Most drivers are always looking to save money on car insurance. However, many factors affecting your car insurance rates are out of your control, or it takes a long time to change them.

That’s where Drive Safe & Save with State Farm comes in. Drive Safe & Save offers auto insurance discounts to participants practicing safe driving habits. It uses a Bluetooth beacon in your car to monitor your driving.

We looked through State Farm reviews from drivers who've used the Drive Safe & Save program. Keep reading to learn more about how State Farm Drive Safe & Save works and if the program actually saves policyholders money.

How does State Farm Drive Safe & Save work?

State Farm Drive Safe & Save uses a mobile app and a Bluetooth beacon to track your vehicle and driving habits.

If you have an eligible mobile device, you can download the app for iOS or Android and finish your enrollment either on the app or by calling a State Farm representative.

Customer service can help you with the complete setup process if you have any problems. Typically, it reports directly to drivers' phones.

However, if your phone isn't eligible for Drive Safe & Save, you can use a third-party system, like OnStar, to enroll in the program and use it.

After you sign up on the State Farm app or through customer service, State Farm will send you a Bluetooth beacon device, which will pair up to your mobile phone and act as the Drive Safe & Save monitor once placed in your car.

This beacon will give the State Farm Drive Safe & Save mobile app different location and vehicle information as your drive. Ensure your phone’s Bluetooth and location services are enabled while driving, even on shorter trips.

How does State Farm Drive Safe & Save keep rates low?

State Farm auto insurance offers a car tracking program called Drive Safe & Save that can potentially save you money on your car insurance.

It's a usage-based insurance program that uses a telematics device to track and score your driving behavior.Drive Safe & Save uses your smartphone or a third-party system with a Bluetooth, like OnStar, to track your driving habits.

Trackers like this are perfect for those that drive safely and want to save money on auto rates. It’s also ideal for those who may not have spotless driving records.

The safer you drive, the larger your discount. However, State Farm ensures that all drivers receive a discount, regardless of their driving performance.

State Farm Drive Safe & Save offers an immediate discount of about 5% for signing up. Once you complete the trial period, you can enjoy savings of up to 30% off your rates, depending on your driving score.

Drive Safe & Save isn’t available in California, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. In addition, the program may not be available in North Carolina.

Like other good driver discounts, State Farm's Drive Safe & Save won't directly raise your rates based on how you drive. However, if you have a low mileage discount on your policy and the app calculates you drive more than that estimate, your rates may increase at renewal.

What driving habits does State Farm Drive Safe & Save monitor?

The Bluetooth beacon monitors several pieces of information, more than something like OnStar vehicle diagnostics or a different mobile app program.

It monitors your actual mileage, odometer, time of day, location, and basic driving behaviors like speeding, safe driving habits, and risky driving behaviors.

If your Bluetooth is connected, it will track these things on your trips.Devices like this help promote safer driving habits and reduce accidents by identifying unsafe behaviors and tracking habits.

Let’s look at the specific habits monitored and how they affect your discount.

Accelerating and Braking

Drive Safe & Save monitors your vehicle to determine if you accelerate quickly or brake too hard. The program also measures how sharp you turn.

Yes, hard braking is sometimes necessary. However, it shouldn't be a frequent issue if you're maintaining a safe speed and distance behind cars and paying attention to your surroundings.

If you’re gentle on your brakes, the mechanics of your vehicle will last longer.

Mileage

State Farm Drive Safe & Save tracks your mileage, uses the average to estimate your yearly mileage, and calculates your insurance rates at the end of the monitoring period.

If you currently have a low mileage discount — less than 7,500 miles per year for personal use — and the Drive Safe & Save program reveals you're driving more than that, you may see higher rates at your next renewal.

Safe Speeds

Drive Safe & Save tracks your speed. If the Drive Safe & Save monitor detects unsafe speeds based on traffic and the speed limit, it may negatively affect your discount amount.

If you go over about 80 mph, Drive Safe & Save may also ding your record or give you real-time feedback suggesting you slow down.

Time of Day You Drive

Certain times of the day are safer to drive in than others. For example, in terms of Drive Safe & Save, State Farm considers rush hour traffic hours and driving at night to be riskier times of the day.

Distracted Driving

If you're on your phone while driving, you're at a higher risk of an accident. Unfortunately, talking on your phone is just as risky, even when using a hands-free device.

This program recognizes signs you might be distracted by your phone and lowers your discount accordingly.

What do State Farm Drive Safe & Save reviews tell us?

Overall, the State Farm Drive Safe & Save reviews as of August 2019 were very positive, with many consumers citing the savings they earned through the program.

Many reviews also talked about how they could combine other discounts from State Farm, like bundling their home and auto with State Farm Drive Safe & Save to earn additional savings. Many reviewers said they enjoyed the Drive Safe & Save app’s ease of use and received significant discounts for their regular driving habits.

They also said they enjoyed easily viewing information about their essential driving characteristics and habits on the app, how the time of day impacted their driving, and seeing data about their trips and braking habits.

One recent review talked about State Farm's strong customer service and the ability to save with Drive Safe & Save.

"I absolutely love State Farm insurance! They have low rates, and the customer service is excellent. I love their drive safe program because it helps me get lower rates for driving better."

A few reviewers said it took some time to see any gains from the Drive Safe & Save program, saying that even after the six-month mark, they hadn't seen any data or savings from the app. Others complained that even though they had a smartphone, the app wasn't compatible with their phone, and they had to use a family member's phone or set up the program through OnStar.

Is State Farm Drive Safe & Save worth it?

State Farm Drive Safe & Save advertises savings of up to 30% off your rates. However, the savings will likely be less than that.

If you're a safe driver who doesn't usually have a problem with braking or speeding, it might be worth seeing if you really can drive safe and save.

Many reviewers said they could save on their car insurance by using Drive Safe & Save. For example, one reviewer said they saved about $130 every six months with State Farm Drive Safe & Save.

Another reviewer projected they would save 30% off their rates with Drive Safe & Save.

You could see higher rates if you have a low mileage discount, and the Drive Safe & Save tracker estimates it higher than expected.

Also, if you have to use a third-party service like OnStar for State Farm Drive Safe & Save, you might have to pay a subscription to that service, and the savings might only cover the cost of the service.

State Farm Drive Safe & Save could save good drivers hundreds of dollars, and it's worth a try if you're looking to lower your rates.

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