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Our American Family KnowYourDrive review goes over everything you need to know before signing up.
KnowYourDrive combats distracted driving statistics by tracking phone use while driving. You can receive a car insurance discount of up to 15% based on your score.
Don't confuse KnowYourDrive with DriveMyWay, American Family's telematics program that monitors various driving habits like speeding and hard braking. Scroll down for a full AmFam DriveMyWay vs. KnowYourDrive review.
The KnowMyDrive app is free, and American Family won’t raise your rates for scoring poorly. However, many KnowYourDrive app reviews say that battery life and data usage can be issues. Keep reading for the pros and cons of the KnowYourDrive app.
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What You Should Know
- American Family KnowYourDrive monitors distracted driving through an app
- KnowYourDrive offers a 15% discount for safe driving
- AmFam KnowYourDrive won't raise rates if you drive poorly
American Family KnowYourDrive Reviews
KnowYourDrive from American Family is a distracted driving program that monitors driver habits through a mobile app. It provides discounts for avoiding phone use while driving.
You can stack KnowYourDrive discounts with other AmFam car insurance discounts, including:
| Insurance Discounts | Savings Potential |
|---|---|
| Anti-Theft Discount | 5% |
| DriveMyWay UBI Discount | 10% |
| Good Student Discount | 25% |
| KnowYourDrive Discount | 15% |
| Multi-Policy Discount | 20% |
| Multi-Vehicle Discount | 15% |
| Pay-in-Full Discount | 5% |
| Safe Driver Discount | 10% |
For instance, by using KnowYourDrive and avoiding accidents or claims, you can combine your discount with a safe driving discount for a total savings of 25%.
American Family is one of the top car insurance companies in the country, with coverage offered in 19 states. American Family car insurance reviews show rates are competitive, and it ranks high for customer service and financial stability.
Pros and Cons of KnowYourDrive
KnowYourDrive reviews claim the app is very simple to use. It's easy for drivers to sign up and earn a discount, and AmFam won't raise rates for distracted driving.
AmFam also guarantees a discount of at least 2% for all drivers who download and use the KnowYourDrive app.
However, there are some downsides to using KnowYourDrive that include data use and privacy concerns:
- The App Runs Continuously: American Family insurance driving apps run in the background on your phone and use more battery life. Keep your phone plugged in while driving, especially on long road trips.
- The App Uses Cellular Data: Although the app also works on Wi-Fi, it can use data to report the drive. Invest in a larger data plan through your carrier or keep a close eye on data usage.
- Privacy Concerns: Because the app is always running in the background, it records a lot of information. If privacy is a concern, a telematics program might not suit you.
While it's easy to download the American Family insurance app on your phone, there's some troubleshooting involved to make sure it appropriately tracks distracted driving.
For instance, the KnowYourDrive app can't tell the difference between passengers and drivers. If someone else in the car picks up your phone and uses it, you could lose some or all of your KnowYourDrive discount.
Read More: How to Get Cheap Car Insurance
How American Family KnowYourDrive Works
Contact American Family to enroll in the program. Then download the app. There is no cost to participate, and the app is free.
Once you download the app, you have 28 days to track your driving. American Family removes you from the program if you don’t drive within that time.
The app scores your driving from zero to 100 based on how safe you drive. Although you’re guaranteed at least a 2% discount, you can save up to 15% if you score highly. Compare that to more AmFam car insurance discounts:
The app shows the current estimated discount you’ll receive. It even shows how each participating driver is scoring. Not every driver on the policy has to participate in KnowYourDrive to earn a discount.
Learn More: 10 Tips to Keep Teens Safe on the Road
Driving Behaviors Monitored by KnowYourDrive
The app records distracted driving. Amfam defines distracted driving as any use of your phone while driving, including texting, hand-held calling, or interacting with your phone in other ways:
- Touching, typing, or swiping on the phone screen
- Picking up and unlocking your phone
- Letting a passenger use your phone
Distracted driving doesn't include hands-free calling, text dictation, listening to music, or using a navigation app. Drivers can also use their vehicle's touchscreen without losing part of their discount. Learn how to avoid distracted driving while using your mobile map or GPS to get even lower rates.
KnowYourDrive vs. DriveMyWay American Family Reviews
KnowYourDrive monitors distracted driving and rewards safe habits with discounts. American Family DriveMyWay, on the other hand, is a usage-based program that uses telematics to monitor a variety of driving habits:
- Hours Driven: Drivers who spend more time behind the wheel are more likely to be in accidents, reducing AmFam safe driver discounts.
- Speed: If you drive more than 10 miles per hour above the speed limit, your score decreases. The app also tracks your average speed for all trips.
- Hard Braking: Numerous hard braking events indicate aggressive driving or lack of attention, both of which cause accidents.
