Safeco RightTrack: Complete Guide & Review (2024)

The Highlights

• Safeco RightTrack is available to any Safeco insurance customer looking to earn a discount based on their good driving habits.
• RightTrack is a part of Safeco’s auto insurance products and is available to customers in 42 states.
• RightTrack users can save 5 to 30 percent on Safeco car insurance.

This Safeco RightTrack review will go over how your driving habits can affect your ability to save on insurance costs. Safeco rebranded their usage-based insurance by renaming it RightTrack (Rewind). Safeco RightTrack is Safeco auto insurance’s entry into the usage-based insurance market, which is one of the biggest trends in car insurance in recent years.

Our Safeco RightTrack auto insurance review will help you to compare car insurance options and decide if the program is right for you.

Usage-based insurance works as the name implies, by basing your rates on how you drive. Of course, traditional rating factors still apply, but the information gathered about your driving habits earns you a discount based on when, how, and how frequently you drive.

Today’s usage-based insurance programs work one of two ways either via an app on your mobile device or by using a device that plugs into your car and records information. In some cases, it is a combination of the two.

Safeco’s RightTrack reviews driving information, uses a device that plugs into the vehicle, gathers information, and is then sent back to the company for review, and has no app. That is the traditional form of tracking that dates to the initial deployment of these programs and is a little on the outdated side when compared to similar programs from other companies.

Read on for more details on the Safeco RightTrack program, but first, see what you could save. Get cheap auto insurance from the top car insurance companies in your local area. Just enter your ZIP code in the FREE comparison tool above.

What is Safeco RightTrack?

Safeco first entered the usage-based market with Rewind. Rewind was a program designed to help drivers who had run into troubles of the ticket-or-accident kind (what Safeco called a “Setback”) to prove themselves as safe drivers and avoid being charged a higher rate as a result of the incident.

The newer RightTrack program expands beyond that market and is available to any Safeco insurance customer looking to earn a discount based on their good driving habits. (For more information, read our “Safeco Insurance Review & Complaints: Auto, Home, Renter’s, Boat, Motorcycle & Umbrella Insurance“).

RightTrack does not simply erase a surcharge but provides a discount.

Like most usage-based programs, RightTrack aims to help drivers get lower car insurance rates while also encouraging safe driving behaviors on the road. Unlike some of the newer pay-as-you-go insurance programs, RightTrack does not track your driving on an ongoing basis. It follows you for 90 days, after which the device is sent back in, and a discount calculated that’s applied to the life of the auto insurance policy.

RightTrack is available in 42 states and, of course, only to drivers insured with Safeco. There are a few states where Safeco operates that aren’t eligible for the program.

How does Safeco RightTrack work?

Enrollment in RightTrack is free, but according to the website, it can only occur when applying for a new auto insurance policy. Safeco Insurance will send the device in the mail along with instructions for the Safeco RightTrack installation. Once the device has been plugged in, the driver can log into the RightTrack system online and view driving information as it is collected. The information will appear within 24 hours of being recorded.

You can use the Safeco RightTrack App to monitor your driving habits in addition to the telematics device.

The RightTrack device remains plugged into the car for 90 days, during which period you can choose to opt-out at any time. Opting out will result in forfeiture of the initial discount and any further driver discounts, but there is no penalty.

After the 90-day review period is complete, the device is mailed back to Safeco in a postage-paid envelope, and the information will be reviewed. You can view your review period results online for 30 days after the device has been unplugged.

After the 90 days and the return of the device, Safeco will review the gathered information, and you will be notified of the discount that will be applied to the policy based on that information.

The driver discount remains in place for the lifetime of the policy, so as long as you stay a Safeco customer and your auto policy remains in force, you will continue to receive the discount without any further action on your part.

Each vehicle in a household has to be enrolled individually in the Safeco RightTrack program to receive the discount, and each must complete the 90-day review period with the device installed.

What does Safeco RightTrack record?

Does Safeco RightTrack monitor speed? The answer is yes. There are many different systems of usage-based insurance out there, and they record other things to determine discounts. Safeco RightTrack is a fairly basic program, and it gathers data on basic driving habits.

Safeco RightTrack will record:

• Mileage: the number of miles you drive your car during the review period
• Timing: the time of day you drive your car, both day and night
• Acceleration: the device will look for signs of rapid acceleration
• Braking: the device will record instances of sudden, hard braking

Safeco RightTrack does not record where you go, your speed, or any further information about your driving habits.

How is the information used?

The information gathered by the device is used primarily to determine what your driving habits are and to calculate your discount based on those habits. Safeco uses the information only to provide a discount, and they will not charge you a higher rate based on the information that is gathered.

The information gathered is also used for research purposes; this is entirely internal research and is not shared with other companies. Safeco does not use the information to cancel or non-renew policies.

