Safe Driver Car Insurance Discount: How to Qualify, Potential Savings, and More
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Written byJanet Berry-Johnson
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Janet Berry-Johnson, CPA, is a freelance writer with a background in accounting and income tax planning and preparation. She's been writing for Compare.com since 2023 and has also appeared on various business and finance sites, including LendingTree, Chime, Insurify, Forbes, and WSJ. She’s passionate about making complicated financial topics accessible to readers.
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Edited byLequita Westbrooks
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Lequita WestbrooksSenior Editor
Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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Table of contents
A safe driver discount is a perk that some insurance companies give to customers who maintain a clean driving record. That means if you go several years without an accident or traffic violation, you could lower your insurance premiums by up to 40%.
Major car insurance companies like State Farm, Nationwide, and Allstate offer the discount, but the amount you can save varies. Learn how and where to get a safe driver discount and how to maximize your car insurance savings.
How Much You Can Save With a Safe Driver Discount
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The savings from a safe driver discount — also known as a good driving discount — can vary depending on your insurance company and the state you live in. Generally, discounts range from 10% to 30%, though certain insurers may offer more or less.
For example, Nationwide gives you an instant 10% discount when you sign up for its SmartRide telematics program, which uses a smartphone app to track your driving. At the end of the tracking period, you could get a higher discount — up to 40% — if you’re a safe driver. That’s the highest discount we found in our research.
How to Get a Safe Driver Discount
The requirements for a safe driver discount vary by insurance company. Some companies simply require you to have a clean driving record — meaning no tickets or accidents within a certain period, usually three to five years.
But other insurers have telematics-based safe driver discount programs. For example, Nationwide’s SmartRide, State Farm’s Drive Safe & Save, and American Family’s DriveMyWay track your driving habits, looking at things like speed, braking, cell phone usage, and mileage to reward you with additional savings for safe driving.
You can usually apply for a safe driver discount online through your insurance company’s website, a mobile app available on the App Store or Google Play, or by contacting your insurance agent or customer service.
Where to Get a Safe Driver Discount
Nearly all major insurers offer some kind of safe driver discount, making it easy for responsible drivers to benefit from lower auto insurance premiums. Here’s a look at a few popular insurance companies that offer the discount and the potential savings you can earn, based on our research.
Company  | Advertised Discount |
|---|---|
| Nationwide | Up to 40% |
| State Farm | Up to 30% |
| USAA | Up to 30% |
| GEICO | Up to 22% |
| American Family | Up to 20% |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Compare.com's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Next, we’ll dig deeper into a few companies offering the largest safe driver discounts so you can see whether you might benefit from switching car insurance companies.
The Best Save Driving Discounts to Save You Money
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While most auto insurers offer some kind of discount for safe driving, a few companies advertise especially generous discount percentages, making them ideal choices for safe drivers with clean records.
Below are details on three insurance companies that offer some of the largest safe driver discounts and how to qualify for them.
Nationwide
Advertised savings: Up to 40%
Nationwide offers two ways to save money as a safe driver. You can qualify for a more affordable car insurance rate if you don’t get into any accidents or have any tickets for at least five years.
To save even more, you can sign up for the company’s SmartRide program, which uses a mobile app or telematics device to measure miles driven, hard braking and acceleration, idle time, and nighttime driving.
State Farm
Advertised savings: Up to 30%
State Farm offers a good driver discount for new customers who’ve gone three years or more without moving violations or at-fault accidents. The company’s Drive Safe & Save program offers a discount of up to 30% if you download an app that tracks your driving behavior.
Your discount adjusts each policy renewal (typically every six months) based on driving data from the previous 12 months.
USAA
Advertised savings: Up to 30%
USAA offers a safe driver discount if you maintain a good driving record for more than five years. In some states, you can enroll in the company’s SafePilot telematics program, allowing an app to track your braking and cell phone use while driving.
Enrolling in the program earns you a 10% discount, and, if you demonstrate safe driving habits, you can save up to 30% at renewal.
How to Maximize Your Safe Driver Discount Savings
Maximizing your safe driver discount means taking proactive steps to maintain a clean driving record and practice safe driving habits. Here are some tips to help you get the largest discount possible:
Enroll in a telematics program. While some insurance companies offer discounts just for remaining free of tickets or accidents, signing up for a telematics program that tracks your driving behaviors tends to offer the largest discounts.
Drive less. The less you drive, the lower your accident risk. Some insurers have usage-based insurance programs that offer discounts for lower annual mileage — usually less than 7,000 miles per year.
Stay accident-free. The longer you avoid accidents and violations, the higher your discount potential. So keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel, drive at the speed limit, and obey all traffic laws and signs.
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Other Common Car Insurance Discounts
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Many insurance companies offer various other discounts to help lower your car insurance premium. By stacking these discounts, you can save even more on your car insurance:
Good student: You can get a good student discount if you maintain at least a B average in high school or college.
Defensive driving course: Many insurance companies offer discounts if you complete an approved defensive driving course.
Multi-policy: Bundling your car insurance policy with other policies, such as homeowners, renters, or life insurance, can lead to additional savings.
Vehicle safety features: You may qualify for a safety features discount if you equip your car with anti-lock brakes, airbags, or an anti-theft device.
Safe Driver Discount FAQs
We’ve answered common questions about how safe driver discounts work so you can take advantage of potential rewards for being cautious behind the wheel.
What does “good driver discount” mean?
A good driver discount rewards people who avoid accidents and other traffic violations over a set period (typically three to five years). Insurance companies offer the discount to incentivize safe driving by reducing rates.
What’s the maximum safe driver discount percentage?
The maximum discount percentage varies by insurance company, but most offer between 10% and 30%. We found that Nationwide offers the highest maximum discount — up to 40% — for qualifying drivers.
How do you get a safe driver discount?
To receive a safe driver discount, you typically need to maintain a clean driving record, meaning no tickets or accidents. For additional savings, some insurance companies also have programs that track your driving habits through an app or a device that you install in your vehicle.
How do you know if you qualify for a safe driver discount?
Most insurance companies will notify you of eligibility, either during your auto policy renewal notice or by email. You can also contact your insurance agent or customer service to confirm if you qualify based on your driving record.
Sources:
Kelley Blue Book, “Average Miles Driven Per Year: Why It Is Important,” accessed October 30, 2024.
National Institutes of Health, “Safe Driving,” accessed October 30, 2024.
Insurance Information Institute, “Nine ways to lower your auto insurance costs,” accessed October 30, 2024.
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Janet Berry-JohnsonPersonal Finance Writer
Janet Berry-Johnson, CPA, is a freelance writer with a background in accounting and income tax planning and preparation. She's been writing for Compare.com since 2023 and has also appeared on various business and finance sites, including LendingTree, Chime, Insurify, Forbes, and WSJ. She’s passionate about making complicated financial topics accessible to readers.
Lequita WestbrooksSenior Editor
Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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