USAA SafePilot Review (2024)

Drivers looking to save on their auto insurance could benefit from USAA SafePilot, a telematics program that tracks driving behaviors and rewards safe driving. Users get a 10% discount for simply enrolling in the program, and a USAA safe driver could earn up to 30%.

The USAA driving app tracks hard braking, acceleration, speed, time of day, and more. The company considers these factors and sets your discount accordingly.

However, USAA SafePilot isn’t for everyone, particularly those who don’t want their insurer to track their data. Also, the program is only available in 37 states to military members, veterans, and their families.

If you think a USAA car insurance policy could be right for you, read our USAA insurance review and keep reading this USAA SafePilot review to learn more.

Pros and Cons of USAA SafePilot

Every usage-based auto insurance program (UBI) has its pros and cons, including the USAA SafePilot program. Some of the program’s pros include:

• Discounts of up to 30% on top of lower-than-average rates
• Incentivizes teen drivers to practice safe driving
• Ability to bundle with other discounts

However, the USAA SafePilot program also has plenty of setbacks, including:

• Only available in 37 states
• Limited USAA eligibility
• Penalizes hands-free phone usage

Before committing to UBI, you should always consider the pros and cons to see if the program works for you.

Free Auto Insurance Comparison

Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

What is USAA SafePilot?

USAA SafePilot is a usage-based insurance program that utilizes a tracking device to see how well you drive. If the device shows you drive safely, USAA rewards you with auto insurance discounts. 

Participants receive a 10% discount simply for signing up, with the chance to earn up to 30% off their rates if they practice safe driving habits. 

Since insurers recalculate discounts each renewal, you may experience fluctuating rates if your driving habits change.

To participate in the SafePilot program, drivers with a car insurance policy should first download the free SafePilot app, available on the App Store and Google Play Store. Once enrolled, USAA applies the initial sign-up discount to your policy — though the amount varies by state, it’s usually 10%.

The first 14 days of USAA SafePilot is a trial period, where the program assesses your driving habits and provides feedback. Fortunately, any driving done during this period won’t affect your driving score or discount. 

Once the trial period ends, SafePilot begins scoring your behavior, which lasts for your policy’s duration. Your score reflects the discount you’ll get after policy renewal. Though some telematics programs only track driving for one policy period, SafePilot monitors your driving constantly and bases your discount on each term’s performance.

USAA says poor driving won’t raise rates, but you may find your auto insurance rates going up for other reasons.

What behaviors does USAA SafePilot track?

USAA monitors various unsafe driving behaviors and subtracts points from your driving score if you engage in any of them. USAA SafePilot tracks the following behaviors:

• Phone use while driving
• Hand-free phone calls
• Hard braking

The program also looks at the following, but not all of these behaviors affect your score:

• Location
• Speed
• Time of day
• Whether you’re the driver or passenger
• Acceleration
• Swerving
• Cornering
• Distances driven
• Hours driven annually

Since the mobile apps follow the driver, it knows your location at all times and may share any data collected with third parties to maintain your policy and improve the program. If you don’t want to share your data with USAA, consider a telematics program with a plug-in device or one that lets you disable location services when not driving.

Also, SafePilot’s terms and conditions say USAA can analyze collisions with your data. So if you get in an accident, the company may use the data to determine the fault. You can still occasionally find cheap auto insurance after an accident.

Where can I get USAA SafePilot?

You can enroll in USAA SafePilot in 37 U.S. states. However, while USAA sells auto insurance policies to military members in all states, you can only participate in USAA SafePilot in the following states:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

If you’re a safe driver in any of the states above and qualify for coverage, the USAA SafePilot program could be for you. You should also check your insurance claims history report to make sure you’re not forgetting about any recent claims. 

What other coverage discounts does USAA offer?

While the USAA SafePilot program offers drivers a way to save on coverage, the company also offers various other discounts to lower premiums. Certain vehicle characteristics can save you money, and your personal driving profile could also earn you discounts.

Some of USAA’s other discounts include:

• Safe driver discount. Some auto insurance companies offer cash back for safe drivers. Drivers with USAA can receive a safe driver discount if they maintain a clean driving record for five years — this includes remaining free from accidents and moving violations. 
• Defensive driver discount. If you pass an approved defensive driving course, you could qualify for a USAA defensive driving discount. Defensive driving is the practice of anticipating potential road hazards and avoiding them.
• Driver training course discount. Drivers under 21 can earn a driver training course discount with USAA if they complete an approved driver’s education course.
• Good grades discount. USAA offers auto insurance discounts for good students between 16 and 25 who maintain a “B” average or higher. However, the discount is unavailable in Hawaii and North Carolina.
• Multi-car discount. Policyholders insuring more than one car can earn a multi-car discount from USAA. It may be cheaper to add a second vehicle to insurance.
• Multi-policy discount. USAA is one of the auto insurance companies that bundle home auto boat and personal liability insurance. So if you bundle your auto insurance policy with a home insurance policy, you could earn more savings.
• New vehicle discount. If your car is less than three years old, you qualify for a new vehicle discount with USAA. The company’s website says it offers the discount since many newer cars come with enhanced safety features.
• Anti-theft device discount. You could get a discount with USAA if your vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft device. However, the discount doesn’t apply in all states and may require annual certification, so talk to a USAA representative for more details.
• Garaging car on a military installation. USAA gives a garaging/storing discount on your comprehensive auto insurance rates if you garage your car on a military base. However, in California, you get a collision discount as well. This discount is unavailable in New York.
• Deployment discount. You could get a 60% rate reduction if you’re deployed or store your insured car for any other reason. However, the car must not be driven.
• Loyalty discount. You could save up to 10% if your parents have a USAA policy and you continue your own policy.

Discounts offer policyholders ways to save based on their unique driving profile. Speak with a USAA representative to see if you’re eligible for any of the above discounts.

Free Auto Insurance Comparison

Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Is USAA SafePilot worth it?

Other UBI programs offer equal or larger discounts and won’t ding policyholders for using a hands-free phone. So, the program may not be for every driver.

While the USAA SafePilot app’s ratings on the App Store and Google Play Store have improved, customers still complain of harsh penalties for sudden braking. The app also has difficulty determining if the user is a passenger or driver.

However, not all telematics programs operate the same. For example, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, and Nationwide don’t factor in phone usage, whereas Geico and Progressive could hike rates for poor driving.

Look at the table below to see how USAA SafePilot holds up to other major competitors:

10 Largest Companies UBI Programs

Some telematics programs, like Geico DriveEasy, raise your rates if you exhibit poor driving behaviors. Read our Geico DriveEasy review to see if the program is a good fit for you.

However, while USAA’s telematics program may not be the best out there, it offers the cheapest rates of any national insurance company. An average full coverage policy with USAA costs about $63 monthly, nearly $75 less per month than the national average.

If you qualify for USAA and are willing to deal with the program’s downfalls, the SafePilot app could be worth it and save you money on coverage.

USAA SafePilot: The Bottom Line

USAA SafePilot tracks driving habits, like hard braking, phone use, and speed, through your smartphone. It offers policyholders savings of up to 30% if they practice safe driving habits, but the program is only available in 37 states and often penalizes drivers for handheld phone calls. 

In addition, USAA offers various discount options to give drivers even more opportunities to lower their premiums.

However, only military members, veterans, and their families are eligible for USAA auto insurance coverage. So, eligible drivers looking for cheap auto insurance for military and veterans should consider USAA’s lower-than-average rates.

Free Auto Insurance Comparison

Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption