Allstate Drivewise Review: Get Cheaper Car Insurance Rates in 2024

Allstate Drivewise is one of the most popular insurance discounts today. On average, Allstate insurance customers can save up to 15% on their car insurance just by participating in the program – and driving responsibly, of course.

But does Drivewise mean cheap car insurance? How exactly does it save you money? And what information are you giving away for that discount?

Before you read on to learn all about Allstate Drivewise, enter your ZIP code to compare the cheapest car insurance rates.

What is Allstate Drivewise?

According to the Insurance Information Institute, Allstate is one of the top 10 insurance providers. Allstate Drivewise is one of their most popular discount programs offered. It acts as both a way to save you money and an incentive to be a better motorist.

Currently, Allstate Drivewise is only available in 28 states.

Is Allstate Drivewise worth it?

Allstate Drivewise takes a three-pronged approach to saving money.

Enrollment Discount

The first is a 3% enrollment discount. When you activate Drivewise on your account, you’ll immediately see 3% savings on your policy. This discount applies for as long as you use Drivewise, no matter what your driving habits are.

Cash Back

The main reward is the “cash back” part. On average, drivers with good driving habits can save up to 15% by using Drivewise.

Though it’s considered a “cash back” incentive, this discount actually appears as a credit on your policy. Your first credit will show up after your first 50 “trips,” and will then be tabulated every six months thereafter.

It’s important to note that, though you may not earn cash back besides the 3% enrollment discount, you will never be penalized for your driving habits.

Allstate Rewards

The final part of Drivewise is the Allstate Rewards program. By completing different tasks or fulfilling different requirements, you earn points. These points can then be redeemed for rewards, like gift cards.

When you first join the program, 10,000 points will be deposited in your Rewards account. An additional 5,000 points will be added when you use your Allstate login on the Allstate Rewards website for the first time.

From there, you’re on your own. One of the most popular ways to earn points is through “driving challenges.” These are designed to help you become a better driver.

Though Drivewise is only available to Allstate customers, Allstate Rewards is available to anyone. Just download the app to participate in this part of the program.

How does Allstate Drivewise work?

Once upon a time, Allstate Drivewise used a plug-in device that you physically plugged into your car to track your driving habits. The program still uses these devices in a few states, but for the most part, Drivewise has kept up with the times.

Nowadays, Allstate Drivewise monitors your driving through a mobile app on your smartphone. You log into the app with your Allstate insurance login.

The app runs in the background on your phone, which means even if you close out of it, it’s still collecting information in the background.

Every time you get in the car, the app will start recording a new “trip.” You must, of course, have your phone with you, and the location services turned on. New trips won’t register until your speed reaches or exceeds 20 mph.

If you’re a passenger in the car, you’ll have to go into the app to remove the trip, as you weren’t the driver.

Allstate Insurance uses a special calculation system to translate your driving information into a quantifiable rating that corresponds to a discount. The better you drive, the more you save.

What does Allstate Drivewise track?

One of the big concerns with Drivewise is privacy, which is why it’s important to know just what kind of information the app will be gathering, and what Allstate will do with that information.

The Allstate App tracks five main telematics:

1. Location: where trips start, where they go, and where they end
2. Time: time and duration of all trips
3. Braking: hard and extreme braking
4. Speed: how fast you’re going
5. Miles: how many miles you drive in each trip

You can access this information at any time by visiting the app. In fact, much of what’s collected is for your eyes only. These metrics are recorded to help you keep track of your driving habits in order to help you become a better driver.

The information that impacts your driving record (and therefore your rewards) are:

Time of Day

Driving between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. on weekdays (11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekends) is considered “high risk.” The app counts how many hours you spend driving at these times.

Braking

Decelerating suddenly (like slamming on the brakes) counts against your benefits, and the app notes any time you brake too hard.

Speed

While the app will keep track of your speed on all your trips, it only counts how much time you spend driving faster than 80 mph.

Be wary, though, because a speeding ticket can still raise your car insurance rates (even if it’s under 80 mph).

Using these, Allstate has an algorithm that tabulates an overall “trip score” that is then used to determine your discount.

Remember, you can access all your tracked information by visiting the app. You’ll also find metrics on your progress with the program and how much you’ve saved so far.

Allstate does not sell your personal data to third parties, but it may share your driving data with third parties to calculate your rewards. Allstate may also share your data to comply with law enforcement.

Case Studies: Allstate Drivewise Review

Case Study 1: Mark’s Mileage-Based Savings

Mark, a daily commuter, signed up for Allstate Drivewise to take advantage of potential mileage-based savings. The program tracked his mileage using the telematics device, and as Mark reduced his annual mileage significantly, he qualified for a discounted rate.

Case Study 2: John’s Safe Driving Habits

John, a cautious driver, enrolled in Allstate Drivewise to showcase his safe driving habits. The program monitored his driving behavior, including speed, braking, and time of day. Over time, John consistently demonstrated responsible driving practices, avoiding harsh maneuvers and obeying traffic laws.

Case Study 3: Sarah’s Nighttime Driving Discount

Sarah, a part-time night shift worker, joined Allstate Drivewise to benefit from potential nighttime driving discounts. The program monitored her driving activity during late hours, noting her responsible behavior and adherence to safety guidelines during nighttime trips.

Who should use Allstate Drivewise?

Allstate does not list any requirements or qualifications in order to sign up for Drivewise. It’s available to both new and existing customers, and can be activated at any point in your policy cycle.

You just have to have a smartphone capable of running the app. According to their website, your phone must run Android 4.4 or higher, or iOS 8 or higher.

If you live in a state still using the plug-in device, your car will need to be model year 1996 or newer.

Since Drivewise offers up to 15% in policy credits, plus an additional 3% savings just for signing up, the program is good for pretty much everyone.

Even “bad drivers” who may not see any policy credits can still benefit from the 3% savings just for using the program.

Whether you use Allstate Drivewise or not, enter your ZIP code below to compare cheap car insurance rates today.