The details differ from company to company, but they all rely on modern on-board diagnostic systems. Progressive's original "TripSense" is plugged into you car's diagnostic port, every six months being removed to have the info uploaded and sent to the company. The new system, called "MyRate," uses a telematic device that wirelessly transmits the driver data over a cellphone network.

GMAC's program utilizes a car's existing OnStar system...which just happens to have GPS capabilites. They insist that GPS tracking is not used to monitor your every move — just your mileage. You know, because checking the odometer just isn't good enough. GMAC does admit "There is an opportunity to get other information, and as we do we will be able to correlate risk to actual driving behavior itself rather than more predictive factors." Of course, you'd still have to pay for the annual OnStar subscription, so you'll have to judge whether the insurance savings makes the OnStar spam you'll get each month worthwhile.
[WSJ]

The qualified entrants will compete for the giant wad of all-Progressive supplied cash in a variety of real world challenges in the categories of speed, distance, traffic, terrain, and weather. Everybody and his brother is in on this one — The US House and Senate have already approved NTSB, DOT, DOE backing with the DOE tossing $3.5 million in grant money into the fold for education of youth and consumers.; The Sierra Club and NRDC support grassroots efforts; Individuals like Al Gore, Dean Kamen (who will be entering and sits on the Automotive X Prize Board), the Governator, and many more are putting their voices behind the effort.

There are already 64 pledged entrants from 22 countries and 10 US states from private, college, and even high school groups. Four examples of which were present at the show, The Venture 1, the first look at the MDI Air Car, a Ale from France, and the "Hybrid Attack" - a diesel electric hybrid built by a team from the West Philly High School. The applications will begin being accepted starting in two months, so if you want a shot at 10 million bucks, you better start filling out the paperwork now. Find out all the nitty gritty details at ProgressiveXPrize.org.

Eversman's major problem is that these programs, which offer to take your car and get it fixed without hassling you, provide an incentive to the insurance companies to hire someone who is going to do a crappy job for less money. In fact, he's been following the stories of numerous cars repaired under these programs later deemed too dangerous to drive. He's taking his message to various state governments because, as entities that require us to have insurance, they have an obligation to provide oversight. Right on, man, Right on. [AutoMuse]

Due the total floodination of Southern Louisiana and surrounding areas' infrastructure, many cars sat in a toxic postmordial soup for up to four weeks before they could be pulled out, naturally to be declared total losses. Progressive, stuck with 5,000 of completely irreparable hulks, decided to send 'em off to the squasher rather than sell them to junkyards or attempt to repair and resell them with salvage titles.

According to Progressive's Juan Andrade, "We don't want our people working around those cars and we don't want them back on the road." We're guessing that the real reason is more prosaic it was simply the cheapest, most expedient option, as well as the least likely to result in pesky lawsuits for the company.

Progressive sends 5,000 flooded cars to crusher [BizNewOrleans]

Related:
Louisiana Flood-Car Prohibition Bill Goes to Gov [Internal]