Geico DriveEasy review: How it works and whether it’s worth it

Luis Alvarez/Getty Images

If you’re trying to lower your Geico auto premiums, you’ll likely hear the name “DriveEasy.” Geico’s DriveEasy telematics discount program offers potential discounts to safe drivers who track their driving via a mobile app. But does the program really live up to its promises — and is it worth it for every driver? Bankrate’s insurance editorial team investigated the DriveEasy program to offer insights that may help you decide if it’s a good fit for you. 

What is Geico DriveEasy?

DriveEasy is a safe driving telematics discount program designed to track driving safety factors in real time using GPS technology. For drivers who avoid unsafe habits like hard braking and phone use behind the wheel, DriveEasy offers discounted rates on auto insurance. The app is telematics-based, which means that your real-time driving information is transmitted to Geico via your smartphone. The program is currently available in 37 states and Washington, D.C. 

Signing up for Geico DriveEasy could save you money on your premium if the telematics data proves you’re a safe driver. In addition, the program is designed to be easy to manage. Once you’ve downloaded the app and logged in, you don’t need to open it again when you get in your car. Instead, it automatically records trip data as you drive, as long as you remain logged in. The app can even distinguish if you are the driver or passenger or when you are using public transportation — though some users report having to correct trips that were inaccurately labeled.

What does DriveEasy track?

Although DriveEasy can’t monitor every factor of your driving, it is capable of analyzing simple driving habits that indicate how safely you may drive, such as hard braking, fast accelerations, speeding and cornering. The safer you drive, the higher your driving score will be, up to 100 points. The app can also log your trips, giving you a sense of how many miles you’ve traveled and where you might be able to improve your driving.

Factors that impact your DriveEasy score

Geico’s DriveEasy monitors eight key safe driving factors — more than other telematics apps from most major insurance companies. They are: 

• Hard braking: DriveEasy can tell how quickly you decelerate when you press the brakes. Hard stops should be avoided unless necessary to avoid an accident. If DriveEasy determines a hard brake, predictive crash detection called Crash Assist will note your location and ask if you were in an accident, taking you to the claims section of the app to start a claim.
• Distance traveled: By using location data from your phone, Geico DriveEasy can review your daily miles traveled and adjust your insurance based on how much time you are spending behind the wheel.
• Time of day: Depending on when you do most of your driving, you may be considered a safer or riskier driver. DriveEasy monitors driving habits and it may negatively impact your score if you spend more time on the road after dark rather than during the daytime. Those commuting late at night may be adversely affected by this.
• Distracted driving: The DriveEasy app monitors distracted driving through tracking active phone use, such as handheld phone calls and any sort of typing or scrolling. If a passenger is using your phone while you are driving, you will need to report this in the app to avoid a distracted driving report.
• Road type: DriveEasy can tell if you’re engaged in difficult driving, such as rush hour on a busy highway, or easy driving, such as slowly cruising down a neighborhood street in the middle of the day. Road type factors into your driving score.
• Weather: Bad weather makes driving harder and the app includes this factor in your score. It’s able to access weather data to see if you are driving in rain, fog and other bad weather.
• Cornering: Sharp turns present the risk of losing control of your vehicle. If you take corners tightly or too fast, DriveEasy may recognize this and it may negatively affect your driving score.
• Smoothness: In order to get a high smoothness score, you’ll need to keep your cruising speeds consistent. 

Pros and cons of Geico DriveEasy

Although many telematics programs are similar across companies, each may have slightly different policies. Comparing telematics programs from each carrier may be a valuable aspect of the insurance shopping process. Consider these pros and cons to determine if Geico DriveEasy is right for you.

How do I enroll in Geico DriveEasy?

Geico policyholders in eligible states can get started with the DriveEasy usage-based program by downloading the Geico Mobile app on their smartphone. Then, follow these steps to enroll in the program:

1. Once downloaded, enter your mobile phone number and input the confirmation code texted to you.
2. The app will then walk you through setting your privacy and location permissions to use the DriveEasy function.
3. When you’re done, the app will ask for mobile phone numbers for all drivers on your policy. It will provide a text with a link to send to each driver, so they can download the app and you can start logging trips.

How much of a discount can you get from DriveEasy?

