. Most drivers can save 5% on their policy just for enrolling—an average of $47. (Note that the signup discount is not available in New York or Hawaii.)

According to Progressive, good drivers can save up to 15%, which works out to an average savings of $156 a year with Snapshot. But it’s not a guarantee—as many as 1 in 5 drivers see their insurance premiums increase with Snapshot.

Need to know: Snapshot is available in all states except

California

, although program details vary slightly from state to state.

Snapshot monitors your habits and rewards safe driving

If you’re a Progressive customer and you drive at least 4,000 miles a year, you can sign up for Snapshot for free.

Once you enroll, Progressive will track your actual driving habits for a full policy term. They’ll then use the data they collect to determine whether you’re eligible for a Snapshot discount.

There are two different ways to use Progressive Snapshot:

Download the Snapshot mobile app to your Android or iOS device

Request a plug-in device that plugs into the OBD-II port below your steering wheel

How the Snapshot discounts work: When you sign up for Snapshot, Progressive offers a 5% participation discount applied to your policy right away (unless you live in New York or Hawaii). If you earn a good driving discount, that 5% signup discount will be replaced with your personalized Snapshot discount.

What cars are included? In some states, you’ll choose the car you drive most often. Snapshot will then associate your smartphone with that vehicle, and the app or device will track when you drive that vehicle. In other states, Snapshot will average the data from all drivers and all vehicles on your policy.

What if you’re not driving? The app should automatically detect whether you’re a driver or a passenger. If it gets it wrong, you can reclassify your trip in the app.

What Snapshot tracks

Progressive uses either the smartphone app or the plug-in device to monitor the following driving behaviors:

Hard braking: Slamming on the brakes can increase the risk of an accident. The plug-in Snapshot device will even beep to alert you if you brake too hard.

Rapid acceleration: Harsh starts and sudden acceleration are hallmarks of high-risk driving.

Driving between 12 and 4 a.m. on weekends: Studies show that this is the most dangerous time of day to drive.

Phone usage: The snapshot mobile app will log any

phone calls

text messaging

made while you’re driving

Mileage: Snapshot rewards drivers who drive less frequently, so avoid hitting the road when you don’t need to.

Important note about data privacy: According to their

privacy statement

, Progressive reserves the right to share customers’ Snapshot data with third parties like government agencies, marketing/research companies, other insurers, attorneys, and more. You can opt out of having your information shared with marketers by calling Progress at 844-582-5040.

Snapshot app features

Snapshot’s app offers convenient tools for managing your account, including:

Dashboard: Your dashboard will display your current driving status, a list of your recent trips, and personalized driving tips.

Trip log: This is a more detailed list of all of the trips where you were the driver. If you spot a trip where you were actually a passenger, you can change it here.

Trip details: If you click on a trip in your trip log, you’ll see more detailed driving information, including a map with highlighted areas indicating phone usage or harsh braking/accelerating.

Driving tips: As Snapshot analyzes your driving, your app will provide personalized tips to improve your driving—and your Snapshot score.

Using the plug-in device

Snapshot’s telematics device is really easy to use—just plug it into your vehicle’s OBD-II port. You can usually find this under your steering wheel.

Can’t find your OBD-II port? Check out Progressive’s guide to

plugging in your Snapshot device

. Select your vehicle’s make, model, year, and body type and you’ll see a highlighted area with specific instructions for finding the port.

Once the device is installed, all you have to do is drive! You’ll hear the device beep twice when you start your vehicle so you know it’s working.

Safety tip: If you hear the device beep once while you’re driving, it means it detected rough braking. Some customers complain that this can be a little sensitive, but do your best to take it easier on the brake pedal next time—this can affect your Snapshot score.

Is the Snapshot discount worth it?

With average savings of $156, Progressive’s Snapshot discount is an easy way for safe drivers to save money on car insurance—but some drivers will end up paying more.

Bottom line

Progressive Snapshot is worth it if you:

Avoid phone use that could contribute to

distracted driving

Practice easy breaking and slow acceleration

Don’t drive many miles each day (like if you

work from home

)

Drive mainly during the day

It’s probably not worth it if you:

Drive a lot at night (like if you work a late shift)

Have a long commute

Tend to brake and accelerate hard

Don’t like your data being tracked

Some telematics programs may save you more than Progressive Snapshot

Most major car insurance companies have a telematics discount program similar to Progressive Snapshot. Here’s how they compare to Snapshot:

Telematics program	Average discount	Customer reviews (App Store)	Can your rate go up?
Progressive Snapshot	$156	4.5	Yes
Geico DriveEasy Pro	Up to 25%	3.3	Yes
State Farm Drive Safe and Save	10–15% (up to 30%)	4.6	No
Nationwide SmartRide	22% (up to 40%)	4.5	No
Allstate DriveWise	Up to 40%	4.8	No

Our experience: “I signed up for Progressive Snapshot when the app was first launched, and it saved me a ton of money!” -David R., FMT agent,
Jerry

Try Snapshot Road Test if you’re not a Progressive customer

Drivers who don’t currently have a Progressive insurance policy can use the Snapshot Road Test to decide if it’s worth switching from their current auto insurance provider.

How it works:

Instead of logging your driving history for an active policy period, Progressive will collect your driving data for 30 days to calculate your insurance quote with an estimated Snapshot discount.

Once you receive your quote, you’ll have six months to decide whether you want to switch to Progressive. After that, your rate will no longer be guaranteed.

Pro tip: Telematics programs can be a great way to save money on your auto insurance policy—but if you want to be sure you’re getting the lowest rates, try using an insurance comparison shopping tool like
Jerry
!

MORE:

Can the Jerry app really help you save on car insurance?

“
Jerry
made switching over to new insurance so quick and easy! My monthly payment went from $469 to $362 by switching to Progressive. 10/10 would recommend!” —Luanne T.

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FAQs

Does Snapshot know if you speed?

The Snapshot mobile app uses GPS tracking and will flag it if you exceed the posted speed limit.

How long do you have to drive with Progressive Snapshot?

You need to drive with Progressive Snapshot for a full policy period (6–12 months) before you can get the Snapshot discount.

Can you restart Progressive Snapshot?

Yes! If you’re a Progressive customer and you want to try to get a better discount, you can simply start your Snapshot trial over at your next policy renewal.

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