Do you want to start saving money on your car insurance just for driving safely? Allstate Drivewise is a fantastic program that can help you do just that! If you're wondering how to add a driver to Allstate Drivewise and maximize those savings for your entire household, you've come to the right place. This lengthy, step-by-step guide will walk you through the entire process, ensuring every eligible driver in your household contributes to your potential discounts. Let's get started!
The Power of Allstate Drivewise
Before we dive into the "how-to," let's quickly understand why Drivewise is so beneficial. It's a telematics program that uses your smartphone to monitor your driving habits – things like speed, braking, and the time of day you drive. By demonstrating safe driving behaviors, you can earn discounts on your Allstate car insurance premium. The more safe drivers you have participating, the greater your potential savings!
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| How To Add Driver To Allstate Drivewise |
Step 1: Are You Ready to Save? (Engage!)
Hey there, savvy driver! Are you excited about the prospect of lowering your car insurance bill simply by being a good driver? If so, great! If you're a policyholder looking to enroll yourself, or if you're trying to get other members of your household on board, this guide is for you. The first crucial step is to ensure that you, and any other drivers you wish to add, meet the basic requirements and have the necessary tools.
Sub-heading: Essential Prerequisites
Before proceeding, make sure of the following:
- An Active Allstate Car Insurance Policy: Drivewise is an add-on to your existing Allstate auto insurance policy.
- Compatible Smartphone: The Drivewise program runs entirely through the Allstate mobile app. Ensure you and any other drivers have a smartphone with a compatible operating system (typically iOS 10.0 or higher for Apple, and Android 5.0 or higher for Android devices). Always check the latest requirements on the Allstate website or app store.
- Allstate My Account Credentials: Each driver needs their own My Account login details. If they don't have one, they can easily create one.
- Understanding of Privacy: Drivewise collects driving data. Make sure you and other drivers are comfortable with Allstate's privacy policy regarding this data collection.
Step 2: Getting the Allstate Mobile App on Every Phone
This is the foundation of your Drivewise journey. Each driver who wants to participate needs the Allstate mobile app installed on their personal smartphone.
Sub-heading: Download and Installation
- Locate the App:
- For Apple iPhones: Open the App Store.
- For Android phones: Open the Google Play Store.
- Search for "Allstate": Use the search bar to find the "Allstate" mobile app.
- Download and Install: Tap the "Download" or "Install" button. The app is free.
- Accept Terms (Initial User): When you open the app for the first time, you'll likely be prompted to accept the Terms of Service and grant certain permissions. Read these carefully and accept to proceed.
Step 3: Logging In and Activating Drivewise for Each Driver
This is where individual drivers link their app to their Drivewise participation.
Tip: Don’t skip the details — they matter.
Sub-heading: Policyholder Activation
If you are the primary policyholder:
- Log In: Open the Allstate mobile app and log in using your My Account username and password. If you don't have one, there will be an option to create one or retrieve forgotten credentials.
- Navigate to Drivewise: Once logged in, look for the Drivewise dashboard or section within the app. It's often prominently displayed on the main screen or accessible through a navigation menu (usually three lines or "hamburger" icon).
- Activate Drivewise: Tap on the Drivewise option. You will be prompted to activate the feature. This usually involves:
- Accepting additional terms and conditions specific to Drivewise.
- Granting necessary permissions, such as location services (set to "Always Allow") and motion & fitness activity. These permissions are crucial for accurate trip tracking.
- Confirm Settings: The app might guide you through optimizing your phone settings for Drivewise, such as turning off battery optimization for the Allstate app to ensure continuous tracking. Follow these recommendations for optimal performance.
Sub-heading: Adding Additional Drivers (Non-Policyholders)
This part can sometimes be a bit trickier, as non-policyholders (like a teenager or spouse who isn't the primary account holder) need a specific process.
- Each Driver Logs In: The additional driver must download the Allstate mobile app onto their own smartphone and log in using their own My Account credentials. If they don't have an Allstate My Account, they'll need to create one.
