USAA SafePilot might be worth it if you already have a car insurance policy with USAA, but getting a policy with USAA can be tricky.
SafePilot is a telematics
program that USAA
uses to track your real-life driving behavior. The idea behind usage-based programs is to give insurers a more accurate idea of your driving habits, so they don’t have to rely solely on demographics when determining your rates. USAA won’t increase your premiums if you don’t score well. But there is no guarantee that you will get a discount on your car insurance
rates either, and the program does come with some catches. The personal broker Jerry
has put together all the information you need to know about USAA's safe tracking app. If you want to save money on car insurance, the Jerry app is an excellent place to start. A trustworthy licensed insurance broker
, Jerry does all the hard work of finding the cheapest quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies, making buying new car insurance a breeze. Jerry will even cancel your old policy and handle your renewals for you. Even better—Jerry is free! RECOMMENDEDNo spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
What is USAA SafePilot?
USAA SafePilot is a usage-based telematics program for car insurance customers. When you sign up for SafePilot, the program will continually track your driving habits in exchange for potential insurance discounts.
The safer your driving, the bigger the discount you will be eligible to receive.
You must have an existing insurance policy with USAA to sign up, but SafePilot may not be available to policyholders in every state.
Pros and cons of SafePilot
| |
|---|
Great option for current or retired military members and their families | |
Generous discounts available | Doesn’t allow for hands-free calling |
Rates won’t increase for risky driving | |
How does USAA SafePilot work?
Existing USAA policyholders can download the SafePilot app from the App Store or Google Play store to get started.
USAA will consider the first 14 days after you enroll as your trial period. During this time, the app will monitor and log your driving habits. It will also offer up valuable tips to help you improve. This is the ideal time to familiarize yourself with the platform and start to understand your driving behaviors before it counts.
Once the trial period ends, the app will begin to score your driving. Your driving score will update as you drive and will later be used to calculate your discount.
USAA's car tracking device will continue to monitor your driving patterns for the remainder of your policy period until you renew your policy. At this point, they will reward any discounts you earned on your next renewal.
SafePilot is a continuous monitoring system, meaning that your driving will be monitored for as long as you use the program. Continuous monitoring is a great option if you know you are a safe driver and are confident that you can get a discount.
USAA will not increase your rates for risky driving, but they could still raise your rates for other reasons. For example, USAA might use collision data to determine your degree of fault if you’re involved in an accident.
RECOMMENDEDNo spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
What does the SafePilot app monitor?
USAA will penalize you for harsh braking or using your phone while driving. This includes touching your screen as well as making hands-free calls.
Like all mobile telematics apps that follow the driver and not the car, USAA can always access your location as long as you are signed up for the program. Make sure you are okay with this before you enroll. You can opt for a telematics program that uses a plug-in device if you prefer not to have your location continually tracked.
USAA also collects the following data, but not all of these factors will affect your driving score.
Swerving or harsh braking
Whether you are a driver or passenger
What is the USAA SafePilot discount?
USAA SafePilot discount offers savings of up to 10% just for signing up—and you could save an additional 30% off your policy renewal after that.
Just keep in mind that the maximum discounts may vary from state to state. USAA will re-evaluate your discount every time your policy renews, meaning that your car insurance rates could change from period to period according to your driving score.
Keep in mind that having more people on your policy could negatively affect your chances to save. For example, if you have six people on your policy but only three sign up - your discount will be reduced by half.
Is SafePilot worth it?
If you are already a USAA car insurance customer, it is certainly worth a try, as long as you are okay with giving USAA access to your data. You might get better availability and more lenient evaluations from other usage-based programs, though.
If you are confident in your driving abilities, you could save a lot when combined with USAA’s already affordable rates. And unlike some telematics programs, you won’t end up paying more for bad driving.
SafePilot is not ideal if you like to use hands-free calling services on the go. You will lose points off your score for phone usage while driving, even if it is hands-free. By contrast, most usage-based systems won’t deduct points for hands-free phone usage. Some providers won’t factor phone usage at all into your score.
One of the major caveats about Safepilot is that it is only available to USAA insurance customers—and USAA insurance isn’t available to everybody. Even then, USAA customers in some states might not have access to the SafePilot program.
Key Takeaway SafePilot comes with some catches, but it could be worth it if you are already a USAA insurance customer.
What is USAA insurance
USAA is a military insurance
provider that only offers policies to service members and their families. USAA car insurance rates tend to be very affordable. However, you will only qualify for USAA coverage if you meet their strict eligibility requirements. Likewise, you will only be able to use SafePilot if you already have a policy with USAA. Since USAA coverage isn’t available to most people, your access to the SafePilot program may be limited. The good news is that almost all top insurance providers offer a telematics program, and the Jerry
app can help you find the best rates fast. RECOMMENDEDNo spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
How to find the best insurance rates
Telematics programs won’t necessarily get you better rates, so it’s always a good idea to shop around for the best-priced policy before you commit. An intelligent AI-based tool like Jerry
is the easiest and most effective way to find a car insurance policy and usage-based program that works for you. After providing you with a comprehensive cross-analysis of the best policies across providers, Jerry will handle the phone calls, paperwork, and renewals for your top pick so that you don’t have to. So why do all that extra work when Jerry can do it better?
"Jerry
is REALLY worth having! If you’re looking for cheaper car insurance, look no further than Jerry! Thank you so much, Jerry, for this valuable free service! " — Satisfied Jerry User.
Frequently asked questions
Will my data be protected?
USAA maintains that they will not sell your data. However, USAA may hold onto your encrypted data for up to 10 years for their own use.
Essentially, you want to be sure you are okay with sharing your personal information and location before you sign up. If you don’t want to share your data with USAA, you can use Jerry
to help you find cheap insurance instead. What does SafePilot Track?
SafePilot tracks factors like driving speed, braking behavior, and phone usage while driving to calculate your driving score.
The program will also track factors like the time of day you are driving, your cornering behavior, and how many miles your drive. The latter variables may or may not be scored. Since SafePilot is a continuous monitoring program that follows the driver, USAA can also track data on your location.
Saved $725 annually
4.7
