How Does MAPFRE DriveAdvisor Work? Does It Save You Money?

Last Updated on October 18, 2026

By James Shaffer Reviewed by Thomas Rockford, insurance industry executive and financial analyst, on October 16, 2026 How we fact-check

MAPFRE introduced DriveAdvisor in Rhode Island in December 2012 and added Oregon in August 2013. It used a telematics device installed in the car to track speed, acceleration, braking and miles driven, and gave eligible new customers a discount for taking part. DriveAdvisor no longer appears on MAPFRE’s car insurance pages. MAPFRE’s current program is MotionSmart, a smartphone app that scores how you drive.

This guide explains how MotionSmart works, what it tracks, who benefits most, and what to consider before enrolling. For a broader look at MAPFRE as a company, see MAPFRE.

MAPFRE DriveAdvisor at a Glance

DriveAdvisor was MAPFRE’s earlier telematics program. MAPFRE’s current safe-driving program is MotionSmart, an optional smartphone app that scores how you drive.

Quick facts

Current program: MotionSmart app

Old program: DriveAdvisor (retired)

Sign-up discount: up to 2% on a new policy

Can your rate go up? Yes, at renewal for the riskiest drivers

Enrollment: voluntary

Summary

Bottom line: DriveAdvisor is no longer on MAPFRE’s car insurance pages. MotionSmart, MAPFRE’s current program, can suit smooth drivers who are comfortable with an app, but MAPFRE uses the data to rate your policy at each renewal.

MotionSmart uses an app from Cambridge Mobile Telematics to score hard braking, hard acceleration, hard cornering, speeding and phone use. MAPFRE offers up to 2% off a new auto policy for joining, uses the score to rate the policy at each renewal, and says premiums may increase for the riskiest drivers. While the app-based approach is convenient, it also requires ongoing setup, permissions, and comfort with sharing driving data.

Best for

Drivers with consistently smooth, low-risk driving habits
People comfortable using smartphone apps for tracking
Households monitoring new or inexperienced drivers

Not ideal for

Drivers concerned about app-based data collection
Those who frequently forget or dislike using phone apps
Drivers with highly variable or aggressive driving patterns

Table Of Contents

MAPFRE DriveAdvisor at a Glance
What Is DriveAdvisor?
What Behaviors Are Monitored?
Monitoring Other Drivers on Your Plan
Potential Drawbacks
MAPFRE DriveAdvisor: The Verdict
FAQs on MAPFRE DriveAdvisor
Sources

What Is DriveAdvisor?

DriveAdvisor was a device-based program: a unit installed in the car recorded speed, acceleration, braking and miles driven, and participants got online feedback and a report on their driving. MotionSmart does the same job with your phone. The app records your trips, works out whether you were driving or riding as a passenger, and shows an overall driving score. MAPFRE says you must record your first trip within 30 days of your policy’s effective date or you may be withdrawn from the program.

Here’s the typical enrollment flow:

Step	What You Do	What the App Does
Enroll	Opt in through MAPFRE (or your agent) if eligible	Creates your program profile
Install	Download the app on iOS or Android	Uses phone sensors and location services during trips
Drive	Keep the phone in the vehicle on normal trips	Records driving patterns each trip
Review	Check your feedback and score in the app	Highlights habits you can improve
Save	Maintain safer patterns over time	May help you qualify for a discount (rules vary)

Usage-based insurance programs like this are increasingly common. If you want a deeper explanation of how telematics works across insurers, see how telematics can help you save on auto insurance.

What Behaviors Are Monitored?

A smartphone app can’t see the entire driving environment, so it doesn’t “understand” context the way a person would. For example, it may record a hard stop even if you braked because another driver cut you off.

That said, phone-based programs can still identify patterns that often correlate with higher crash risk. MotionSmart scores hard braking, hard acceleration, hard cornering, speeding and phone use. The table below covers three of them.

Behavior	Why It Matters	Practical Fix
Hard braking	May indicate tailgating, inattention, or late decision-making	Increase following distance and anticipate lights and traffic flow
Rapid acceleration	Can raise risk in congestion and poor conditions	Accelerate smoothly and avoid “jackrabbit” starts
Speeding	Higher speeds reduce reaction time and increase crash severity	Use cruise control where appropriate and plan extra time

Important: MAPFRE says the data the app collects is used to rate your policy at each renewal, and that premiums may increase for the riskiest drivers. If you uninstall the app, the discount stops, and MAPFRE says it may keep using the data already collected to rate your current or future policies.

Monitoring Other Drivers on Your Plan

Telematics programs can be especially helpful on a multi-driver policy. If your program allows multiple drivers to participate, each driver can install the app and build their own score—making it easier to spot risky patterns early.

This can be useful for households with new drivers. The feedback can reinforce safer habits and complement other safety measures you may already use, such as vehicle safety features or structured practice.

Potential Drawbacks

DriveAdvisor can be a good fit for some drivers, but it isn’t for everyone. Consider these common tradeoffs before opting in.

Possible Drawback	What It Means in Real Life	How to Minimize It
Battery drain	Tracking trips can use location services and reduce battery life	Use a car charger and keep low power mode off during trips
Setup and consistency	You must enroll, install the app, and keep it active	Enable needed permissions and create a routine for bringing your phone
Trip misclassification	Some apps may record you as a driver when you were a passenger	MotionSmart lets you change a trip from Driving to Not Driving in the app
Privacy concerns	Driving data is shared with an insurer for scoring	MAPFRE says it doesn’t sell your information; read the MotionSmart privacy policy for what is shared with vendors such as CMT

MAPFRE DriveAdvisor: The Verdict

MotionSmart can be worthwhile if you’re a consistently safe, smooth driver and you don’t mind using an app to document your habits. MAPFRE’s page gives a discount of up to 2% on a new policy, so most of the value depends on how your score affects each renewal. It can also be a practical tool for households that want more visibility into new-driver behavior.

If you’re comparing multiple ways to lower your premium, it helps to stack telematics savings alongside other proven strategies like deductibles, bundling, and coverage adjustments—see top ways to save on auto insurance. To confirm eligibility, program rules, and how discounts apply on your policy, get in touch with MAPFRE.

My advice is to ask your agent for two quotes, one with MotionSmart and one without, and to ask how the renewal rating works before you install the app. If you ride as a passenger a lot, look over your trip list every week and fix any trip it marked as you driving.

FAQs on MAPFRE DriveAdvisor

Do I have to be a MAPFRE customer to use DriveAdvisor?

Yes. MotionSmart is for MAPFRE auto policyholders, and MAPFRE’s page tells you to ask your agent whether you’re eligible. MAPFRE says it sells car insurance in 11 states, so check that it writes policies where you live first.

Will DriveAdvisor raise my rates if I score poorly?

It can. MAPFRE says the app’s data is used to rate your policy at each renewal and that premiums may increase for the riskiest drivers, though it says most drivers will see their premiums lowered by safe driving. Ask your agent how your score would be applied in your state.

What driving behaviors does the app usually track?

MAPFRE says MotionSmart scores hard braking, hard acceleration, hard cornering, speeding and phone use. It also says trips are collected in any vehicle you drive.

Does the app track every trip automatically?

Many programs record trips when your phone is in the vehicle and permissions are enabled. However, performance can vary by phone settings, battery optimization, and connectivity. Review the app settings and follow MAPFRE’s setup instructions to avoid missed trips.

What if I’m a passenger and the app thinks I was driving?

MotionSmart tries to tell drivers from passengers on its own, and you can change a trip from Driving to Not Driving in the app so your score reflects your driving. If you can’t edit trips, contact MAPFRE support and ask what options are available.

Can multiple drivers on the policy participate?

Often, yes. Many telematics programs allow additional drivers to enroll using their own devices so each driver’s trips and feedback can be tracked. Ask MAPFRE how multi-driver enrollment works on your policy.

Is DriveAdvisor worth it if I don’t drive much?

Maybe. MotionSmart scores how you drive, not how far, so low mileage alone earns nothing from it. MAPFRE lists a separate Annual Mileage discount on its car insurance page, so ask about that too. Compare the telematics option against other savings strategies like bundling, deductibles, and coverage choices.

Sources

Checked October 16, 2026