and an accident record of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein notifying the customer includes offering the customer a renewal option to purchase additional insurance.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

calculating whether the present time is within a predetermined amount of time of the predetermined time limit; and

notifying the customer if the present time is within the predetermined amount of time.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein notifying the customer includes offering the customer a renewal option to purchase additional insurance.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

prior to renewing the policy, determining whether a current odometer reading at the end of the predefined period of time is greater or lesser than the expiration odometer value; and

charging the customer for the difference between the current odometer reading and the expiration odometer value if the current odometer reading is greater, and crediting the customer for the difference between the current odometer reading and the expiration odometer value if the expiration odometer value is greater.

9. A computer system for providing automobile insurance, the system comprising:

a computer processor; and

a computer memory accessible to the computer processor, the computer memory and computer processor being communicatively detached from a customer associated vehicle, wherein the computer memory comprises a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the computer processor, perform a method, the method comprising;

receiving customer information from a customer;

receiving automobile information from the customer, the automobile information including a first, customer-supplied odometer reading of an automobile and a garaging location of the automobile, wherein the odometer is the factory installed odometer and is representative of the original miles traveled by the vehicle;

determining a rate based upon the customer information and the automobile information;

offering at least one insurance policy option, the at least one option including an offer to insure the automobile at a cost per unit distance of coverage;

receiving a customer selection of a number of units of distance of coverage;

assessing a policy fee for insuring the customer and automobile based on a cost per unit distance;

receiving a payment for the number of units of distance of coverage and the policy fee, the payment based on a total cost per unit distance, the total cost per unit distance including the cost per unit distance of coverage for insurance and the policy fee; and

insuring the customer and automobile while a current odometer reading of the automobile is less than the sum of the first odometer reading and the customer selection of a number of units distance of coverage and while a predetermined period of time has not lapsed, wherein an odometer audit is not performed prior to initiating coverage for the automobile and customer.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein offering at least one insurance policy option further comprises offering a plurality of coverage limits.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein offering at least one insurance policy option further comprises offering a coverage limit satisfying minimum legal requirements in a predetermined jurisdiction, plus at least one option with coverage surpassing the minimum requirements in the predetermined jurisdiction.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

obtaining an odometer audit before paying an insurance claim resulting from insuring the customer and automobile.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

denying a claim based on an event occurring following the earlier of a current odometer reading of the automobile being greater than the sum of the first odometer reading and the customer selection of a number of units distance of coverage, and the lapse of the predetermined period of time.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

providing a notice to the customer prior to the earlier of a current odometer reading of the automobile being greater than the sum of the first odometer reading and the customer selection of a number of units distance of coverage, and the lapse of the predetermined period of time.

15. A system for assessing, pricing, and provisioning distance-based vehicle insurance, the system comprising:

a computer processor;

a display device coupled to the computer processor and programmed to display information selected by the computer processor to a user;

an input device coupled to the computer processor and programmed to receive information entered by the user; and

a computer memory accessible to the computer processor, the computer memory programmed to store information associated with a plurality of distance-based insurance options, wherein the computer memory comprises a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the computer processor, perform a method, the method comprising;

receiving user and vehicle information via the input device from the user, including a current odometer reading of the vehicle and a garaging location of the vehicle, wherein the odometer is the factory installed odometer and is representative of the original miles traveled by the vehicle;

determining an actuarial rate class based on the user and vehicle information;

instructions for providing a plurality of coverage types to the user via the display device;

providing the user with at least one quote upon receiving an input selecting one or more of the coverage types, wherein the quote includes a total number of distance units for purchase and a policy rate identifying a cost per distance based on the user and vehicle identification information, actuarial rate class, and predetermined expiration date of the policy; and

performing a purchase transaction in response to input from the user indicating a purchase for insurance corresponding to the quote;

wherein the computer processor, computer memory, input device, and display device are not communicatively coupled to a customer vehicle.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the cost per distance is further based on the assessment of a policy fee as an additional cost per unit distance.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the computer processor and computer memory are located in a remote location relative to the display device and input device, and are connected to the display device and input device via a communications network.