How To Turn On Motion And Fitness For Usaa Safe Pilot

People are currently reading this guide.

👤

Published by A contributor at Hows.Tech sharing helpful insights.

📝 Article edited 0 times 🕒 Last modified by Default Author

Turning on Motion and Fitness for USAA SafePilot: A Comprehensive Guide

Hey there! Are you ready to potentially save some money on your car insurance while becoming a safer driver? If you're a USAA member with SafePilot, you've come to the right place. Enabling Motion & Fitness tracking for the SafePilot app is a crucial step in ensuring your driving data is accurately captured, leading to potential discounts. This guide will walk you through the process, step-by-step, making it super easy to get started. Let's dive in!

Step 1: Are You Ready to Save? Understanding Why Motion & Fitness Matters

Before we even touch your phone settings, let's talk about why this is important. The USAA SafePilot program uses your smartphone's sensors to monitor your driving habits – things like hard braking, rapid acceleration, and phone usage while driving. To do this effectively, the app needs access to your device's motion and fitness data. Without it, the app can't accurately record your trips, and you won't be able to earn those valuable discounts. Think of it as giving SafePilot the "eyes and ears" it needs to see how well you're driving. So, are you ready to potentially put some cash back in your pocket? Great! Let's move on.

Step 2: Pre-Flight Checks – Ensuring Your Device is Ready

Before you start toggling settings, let's make sure a few things are in order.

Sub-heading 2.1: Install and Log In to the USAA SafePilot App

First and foremost, you need to have the USAA SafePilot app installed on your smartphone. If you haven't already, download it from your device's app store (Google Play Store for Android, Apple App Store for iOS). Once installed, open the app and log in using your USAA credentials. If you're having trouble logging in, ensure you have an active USAA membership and are enrolled in the SafePilot program.

Sub-heading 2.2: Update Your Operating System (Recommended)

While not strictly mandatory for every device, it's always a good practice to ensure your phone's operating system (OS) is up to date. Newer OS versions often have improved privacy controls and better integration with app functionalities.

For iOS: Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
For Android: Go to Settings > System > System update (the exact path might vary slightly depending on your Android version and phone manufacturer).

Step 3: The Main Event – Enabling Motion & Fitness (Device-Specific Instructions)

This is where we get into the nitty-gritty. The exact steps might vary slightly depending on whether you have an Apple iPhone or an Android device. Follow the instructions for your specific phone.

Sub-heading 3.1: For Apple iPhone Users

Apple's privacy settings are robust, so we need to ensure SafePilot has the necessary permissions.

Open Settings: Tap the Settings icon on your home screen.
Scroll Down to Apps: Scroll down until you see a list of your installed applications. Locate and tap on SafePilot.
Navigate to Motion & Fitness: Within the SafePilot app settings, you'll see a section called Allow SafePilot To Access (or similar). Look for and tap on Motion & Fitness.
Toggle On: You'll see a toggle switch next to Motion & Fitness. Ensure this toggle is in the ON (green) position.
Location Services (Crucial Companion): While you're here, it's also absolutely essential that Location Services are enabled for SafePilot and set to Always. Without accurate location data, motion data isn't as useful for trip tracking. You'll typically find this just above or below Motion & Fitness within the SafePilot app settings.
- Quick check: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. Ensure Location Services is toggled ON. Then, scroll down to SafePilot, tap it, and select Always. Also, make sure Precise Location is enabled for SafePilot if you see that option.

Sub-heading 3.2: For Android Users

Android settings can vary a bit more between manufacturers (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, etc.), but the general path remains consistent.

Open Settings: Swipe down from the top of your screen and tap the gear icon, or find the Settings app in your app drawer.
Navigate to Apps (or Apps & Notifications): Look for Apps, Apps & Notifications, or Application Manager in your settings menu. Tap on it.
Find SafePilot: You might need to tap See all apps or App info to get a full list. Scroll through the list and tap on SafePilot.
Permissions, Permissions, Permissions!
- Tap on Permissions: Within the SafePilot app info, tap on Permissions.
- Enable Physical activity (or Body Sensors / Motion & Fitness): Look for a permission related to Physical activity, Body Sensors, or Motion & Fitness. Tap on it and select Allow or Allow all the time.
- Location Services (Equally Crucial): Just like with iOS, Location Services are paramount. Ensure Location permission is granted and set to Allow all the time (or Always allow depending on your Android version). Also, if available, ensure Precise location is enabled.
Battery Optimization (Important Note): Some Android devices have aggressive battery optimization features that can prevent apps from running in the background. While not directly "Motion & Fitness," this can affect SafePilot's ability to record. It's often recommended to disable battery optimization for the SafePilot app.
- General path: Go to Settings > Apps > SafePilot > Battery. Look for options like Battery optimization, Unrestricted, or Don't optimize and select the option that allows SafePilot to run freely in the background. Be cautious here, as excessive background activity can impact battery life, but for SafePilot, it's necessary.

