GEICO DriveEasy Review 2024

GEICO DriveEasy is a discount program that uses an app to track your driving habits. DriveEasy bases your driving score on the following:

• Distractions: Avoid using your phone when driving
• Braking and Acceleration: Slow down and speed up gently
• Cornering: Drive around corners at low speeds
• Time of Day: Limit driving to before 11 p.m.

The app also tracks other factors, including distance driven, weather conditions, and the consistency of your routes, and uses this information to calculate a driving score. As you use DriveEasy, you’ll receive driving tips to help you raise your score and maximize your savings.

Once all drivers on a policy sign up for DriveEasy, you get up to 10 percent off. The exact amount you’ll save for signing up depends on your location, which you’ll find out when you get a quote. Depending on your driving habits, you can get up to 25 percent off. If you have multiple drivers on a policy, all drivers must use DriveEasy for you to qualify for the discount.

Before signing up for DriveEasy, be aware that the app can raise your rates if it detects risky driving behavior. Additionally, like virtually all safe driving programs, customers report it is near impossible to earn the full 25 percent discount for safe driving.

When Do You Start Earning the DriveEasy Discount?

You’ll receive up to a 10 percent discount upon signing up, then your driving score will apply to your premium 45 days after your policy begins. Unlike some usage-based discount programs from other providers, like Allstate Drivewise, GEICO doesn’t require a minimum number of trips to earn a higher discount. As you continue using DriveEasy, you’ll see discounts reflected at each policy renewal based on your latest driving score.

Setting Up DriveEasy

Getting started on DriveEasy is easy since it’s already integrated into the GEICO mobile app. Once you log in, select the DriveEasy icon. You’ll be directed to a screen to accept permissions to allow the app to log your trips automatically. I spoke to a colleague who is a DriveEasy customer, and she confirmed that the app is easy to set up and runs unobtrusively in the background.

Trip Tracking

The DriveEasy app automatically tracks when you’re driving, which is convenient—for the most part. The downside to automatic trip-tracking is that when you’re a passenger—even in another vehicle, like a taxi or rideshare—you’ll need to manually update your driving role on the app to keep it from impacting your driving score.

This problem is not unique to DriveEasy—other app-based programs, like Allstate Drivewise and Liberty Mutual RightTrack, have the same issue. Programs that give you an option to track your driving with a plug-in device, like State Farm Drive Safe & Save or Progressive Snapshot, don’t have this same issue.

My colleague reports it’s a simple process to change her status for a trip from driver to passenger, which you can see in the screenshot below.

Because I’m not a GEICO customer, I looked at reviews to get a better sense of how satisfied customers are with the app.

Since DriveEasy is integrated into the GEICO mobile app, I looked specifically at customer reviews about DriveEasy itself. There are some notable customer complaints about how DriveEasy tracks driving behavior. Multiple customers mention that driving in a city racks up more penalties, marking frequent red light stops as hard braking. Another review complained that DriveEasy can’t always distinguish between driving and walking once the car is parked. Reviews also mention that the app drains the battery life of their phones.

Here’s how Drivewise compares to other major insurance companies’ usage-based discounts.

Perhaps most notably, GEICO’s maximum discount of 25 percent is slightly lower than competitors like USAA SafePilot, and significantly lower than Nationwide and Allstate’s maximum 40 percent discount.

You can find other ways to save on your policy if DriveEasy isn’t the right option for you. GEICO gives drivers plenty of auto insurance discounts so you can pay lower premiums:

• Good driver: GEICO lowers rates for drivers who have been accident-free for five years.
• Vehicle equipment: Enjoy a discount for having airbags, anti-theft systems, daytime running lights, and anti-lock brakes.
• Good student: If you’re a full-time student with at least a 3.0 GPA, you can save money on your premiums.
• Payment history: You can also save at GEICO if you’ve had a history of paying your premiums on time.
• New vehicle: Pay less for your policy if you own a car that is three years old or newer.
• Multiple policies: Bundle your auto and home insurance and get discounts on both policies.

For safe drivers, enrolling in DriveEasy may be worthwhile for the potential discount of up to 25 percent. Even if you don’t earn the full discount, even a 10 or 15 percent discount can make a dent in your premiums. However, keep in mind that the app may raise your rates for risky driving, so if your habits behind the wheel aren’t up-to-par, DriveEasy likely isn’t worth it.

DriveEasy Is Best For You If You:

• Practice safe driving habits and avoid using your phone while on the road
• Want to maximize your auto insurance discounts
• Prefer to use an app, rather than a device, to track your driving

DriveEasy Is Not Best for You If You:

• Frequently drive after 11 p.m.
• Are concerned about data privacy or your rates increasing
• Live in one of the following places, where DriveEasy isn’t available:
  • Alaska
  • California
  • Delaware
  • Hawaii
  • Kansas
  • Maine
  • Montana
  • North Dakota
  • Rhode Island
  • South Dakota
  • Vermont
  • Wyoming

We use the following methodology to assess usage-based insurance discount programs like GEICO DriveEasy.

Tracked Behaviors and Data

We look at what data the program uses to dictate discounts. Programs usually keep track of speed, braking habits, acceleration, cornering, miles driven, phone use while driving, and the time of day you’re driving. We prefer programs that detect trips automatically. Ideally, the insurance company encrypts this data and doesn’t disclose it to third parties for marketing purposes.

Availability

We examine where the program is available, since not all programs are available in all locations. We also consider whether the discount varies by state, and the discount discrepancies.

Telematics Technology

Programs may offer a mobile app, plug-in or Bluetooth device, or a combination of both. Although mobile apps provide a simpler setup than plug-in devices, they can drain your phone’s battery life and often count trips taken as a passenger towards driving scores. When the discount program requires an app, we look at its ratings on Google Play and the Apple App Store.

Rates

We are partial to programs that give potential savings of up to 30 percent or more, along with discounts upon sign-up. Also, an important aspect we consider is whether the program could make your rates more expensive instead of reducing them. Select programs can increase your premiums for risky driving habits, so we prefer programs that won’t penalize drivers for their driving habits.