Your digital decisions may drive car insurance rates

Android versus iPhone? Gmail versus Yahoo?

When it comes to car insurance, little tech decisions are more than too-may-toes versus toh-mah-toes when it comes to premiums.

That’s according to Indianapolis’ WISHTV.com, reporting on Monday the findings of a study by an insurance comparison firm that analyzed consumer digital behavior and the effect it could have on costs for consumers.

The Zebra, an Austin-based firm that conducted the research, found that “buying auto insurance on a desktop computer could save you almost $80 versus signing up on your cellphone or tablet.”

But, the increase in premium for using an Android could be less than the increase for using an iPhone, according to a Zebra spokeswoman. Having a Gmail address could also cost more than $100 extra while a comcast.net address could save more than $200.

“A lot of that has to do with how you engage online,” Alyssa Connolly, director of market insights at The Zebra, told a reporter. “We've been seeing other industries, other companies that use your digital footprint behavior."