Can Esurance’s DriveSense Help Save You Money?

Last Updated on January 6, 2026

Usage-based car insurance (telematics) is one of the most common ways insurers reward safer driving. Instead of pricing you only on demographics and driving history, telematics programs track how you drive and adjust your discount based on the data.

Esurance’s telematics program is called DriveSense. It uses a smartphone app to record trips and driving events, then applies a discount for enrolled drivers who meet the program requirements. One major update to know before you go any further: Esurance stopped issuing new insurance policies in March 2023. DriveSense can still matter if you already have Esurance (or you’re being serviced while the brand is phased out), but most new shoppers will be redirected to Allstate for quotes.

Quick answer: can DriveSense save you money?

Yes—if you already have an Esurance policy and you’re a generally smooth driver. DriveSense gives an enrollment discount, then continues to “customize” your discount each term as long as you keep recording trips. The tradeoff is privacy: the app collects location and driving-event data, and it’s run through Esurance’s affiliate Arity.

What is Esurance DriveSense and how does it work?

DriveSense is a free app you can download to track your driving, even if you’re not an Esurance customer. If you are a customer, you can typically get an instant discount for enrolling, then a term-by-term discount based on your recorded driving. To qualify for a personalized discount each policy term, Esurance says you must log at least 50 trips per term.

• Enroll + download the app: customers can enroll through their Esurance account.
• Drive normally: the app “wakes up” automatically when your car is moving.
• Hit the trip minimum: log at least 50 trips during the term so your discount can be customized.
• Check your discount: you can see discount estimates in the app or by logging into your account.

Because the discount is applied by policy term, you’ll typically see the real pricing impact when you renew your auto insurance policy.

What does DriveSense track?

DriveSense collects trip and event data from your phone. According to Esurance’s DriveSense data disclosures, the app can capture items like location, distance, speed, time of day, and specific driving events (including braking and acceleration events). In plain English, the program is trying to identify “safer” patterns versus riskier ones.

• Trip basics: start/end location, distance, duration, idle time, average and max speed
• High-speed driving: records miles driven at or above 80 mph (and counts high-speed events)
• Time-of-day driving: tracks miles driven across time ranges (shown in the app)
• Hard braking: braking events are defined around rapid speed drops (including “hard” and “extreme” braking)
• Hard acceleration + other events: acceleration events and other event types (like cornering) may be captured

DriveSense can also accidentally record trips when you weren’t driving (like being a passenger or using other transportation). The good news: Esurance says you can delete trips or use “standby” mode during times you won’t be driving.

Can DriveSense increase your premium?

DriveSense is positioned as a discount program. Esurance says your discount can go up or down based on how safely you drive, and you can lose the discount if you stop participating or stop recording trips. If you opt out, Esurance notes you’ll lose the DriveSense discount—but otherwise your Esurance policy “will stay the same.”

That said, if you’re worried about telematics in general, remember this: any program that measures hard braking, high speeds, and risky driving windows will tend to reward drivers who are already cautious. If you know you have aggressive habits, consider skipping the app and focusing on traditional savings like Esurance discounts instead (where still applicable to your policy).

Where is the DriveSense discount available?

DriveSense is not available in every state. Esurance lists the states where the DriveSense discount is available, including (as of the latest Esurance program page):

• Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia

If you don’t see your state listed, it may not be offered where you live (or the program rules may have changed). Always check the current list inside the app or your Esurance account.

How to maximize your DriveSense discount

If you want the best chance at a meaningful discount, focus on the behaviors the app is designed to measure:

• Avoid hard braking: leaving more following distance reduces “hard brake” events. (Related: does hard braking affect your auto insurance rates?)
• Keep speeds reasonable: DriveSense tracks miles at or above 80 mph—so high-speed driving can shrink your discount.
• Reduce risky driving windows when possible: time-of-day driving is tracked, so consistently driving during higher-risk hours may reduce savings.
• Make sure you hit the 50-trip requirement: fewer than 50 trips can make you ineligible for a customized discount that term.
• Fix “passenger” trips: delete trips you didn’t drive so your score reflects your actual driving.

FAQs on Esurance DriveSense

Bottom line

If you already have Esurance and DriveSense is available in your state, it can be a smart way to earn extra savings for careful driving—especially if you don’t speed, you brake smoothly, and you don’t drive a lot during high-risk times. If you’re shopping for a brand-new policy, however, keep in mind Esurance no longer writes new business—so you may want to compare other insurers’ telematics programs instead.

For a broader look at Esurance coverage and who it fits best (while policies are still being serviced), see our full Esurance auto insurance review.