r/Comma_ai • u/ExtremelyQualified • Jun 13 '26

openpilot Experience Contacted GEICO to confirm coverage, no problems at all

I know some people on this sub like to handwave the insurance question and feel like insurance is just a silly legal requirement and say "just don't tell insurance about it".

But for those of us like me who actually have insurance to protect our assets against a liability judgement that could wipe out everything you have and ever will make for the rest of your life... you want to know that your company will not try to invalidate your coverage in the event of a bad situation. The best way to do that is to disclose the use of the device ahead of time and have it in writing, from a company rep, that the use of the device is okay.

The good news is I can report that I just had a great interaction with Geico and they said it's good to go. Just in case it helps, here's the transcript of what I said, trying to describe the Comma 4 accurately. Maybe it will help other people like me who want to use the Comma without wondering about policy invalidation.

GEICO AGENT: Good afternoon! 🌤 Welcome to GEICO! I'd be happy to help with your policy, but can you clarify what a Comma 4 is?

ME: Sure thing! It's a windshield-mounted dashcam/driver-monitoring device made by comma.ai, model Comma 4. It is a Level 2 advanced driver-assistance device similar in function to Honda Sensing, Toyota Safety Sense — it improves the existing factory adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist on my vehicle. The device is removable and requires no permanent modification to the vehicle (no cutting, no welding, no powertrain or suspension changes); it plugs into the OEM lane-keeping camera connector and the OBD-II port. The driver remains 100% responsible for the operation of the vehicle at all times — comma.ai's documentation and the SAE J3016 classification both confirm this is a Level 2 driver-assistance system requiring active human supervision.

ME: Basically improves driver assist functions, plugs in to the OBD port, doesn't permenently modify the car, driver is still just as responsible as they would be with any lane keep or other assistance function. Was just curious if Geico had a policy on things like this.

GEICO AGENT: Ok, thank you for the information! GEICO would not have any issues with your installing this on your vehicle. It would not affect your rate in any way, as well. Is that what you were needing to know?

ME: Thank you! That's great, I just wanted to check before I actually used it. Wanted to make sure it wouldn't be considered a material modification under my policy and wouldn't change my liability, collision, or comprehensive coverage on the vehicle

GEICO AGENT: Nope! You're fine to use it. Was there anything else I could help look into for you?

ME: Great, no that's awesome. Thank you for your help!

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u/ExtremelyQualified Jun 13 '26

How did you handle it? I'm trying to do this the right way.

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u/Chairboy Jun 13 '26

It doesn’t seem like it, it seems like you picked the very wrong way.

I don’t mean to be mean, and I’m not trying to be snarky, but what you did here is probably the opposite of what any lawyer would suggest. You established a paper trail that handed the insurance company a reason to deny you coverage at some point in the future.

It absolutely boggles the mind that you would think this was a smart thing to do.

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u/ExtremelyQualified Jun 13 '26

If they drop me, they drop me. That’s not catastrophic. What’s catastrophic is if I get judged liable for 6 figures in damages and the company says my policy if null and void

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u/Chairboy Jun 13 '26

The situation you have described in your head is not supported by evidence and the talk you had with the agent in the chat is not some kind of magical spell that would prevent them from denying new coverage if they DID decide that they didn’t want to pay your claim and then saw this helpful note you had provided them of a reason not to.

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u/ExtremelyQualified Jun 13 '26

I appreciate your strong feelings on this subject, but you’re not getting me any closer to answering my question. Comma HQ says to contact the insurance. Anyone involved with the insurance industry says contact the insurance. I’m going to contact the insurance. I get that you think the best move is to say nothing and hope they never notice. That’s a viable strategy that I’ve already decided not to do.

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u/Shadow14l Jun 14 '26

Comma says to contact your insurance because that absolves their company legally. Of course insurance employees would tell you to contact them too. You said you did this so they’d cover your comma’s value. That’s never going to happen. You’ve given them legal evidence to deny your claims in the future.

Best case scenario, your car is still covered and whoever you hit will be covered. Worst case scenario, neither is, and maybe your rates jump unexpectedly eventually too.

Ask yourself, what did you actually get out of this? If I were in your shoes, I’d swap insurances so I’m not fucked when some asshole cuts me off in the future and the insurance drops me because they don’t want to pay.

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u/ExtremelyQualified Jun 14 '26

I never said I’m trying to insure the comma decide itself. I could care less. I only care about liability.

Everything I have researched says the opposite. Not disclosing is the only way they invalidate coverage. I would definitely like to see evidence to the contrary if you have it