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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Steer Clear® vs USAA DriveSafe

Steer Clear® 4.7★ · Free to download 60
Winner USAA DriveSafe
USAA DriveSafe 4.5★ · Free to download 65

USAA DriveSafe is slightly better for experienced drivers seeking insurance discounts, despite its issues with passenger detection and phone usage penalties, while Steer Clear® is more suitable for new drivers focused on learning, but suffers from highly inaccurate driving score tracking.

Full reviews: Steer Clear® · USAA DriveSafe

Steer Clear® is designed for new drivers, offering educational modules and tracking for insurance discounts, but users frequently report highly inaccurate driving scores. USAA DriveSafe aims to reward safe driving with discounts, yet struggles with distinguishing drivers from passengers and overly sensitive detection of phone use and braking.

Head to head

Driving Score Accuracy & Sensitivity tieR1R3R6R10
Steer Clear® Steer Clear® users widely report that the app's driving score is highly inaccurate and overly sensitive, penalizing for normal driving actions like braking to exit a highway, turning into a driveway, or even small phone movements R1R3R6R10. Some believe it's designed to prevent perfect scores and make users pay more for insurance R10R37.
USAA DriveSafe USAA DriveSafe users also experience significant issues with inaccurate driving scores, particularly regarding 'harsh braking' events that didn't occur . The app is also criticized for penalizing hands-free calls and phone use even when stopped or by a passenger R69.
Driver/Passenger Detection edge: Steer Clear®R61R65R67R69
Steer Clear® Steer Clear® reviews do not frequently mention issues with driver/passenger detection, suggesting this is less of a problem for this app.
USAA DriveSafe USAA DriveSafe users consistently report that the app struggles to distinguish between a driver and a passenger, leading to incorrect penalties and the need for manual editing of trips R61R65R67R69. Many express a desire for a physical device to avoid this issue R67.
Educational Content & Learning edge: Steer Clear®R2R4R11R14
Steer Clear® Steer Clear® is praised for its helpful tips, tricks, and informative modules, especially for new drivers R2R11R14. However, some find the quiz questions poorly written or tricky R4.
USAA DriveSafe USAA DriveSafe is noted for making users more aware of their driving habits and helping them become safer drivers . It also enlightened some users that hands-free talking and texting are considered distracted driving .
Reliability & Technical Issues tieR8R15R19R34
Steer Clear® Steer Clear® users report frequent technical problems including trips not registering R8, the app resetting or crashing mid-drive R19R34, and issues with calibration R15. Some also mention slow loading times and difficulty getting help from customer service .
USAA DriveSafe USAA DriveSafe also has reliability issues, with reports of the app not working correctly , stalling when reviewing trips , and going offline for weeks . Some users experience error codes or issues with location services . However, some recent reviews indicate improvements after software updates .
Ease of Use & Interface tieR5R13R14R17
Steer Clear® Steer Clear® receives mixed reviews on ease of use; some find it easy to navigate and understand R14R17, while others find it hard to operate, requiring manual starting of driving segments through a complicated process R5R13. Some also note poor communication of steps .
USAA DriveSafe USAA DriveSafe is generally considered easy to use , with users appreciating the ability to see trip details . However, the constant need to manually edit trips to mark oneself as a passenger or for work drives is a significant hassle R65R67.
Privacy & Data Collection edge: Steer Clear®R37R61R64R67
Steer Clear® Steer Clear® reviews do not heavily focus on privacy concerns, though some users feel the app is a 'scam' by the insurance company R37.
USAA DriveSafe USAA DriveSafe users express significant privacy concerns, noting the app requires location services to be 'Always On,' drains battery, and tracks every location visited R64R67R69. Users are uncomfortable with the extensive data collection, especially when it tracks non-USAA insured vehicles or when they are passengers R61R69.
Insurance Discount/Value tieR10R24R32R37
Steer Clear® Steer Clear® is acknowledged for saving money on insurance upon completion of the program, making the hassle worthwhile for some R24R32. However, some users believe the app is designed to make them pay more due to inaccurate scoring R10R37.
USAA DriveSafe USAA DriveSafe users appreciate the insurance discount it provides R65R67. However, there are complaints about discounts fluctuating or decreasing without clear reasons , and some question the value given the app's flaws and privacy implications .
Pick Steer Clear® if

You are a new driver looking for educational content and reminders on safe driving, and are willing to tolerate potentially inaccurate driving scores and some technical glitches for a potential insurance discount R2R11R14R24.

