Allstate Drivewise vs. Nationwide SmartRide: Which Service Is Best (2023)
If you're looking for a discount on car insurance for your safe driving skills, then usage-based car insurance may be right for you. Both Allstate and Nationwide offer usage-based car insurance than can help you save on your insurance. Allstate Drivewise offers drivers up to 30 percent savings, while Nationwide SmartRide discounts can be up to 40 percent. Read more to see the pros and cons about both of these companies.
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Written by
Chris Tepedino |
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Reviewed by
Laura Walker
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UPDATED: Oct 3, 2022
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Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.
UPDATED: Oct 3, 2022
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single insurance company.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Allstate Drivewise offers drivers up to 30 percent savings
- Nationwide SmartRide discounts can be up to 40 percent
- Both usage-based insurance providers don’t penalize for risky driving
Safe driving goes unrecognized far too often. If you’re looking for a discount on car insurance for your safe driving skills, then usage-based car insurance may be right for you. Usage-based insurance, referred to as UBI or telematics, is the latest trend in affordable coverage.
Keep reading to learn more about Allstate and Nationwide’s usage-based insurance, as well as more information about telematics.
If you’re ready to compare car insurance rates in your area, use our free tool. Enter your ZIP code to get started finding usage-based car insurance quotes.
What Is Usage-Based Insurance?
The Insurance Information Institute found that most drivers think that usage-based insurance is a good idea, even if they don’t fully know what it means.
Usage-based insurance policies collect mileage, times of driving, and other driving habit data and provide you with some score. The grading scale will depend on what insurance company you use. This grading scale will then be used to determine your discount.
The III also reported that usage-based insurance companies helped lower accidents by 80 percent in commercial fleets.
By monitoring members’ driving, drivers take their auto insurance rates into their own hands. Keep reading to learn the specifics about Allstate Drivewise vs. Nationwide SmartRide.
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What are other usage-based/telematics insurance programs?
Check out the chart below to compare other usage-based car insurance programs offered by nationwide companies.
Telematics Reward and Discount Programs
| Company | Discount | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Drive Safe & Save by State Farm | up to 30 % | - Limited sharp changes in speed - Drive during peak hours - Don't use your phone while driving |
| Nationwide SmartRide | 10 percent when signing up, and up to 40 percent after that | - Keep miles low - Drive during peak hours - Avoid sharp speed changes |
| Safeco RightTrack | up to 35 percent | - Drive during peak times - All drivers on policy must be signed up - Avoid sharp changes in speed |
| Geico DriveEasy | up to 20 percent for signing up only | - All drivers signed up on policy - Don't use your phone while driving - Avoid sharp changes in speed |
| DriveSense by Esurance | dependent on driver | - Must drive at least 50 trips during policy |
What Is Drivewise From Allstate?
Drivewise is a discount program with Allstate that encourages drivers to practice safe driving. You can either download the Allstate Drivewise app or get the plug-in device and it’ll start calculating discounted car insurance premiums; savings can be up to 30 percent off.
Your driving score will never be held against you.
Anyone, even nonmembers, can download this free app through Allstate. Drivewise, like its competitor Nationwide SmartRide, uses telematics to calculate driver discounts.
How does Drivewise work?
Through the app, Drivewise gathers rewards points for safe driving. After your initial 10 percent discount for signing up, Allstate evaluates drivers on a rolling basis. Rewards kick-in every six months of safe driving. “Safe driving” to Allstate means:
- Driving at safe speeds
- Not slamming on the brakes
- No late-night driving
Does phone activity affect Drivewise? Yes. The app can tell when you are using your phone while driving. Using the sensors and algorithm of telematics, Drivewise can also determine if you’re the driver or not.
The app starts tracking your driving after you’ve driven a short distance with travel speeds higher than 20 miles per hour. In order for it to work, your phone must be charged at least 25 percent.
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What Is Nationwide SmartRide?
Nationwide SmartRide is another affordable usage-based car insurance discount. Nationwide SmartRide is free and only offered as an optional program to its members.
SmartRide can either operate as an app or a plug-in device. You can log in to Nationwide SmartRide through your app or online to manage your account.
How does the SmartRide work?
SmartRide differs from Allstate Drivewise in that Nationwide Auto Insurance assesses its members once for the following policy, whereas Drivewise operates on rolling periods.
After enrolling and downloading the app (or installing the device), you drive as normal as it tracks your habits. Your driving patterns generate a final discount for your next policy renewal at the end of the program period (between four to six months).
What does SmartRide record?
SmartRide monitors four simple habits:
- Your miles driven during each trip
- Aggressive changes in speed or braking
- Idle time (traffic or parked)
- Nighttime driving
Another common question is whether Nationwide SmartRide has a test: No, but drivers will be monitored for up to six months.
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Nationwide SmartRide vs. Allstate Drivewise Reviews
Both Allstate and Nationwide Insurance received superior, “A+” ratings from AM Best and both are also offered nationwide. So what’s the downfall to these apps?
What kind of discount can you get for using SmartRide?
Safe drivers can see savings up to 40 percent with SmartRide which is 10 percent more off your monthly premium if you sign with Nationwide over Allstate. However, drivers typically report savings on average between 15 to 20 percent.
So, is Nationwide SmartRide worth it? That depends on your needs.
Drivers’ car insurance can’t increase because of Nationwide SmartRide. But, what are the cons to SmartRide? Some have complained about the final rate that SmartRide locks you in for the next contract.
Is Allstate Drivewise worth it?
One cool perk about Allstate Drivewise is that you do not have to be an Allstate policyholder to use the app.
Can Allstate Drivewise raise your rates? No, which is another perk to this program. You can either save money or pay your regular premium no harm is done.
However, Allstate Drivewise reviews complain that drivers don’t usually achieve the maximum 30 percent discount. Drivers say that savings are more likely to be range between 10 to 20 percent.
Most drivers use their cars between 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. or moderate risk hours, with occasional “high risk” (hours of 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.) outings. If you frequently drive at night, the app will dock off points.
Other than that, if you already have Allstate, you might as well enroll in the app and see if you can save some money.
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Ready to Track Your Driving?
In a sea of telematic devices, Nationwide and Allstate’s options are free options from two reliable companies.
If you’re looking for the most savings, you may find that you can achieve the maximum 40 percent savings with Nationwide SmartRide. This discount is possible for drivers that stay local, drive the speed limit, and give other drivers more than enough space this is also for morning drivers or low-risk hour drivers.
Or maybe you’re more of an inconsistent driver, taking work trips into the city every other month where you will be in stop and go traffic. If this is the case, Allstate Drivewise’s six-month assessments may be right for you.
Enter your ZIP code now to start comparing usage-based insurance quotes in your area.
Compare The Best Insurance Quotes In The Country
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.
|
Written by
Chris Tepedino |
|
Reviewed by
Laura Walker
|