Are you tired of paying high premiums for your car insurance? Well, Allstate’s Drivewise program might be the solution you’ve been looking for! Drivewise is an optional, usage-based-insurance (UBI) program that allows you to earn potential discounts of up to 40% off your Allstate car insurance policy. But that’s not all – the program also offers additional features that can prove invaluable while on the road, such as driving insights and crash detection. Keep reading to find out more about the incredible benefits of Allstate Drivewise.
TIME’s Take: Drivers can potentially save a lot of money with Drivewise
According to TIME, Allstate’s Drivewise program offers some of the biggest potential savings among major car insurers’ UBI programs. If you’re a safe driver and don’t mind sharing data with your insurance company, then Drivewise is definitely worth it. It can help you save a significant amount of money on your car insurance premiums.
What is the Allstate Drivewise program?
Traditional car insurance calculates premiums based on general characteristics like age, gender, and ZIP code, rather than on actual driving habits. This is where telematics-enabled UBI programs like Allstate Drivewise come in. Drivewise allows you to “prove” to your insurance company that you have safe driving habits, making you less likely to be in an accident and deserving of lower insurance rates. Participating drivers in the Drivewise program can earn discounts of up to 40% off their Allstate car insurance policy. The best part? This optional program is available nationwide, except in New York.
How does Allstate Drivewise work?
To participate in Drivewise, you must have an Allstate policy. To get started, simply download Allstate’s free smartphone app (available for iOS and Android), log in or create an account if you’re a new user, tap the Drivewise link, and follow the prompts to enroll. If multiple drivers covered by a policy want to participate, they must all download the app and enroll individually.
Once enrolled, all you have to do is drive. The app will automatically detect your trips using your phone’s functionality, so there’s no need to have the app open while driving. It collects various data such as driving speed, hard-braking incidents, trip time of day, and the amount of time spent driving during overnight periods (which are considered higher risk times). You have the option to opt out of Drivewise at any time.
Allstate Drivewise discount
After completing 50 trips, Allstate will calculate a performance reward (discount) based on the data collected. If you earn a reward, it will be credited to your policy at your renewal. As you continue to participate in Drivewise, the app will collect more data, and Allstate will calculate any earned discount at subsequent renewals. Additionally, simply enrolling in Drivewise and taking at least one trip will earn you a participation discount when your policy renews. The total amount of these discounts may vary by state, but Allstate claims that drivers can save up to 40% off the cost of a traditional policy.
Additional Drivewise features
Drivewise not only offers potential savings on your car insurance but also includes additional features that enhance your driving experience. These features include:
Drivewise crash detection
With crash detection, a free and optional feature within Drivewise, sensors in your smartphone detect major collisions. If a crash happens, the Allstate app will prompt you to call 911 or start a claim.
Drivewise insights
Available through the Allstate app, Drivewise insights help you optimize your driving habits to earn a performance reward. You’ll receive daily updates on your driving behaviors, such as hard braking, high-speed driving, and driving at high-risk times. Drivewise also provides driving data for each trip, including a map of your route and any unsafe behaviors.
Allstate rewards
As you practice safe driving with Drivewise, you can earn points that can be redeemed for merchandise, gift cards, and other items through the Allstate Rewards program.
How to earn a discount with Drivewise
To maximize your savings with Drivewise, it’s important to develop and practice safe driving habits. While occasional slip-ups shouldn’t severely affect your potential savings, keep these key habits in mind:
- Drive during daylight hours
- Keep your speed within posted limits
- Maintain a safe following distance to limit hard braking
What makes Allstate Drivewise stand out from other UBI programs?
While many insurance companies offer UBI programs, Allstate Drivewise stands out for several reasons:
The potential for significant savings
Allstate Drivewise offers one of the highest maximum discounts available among UBI programs. With the potential to save up to 40%, even a 20% discount through Drivewise could result in hundreds of dollars of annual savings.
Drivewise insights
Drivewise goes beyond promising savings; it actively helps you achieve them. Drivewise insights provide near real-time information that allows you to earn discounts by becoming a safer driver. You can identify areas for improvement, such as avoiding hard braking, by checking your trips daily.
Allstate rewards
Drivewise participants can earn additional rewards for their safe driving habits. Allstate offers merchandise, gift cards, and sweepstakes entries as part of its rewards program.
If Drivewise isn’t right for you
Although Drivewise offers incredible savings, it may not be the right fit for everyone. The good news is, Allstate provides various discounts for car insurance, such as discounts for having a new car, safety features like anti-lock brakes, and multiple policies with the company. So, even if Drivewise isn’t your cup of tea, you can still save on your car insurance.
Bottom Line
If you’re a safe driver and don’t mind sharing your driving data with your insurance company, Allstate Drivewise is an excellent opportunity to lower your car insurance premium. By participating in the program, you can prove that you deserve discounted rates. So why wait? Start earning huge discounts on your car insurance with Allstate Drivewise today!
Methodology
This review of Allstate’s Drivewise program is based on publicly available information about the program, along with information about other UBI offerings. The review relies on information gathered from company websites and other third-party articles available online.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Does Allstate Drivewise track your location?
Yes, Allstate Drivewise uses the GPS features of your phone to track your location while driving.
Can you turn Drivewise off?
You can turn off Drivewise through the Allstate app in the Drivewise settings. However, keep in mind that when the program is off, it will not collect driving data, which may affect your chance of earning a discount.
How much money do you get back with Drivewise?
Allstate claims drivers can save up to 40% with Drivewise. This could potentially result in hundreds of dollars in savings per year.
How fast can you drive with Drivewise?
To maximize your savings, Drivewise considers speeds over 80 miles per hour as excessive, so it’s best to stay within the speed limits.