What You Should Know
- State Farm Drive Safe & Save offers a 5% discount at sign-up
- Drivers can earn up to 30% off their auto insurance policy
- Drive Safe & Safe won't increase rates for poor driving scores
If you have State Farm, safe drivers can save up to 30% with Drive Safe & Save usage-based insurance.
State Farm Drive Safe & Save uses a telematics device to track and score your driving behavior. The State Farm auto tracker uses a smartphone or third-party system with Bluetooth, like OnStar, to monitor driving habits.
Our State Farm Drive Safe and Save review will help you decide whether to join the usage-based program.
We looked through State Farm insurance reviews from drivers who've used the Drive Safe & Save program. Keep reading to learn more about how State Farm Drive Safe & Save works and if the program actually saves policyholders money.
State Farm Drive Safe & Save Reviews
Overall, the State Farm Drive Safe & Save reviews are very positive. Many consumers cite the savings they earned. In fact, State Farm Drive Safe & Save is on on our list of "Which car insurance companies have the best car tracking device programs?"
Many Drive Safe insurance reviews also talked about how drivers can combine other discounts from State Farm, like bundling home and auto with State Farm Drive Safe & Save to earn additional savings.
One recent review talked about State Farm's strong customer service and the ability to save with Drive Safe & Save.
"I absolutely love State Farm insurance! They have low rates, and the customer service is excellent. I love their drive safe program because it helps me get lower rates for driving better."
Some State Farm Drive Safe and Save reviews said it took some time to see any gains. Even after the six-month mark, they hadn't seen any data or savings from the app.
Pros And Cons of Drive Safe & Save
State Farm Drive Safe & Save reviews are very positive in terms of the mobile app and discount. However, high-mileage drivers and anyone living in California or North Carolina may want to shop elsewhere.
Pros
- Mobile App: It's easy to view information about essential driving characteristics and habits on the Drive Safe and Save mobile app.
- Instant Feedback: State Farm tracking device reviews enjoy feedback on how the time of day impacts driving and stats about trips and braking habits.
- Insurance Discounts: Many reviewers said they enjoyed the State Farm Drive Safe app ease of use and received significant discounts for their regular driving habits.
- Connected Car: Ford and Lincoln drivers can easily connect with the beacon from State Farm through FordPass or the Lincoln Way app.
Reviews of State Farm Drive Safe & Save mobile apps are very positive, with 4/5 and 4.6/5 on Google and Apple respectively. However, some drivers run into compatability issues.
Cons
- Limited Availability: Drive Safe & Save isn't available in California, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. In addition, the program may not be available in North Carolina.
- Mileage Penalties: You could see higher rates if you have a low mileage discount, and the Drive Safe & Save tracker estimates it higher than expected.
- Subscription Fees: If you use a third-party service like OnStar for State Farm Drive Safe & Save, you might have to pay a subscription to that service, and the savings might only cover the cost of the service.
Others complained that even though they had a smartphone, the app wasn't compatible with their device, and they had to use a family member's phone or set up the program through OnStar.
If you're having issues installing and using the program, call the Drive Safe and Save customer service phone number at 1-888-559-1922 to speak with an agent.
How State Farm Drive Safe & Save Works
How does the State Farm tracking device work? State Farm Drive Safe & Save uses a mobile app and a Bluetooth beacon to track your vehicle and driving habits.
If you have an eligible mobile device, you can download the app for iOS or Android. Then, finish your enrollment either through the State Farm insurance tracker or by calling a representative.
Drive Safe and Save app reviews are 4/5 from users who claim it's very easy to use, but customer service can help you complete the setup process if you have any problems.
After you set up on the State Farm app, State Farm Insurance will send you a Bluetooth beacon device. This beacon will give the State Farm Drive Safe & Save mobile app different location and vehicle information as you drive.
State Farm Beacon Reviews
The State Farm Tracker — how does it work? Typically, the State Farm car tracker reports directly to drivers' phones. However, if your phone isn't eligible for Drive Safe & Save, you can use a third-party system, like OnStar, to enroll.
Wondering where to put the State Farm beacon? The Drive Safe and Save Beacon placement is located under the steering column. It pairs up to your mobile phone and acts as the Drive Safe & Save monitor once placed in your car.
In order for the beacon from State Farm to work, just ensure your phone's Bluetooth and location services are enabled while driving, even on shorter trips.
Some drivers believe that turning GPS off is an easy State Farm Drive Safe and Save cheat, but it just prevents the app from working. Your driving isn't tracked, but then you won't earn a discount.
How State Farm Drive Safe & Save Keep Rates Low
Can Drive Safe and Save raise rates? No, and Drive Safe & Save offers auto insurance discounts for safe driving habits. It uses a Bluetooth beacon in your car to monitor your driving.
