2023 Safeco RightTrack Review

Your Safeco rate could have gone up for many reasons, such as a recent claim or a new driver being added to the policy. Other factors that could cause Safeco to raise your rate include getting into an accident, being convicted of a moving violation, and adding coverage to your policy. Safeco may also raise your premiums for reasons that are beyond your control, such as recent natural disasters, increasing repair and healthcare costs, and crime trends.

Top Reasons Why Safeco Raises Rates 

• Recent claims
• New driver or car added to a policy
• Moving violations
• At-fault accidents
• Increased coverage
• Lower deductible
• Recent switch to an expensive car
• Relocation to a high-risk zip code
• Decline in creditworthiness

How to Lower Your Safeco Insurance

If you're struggling to afford your Safeco premium, there are a few steps that you can take to lower your rate. You can start by looking for Safeco discounts that you can qualify for, such as the safety features or accident free discount. You can also make changes to your policy, including raising your deductible and reducing your coverage.

Another option is to switch insurance companies. Each insurer calculates rates differently, so you may be able to get the same amount of coverage elsewhere at a lower price. As a general rule, you should get quotes from at least three different companies every 6-12 months to make sure that you're still getting the best deal. 

Yes, Safeco uses telematics through RightTrack, a program that tracks a customer's driving habits using the mobile app or, for drivers in New York, the plug-in device. Customers can sign-up for RightTrack and receive a discount of up to 30% if they consistently practice safe driving.

What Safeco Telematics Tracks

• Miles driven
• Acceleration
• Braking
• The time of day that you drive

In order to use RightTrack, drivers need to plug the tracking device into their vehicle's OBD port or download the RightTrack mobile app, which will automatically log trips when it detects driving activity. After 90 days, the discount will be applied for the life of your policy. If you practice bad driving habits while using RightTrack, Safeco will not raise your base premium. But you probably won't get much of a discount, if any. Currently, Safeco RightTrack is available in all states except Alaska, California, Delaware, Hawaii, and North Carolina.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to usage-based insurance.

No, Safeco does not offer a specific low mileage discount. Safeco premiums do take mileage into account, however, as rates are an average of 24% lower for customers who drive 7,500 miles annually than for customers who drive 15,000 miles annually, according to WalletHub data.

Low mileage drivers usually save on their Safeco premium because less time on the road means a smaller chance of filing a claim. Besides offering lower premiums for low mileage drivers, Safeco offers multi policy, multi-vehicle, and safety features discounts, among others.

It's also worth noting that Safeco has a usage-based insurance program called RightTrack, which can help low mileage drivers save money. RightTrack tracks mileage and other driving habits, saving policyholders up to 30%.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to Safeco discounts.

Yes, Safeco offers a type of pay-per-mile insurance called RightTrack. This is technically usage-based insurance, which is similar to pay-per-mile coverage because it factors mileage into premium calculations, but it also considers driving habits such as braking and acceleration.

RightTrack Considers:

• Miles driven
• Acceleration
• Braking
• The time of day that you drive

It's important to note that these factors collectively affect a customer's insurance premium, so RightTrack is not strictly pay-per-mile. However, it's still a good option for safe, low-mileage drivers who don't mind being tracked for insurance purposes. For more information, check out WalletHub's guide to usage-based insurance.

Safeco is cheap for young drivers and even offers discounts specifically for those types of drivers, like discounts for teens who maintain good grades. Safeco is not one of the cheapest car insurance companies overall, though, and high-risk drivers may find cheaper rates elsewhere.  

Average Rates for Safeco Car Insurance vs. Top Competitors

Note: Premiums are representative of a young drivers in CA; individual premiums will vary.

Safeco may not be one of the cheapest car insurance companies for most drivers, but it does offer a variety of discounts, like safety feature discounts and low mileage discounts. Plus, Safeco rewards customer loyalty with discounts for insuring more than one car and bundling multiple policies, such as home and auto. 

Your final premium is based on a variety of factors, though, such as your driving record, insurance history, and more. Every insurance company determines their rates differently, so the best way to find a good deal is to compare quotes from multiple insurers and take advantage of every discount.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's review of Safeco and see Safeco's full profile.

You can lower your Safeco car insurance costs by taking advantage of Safeco discounts, opting for a higher deductible, and reducing your coverage, among other things. Safeco considers a variety of factors when calculating your premium, though some – like your age and location – are out of your control. Fortunately, you can take steps to influence other factors in order to lower your rate.

How to Lower the Cost of Car Insurance from Safeco

Use Safeco's auto insurance discounts

Safeco offers a wide variety of discounts that can help you lower your overall car insurance bill. For example, drivers can get a discount if they've been accident free for a certain period of time. Or you can save on your premium if you have more than one policy with Safeco.

Raise your car insurance deductible

Opting for a higher deductible on any of your insurance policies from Safeco can lower your premium. But if you decide to go this route, it's important that you choose a deductible amount that you can still afford if you suddenly need to file a claim. Otherwise, you might not be able to use the coverage that you have.

