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Table of Contents

Marissa Hayes

Insurance Writer & Expert

Marissa Hayes is a technical editor and contributing writer. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in history, and she was the editor of the literary magazine, The Bluestone Review.

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Written by
Marissa Hayes
Jeff Root

Licensed Insurance Agent

Jeff is a well-known speaker and expert in insurance and financial planning. He has spoken at top insurance conferences around the U.S., including the InsuranceNewsNet Super Conference, the 8% Nation Insurance Wealth Conference, and the Digital Life Insurance Agent Mastermind. He has been featured and quoted in Nerdwallet, Bloomberg, Forbes, U.S. News & Money, USA Today, and other leading fina...

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Reviewed by
Jeff Root

Updated November 2023

The Short of It

  • USAA SafePilot will save you up to 30% when you renew your auto insurance
  • You get an additional 5% discount for signing up
  • USAA and SafePilot are only available to members of the military, veterans, and their families

USAA SafePilot offers car insurance discounts based on how well you drive.  Not only can you save up to 30% when it’s time to renew your USAA SafePilot auto insurance policy, but you get an extra 5% discount just for signing up.

USAA SafePilot isn’t the only program out there that gives you an incentive for safe driving. Most major auto insurance companies now offer discounts for drivers who allow them to monitor certain driving behaviors.

Shop around before you buy USAA SafePilot auto insurance. Since many different companies offer a telematics program, you need to make sure you are getting the best deal out there.

Keep reading to learn more about USAA SafePilot. Before you read on, enter your ZIP code to compare auto insurance quotes from companies in your area for free.

How does USAA SafePilot work?

It’s no secret that the way you drive affects your car insurance. In fact, drivers with accidents, tickets, or DUIs will pay much higher rates than those with a clean driving record.

Many companies like USAA now offer programs for drivers to save money based on how well they drive. In fact, you can lower your USAA SafePilot auto insurance rates up to 30%.

USAA SafePilot is a free program that’s pretty easy to use. Just let your agent know you want to enroll and download the app.

The app runs continuously in the background on your smartphone and monitors your driving. Your trips are automatically logged and scored.

Just how affordable USAA SafePilot auto insurance is will depend on how well you do. Better driving and scores will equal higher discounts.

You can’t get a USAA SafePilot auto insurance quote since the price depends on your driving behaviors, but remember, your rates won’t go up if you score poorly.

When you sign up for SafePilot, the first two weeks are a trial period that lets you get used to the program. After that time, the app starts using your driving to determine your discount.

SafePilot is ongoing, and you receive your discount at renewal. Unlike some programs, you must continue to allow USAA to monitor your driving to keep your discount the next time you renew.

However, USAA SafePilot program reviews leave something to be desired. The program isn’t widely available and app reviews are not great.

The main complaints seem to be that you get penalized for hands-free usage of your phone and it’s hard for the app to tell if you are the driver or a passenger.

It should also be noted that USAA and SafePilot are only available to the military, veterans, and their families.

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What does USAA SafePilot monitor?

In order to receive a discount, SafePilot monitors several driving behaviors and how well you perform them.

Driving skills that are monitored are:

  • Time of day you drive – If you drive in rush hour or late at night, you are more likely to be in an accident
  • Location – The same goes for roads that are busy or difficult to navigate
  • Hard braking – Hard braking repeatedly can signal that you are not paying attention to the traffic around you or are following too closely
  • Hands-free and handheld calling – While hands-free calling is generally seen as the safer option, you are still distracted when you talk on your phone
  • Phone usage – Phone usage is very distracting, whether you’re texting, playing music, or entering information into your navigation

Distracted driving is a serious issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), eight people die every day from distracted drivers.

One common complaint with telematics is that the program doesn’t differentiate between the driver using their phone and a passenger using it. This can lower your score even if you are driving safely.

Is USAA SafePilot worth it?

SafePilot can save you up to 30% on your auto insurance if you drive safely, avoid rush hour, and don’t use your phone while driving.

The good news is that USAA won’t raise your rates if you score poorly. If you already have USAA car insurance, it really doesn’t hurt to use SafePilot, and you can become a safer driver.

Is USAA legit? Yes, USAA is one of the top-rated auto insurance companies in the country. It offers a variety of insurance options and services. To learn more, read our USAA auto insurance review.

Other major auto insurance companies offer similar programs, and some may be a better fit for you. Shop around to see which company can offer you the coverage, rates, and discounts that you want.

We hope you’ve learned all you need to know about SafePilot from USAA. Before you go, enter your ZIP code to compare free auto insurance quotes from multiple companies near you.

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