120+ more*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on June 29, 2026. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on June 29, 2026. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
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Updated
Insurance companies advertise their maximum telematics discounts, but your savings depend on how, when, and where you drive.
Some major insurers increase rates if the driver’s telematics data shows risky driving behavior.
California prohibits telematics-based auto insurance pricing.
Telematics car insurance measures your driving habits, such as when and how much you drive, how fast you drive, and how hard you brake. Using that data, it bases your insurance premium on how safe or risky a driver you are.[1]
You share the information with your insurer via a smartphone app or device you install in your car. Some insurance companies require drivers to use the app or device for a limited period to earn a discount, like 60 or 90 days. But most continuously track drivers and use the data to determine rates at renewal.
Telematics availability varies by state, and so do discounts for safe driving.
Every insurance company has its own process for telematics program enrollment, but these are the basic steps you’ll follow:
Enroll in the program by selecting that option from your online account dashboard or speaking to an agent. Some programs require you to download an app first, then use it to enroll.
Download the mobile app if you haven’t already, or request the device and install it after you receive it.
Drive as you normally would.
Review your driving data and discount periodically. You’ll find it in your online account or the mobile app.
Insurify partners with 120+ top insurers for real-time quotes
Nationwide, Progressive, and State Farm have some of the most widely available telematics insurance discounts, with availability in at least 47 states. SmartRide from Nationwide and Drive Safe & Save from Start Farm also offer some of the biggest possible discounts — 40% and 30%, respectively.
Insurers make enrollment easy. The app-based programs allow or require you to sign up inside the app. Otherwise, you can do it by logging in to your account online or by contacting an agent.
While all the programs below are discount programs, be aware that some might increase your rates if data from the app or telematics device shows risk factors such as handholding your phone, hard braking, or taking corners too fast.
The following table shows how top programs compare.
Insurer  | Program Name | Max Discount | Tracking Method | Tracking Period | Can Rates Increase? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | Drivewise | 10% | App | 50 trips over 6 months | Yes |
| Progressive | Snapshot | $322/year (average) | App or plug-in device | Continuous | Yes |
| State Farm | Drive Safe & Save | 30% | App | Continuous | Only if discount is mileage-based and driver exceeds 7,500 miles |
| Liberty Mutual | RightTrack | 30% | App | 90 days or continuous | Yes |
| Nationwide | SmartRide | 40% | App | 4–6 months | No |
| GEICO | DriveEasy | 15% | App | Continuous | Yes |
| Travelers | IntelliDrive | 30% | App | 90 days | Yes |
| USAA | SafePilot | 30% | App | Continuous | No |
| American Family | DriveMyWay | 20% | App | Continuous | Yes |
| Farmers | Signal | Check with agent | App | Continuous | Yes |
Telematics car insurance is worth it if you drive safely as a rule. But consider the pros and cons before you enroll.
Might reduce insurance costs
Fairer than traditional rating metrics
Can help you monitor your kids’ driving
Possible rate increases
Loss of privacy
Must download app or install device to participate
If you’re thinking about shopping for insurance, the best place to start is by comparing multiple quotes for standard policies. Then look at the telematics programs your top picks offer and see if it’s worth the savings.
Whereas most telematics programs only lower rates, some programs can raise your rate based on your driving data.
In Maryland, for example, almost 24% of drivers enrolled in a telematics program experienced a rate increase in 2023. By comparison, 31% of drivers with traditional car insurance saw decreases and 45% had no change, according to a Maryland Insurance Administration report.[2]
But regardless of a particular insurance company’s policy, state law has the final word on telematics-based rate hikes.
Here’s a look at which telematics programs might increase your rates and which will only lower them.
SmartRide (Nationwide)
SafePilot (USAA)
DriveWise (Allstate)
Snapshot (Progressive)
Drive Safe & Save (State Farm), if mileage-based
RightTrack (Liberty Mutual)
DriveEasy (GEICO)
IntelliDrive (Travelers)
DriveMyWay (American Family)
Signal (Farmers)
Save up to $1,100 per year on coverage
Telematics programs track data related to many driving behaviors, including:
Acceleration
Braking
Cornering
Speed
Phone use
Most of these behaviors require continuous location tracking via GPS, so you’ll need a compatible phone, OBD port, or other technology to participate.