Read more: What do I need to do to cancel my car insurance policy with Safeco Insurance?

Are the RightTrack mobile app reviews positive?

RightTrack app reviews are mixed, and shine a light on RightTrack pros and cons. According to RightTrack Google Play reviews, the mobile app has a 3.7 out of five stars. However, on Apple App Store, RightTrack has a 4.6 rating out of five.

The mixed RightTrack reviews are pretty common and most such programs have good and bad reviews.

How much are RightTrack discounts?

All drivers that complete the 90-day RightTrack review period are guaranteed a minimum discount of five percent. This discount is applied regardless of what information is gathered.

From there, the available discount ranges up to 30 percent. The website does not specify how often that top-end discount is applied nor what kind of driving habits need to be observed to reach that top tier. It’s hard to provide Safeco RightTrack car insurance quotes since the discount can’t be calculated until after the program is complete.

How can you get Safeco auto insurance rates and Safeco RightTrack discounts?

Like most top-end deals, it is a gold standard that will be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve.

Safeco provides your discount 90 days after you’ve enrolled in the Safeco RightTrack program.

Shortly after the review period is complete and Safeco has received the device back, an email will be sent out notifying the customer of the discount amount. This amount will remain steady for the life of the policy and does not change even if you switch cars. A new vehicle can be added within 60 days of removing the car that was used for the review period.

Let’s examine how much more affordable Safeco RightTrack car insurance rates can be in states where the usage-based insurance program is offered.

Average Savings on Safeco Annual Car Insurance Rates in States with Safeco RightTrack®

Illinois produces the cheapest Safeco auto insurance rates, while New Jersey has the most expensive rates even after the Safeco RightTrack discount.

If you have a good credit score, you could receive cheaper auto insurance rates. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers with good credit can receive more affordable rates because they’re less likely to file an insurance claim.

As mentioned, each vehicle in a household must have its review and its device, which means that the amount of the discount may vary from vehicle to vehicle and isn’t the same across all vehicles on the policy. If you choose only to use the device in one car, the rest of the vehicles you insure will not get the same discount.

What are the eligibility requirements for RightTrack?

According to the Safeco website, RightTrack is only available on new auto insurance policies with the company. That means it cannot be added to a policy that is already in force.

The website does not explain whether an existing customer can cancel their policy and start up a new one to qualify. It does appear that customers adding a new vehicle can opt into the program for that car since the program applies to each car individually.

Like all such devices, Safeco’s only works with cars that have the port needed to plug it in.

That generally means vehicles that are from 1996 or newer. Older cars do not have the technology required to plug in the device or gather information.

RightTrack is not available in all states; as noted above, it is currently offered in 42 states, which is a good reach for a program of this kind.

How do I install Safeco rightTrack?

Installing the telematics device is very easy, once the On-Board Diagnostics (OBD-II) port is found.

According to GeoTAB, the OBD-II port is an electronic system that produces self-diagnostic reports to repair technicians.

Also, the OBD-II port uses telematics devices. Telematics device reviews your driving habits, speed, and other factors that relate to your driving and sends it to your insurance company through a mobile app or through the telematics device itself.

Because the system does use a recording device, the driver will have to install it. This is a simple process that involves plugging it into the Onboard Diagnostic (OBD-II) port in the car’s dashboard. That is usually found underneath the steering wheel.

CarMD offers an easy search that will help you to locate your car’s OBD-II port if it’s not easy for you to find.

Safeco will send the device to you with complete installation instructions and contact information to call if you’re having trouble getting it installed. Search the web to find information on how to install telematics devices in your vehicle.

You’ll need a Safeco RightTrack login to connect the device to the mobile app and access the Safeco RightTrack dashboard. A Safeco RightTrack video explanation is found on the company website.

How does Safeco RightTrack stack up?

Like most such programs, the company advertises their usage-based system as being a can’t-lose proposition. You get 5% off just for enrolling, and they won’t increase your rate as a result of using the system.

Safeco RightTrack is a relatively non-invasive system. It’s only on your vehicle for 90 days, and the discount stays in place for the lifetime of the policy. There is no ongoing recording of data, nor does the discount change over time, and you do not have to requalify for the discount.

This is comparable to other similar systems, although some companies require a shorter monitoring period and some longer. Progressive, for example, uses the device for the entire first policy period, six months, and they may place a surcharge on your policy if you decide not to use Safeco RightTrack after the first 45 days.

RightTrack will not charge you for opting out early, but you will lose the initial enrollment discount.

This system is what is known as pay-how-you-drive as opposed to pay-as-you-drive, meaning it does not continually record your data and provide a rate based on how much you drive. More important to the RightTrack rating system is your driving behavior, particularly hard braking and quick acceleration.