Can Safeco’s Rewind Program Save You Money?

Last Updated on November 28, 2020

Car insurance can get expensive quickly, but there are a number of small things you can do to cut back on your monthly premiums. Insurance companies also want to attract safe drivers, so they offer programs and discounts that reward drivers for being responsible. Safeco’s Rewind is an accident forgiveness program that could potentially help you save money in the long run. This program uses telematics to assess your driving habits and prevent premium increases as a result of minor accidents. Here’s what you need to know about the Safeco Rewind program before you sign up.

About Safeco

Safeco is a mid-size insurance company that is a part of the larger Liberty Mutual group. They were founded in 1923 in Seattle and continue to be headquartered there. They were acquired by Liberty Mutual in 2008, but continue to sell their own insurance products. In addition to car insurance, they also sell a range of life and property insurance products. Safeco sells its products through a network of independent insurance agents, and they have offices throughout the country. They also allow customers to file claims and manage their policies online.

What Is Safeco Rewind?

Safeco Rewind is an accident forgiveness program for safe drivers. In most cases, if you were to get into a car accident, your monthly insurance premium would go up significantly afterward. However, if you are signed up for the Rewind program, your rates won’t go up after your first accident. The logic is that accidents can happen to anyone, and if you get into a fluke accident or have a one-off traffic violation, you’re unlikely to pose an additional risk to your insurance company.

How Does Safeco Rewind Work?

Rewind is a telematics program that collects information about your driving habits in exchange for accident forgiveness. When you sign up, you will be given a device to plug into your car. This device monitors your driving habits, so you can prove to the insurance company that you consistently are responsible on the road. Specifically, the device monitors your speed and your braking patterns. You’ll be able to go online and see the data that the device collects about your driving. After a period of driving evaluation, you will send the device back to Safeco, who will analyze your driving habits to see if you qualify for Rewind. If you pass the evaluation, the accident forgiveness will be applied to your account.

Who Is Eligible for Safeco Rewind?

Safeco Rewind is designed for drivers who have clean driving records but have recently experienced an at-fault accident, a speeding ticket, or another minor traffic violation. This is different than other accident forgiveness programs because you can only qualify for it after you’ve had a traffic violation. To sign up for the Rewind program, you’ll need to contact your independent insurance agent to get you signed up. It’s also important to note that the Rewind program isn’t available everywhere yet, so depending on where you live, it may not be available.

How Does Safeco Rewind Affect My Premiums? Can I Save Money?

Safeco’s Rewind is very different from other accident forgiveness programs because it does not raise your premiums when you sign up for it. There aren’t any additional charges or fees that come with signing up for Rewind, so you won’t have any surprises when you get your monthly insurance bill. You also won’t have to pay for the tracking device or the postage to mail it. With many other insurance companies, adding accident forgiveness to your policy would make it slightly more expensive on a monthly basis, even if it saves you money in the long run.

Safeco’s Rewind program can definitely save you money if you have experienced an accident, so it’s worth talking to your agent to see if you qualify. Even if your monthly premium only goes up a few dollars after an accident or traffic violation, those dollars can add up over time. Because of this, it’s important to remove the violation from your record as soon as you can.

Are There Any Downsides to the Safeco Rewind Program?

The biggest downside to the Safeco Rewind program is that not everyone will qualify for it. You’ll need to have a very good driving record prior to your accident or offense in order to take advantage of the Rewind program. The other downside is that unlike other telematics programs, you cannot use your phone – you’ll need to wait for a specialized device to come in the mail. You will also need to practice very safe driving while you are using the device, otherwise, you may not get the accident forgiveness and could experience higher rates.

Safeco RightTrack Program

If you are interested in using telematics devices to save money on car insurance, you may also benefit from Safeco’s RightTrack program. The Safeco RightTrack program is another telematics program that was developed after the Rewind program. This program allows you to use your smartphone to track your driving behavior, or you can use a specialized device similar to the one provided in the Rewind program. If you practice safe driving habits and keep your general vehicle usage low, you can earn up to a 30 percent discount. You’ll get an initial discount just for signing up for the program, and that discount can increase if you continue to practice good driving behaviors. The RightTrack program does not provide any accident forgiveness. Because of this, you could be eligible for both RightTrack and Rewind, depending on your circumstances.

Final Word on Safeco Rewind

If you consistently practice good driving habits, the Rewind program from Safeco is a good way to keep your premiums down after an accident or speeding ticket. It’s easy to sign up for and doesn’t come with any additional fees. If you’re interested in using the Rewind program, the easiest way to get started is to contact your local Safeco agent. It’s important to remember that the Rewind program is not available in all areas.