How insurance companies use this data to determine discounts varies by program. GEICO DriveEasy uses the data to calculate driver scores and offers safe driver discounts based on those scores. State Farm, on the other hand, offers usage-based insurance discounts based on mileage in addition to safe driving discounts.
States have their own laws about how insurance companies may use telematics data in insurance rating, so the options available to you might differ from your insurance company’s typical offerings.
Telematics technology raises privacy concerns because of the types of data it collects, how it uses it, and whom it shares it with. In addition to driving and location data, Allstate, for example, might collect your web browsing history, credit and banking history, and biometric identifiers.[3]
Progressive might embed third-party cookies and other trackers in its apps.[4]
State laws govern how insurers may collect and use data, and at least one state has acted against what it says is improper use.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Allstate and its data analytics subsidiary Arity last year “for unlawfully collecting, using, and selling data about the location and movement of Texans’ cell phones through secretly embedded software” in third-party mobile apps.[5]
The suit alleged that Allstate collected driving data on 45 million Americans without their consent, and that it and insurers that purchased the data used it to increase Texas drivers’ insurance rates in violation of the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act.[6]
Insurance companies, including Allstate, disclose their privacy policies on their websites. The disclosures can be difficult to wade through, but it’s important to read and understand them before you enroll in a program.
While enrolling, or if you’re already enrolled, look for ways to opt out of data sharing you’re uncomfortable with. Progressive, for example, lets you opt out of it using your data to market affiliates’ products and services, according to its Snapshot privacy statement.
Agent Tip: Are telematics programs for you?
“Telematics programs can bring up real privacy concerns for drivers, but they can also give the biggest discounts. The savings can really help reduce rates if you have a teen driver on your policy or an incident on your record. But if you already have a low rate and are a safe driver, it may not be worth sharing your data to get the discount.”
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Several states ban or restrict how insurers may use data from vehicle telematics systems. A majority of states require insurance companies to clearly outline how telematics programs work and transparency guidelines. Noteworthy examples include:
California: Insurers can’t use telematics data to set car insurance premiums.
Washington: Insurers need a car owner’s consent to read, download, or otherwise access their telematics data.
North Carolina: Insurers need insurance policyholders’ written consent before collecting, receiving, sharing, or otherwise using their vehicles’ telematics.
Protect your car and your wallet
Whether or not telematics insurance is a good fit for you depends on how, where, and at what time of day you drive.
Consider it if you’re a low-mileage driver who drives mostly during the day, practices smooth acceleration, and avoids hard braking.
Avoid telematics insurance if you’re a high-mileage highway driver, especially if you frequently drive at night.
Taking advantage of any trial period your insurance company offers will let you try out the program before you commit. That’s especially helpful if the program increases rates for risky driver behavior.
Telematics can save you money on your insurance, but there’s no guarantee you’ll save enough to warrant the loss of privacy. Here’s more information to help you decide.
That depends on the program and the state you live in. Top programs offer driver safety discounts of anywhere from 5% to 40%. Whereas some discounts reward safe driving behavior, others are just for participating in the program.
It can. Some programs, including those from Progressive, State Farm, and GEICO, can raise your insurance rates. USAA and Nationwide are two insurers with discount-only programs. Read program details carefully before you enroll.
Yes. Telematics apps and devices use GPS tracking and other technology to determine your location in real time in order to measure speed, the roads you drive on, and other safety factors.
The best program for one driver isn’t necessarily the best for everyone, but Nationwide offers the highest possible discount of up to 40%. Rather than base your decision on telematics, it’s a good idea to get quotes from a few companies to compare policies and rates, and consider telematics secondarily.
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 190 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
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Licensed Realtor with 10+ years in personal finance content
Contributor to Nasdaq and USA Today
Featured in
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
Media relations director for Insurance Information Institute
20+ years in insurance and communications
Impartial, independent expert
At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
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