Allstate Drivewise Review: How It Works & How Much You Could Save

If you have or plan to have Allstate car insurance, you may have been asked to enroll in Allstate’s Drivewise program to save money on your premiums. This telematics program monitors driving in real time, records behaviors like hard braking and speeding, and rewards drivers who prove they are driving safely and carefully. The program is available in all states except California and Alaska, and it could help some drivers save money on their premiums.

What is Allstate Drivewise?

Allstate’s Drivewise program is a telematics program that leverages mobile technology to help drivers reduce their insurance premiums through safer driving. As of November 13, 2023, the program is transitioning completely from the plug-in devices previously used to using a mobile app. Participants simply download the Allstate mobile app to monitor their driving behavior directly through their smartphones.

This change will improve user convenience and accessibility and enable the program to provide real-time feedback on driving habits that can help drivers improve their safety on the roads and potentially qualify for insurance discounts based on their driving performance.

What does Allstate Drivewise track?

Allstate Drivewise leverages advanced mobile technology to monitor and reward safe driving habits. By downloading the Allstate mobile app and enabling Drivewise, users allow the app to collect a variety of driving data. This data plays a key role in determining potential savings on insurance premiums. Below is a detailed breakdown of the data collected by Drivewise. Certain metrics that specifically impact savings are marked with an asterisk.

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• Trip Report Data: Time Stamp:
• The start and end of each trip is recorded, including when the trip data is uploaded. position:
• Start and end locations (latitude and longitude). speed:
• Your average speed while traveling, your top speed while traveling, and the number of miles traveled above 80 mph*. Travel time and distance:
• The total distance traveled and the duration of the trip. Idle Time:

The time when the vehicle is running but not moving.

• Driving behavior: Braking and acceleration events:
• The app counts the occurrences of braking and accelerating within a certain speed band and identifies the extreme cases of each. Heavy braking event*
• This is classified as a speed loss of 8-10 miles per hour within one second. Extreme braking events*
• This includes slowing down by more than 10 miles per hour in the same amount of time. Fast Events:
• It records every time the vehicle goes over 80mph*. Time range:

Miles driven at different times of the day, which may affect your risk assessment*.

• Additional data collected: Event details:
• Includes the type, duration, start and end details, rate changes, and detection method for each recorded event. GPS Tracking:
• Time, position, speed and accuracy are analysed every second and recorded every 30 metres. System and Device Information:
• This includes the mobile software version, mobile device type, and the version of the Allstate mobile app used during the trip. Trip End:
• Reasons for ending a trip, such as low battery or app closing. Travel refusal:

Reasons why trips are excluded from your driving history, such as illogical data from non-driving activity.

By proactively monitoring these parameters, Drivewise not only encourages safer driving, but also provides personalized feedback and potential rewards through premium discounts. This data-driven approach aims to align financial incentives with safe driving behavior, benefiting both insurers and insureds.

How to Sign Up for Allstate Drivewise

To get started with Drivewise, download the Allstate mobile app on your phone and create an account at AllstateRewards.com. The rewards drivers can earn may vary based on state regulations. For example, Drivewise discounts are not available in California and Alaska. Contact your local Allstate agent for more information about the Drivewise program in your area.

What are the requirements to use Allstate Drivewise?

• There are a few requirements you need to meet in order for Allstate Drivewise to function properly and accurately track your driving habits. Location Services:
• Location detection must be on at all times. The app uses this data to automatically detect when your trip starts and ends. If location services are not enabled, the app cannot collect trip information or provide personalized feedback, which may affect the amount of money you can save. Battery Power:
• Your phone needs at least 5% battery power remaining for the app to continue functioning during your trip. If your phone runs out of battery during your trip, your trip may not be recorded. iOS app settings:
• For the app to be able to effectively monitor your trips, you need to allow access to “Motion and Fitness”, enable “Precise Location” and set location access to “Always”. Android app settings:
• You’ll need to allow “Physical Activity”, set location access to “Always”, and make sure “Power Saving Mode” is turned off. For devices running Android OS 12, make sure “Precise Location” is set to “On”. Minimum movement speed:

The app is designed to start recording a trip once the vehicle has been traveling for at least one minute and at a minimum speed of 15 mph, such as a drive from home to the local supermarket.