- Important Note: There might be a slight delay in receiving an activation code for additional drivers compared to the immediate verification for policyholders.
- Activation Code (if required): For some non-policyholders, especially teenagers, the primary policyholder may need to request an "Activation Code" through their own Allstate app or by contacting Allstate directly. This code is then entered into the additional driver's app.
- Navigate and Activate: Once logged in, the additional driver should navigate to the Drivewise section of their app, just like the policyholder did.
- Grant Permissions: They will also need to accept the Drivewise terms and conditions and grant all necessary permissions, especially setting location services to "Always Allow" and enabling motion/fitness activity.
- Tip: If the additional driver is having trouble finding where to activate Drivewise or enter an activation code, sometimes clearing the app's data or even uninstalling/reinstalling the app on a phone that hasn't had the Allstate app logged in before can resolve glitches. Online chat with Allstate support or calling them can also be very helpful here.
Step 4: Optimizing Phone Settings for Seamless Tracking
For Drivewise to accurately record your trips and provide meaningful feedback, your phone's settings need to be configured correctly.
Sub-heading: Location Services – The Most Important Setting
- Set to "Always Allow": This is paramount. Drivewise needs continuous access to your location data to detect when a trip starts and ends, and to record your driving behavior. If it's set to "While Using" or "Never," your trips may not be fully captured, impacting your potential savings.
- On iOS: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Allstate Mobile > Select "Always."
- On Android: Go to Settings > Location > App permissions > Allstate Mobile > Select "Allow all the time." Also, ensure "Google Location Accuracy" (or similar) is turned on for improved precision.
Sub-heading: Battery Optimization and Background App Refresh
Tip: Don’t skip — flow matters.
Some phones, to save battery, might restrict background app activity. This can interfere with Drivewise.
- Turn Off Battery Optimization for Allstate App:
- On Android: This path can vary by phone model, but generally: Settings > Apps > Allstate Mobile > Battery > Select "Unrestricted" or "Don't optimize." Also, check for settings like "Put unused apps to sleep" or "Adaptive Battery" and disable them for the Allstate app.
- Enable Background App Refresh (iOS):
- On iOS: Settings > General > Background App Refresh > Allstate Mobile > Ensure it's turned "On."
Sub-heading: Motion and Fitness Activity
Drivewise uses your phone's sensors to detect movement and distinguish between driving, walking, or being a passenger.
- Enable Motion & Fitness Activity:
- On iOS: Settings > Privacy & Security > Motion & Fitness > Turn on "Fitness Tracking" and ensure "Allstate Mobile" has access.
- On Android: This is often part of the initial permissions granted when activating Drivewise. You might find it under Settings > Apps > Allstate Mobile > Permissions.
Step 5: Start Driving and Earning!
Once everyone is set up, the fun begins!
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Sub-heading: Your First Trip and Ongoing Monitoring
- Take a Trip: Simply start driving! The Allstate app, with the correct permissions, should automatically detect your trips.
- Monitor Your Dashboard: Regularly check the Drivewise dashboard in the Allstate app. You'll see feedback on your driving habits, including:
- Speed: How often you exceed 80 mph (this can negatively impact your score).
- Braking: Instances of hard braking (sudden stops).
- Time of Day: Driving during certain late-night hours might be factored in.
- Phone Activity: How often you use your phone while driving (while this might not always directly impact your discount, it provides valuable insights for safer driving).
- Review Trip Summaries: Drivewise provides detailed summaries for each trip.
- Correct Passenger Trips: If the app incorrectly identifies you as a driver when you were a passenger, you can (and should) manually change the trip mode in the app. This is crucial to ensure only your actual driving behavior contributes to your score.
Sub-heading: Understanding Your Potential Savings
- Enrollment Discount: Many states offer an initial enrollment discount just for signing up for Drivewise.
- Performance Discount: After a certain period (often 30 days or six months, depending on your state and policy), Allstate will calculate a performance-based discount based on the collective safe driving habits of all enrolled drivers on your policy. The safer your household drives, the more you can save!
