Travelers IntelliDrive Review
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Travelers IntelliDrive is a usage-based telematics program that gives drivers the chance to earn discounts on auto insurance. By sharing driving data with Travelers via mobile app, you can show that you are a safe driver deserving of a discount — in some cases up to 30%.
Travelers only monitors your behavior for 90 days, making it a good fit for drivers who don't like the idea of being continually observed by their insurance company. That said, it's one of the few telematics programs where poor driving behavior can increase your rates.
What is Travelers IntelliDrive?
Travelers IntelliDrive is a usage-based discount program, which means it offers you discounts based on your driving habits. Travelers monitors your driving habits through the IntelliDrive mobile app that you install on your phone.
Travelers says that most drivers can earn up to 30% off their auto insurance rates by driving safely during the monitoring period, though discounts vary by state.
Travelers monitors your driving behavior for 90 days. All drivers get feedback on areas of potential improvement during this monitoring period. At the end of the period, drivers get a star rating based on their performance. Drivers who perform well earn a discount that is applied to their next policy, while poor performance can cause Travelers to raise rates.
What states is Travelers IntelliDrive available in?
Travelers is not available in all 50 states. Drivers in most states and the District of Columbia have access to the IntelliDrive program, but those in these 12 states will have to find other ways to reduce their rates:
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- California
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- New York
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Is Travelers IntelliDrive worth it?
As with all other telematics programs, Travelers IntelliDrive comes with pros and cons. On the one hand, we like that it only monitors drivers for 90 days — and that the app does not collect any more data once the 90 days are up. Other apps require continuous monitoring, meaning that your insurance company knows where you are and how you drive for as long as you want to keep your discount.
On the other hand, Travelers is one of the few usage-based telematics programs that will increase your rates if you perform poorly. Most other companies say they will not raise your rates based on the data collected during the monitoring period, but Travelers will.
Apple users seem to have a better experience with the app than Android users. The Travelers IntelliDrive app has a 4.6 out of five score in the Apple App Store, but it only earned a 3.8 out of five in Google Play. Reviews in both stores highlighted how the app penalized them for braking quickly to avoid an accident, or commuting to and from work during rush hour.
Bottom line: Given these complaints and the fact that the company may raise your insurance rates, we generally don’t recommend Travelers IntelliDrive to most drivers. You’re better served finding a company that offers a stronger telematics program and lower rates overall than Travelers.
Program name | Maximum discount | Review period length | Can rates go up? | Phone usage impacts discount? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travelers IntelliDrive | Varies, usually 10% enrollment discount and 30% performance discount | 90 days | Yes | Yes, except hands-free usage |
| State Farm Drive Safe & Save | 30%, 50% for some customers | Each policy renewal period | Discount may increase or decrease depending on driving performance | Yes |
| Progressive Snapshot | $37 average sign-up discount, $145 average final discount | First policy period | Yes | Yes, if using mobile app |
| Allstate Drivewise (app) | No maximum; initial sign-up discount, followed by performance discount | First 50 trips, then every six months | Discount may increase or decrease depending on performance | No |
| Liberty Mutual RightTrack | 30% | 90 days | No | No |
| Geico DriveEasy | 25% | First policy period | Yes | Yes |
| Nationwide SmartRide | 40% | Four to six months | No | No |
| USAA SafePilot | 10% participation discount, 30% performance discount | Each policy renewal period | No | Yes, including hands-free usage |
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How does Travelers IntelliDrive work?
The Travelers IntelliDrive program uses telematics technology to track driving behavior and reward safe drivers with discounts on auto insurance. How drivers can participate:
- Step one: Download the Travelers IntelliDrive app on your phone. Apple users must have an iPhone 4S or above with iOS 12.2 or more recent; Android users must have Android 8 or newer installed.
- Step two: If other drivers on your policy want to join the program, have them download the app as well. You will get an enrollment discount for signing up.
- Step three: Drive as you normally would for 90 days, keeping your phone with you, and with location services and WiFi on. The app will monitor your trips and offer feedback as to how you can improve.
- Step four: At the end of 90 days, Travelers will determine your discount based on how well you performed. Safe driving will earn you a discount off your rates when you renew your policy; unsafe driving could raise your rate.
- Step five. Enjoy your discount for as long as you have a Travelers policy on your car. If you’re not satisfied with your discount, you can undergo monitoring again to earn a better one.
If you decide you don’t want to participate in the program, you can opt out within 45 days of signing up, and the only penalty will be losing your participation discount. To cancel Travelers IntelliDrive, you need to call your insurance agent or a Travelers representative.
If, however, you wait longer than 45 days and have driven 500 miles with IntelliDrive monitoring you, Travelers will use the data created during this period to determine your rates. Kansas and Montana are the exceptions to this rule. Kansas drivers have 90 days to opt out before their driving data impacts their rates. Montana drivers can opt out at any time.
How does Travelers Insurance use IntelliDrive to rate your driving?
Travelers IntelliDrive rates your driving safety based on the following behaviors:
- Time of day
- Speeding
-
Acceleration
- Braking
- Hand-held phone usage
However, Travelers does not monitor distracted driving in a select handful of states. Program participants in Idaho, Maryland and New Jersey don’t have their hand-held phone usage factored into their score. And in all states, phone usage that is not hand-held — such as streaming music or using a navigation app — does not count against you.
How much can you save with Travelers IntelliDrive?
Travelers advertises a maximum performance discount of 30%, but the maximum discount varies from state to state. The table below outlines the maximum performance discount available in each state:
Maximum percentage off policy | States available |
|---|---|
| Up to 20% | Idaho, Maryland and New Jersey |
| Up to 22% | Florida |
| Up to 30% | Arkansas, Arizona, Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin |
| Up to 40% | Nevada |
In most states, your rates could go up if you score poorly during the monitoring period. However, there are a few states where Travelers will not raise your rates even if you don’t practice safe driving habits. These states include:
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- Montana
- Virginia
Enrollment discounts also vary depending on what proportion of eligible drivers on the policy sign up. The more drivers who sign up, the larger the discount.
In Nebraska, for example, you get a discount of 10% if it’s just you on the policy and you sign up for IntelliDrive. However, your discount can go as low as 1.7% if there are 12 eligible drivers but only two sign up.
If you’re a passenger in a car but the app mistakes you as the driver, you have 10 days to make a correction in the app. Otherwise, the other driver’s behavior will be counted as your own.
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