Step 4: Confirming and Calibrating – Making Sure it Works!

You've flipped the switches, now let's make sure everything is humming along.

Sub-heading 4.1: Restart the SafePilot App

After making changes to permissions, it's always a good idea to force close and restart the SafePilot app. This ensures the app registers the new permissions.

For iOS: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or double-click the Home button on older iPhones) to bring up the app switcher, then swipe the SafePilot app card upwards to close it. Reopen the app.
For Android: Go to Settings > Apps > SafePilot and tap Force Stop. Then reopen the app.

Sub-heading 4.2: Take a Short Test Drive

The best way to confirm everything is working is to take a short drive (even just around the block). After your drive, open the SafePilot app and check if the trip was recorded. You should see a new trip listed in your driving history. If you don't see a trip, re-verify all the settings from Step 3.

Sub-heading 4.3: Check Your App Dashboard

Many apps, including SafePilot, will show a warning or prompt if necessary permissions aren't granted. After enabling Motion & Fitness, check the main dashboard of the SafePilot app. The warning message, if it was there, should now be gone. This is a good indicator that the app is now happy with its permissions.

Step 5: Maintenance and Best Practices – Keeping SafePilot Happy

Now that you're all set up, here are a few tips to ensure continuous and accurate tracking.

Sub-heading 5.1: Keep Your Phone Charged

Running background apps and using GPS can drain your battery faster. Ensure your phone is sufficiently charged, especially before a long trip, to avoid the app being shut down prematurely.

Sub-heading 5.2: Avoid Force Closing the App Unnecessarily

While you force-closed it in Step 4, generally, allow the SafePilot app to run in the background. If you constantly force-close it, it might miss parts of your trips.

Sub-heading 5.3: Don't Use a VPN While Driving

Using a VPN can sometimes interfere with location services and data transmission for apps like SafePilot. It's generally recommended to disable your VPN while driving to ensure accurate trip recording.

Sub-heading 5.4: Regularly Check App Permissions

Sometimes, after an OS update, or if you've recently reset app preferences, permissions can be revoked. It's a good habit to occasionally check your app permissions for SafePilot to ensure Motion & Fitness and Location are still enabled.

By following these steps, you'll ensure USAA SafePilot has all the data it needs to accurately assess your driving habits, helping you maximize your potential insurance discounts. Drive safely!

10 Related FAQ Questions

How to check if SafePilot is recording my trips?

Open the USAA SafePilot app and navigate to your Trips or Driving History section. You should see a list of your recent recorded drives. If trips are appearing, it's recording.

How to troubleshoot if SafePilot isn't recording trips?

First, verify Motion & Fitness and Location permissions are enabled and set to "Always" or "Allow all the time." Check your phone's battery optimization settings for SafePilot. Restart the app and take a short test drive. If problems persist, contact USAA customer support.

How to improve my SafePilot driving score?

Focus on smooth driving: avoid hard braking, rapid acceleration, and phone usage while driving. Maintain consistent speeds and anticipate traffic to avoid sudden maneuvers.

How to know what my current SafePilot discount is?

Your current discount percentage is typically displayed within the USAA SafePilot app on the main dashboard or in a dedicated "Discounts" or "Savings" section.

How to contact USAA customer support for SafePilot issues?

You can usually find contact information (phone number or chat support) within the USAA SafePilot app itself, or by visiting the official USAA website and searching for "SafePilot support."

How to turn off SafePilot tracking (and stop discounts)?

While not recommended if you want the discounts, you can disable SafePilot tracking by revoking the Motion & Fitness and Location permissions for the app in your phone's settings. You can also uninstall the app. Be aware this will likely impact your discount eligibility.

How to handle multiple drivers on SafePilot?

Each driver typically needs to enroll in SafePilot individually and have the app installed on their own device with appropriate permissions enabled. The program tracks driving per enrolled individual.

How to address battery drain from SafePilot?

Ensure battery optimization is correctly set (allowing the app to run in the background). If excessive drain persists, consider reducing background app refresh for other less critical apps or contact USAA support for specific recommendations.

How to find out what data SafePilot collects?

USAA provides information on data collection within the SafePilot app's terms and conditions, privacy policy, and often on their website's SafePilot FAQ page. It primarily focuses on driving behaviors like speed, acceleration, braking, and phone usage.

How to opt out of the USAA SafePilot program?

You can typically opt out of the SafePilot program by contacting USAA directly through their customer service channels (phone, online chat, or secure message). Opting out will cease tracking and remove any earned discounts.

0482240612221652122