- Time of Day: Late night and early morning driving are when more accidents occur. The app lowers scores for driving between 6 p.m. and 4 a.m.
DriveMyWay and AmFam also monitor distracted driving. Any active phone use, such as playing games, texting, and making hand-held phone calls, will decrease your score.
Your drive shows up on the app about five minutes later. Your updated score and the map of your drive with suggestions show up as well.
Fortunately, American Family reevaluates your discount every term so you can improve your score at each renewal. Learn more about what is considered a clean driving record.
DriveMyWay also shows each trip you take and where problems occurred during the drive. For example, if you were speeding or hit your brakes hard, the app records it. Then, it offers feedback on ways to improve.
Like KnowYourDrive, the DriveMyWay app is also free to download and use, but be careful not to let any passengers use your phone.
American Family Insurance MilesMyWay Review
American Family MilesMyWay is a usage-based program that monitors driving habits like KnowYourDrive and DriveMyWay. The main difference is the MilesMyWay app strictly monitors mileage.
Since MilesMyWay doesn't track speeding, braking, or time of day, it's an excellent choice for high-risk drivers who have high rates. You must drive 8,000 miles per year or less to qualify, but drivers save up to 25%.
Read More: Best Low-Mileage Car Insurance Companies
American Family KnowYourDrive Review vs. The Competition
Although many top insurance companies like Allstate, Liberty Mutual, and Geico offer similar programs, each varies based on monitored habits, and the discount offered.
For instance, if you compare American Family vs. Progressive Snapshot reviews, you'll find that SnapShot raises rates for bad driving. With American Family KnowYourDrive and DriveMyWay, the apps are free to download, and rates won't go up for scoring poorly.
Drivers enrolled in DriveMyWay also receive the Travel Peace of Mind Package from American Family. The package includes roadside assistance, rental reimbursement, road trip accident accommodations, and accidental death benefits.
Read More: Liberty Mutual RightTrack Review
Bottom Line: American Family KnowYourDrive
KnowYourDrive tracks distracted driving and rewards drivers who avoid touching their phones when behind the wheel. The higher the score, the better the discount, and drivers can save up to 15% with safe driving habits.
American Family won’t raise your rates if you have a low score. The app is free, and the program also helps drivers improve their safe driving skills and offers immediate feedback.
The only downsides to using KnowYourDrive are battery and data usage and privacy concerns. The app also can't differentiate between the driver and any passengers.
Since American Family only offers coverage in 19 states, KnowYourDrive might not be available where you live. Check out our Connect American Family car insurance review to see if any of its partners sell policies near you.
If American Family isn’t in your area, compare multiple car insurance companies to see find a safe driving program that suits you best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is American Family KnowYourDrive worth it?
Yes, it is worth signing up with the KnowYourDrive as it offers a 10% sign-up bonus and doesn't raise your rates.
How do I enroll in KnowYourDrive?
Contact American Family to enroll in the program. Then download the app from either the App Store or Google Play. You have 28 days to track your first trip before AmFam removes it from your policy.
How does American Family KnowYourDrive work?
Download the American Family Insurance KnowYourDrive app onto your mobile phone. Ensure your phone's permissions allow the app to track your driving habits and location. AmFam uses the phone's GPS to monitor driving. Learn how to avoid distracted driving while using mobile GPS.
How does the American Family KnowYourDrive app know you are driving?
The KnowYourDrive app knows you are driving by tracking movement and speed.
Does the KnowYourDrive app use data?
Yes, the KnowYourDrive app will use up some of the data on your phone to monitor your phone use and location.
Why is my KnowYourDrive app not working?
The most common reason why the American Family driving app isn't working is that your phone needs an update or the permissions won't allow the app to track your location. Make sure all of your apps are up-to-date and that tracking is enabled.
Are safe driving apps worth it?
Yes, most safe driving apps are worth it as long as they don't raise your rates. Find more ways customers have saved money on car insurance rates.
Does having a tracker reduce car insurance?
Yes, many companies offer usage-based auto insurance (UBI) that tracks driving habits to reward safe drivers and monitor regional insurance trends. Use our free car insurance comparison tool to explore UBI plans near you.
What are the risks of using car insurance tracking devices?
When you use usage-based car insurance, you risk your rates going up with bad driving habits like speeding or driving at night. Fortunately, KnowYourDrive with AmFam won't raise rates.
What is the maximum discount for KnowYourDrive?
Safe drivers are eligible for the maximum KnowYourDrive discount of 15%.
The image in this post is from American Family's KnowYourDrive page.
The content on this site is offered only as a public service to the web community and does not constitute solicitation or provision of legal advice. This site should not be used as a substitute for obtaining legal advice from an insurance company or an attorney licensed or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. You should always consult a suitably qualified attorney regarding any specific legal problem or matter. The comments and opinions expressed on this site are of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the insurance company or any individual attorney.