My husband and I are generally safe, middle-aged drivers who drive older cars, so our auto insurance is reasonable. However, we recently moved from Arizona to New York. When we transferred our insurance to New York, the agent asked if we’d like the Drive Safe & Save discount. This program requires drivers to install a beacon on their windshield and then download the Drive Safe & Save by State Farm app onto their cell phones. You can earn a significant discount for your insurance premium using this tracking information.
Pros of Using Drive Safe & Save by State Farm
If you’re considering using a driving tracker like this, there are a few benefits.
Easy Installation
Once we understood how to install the device, the installation was simple and only took a few minutes.
Won’t Cause You to Pay More
The State Farm agent quickly let me know that we wouldn’t be penalized by the Drive Safe & Save discount, so we would never face increased premiums based on the recorded data. Also, if you no longer want to use the beacon, you can remove it anytime.
Can Track Your Progress
The app lets you monitor how you’re driving and what your current savings are from using the app. You can also look at each trip you take to see how many incidents you have had. Incidents may include rapid acceleration, hard braking, distracted driving, and more.
Can Save Significantly
Users can save up to 30 percent off their premium based on how well they drive. Fortunately, our premiums are relatively low, so 30 percent doesn’t save us that much. However, if we buy a new car and our premiums increase, we could save more with this program.
Cons of Using Drive Safe & Save by State Farm
While I enjoy the benefits of the program, there are some negatives.
Dinged for Defensive Driving
Once, a car pulled out in front of me, so I had to hit the brakes hard, or I would have hit it. That reports on the Drive Safe & Save app as a ding for me—hard braking. However, I was a safe driver because I prevented an accident, but the app cannot distinguish between defensive and aggressive driving.
All Accounts Are Together
All accounts are together on the app. My husband drives more for work and tends to speed more, while I don’t drive much since I work from home. I also drive slower than him, but our reports are linked together, and we’re given a holistic score for our driving. One person’s driving habits can affect the other person’s driving score and discount, for better or worse. I would prefer that State Farm separate the accounts.
Final Thoughts
We’ve been using Drive Safe & Save by State Farm for a month now. We’re realizing a savings of approximately 30 percent off our policies, which makes the app worthwhile for us, even though I dislike some features about the app and program.
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Melissa Batai
Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her reading a good book, cooking, or traveling. She resides in New York where she loves the natural beauty of the area.
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