companies offer a safe driver discount, which could earn you up to 30% off your premium. Eligibility varies, but you may qualify by going accident-free for several years, opting into a tracking telematics program, or passing a defensive driving course.

Safe driver discounts: How they work

A safe driver discount (also known as a ‘good driver discount’ or ‘claim-free discount’) is a savings opportunity that rewards safe drivers for low-risk driving behavior.

Safe driving discounts often come in the form of a percentage off your auto insurance premium, but some insurers will simply offer you a lower base premium if you’ve avoided an accident for a specific amount of time.

Most insurance companies assess your qualification for safe driving discounts by monitoring your telematics data or driving history, although in some cases you can qualify by completing a defensive driving course. Here’s a brief breakdown of how each of these options work.

Earning safe driver discounts with telematics

While some providers will give you a discount based on your previous driving history, others prefer to keep up with your current driving behavior. They do this via

telematics

—using an app or plug-in device to track things like:

What time of day you usually drive

Whether you brake and accelerate harshly

How sharply you turn

Whether you use your phone while you’re driving

Telematics programs can be a great tool to help you improve your driving because they make you more aware of the spots on your commute where you tend to speed or brake harshly. According to a recent report on telematics, about 25% of surveyed drivers said they reduced their distracted driving habits by more than 50% after participating in a telematics program1.

But while telematics apps are highly beneficial for most drivers, the downside is that your insurance company is also aware of these trouble areas—and in some cases, your rates can even go up after enrolling in telematics due to mistakes behind the wheel.

Learn more:

How much does your insurance go up after an accident?

Earning safe driver discounts by remaining accident-free

Some insurers may offer separate discounts for being accident-free and violation-free, while others combine them into a single discount. Some insurance companies will add a safe driving discount automatically but others may require you to request it before it can be applied—so ask your insurance agent if you aren’t sure.

Earning save driver discounts through a defensive driving course

Some drivers may have the option to enroll in an approved defensive driving course to earn a safe driver discount. Defensive driving courses aren’t just for new drivers or drivers who have violations on their records—they’re also beneficial for those who are looking to increase their overall awareness while driving.

Some states limit defensive driving discounts to teens or senior drivers, but if you’re eligible, you can earn a safe driver discount by sharing your certificate with your insurance company after you complete the course.

Learn more:

Tips for getting a clean driving record

Who qualifies for safe driver discounts?

Most immediate safe driver discounts require drivers to have a clean driving record. This includes avoiding some or all of the following:

At-fault accidents

Major comprehensive claims

Moving violations

Points on your driver's license

For telematics and defensive driving courses, you don’t necessarily need a clean history to get started—rather, you need to maintain good driving habits throughout the duration of your telematics program or complete your course in order to achieve savings.

Not all companies offer a good driver discount
Most big name insurance companies, like Progressive and State Farm, offer safe driver discounts, but there are several providers who don’t—including AAA, State Auto, and Gainsco.

California drivers can get safe driver discounts of 20% from any provider

Although

California

drivers are not eligible for many telematics programs, they get something better: a state mandated discount. All California drivers who meet the state’s criteria for “good driver” automatically earn a 20% discount. To qualify, you need to have:

One or fewer points on your record

One or fewer traffic school enrollments

No DUI convictions for the past 10 years

No at-fault accidents that caused death or injury

Continuous license held for at least three years

The best car insurance companies for safe driver discounts

Each company structures its good driver discount differently. Some require you to participate in their tracking telematics programs, some offer an accident-free bonus, and some reward you for passing a defensive driving course—or one company might offer all of the above.

Here are the major car insurance companies that offer safe driver discounts:

Table infographic Table of insurance companies, their discount programs and average savings in $ or %'s. Allstate Drivewise (telematics) accident-free discounts, Drivewise is 30% with accident-free not disclosed. Progressive Snapshot telematics and accident-free discounts snapshot's average savings is $231 a year and accident-free 34%. State Farm's discount program is Drive Safe & Save (telematics) with averages savings of 10% sign-up bonus; 30% average savings. Nationwide's discount program SmartRide (telematics) and Safe driver discount with average savings for SmartRide as a 10-25%, accident-free 22%, defensive driving and driver training varies. GEICO's discount program DriveEasy (telematics) discount of 10-25%, Accident-free discounts of an average of 22%, Defensive driving discount and driver training discount varies. Travelers IntelleDrive (telematics) which has a 10% sign-up bonus and 30% average savings, Safe driver discount 25-40% discount, and driver training discount of 8%. Safeco's discount program RightTrack (telematics) has a 10% sign-up bonus and 30% average savings and their Safe driver discount isn't disclosed. Kemper's discount Kemper Co-Pilot (telematics) has a 10% sign-up bonus and a defensive driving discount which isn't disclosed. National General has DynamicDrive (telematics) discount average of 5-12%

Keep in mind that if you qualify, your savings and program name may not appear on your insurance policy until your next renewal.