Step 6: Regular Check-ins and Troubleshooting
To ensure continued savings, it's wise to periodically check the app.
Tip: Read mindfully — avoid distractions.
Sub-heading: App Updates and Phone Maintenance
- Keep the App Updated: Ensure the Allstate mobile app is always updated to the latest version. App updates often include bug fixes and performance improvements that can help with accurate tracking.
- Monitor Battery Life: While the app is designed to use minimal data and battery, continuous location tracking can impact battery life. Be mindful of this, especially on older phones.
- Review App Diagnostics: Some versions of the Allstate app have an "App Diagnostics" section within Drivewise settings. Check this to see if there are any outstanding issues requiring your attention.
Sub-heading: What if Trips Aren't Recording?
If you notice that trips aren't being recorded for a driver, here's a quick checklist:
- Permissions: Double-check all location, motion, and battery optimization permissions are correctly set to "Always Allow" or "Unrestricted" for the Allstate app.
- App Version: Ensure the app is fully updated.
- Login Status: Confirm the driver is still logged into the Allstate app.
- Network Connection: Trips are uploaded at the end of a trip when connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data. Ensure a stable connection.
- Reinstall (as a last resort): If all else fails, and after verifying no pending trips are unsynced, consider uninstalling and reinstalling the app. Be aware this might require re-granting all permissions.
- Contact Allstate Support: If persistent issues occur, don't hesitate to call Allstate Drivewise support at their dedicated number (often 877-431-7670) or use their in-app chat feature. They are equipped to troubleshoot technical difficulties.
Frequently Asked Questions about Adding Drivers to Allstate Drivewise
Here are 10 common questions with quick answers to help you navigate adding drivers to Allstate Drivewise:
How to add a new driver to my Allstate car insurance policy for Drivewise? You first need to add them to your car insurance policy through your Allstate agent or online account, then each driver downloads the Allstate mobile app and activates Drivewise using their own My Account credentials, granting all necessary permissions.
How to create an Allstate My Account for an additional driver? If an additional driver doesn't have an Allstate My Account, they can visit the Allstate website or use the Allstate mobile app to sign up for one, providing their personal details.
How to ensure all family members are contributing to Drivewise savings? Each licensed driver in your household who is on your Allstate policy should download the Allstate mobile app, log in, activate Drivewise, and ensure their phone's location and motion settings are correctly configured for the app.
Tip: Look for small cues in wording.
How to verify if a driver's trips are being recorded by Drivewise? Each driver can log into their Allstate mobile app, go to the Drivewise dashboard, and check their trip history to see if their drives are being accurately logged.
How to change a passenger trip to a driver trip (or vice versa) in Drivewise? Within the Drivewise section of the Allstate app, navigate to "My Trips," select the specific trip, and look for an option to "Edit Trip" or "Update Trip Method" to indicate whether you were the driver or passenger.
How to troubleshoot if Drivewise isn't tracking trips for a driver? Check the Allstate app's permissions (especially location set to "Always Allow"), ensure the app is updated, verify the driver is logged in, disable battery optimization for the app, and if issues persist, contact Allstate Drivewise support.
How to know if Drivewise is impacting my insurance premium? Allstate typically provides an enrollment discount initially, and then, after a monitoring period (e.g., six months), they calculate a performance discount based on your household's collective driving behavior, which will be reflected in your policy renewal.
How to optimize phone settings for accurate Drivewise tracking? Ensure location services for the Allstate app are set to "Always Allow," enable motion and fitness activity tracking, and disable any battery optimization settings that might restrict the app's background activity.
How to get an activation code for an additional driver for Drivewise? The primary policyholder may need to request an activation code through their Allstate mobile app or by contacting Allstate customer service to provide to the additional driver.
How to contact Allstate Drivewise support for technical issues? You can typically find a support number (often 877-431-7670) or a chat option within the Allstate mobile app or on the Allstate website's Drivewise section.
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