Car Insurance Telematics Programs Compared: What Each One Tracks, Whether It Can Raise Your Rate, and How to Get Out

Last checked October 1, 2026

Most large auto insurers now run a usage-based program: an app or plug-in device that records how you drive and feeds that into your renewal price. The marketing focuses on the discount. The program terms say more, including whether your rate can go up, what happens if you quit, and which states the program skips. This page lines up those terms side by side. It is part of our car insurance life events guide.

Key takeaways

Five of the seven programs below say in their own terms that your premium can go up based on your driving. Nationwide says SmartRide cannot increase your premium.

Quitting can cost money. Progressive and Liberty Mutual both describe a surcharge if you drop out after 45 days without enough driving data.

State law changes the rules. Allstate excludes New York from Drivewise rate increases, and California does not let insurers use telematics to set rates. A 2026 bill to change that, AB 311, was held in committee in August 2026.

In Maryland, the state regulator surveyed 18 insurers. Among the telematics-enrolled policies it counted for 2023 renewals, 31.16% got a telematics-based decrease and 23.6% got an increase.

Which telematics programs can raise your rate?

The table summarizes each insurer's published terms as of October 1, 2026. "Can raise rate" reflects what the insurer's own page says, not an outcome for any driver.

Program (insurer)	What it measures	Can raise rate?	Sign-up discount published	State limits published
Snapshot (Progressive)	Hard braking, fast starts, time driven, late-night weekend driving, trip regularity, handheld phone use (app)	Yes: results can mean "an increase for riskier habits"	Participation discount only if you enroll when you buy the policy	Progressive says details vary by state and publishes terms state by state
Drive Safe & Save (State Farm)	Annual mileage and driving characteristics	Yes: "may increase or decrease at each renewal"	10% initial participation decrease	Not available in CA, MA, RI; may not be available in NC
Drivewise (Allstate)	Speeding, sudden braking, phone activity, late-night driving	Yes, "except NY"	Discount for enrolling, varies by state	Not available in every state
DriveEasy (GEICO)	Braking, cornering, phone use	Premiums "generally will vary" with participation and habits	Not stated on the page	Offered in 47 states plus DC; not CA, HI, VT
SmartRide (Nationwide)	Miles driven, hard braking and acceleration, idle time, driving between midnight and 5 a.m.	No, per Nationwide	10% at sign-up	Criteria differ in CA and NC; discount may decrease at renewal in VA and WA
RightTrack (Liberty Mutual)	Braking, phone use, speed, time of day in most states	Yes, for both Continuous and 90-day versions	15% if all drivers participate, 10% if only some; 90-day version: 10% or 15% "based on where you live"	Liberty Mutual says "in some states, a discount is guaranteed, but in other states your renewal premium may go up"
SafePilot (USAA)	Driving behavior of rated drivers	Yes, for policies with some USAA affiliates enrolled on or after October 2026	Up to 15% at enrollment	Select locations only

Sources: each insurer's program page listed below, accessed October 1, 2026. Progressive's row reflects the current-period terms in the state section of its details page we read (Virginia, sign-ups from March 3, 2023); check the section for your state.

How does Progressive Snapshot work, and can it raise your rate?

Progressive's details page says that "Snapshot details vary by state" and splits its terms by state and by sign-up date. In the current terms we read (the Virginia section, for sign-ups from March 3, 2023), Snapshot results "correspond to a discount for safer driving habits or an increase for riskier habits." Progressive's main Snapshot page says, without naming states, "Your rate may increase with high-risk driving. But, only about 2 out of 10 drivers actually get an increase."

The same details page keeps older terms for past sign-up periods. The version for sign-ups from December 4, 2010 to May 6, 2016 said riskier habits "will not lead to a discount, but there is no change to your premium." That describes those older enrollments, not a state carve-out, so do not read it as today's rule anywhere.

The participation discount has a condition worth knowing: in those current terms it "does not apply when Snapshot is added to an existing policy." You get it only by enrolling when you buy the policy. Check your own state's section, or call the Snapshot team, before you enroll.

For a deeper look at the surcharge mechanics, see can a telematics program raise your rate.