What does the State Farm beacon track? It monitors things like speed, braking, mileage, and the time of day you're driving.
Trackers like this are perfect for those that drive safely and want to save money on auto rates. It's also ideal for those who may not have spotless driving records.
Can drive Safe & Save be used against you? The safer you drive, the larger your discount. However, State Farm ensures that all drivers receive a discount, regardless of their driving performance.
State Farm Drive Safe & Save offers an immediate discount of about 5% for signing up. Once you complete the trial period, you can enjoy savings of up to 30% off your rates, depending on your driving score, that will help you get cheap car insurance at State Farm.
Learn more: How to Get Cheap Car Insurance
Driving Habits State Farm Drive Safe & Save Monitors
How does the State Farm beacon work? The Bluetooth beacon monitors several pieces of information, more than OnStar vehicle diagnostics or a different mobile app program.
The State Farm car insurance tracker monitors your actual mileage, odometer, time of day, location, and basic driving behaviors like speeding, braking, and cornering.
If your State Farm Drive Safe beacon is connected, it will track these things on your trips. Devices like this help promote safer driving and reduce accidents by tracking habits and identifying unsafe behaviors.
Let's look at the specific habits monitored by the State Farm safe driver app and how they affect your discount.
Accelerating and Braking
Drive Safe & Save monitors your vehicle to determine if you accelerate quickly or brake too hard. The program also measures how sharp you turn.
Yes, hard braking is sometimes necessary. However, it shouldn't be a frequent issue if you're maintaining a safe speed and distance behind cars and paying attention to your surroundings.
If you're gentle on your brakes, the State Farm beacon will register this and increase your discount.
Mileage
Drivers who drive less are less likely to crash, so the best low-mileage car insurance companies reward these drivers with discounts.
The State Farm safe driver device tracks your mileage, uses the average to estimate your yearly mileage, and calculates your insurance rates at the end of the monitoring period.
However, if you currently have a low mileage discount — less than 7,500 miles per year for personal use — and the State Farm device reveals you're driving more than that, you may see higher rates at your next renewal.
Safe Speeds
Drive Safe & Save tracks your speed. If the State Farm speed tracker detects unsafe speeds based on traffic and posted speed limit, it may negatively affect your discount amount. And if you get a speeding ticket, your rates will go up at State Farm.
Read more: Does a speeding ticket affect your car insurance rates?
The State Farm insurance tracking device is designed to ding when you go over 80 mph and give you real-time feedback suggesting you slow down.
Time of Day
Certain times of the day are safer to drive in than others. For example, State Farm considers rush hours and driving at night to be riskier.
State Farm GPS will alert the Bluetooth beacon of the time of day, which will impact your driving score and discount.
Distracted Driving
You're at a higher risk of an accident if you're on your phone while driving, even when using a hands-free device.
The Bluetooth beacon and State Farm will know if you're on your phone while driving. This program recognizes signs you might be distracted by your phone and lowers your discount accordingly.
The Final Word on State Farm Drive Safe & Save
Can Drive Safe and Save make your insurance go up? State Farm won't raise rates, so if you're a safe driver who doesn't usually have a problem with braking or speeding, it might be worth seeing if you really can drive safe and save.
Many State Farm Drive Safe and Save reviews claim drivers save on their car insurance by using the program. For example, one reviewer saved about $25/mo with State Farm Drive Safe & Save.
State Farm Drive Safe & Save advertises savings of up to 30% off your rates. However, Drive Safe and Save reviews from average drivers report the savings will likely be less than that based on your driving habits.
State Farm Drive Safe & Save could save good drivers hundreds of dollars, and it's worth a try if you're looking to lower your rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does State Farm Drive Safe and Save Monitor?
The State Farm beacon tracks speed, braking habits, mileage, and phone usage while driving. If you choose to use the State Farm tracking device instead of the mobile app, it won't track phone use.
Does State Farm Drive Safe & Save track your location?
State Farm trackers use GPS to monitor driving behavior and mileage, but your exact location doesn't impact rates.
Can State Farm Drive Safe and Save raise rates?
Like other good driver discounts, State Farm's Drive Safe & Save won't directly raise your rates based on how you drive. However, if you have a low mileage discount on your policy and the app calculates you drive more than that estimate, your rates may increase at renewal.
What is a good score on Drive Safe & Save?
A 100 would be the best score possible on Drive Safe & Save.
Can you turn off the State Farm Drive Safe & Save beacon?
Yes, you can choose to stop participating in the program and return the State Farm car device if you wish.
Is Drive Safe & Save worth it?
Drive Safe & Save is worth signing up for, as you earn a five percent discount just for signing up with the program.
How long do you have to use State Farm Drive Safe & Save?
You must use Drive Safe & Save for the life of the policy if you want the discount, but you won't see a discount until your next policy renewal, which could be every six or 12 months.
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