When you sign up for Geico’s DriveEasy program, you might receive an undisclosed discount as a sign-up incentive. Following that, your driving habits will determine any additional discounts, which could reach up to 25 percent. The exact discount you receive depends on your driving behavior, as tracked by the program. Safe driving patterns may lead to significant savings on your insurance premiums, while riskier behaviors might limit or negate potential discounts.

Ultimately, Geico doesn’t make its exact discount amounts publicly transparent. The only way to know the amount of the discount you’ll get from DriveEasy is to use the program. 

Is Geico DriveEasy right for me?

Most insurance companies now have telematics programs, such as Progressive’s Snapshot or State Farm’s Drive Safe and Save. Each program has unique features, but all monitor your driving habits and typically reward safe practices. If you’re unsure if Geico DriveEasy is worth it, consider comparing it with similar programs to see which one best fits your needs.

Telematics programs like Geico DriveEasy may help you become a better driver by highlighting risky behaviors and encouraging safer habits. If you have a young driver on your policy, enrolling them could promote safe driving practices. However, repeated risky driving could increase your Geico insurance rates in some states, so it’s crucial to understand how your habits could impact your premium. Remember that even if you unenroll from the program, your rates might not immediately change if they’ve already been adjusted based on your driving behavior.

Bottom line: DriveEasy may help safe drivers willing to share the necessary data with Geico to get cheaper car insurance. However, factors like working the night shift, living in an urban area with dense traffic patterns or owning an older vehicle could increase the challenge of getting a discount through DriveEasy. In addition, some customers may not be comfortable with the data sharing requirements. 

What real customers say about DriveEasy 

To get a closer look at how real DriveEasy users found their experience, we turned to Reddit forums, including r/GEICO. We primarily found users complaining about difficulties they’d encountered when using the app, such as trips where they were incorrectly marked as a driver or falsely detected incidents of hard braking caused by keeping their phone on a seat instead of a secure phone holder. 

You may want to take these comments with a grain of salt; while they may be useful criticisms that reveal DriveEasy’s weaknesses, they might not be representative of all users’ experiences.

*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.

Frequently asked questions

• Can your rates go up with DriveEasy?
  

  Yes; depending on your state, your rates could go up if you exhibit poor or unsafe driving habits while using DriveEasy. Geico’s online resources clearly state: “Riskier drivers may see a higher rate — depending on the state you live in.” However, the risk may be minimal if you are actively working toward improving your driving skills.

• Do all cars in a household have to participate?
  

  While there is no obligation for every car in a household to participate in DriveEasy, all drivers listed on a single policy will need to participate in the program to receive its rewards. Each car and each driver will need to sign up to be counted. To avoid losing out on potential discounts, all drivers registered in the program should actively participate.

• How does DriveEasy know if I’m a passenger rather than the driver?
  

  DriveEasy uses technology that detects movement and relies on your phone’s sensors to determine if you are the driver or the passenger. It should also be able to identify if you’re on a bus or a train instead of a car. The technology isn’t perfect, but it’s possible to access your account and make changes if the app gets it wrong.

• Can I participate in DriveEasy more than once?
  

  Yes, you can participate in DriveEasy more than once. If you’ve previously decided to stop participating in the program, you can log into your online Geico account, go to “additional discounts,” find the DriveEasy enrollment and complete the steps to re-enroll in the DriveEasy program.

• What is Geico DriveEasy Crash Assist?
  

  The Geico DriveEasy Crash Assist is a feature that has predictive crash detection. If the app detects a hard braking event, it will place a pin in your location. Then, a pop-up may appear asking if you’ve been in an accident. If so, it will help your contact emergency services, contact a tow truck or take you to the claims section of the app so you can start the claims process. If not, you can click “no,” and the app will continue tracking the trip.

• What counts as distracted driving in DriveEasy?
  

  In the DriveEasy program, distracted driving usually includes actively using your phone while driving, such as making handheld calls or interacting with apps. If a passenger uses your phone while you’re behind the wheel, it can also be counted as distracted driving since the app can’t distinguish who is using it. However, these activities only count as distracted driving if the vehicle is traveling over 6 mph. Using Bluetooth for hands-free calls, GPS for navigation or streaming music won’t generally be flagged as distracted driving unless you’re also actively interacting with the phone while doing so.