How does State Farm Drive Safe & Save work?

State Farm states that your adjustment "is calculated at each policy renewal (typically every six months) using driving information from up to the prior 12 months when available," and that it "may increase or decrease at each renewal."

The mileage clause matters most. If you get a low-mileage reduction based on an estimate under 7,500 miles a year and you actually drive more, State Farm says "your premium may increase at future renewals to reflect your actual mileage." Our review of whether Drive Safe & Save is worth it covers this in detail.

Which programs say they will not raise your premium?

Nationwide is the clearest. Its SmartRide FAQ asks, "Can SmartRide increase my premium?" and answers, "No. This is a discount program." The fine print adds that the enrollment discount applies "until a driving behavior discount can be calculated, which could be zero," and that in Virginia and Washington "the discount may decrease at renewal based on changes in driving behavior."

So "cannot raise your premium" means your telematics factor will not add a surcharge. It does not mean your total renewal price cannot rise for other reasons. Our explainer on why car insurance went up in 2026 covers those other reasons.

What happens if you opt out of a telematics program?

This is where the programs differ most, and where drivers get surprised.

Progressive Snapshot (current terms, Virginia section): Quit within 45 days and you "lose any Participation Discount immediately, but keep your standard Progressive rate." Quit after 45 days and, if Progressive has not collected enough driving data, "we will apply a surcharge when your policy renews."
Liberty Mutual RightTrack: If all participating drivers opt out within 45 days, you lose the participation discount but scores are not used. After 45 days, drivers without enough data "may receive a non-fulfillment surcharge."
USAA SafePilot: For the affiliates covered by its October 2026 terms, USAA says that when a member unenrolls after earning a score, "a prior performance factor may be applied and may result in an increase or decrease to subsequent policy terms for that member, regardless of enrollment."
GEICO DriveEasy: In New York, scores older than three years cannot be used, and GEICO requires re-monitoring within 36 months. Skipping it "will result in the removal of a telematics discount factor, if applicable."

Before you enroll: Write down the opt-out deadline. For Snapshot and RightTrack, the 45-day mark is the line between a clean exit and a possible surcharge.

How often do telematics programs actually raise rates?

Insurer pages describe what can happen. A regulator survey shows what did happen in one state.

In December 2024 the Maryland Insurance Administration surveyed 18 insurers that wrote 80.9% of the state's auto premium in 2023. The figures below cover policies with those insurers that were enrolled in a telematics program, not all Maryland drivers. The report counts 303,845 enrolled in-force policies in 2023 overall; its renewal-outcome figures use a base of 263,703 enrolled in-force policies. Of those, 82,170 (31.16%) saw a premium decrease from a telematics score adjustment at renewal, and 62,233 (23.6%) saw an increase. The administration says roughly 45.24% saw no change, and notes that figure is inflated because some 2023 enrollments did not renew until 2024.

Maryland Insurance Administration, Telematics Survey Report (July 2025), accessed October 1, 2026. Telematics-enrolled policies at the 18 insurers surveyed, 2023; all three shares are as stated in the report.

The same report found that 14 insurers send a Notice of Premium Increase when telematics data raises a premium, and that "almost all of the respondents indicated that their programs were completely voluntary." It also notes that when only some drivers on a policy enroll, "the majority of carriers indicated that the average of all drivers would be used."

Can you use telematics in California?

Not for driving behavior. CalMatters reported in July 2026 that "California is the only state in the nation that does not allow insurers to use telematics in setting rates." Mileage is different: monitoring miles driven is allowed under Proposition 103 because mileage is a permitted rating factor.

A bill, AB 311, would have let drivers opt in to telematics rating. CalMatters reported in July 2026 that the Senate insurance committee had passed it and that the state insurance department opposed it. CalMatters' Digital Democracy tracker lists its status as "In committee: Held under submission" as of August 13, 2026, and Capitol Weekly reported that the Senate Appropriations Committee's decision "effectively kills the bill for the remainder of the year." As of October 1, 2026, California's rule is unchanged. State Farm and GEICO both list California as excluded from their programs.

