Do driving apps lower your car insurance?

Many people first hear about driving scores through car insurance. Some insurers offer discounts if you let them track how you drive. Independent apps like Road Rank also score your driving, but for a different reason. Here is how the two compare.

How insurer telematics works

Telematics, sometimes called usage-based or pay-how-you-drive insurance, uses an app, a plug-in device or a box fitted to the car. It measures things like braking, acceleration, speed, time of day and mileage, and sends that data to the insurer.

Depending on the insurer and where you live, the result can be a discount, no change, or in some programmes a higher price. Terms vary widely, so read them carefully.

What to check before joining an insurer programme

• What is measured? Speed, braking, phone use, time of day, location?
• Can the price go up? Some programmes only reward, others can also penalise.
• How long is data kept, and who else sees it?
• Can you leave? And what happens to your data if you do?

How Road Rank is different

Road Rank is not an insurance product. Your score is for your own improvement and for friendly competition on the leaderboard. It is not a safety rating, and we do not share it with insurers. See what Road Rank collects.

That means you can see your habits, work on them and track your progress without any effect on your premium.

Can a driving app still help you save?

Indirectly, yes. The habits that improve a driving score, such as fewer hard stops, gentler acceleration and steadier speeds, are the same habits that:

• use less fuel (eco-driving tips),
• reduce wear on brakes and tyres (read more),
• and lower your chance of a collision, which is what really drives insurance costs over time.

Some drivers practise with an independent app first, then decide whether an insurer programme is right for them once they know how they drive.

The bottom line

A driving app will not lower your insurance on its own unless it is your insurer’s programme. But a better driving style saves money in other ways, and seeing your score is a good place to start.