Meeting these requirements allows Drivewise to gather more information about your driving patterns, which could lead to safer driving practices that could help you save on your insurance premiums.

Who should use Allstate Drivewise?

Drivers with Allstate may want to consider the Drivewise program if they are committed to safe driving and want to remain covered by Allstate and receive discounts on their auto insurance premiums. However, like Progressive Snapshot, which also uses telematics, repeated risky driving behaviors could result in higher premiums.

Drivewise is a great choice for drivers who stick to reasonable speed limits, drive mostly during the day, and avoid sudden braking and hard braking, and for teenagers who are just learning to drive, Drivewise can be a helpful tool for parents to use trip data to check in on their child’s driving performance.

How much can you save with Allstate Drivewise?

Allstate hasn’t revealed exactly how much drivers can save through the Drivewise program, and the insurance savings associated with Drivewise will vary depending on a customer’s driving habits, but the company said drivers will receive a participation discount when they sign up for the program, which will continue if they take at least 50 trips before renewal.

Allstate Drivewise Pros and Cons

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• Benefits of Allstate Drivewise
• Mobile App Integration: Drivers can access their insurance certificate, policy information and Drivewise account all in one place.
• Driver behavior insights: This includes real-time alerts and an overview of your driving habits over time.
• The app tracks when drivers reach for their phone, which increases awareness and leads to safer driving habits.
• Crash detection: If the app records an accident, it can help drivers get help with insurance claims, call emergency services, or contact roadside assistance.

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• Cons of Allstate Drivewise
• Limited braking: Drivers in big cities or areas with heavy traffic may need to brake more frequently, which the app discourages.
• Speed ​​Limits: Some highways may allow speeds of over 80 mph, which is a negative for Drivewise purposes.
• Infrequent drivers may not benefit: Drivers who drive infrequently or who work from home may see greater savings with usage-based car insurance.
• Data privacy is a potential concern: Allstate agents and customer service representatives can view driver data collected by Drivewise.

Your insurance premiums may increase: Allstate notes that drivers who engage in more risky driving behaviors may see their premiums increase as a result.

Even if Drivewise isn’t right for you, it’s still wise to comparison shop and get multiple car insurance quotes, which will help you get an idea of ​​the average premiums in your area and which insurance company might be right for you.

Comparing Allstate Drivewise to other telematics programs

• Telematics programs have become a popular way for drivers to potentially save on their auto insurance premiums by demonstrating safe driving habits. Allstate Drivewise is just one of several options available, each with their own unique features and potential benefits. Let’s compare Drivewise to other leading telematics programs offered by major companies in the insurance industry. Drive Safely and Save with State Farm:
• The program uses telematics to monitor driving behavior and offer discounts for safe driving, without specifying that rates may increase based on the data collected. Progressive Snapshot:
• One of the best-known programs, Snapshot, can adjust rates based on driving behavior, and notably, unlike other programs, Progressive can increase rates if data suggests risky driving behavior. USAA Safe Pilot:
• SafePilot is designed specifically for USAA members to reward drivers for safe driving habits. The program focuses on reducing distracted driving and encourages safer speeds. Geico DriveEasy:

Geico’s program also monitors your driving habits and may offer discounts for safe driving, but DriveEasy may increase your premiums if it detects risky behavior during the monitoring period.

All of these programs use mobile apps to collect data about your driving habits, such as speed, braking, and time spent behind the wheel, which can affect your insurance premiums, although the details of how much you can save and the exact metrics monitored may vary from program to program.

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