Which telematics program is best?

There is no single answer, and we do not rank them. The right fit depends on your driving and your tolerance for risk:

If you want no surcharge risk, look for a program whose terms say it cannot raise your premium, and read the state footnotes.
If you drive little, check how the program treats mileage. State Farm's low-mileage clause and USAA's mileage-based option both turn on actual miles.
If you drive late at night, note that Snapshot, Drivewise and SmartRide all measure late-night driving.
If your phone rides in your hand, expect it to count. Snapshot, Drivewise, DriveEasy and RightTrack all list phone use.
If you might quit, know the opt-out window and the surcharge rule before you start.

Frequently asked questions

Can a telematics program raise my car insurance rate?

Yes, for most programs. State Farm, Allstate (except in New York), Liberty Mutual and Progressive all say rates can go up, and terms vary by state. Nationwide says SmartRide cannot increase your premium, though the discount can be zero.

Is there a penalty for quitting Snapshot?

Progressive says quitting within 45 days costs only the participation discount. After 45 days, if it lacks enough driving data, it applies a surcharge at renewal.

Which states ban telematics rating?

According to CalMatters, California is the only state that does not allow insurers to use telematics in setting rates. Individual programs also skip other states, such as State Farm in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and GEICO in Hawaii and Vermont.

Does every driver on my policy have to enroll?

Not always. In the Maryland survey, insurers that do not require every driver said one vehicle or driver can opt in, and most said they average all drivers, giving non-participating drivers a neutral score. Other programs differ: GEICO says all enrolled drivers on a policy need to participate. Allstate says enrolling all your drivers maximizes participation savings, and Liberty Mutual says non-participating drivers "can reduce your overall discount."

How long does a telematics program track me?

It varies. Nationwide says SmartRide lasts about four to six months. Liberty Mutual offers a 90-day version and a continuous version. State Farm recalculates at each renewal from up to 12 months of data.

Sources

Progressive, "Snapshot Program Details," https://www.progressive.com/auto/discounts/snapshot/snapshot-details/, accessed October 1, 2026.
Progressive, "Snapshot Rewards You for Good Driving," https://www.progressive.com/auto/discounts/snapshot/, accessed October 1, 2026.
State Farm, "Drive Safe & Save," including footnotes, https://www.statefarm.com/insurance/auto/discounts/drive-safe-save, accessed October 1, 2026.
Allstate, "Drivewise," including footnotes, https://www.allstate.com/drivewise, accessed October 1, 2026.
GEICO, "DriveEasy," https://www.geico.com/driveeasy/, accessed October 1, 2026.
Nationwide, "SmartRide," https://www.nationwide.com/personal/insurance/auto/discounts/smartride/, accessed October 1, 2026.
Liberty Mutual, "RightTrack," including FAQ, https://www.libertymutual.com/righttrack, accessed October 1, 2026.
USAA, "Military Car Insurance," note 6 on SafePilot and SafePilot Miles, https://www.usaa.com/insurance/vehicles/auto/military/, accessed October 1, 2026.
Maryland Insurance Administration, "Telematics Survey Report, Auto Insurance Market in Maryland," July 2025, https://insurance.maryland.gov/Consumer/Appeals%20and%20Grievances%20Reports/Telematics-Survey-Report-2025.pdf, accessed October 1, 2026.
CalMatters, "Proposal would allow drivers to trade personal data for potentially lower insurance rates," July 8, 2026, https://calmatters.org/economy/2026/07/telematics-car-insurance-bill/, accessed October 1, 2026.
CalMatters Digital Democracy, "AB 311: Consumer Driving Data Protection Act of 2026," https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab311, accessed October 1, 2026.
Capitol Weekly, "Driving data bill stalls...again," August 26, 2026, https://capitolweekly.net/driving-data-bill-stalls-again/, accessed October 1, 2026.

FinanceRazor is not affiliated with any insurer named on this page. Program names are trademarks of their owners. Terms, discounts and availability are set by each insurer, vary by state and change over time. Every term above is quoted from the insurer's page as accessed on October 1, 2026. Discounts described as "up to" are maximums, not typical results.