Reduce your car insurance coverage 

Most states require a certain amount of bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage. But there are other coverage options (like comprehensive, collision, personal injury protection, and uninsured motorist) that you may not have to purchase, depending on your state.

Less coverage usually means lower premiums, but it could also lead to higher costs in the long run, so it's important to approach coverage decisions with caution.

Improve your driving record

Practicing safe driving habits and avoiding moving violations can help you qualify for lower Safeco insurance rates long-term. You may also be able to attend traffic school in order to remove a violation or points from your record, depending on your state. Safeco even offers a discount to drivers who take an approved defensive driving course.

Build and improve your credit

Because your credit history is correlated with your likelihood of filing an insurance claim, Safeco uses your credit data to calculate your premium in states where it is legal. As a result, having good credit makes you less of an insurance risk, which will reduce your rates over time.

Drive less 

Whether you can shorten your commute to work, use more public transportation, or even ride a bicycle more, driving fewer miles each year could lower your Safeco premium.

Drive an insurance-friendly car

 Expensive cars, sports cars, and cars with high rates of theft are considered to be riskier to insure than cheaper, more practical vehicles. Before you buy a new car, get a new quote from Safeco to see how it will affect your rate. If the cost is out of your budget, then you should probably choose a different car.

Sign up for RightTrack

RightTrack, the Safeco telematics program rewards you for good driving with a discounted premium. Specifically, RightTrack tracks miles driven, acceleration, braking, and the time of day that you drive. By using RightTrack, drivers can save up to 30% on their rate.

Finally, if you're still struggling to afford your Safeco policy, you should consider switching insurers. Even if you're not actively looking for a new policy, it's generally a good idea to compare quotes from three different companies every 6-12 months. To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to switching car insurance companies.

Yes, Safeco offers a defensive driving course discount for drivers who take an approved accident prevention course. By voluntarily taking an approved defensive driving course, Safeco car insurance customers in eligible states can get a discount, though the exact amount varies between each state. Once the discount expires, drivers can renew it by taking another course.

Defensive driving courses improve your driving skills by teaching you how to handle difficult situations on the road. For example, common traffic school topics include DUI/DWI laws, the consequences of different moving violations, and how to share the road. Specific details vary between states and classes, but online defensive driving courses typically cost up to $40 and take 4-12 hours to complete. 

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to Safeco discounts.

Safeco RightTrack works by tracking your driving habits through a a smartphone app or a plug-in device, depending on your state and rewarding safe driving with lower rates. Safeco RightTrack monitors things like braking and acceleration, and Safeco will not raise your rates for poor driving habits.

Key Things to Know About Safeco RightTrack

• Safeco customers who drive safely can save up to 30% while using RightTrack.
• Safeco RightTrack monitors total mileage, nighttime driving, braking, and acceleration.
• In addition to speeding and hard braking, things like driving late at night or being in heavy traffic often may reduce the likelihood of a discount.
• Safeco RightTrack has a 4.2/5 rating from WalletHub's editors.
• Customer reviews for the Safeco RightTrack app average 4.3/5.
• RightTrack is available in the following states: AL, AR, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MN, MS, MT, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, and WY, and the plug-in program option is only available in NY..

To learn more, check out WalletHub's full review of Safeco RightTrack.

Yes, Safeco RightTrack tracks location for things like underwriting purposes, helping to speed up claims processes, and to give you accurate details of your trips. Your location information does not directly determine your premium or discounts, though.

Additionally, your location information is not accessed in real-time except to provide emergency services in the event of an accident. To understand how Safeco collects, stores, and uses your data, be sure to read the privacy policy in the RightTrack app or contact Safeco directly.

Why Safeco RightTrack Tracks Location

• RightTrack tracks your location using a smartphone app or a plug-in device, depending on your state to measure hard braking, rapid acceleration, nighttime driving, and your total miles driven more accurately.
• Location information can be used to determine how far you travel on each trip, as well as your average speed.
• Stored location data may be used during the claims process to better analyze the details of the incident, such as speed and location layout.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's review of Safeco RightTrack.

No, Safeco RightTrack does not track speed. Safeco RightTrack does not raise car insurance premiums for poor driving, either, so drivers who have a habit of speeding can try Safeco RightTrack virtually risk free. However, safe drivers are generally able to get higher discounts from RightTrack than those who have poor driving habits, like hard braking, which can be related to speeding.  

What Safeco RightTrack Tracks

• Hard braking
• Rapid acceleration
• Nighttime driving
• Mileage

Even though Safeco RightTrack does not raise rates, Safeco itself can still increase premiums for things like speeding tickets, at-fault accidents and moving violations since they are usually reported on your driving record and could classify you as high-risk. Practicing safe driving is the best way to keep your premiums low.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's full review of Safeco RightTrack.