5 ways to be a good driver and maintain your safe driver discount

To keep your safe driver discount, you need to maintain good driving habits—but that can be a challenge within itself. Here are some of the top tips to help you keep your safe driver discount:

Prepare—and stay aware: Figure out your route before you get behind the wheel. While you're driving, scan the road 12–15 seconds ahead of you so you'll be aware of upcoming hazards, and always check your mirrors.

Go the speed limit: Driving too fast can not only increase your chance of getting into an accident, but it also increases the risk that an accident will be very serious.

Brake early and gently: Not only is harsh braking tough on your vehicle, but it can catch other drivers off guard and increase your chances of an accident.

Don't check your phone: Distracted driving is a leading cause of accidents. Use your device's hands-free features or wait until you're safely parked before you use your phone.

Limit other distractions in your vehicle: Eating, playing with the radio, and talking to passengers can all distract you while you're driving, which could increase your chances of being in an accident.

More ways to save on car insurance

Always shop for car insurance—even if you have a policy in place

The most important thing you can do to save money is find the cheapest rate on the market. It’s free to compare car insurance quotes from other companies, and it’s fast with a tool like

Jerry

See which company offers the lowest rate for your desired coverage, check its customer reviews, and then tap to switch and save.

Find cheaper premiums and better coverage with Jerry!

Compare quotes and save

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Take a look at other car insurance discounts

There are several other types of savings opportunities available outside of safe driver discounts. Here are some of the most common

car insurance discounts

Good student: If you’re a full-time student enrolled in high school or college and maintain a B average, you may be able to save on car insurance.

Multi-policy: Drivers who have homeowner and auto insurance with the same provider can often earn discounts by bundling their policies.

Multi-vehicle: Households with more than one vehicle can put them under the same policy and may earn a discount.

Paid-in-full: If you pay your premium in full at the start of your policy term, you will usually save a certain amount on your premiums.

Consider increasing your deductible amount

If you have full coverage car insurance, increasing your

policy deductible

can lower your monthly auto insurance premium. Your car insurance policy won’t lose any coverage but your insurance costs will go down—except the out-of-pocket payment.

Learn more:

How to choose the best deductible

FAQ

Are safe driver discounts only for drivers with spotless records?

Many drivers with imperfect records will qualify for telematics programs, which can earn discounts and rewards for safe driving. Nonmoving violations may not disqualify you from safe driving discounts, either.

Can I put my Drive Safe beacon in my glove box?

To work properly, your beacon must be attached securely to a surface that doesn’t move when you drive. Try the door or the glovebox for most accurate results (and rewards).

How do I increase my Drive Safe & Save discount?

Keep a steady speed to earn a good discount. It’s also effective to drive less, which Drive Safe & Save tends to reward.

What is a good Drive Safe & Save score?

The range is between 0-100%, and 100% is the best possible score. If your score is between 80 and 90%, you’re doing very well. Keep minimizing your phone usage and drive conservatively to maintain your top scores.

How do I get a 30% discount with RightTrack?

All you have to do is enroll, get the app, and then keep it while you drive for at least 90 days to get the discount on your car insurance premium. RightTrack is only available in these states: AL, AR, AZ, CO, DC, DE, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA, ME, MN, MO, MS, NH, NM, OH, OK, OR, TN, UT, VA and WV.

How long does the RightTrack discount last?

The RightTrack discount can last as long as your auto insurance policy, or as long as you don’t do anything to lose it.

What other rewards can you get for safe driving?

In addition to lower insurance rates, you could also get rewards from Jerry’s

DriveShield

app, such as points you can trade in for movie tickets and delivery. Some companies provide other unique incentives like priority service and perks like roadside assistance.

What are the regulations and privacy concerns regarding telematics?

Telematics programs must adhere to state regulations about data collection and rate setting. Look for policies that require informed consent to use tracking, anonymizing your data, deleting your data after a time, and statistical support for any rate hike decisions.

Meet our experts

Bonnie Stinson

Bonnie Stinson is an insurance writer with 8+ years of experience as a content writer. They specialize in making complex topics like insurance and technology easy to understand. Bonnie has written over 1,300 articles to help people become confident car owners, from how to choose the right car and build a car insurance policy to dealing with stressful situations like car accidents and unexpected repairs.

Before joining Jerry’s editorial team, Bonnie worked as a digital media strategist and user experience researcher, producing content for Furnishr, STACKEDD Magazine, InfinityCore Health, and the global non-profit Giraffe Heroes.

Kianna Walpole

Expert Insurance Writer & Editor

Kianna Walpole is an insurance writer and editor with a comprehensive background in consumer behavior and online publishing. With experience in car insurance, maintenance, and repair, she is dedicated to building informative content that helps customers reduce costs while achieving the best service. Prior to joining the Jerry editorial team, Kianna worked as a junior editor in the content marketing industry, using consumer data and key insights to create and edit content for an array of large-scale clients in the real estate, cybersecurity, and healthcare industries.

SOURCES

https://www.insurancejournal.com/magazines/mag-features/2022/03/07/656824.htm