Pick USAA DriveSafe if

You are an experienced driver with USAA insurance looking for a discount, are committed to manually correcting passenger trips, and are comfortable with extensive data tracking, despite the app's sensitivity to phone use and braking R65R67.

Evidence note: Both apps are free to download and are tied to insurance programs, meaning users are often motivated by discounts. This context influences reviews, as many negative comments stem from the perceived unfairness of losing discounts due to app inaccuracies. Steer Clear® has a higher lifetime rating but significantly fewer reviews than USAA DriveSafe, which has a lower rating but a much larger user base providing feedback.

Frequently asked

Do these apps accurately track driving behavior?
No, both Steer Clear® and USAA DriveSafe are frequently criticized by users for inaccurate tracking of driving behavior, often penalizing for normal actions like braking to exit a highway or for phone use by passengers R1R3R10R16.
Are there privacy concerns with these driving apps?
Yes, USAA DriveSafe users, in particular, express significant privacy concerns, noting the app requires location services to be 'Always On,' drains battery, and tracks every location visited, even when not driving or in non-insured vehicles R61R64R67R69.
Do these apps offer educational content?
Yes, Steer Clear® is particularly noted for its helpful tips, tricks, and informative modules, especially beneficial for new drivers R2R11R14R48. USAA DriveSafe also helps users become more aware of their driving habits .

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] Steer Clear® 2/5 · US Terrible tracking: This app said I had not 1, but 4 “rapid acceleration events” while I was in the middle of getting off a highway while my foot was on the brakes (because I’m getting off of the highway). Anyways this app doesn’t help you unless you’re not on the highway because the tracking is so stupid and sensitive.
  2. [R3] Steer Clear® 3/5 · US Useful but sensitive: This is useful for new drivers however it can rate driving with too much scrutiny with acceleration, braking and turning. My son was marked down for sharp turning into our driveway.
  3. [R6] Steer Clear® 3/5 · US Driving scores inaccurate: Getting an accurate score is impossible when any small movement of the phone gets marked for something
  4. [R10] Steer Clear® 1/5 · US The most problematic app I’ve ever owned: I have no doubt that this app was made to make you pay more for insurance. The mere act of rotating your phone while it is active sets off multiple different. Driving occurrences absolutely tanking your score. It is almost impossible to get a perfect score and while doable is not made hard by the act and skill that comes with driving but having to juggle t
  5. [R61] USAA DriveSafe 1/5 · US Collects data from Uber and other non insured with USAA vehicles.: The app is absolutely ignorant as to what and when I drive. If I uber on a Mexico vacation it collects data. If I ride with someone else it collects data. If I drive a vehicle insured by State Farm it collects data. At least State Farm has a module in the vehicle that lets them know ONLY when I’m driving/riding in the vehicle
  6. [R65] USAA DriveSafe 4/5 · US Finally! Recognition of Great Driving! But the app makes many mistakes.: 60 years of driving with zero infractions. Glad that my driving habits finally get a cash reward. But this app continues to be unable to distinguish whether I am the driver or the passenger. My wife and I are almost always together in the car, sharing driving duties. But the app fails to identify who is driving and I have to
  7. [R67] USAA DriveSafe 1/5 · US Discount is good but app does not track well: Have been using for over a year and you can get a good discount. But app cannot reliably recognize if you’re the driver or passenger. And if you’re driving a work vehicle you have to edit it manually for every single trip. And it can use up a lot of battery running in the background. I would much rather use the small Bluetooth devices that other insure
  8. [R69] USAA DriveSafe 3/5 · US Invasion of privacy?: The idea of the app is not bad. Unfortunately, it tracks every location precisely that you visit. There is no way for you to indicate that your passenger, or a child may have been using your phone while you were driving. This comes back in a review of your driving habits. My safe driving score is compromised because my passenger chose to put an address into our GPS whi
  9. [R2] Steer Clear® 5/5 · US Learning: Helpful tips and tricks
  10. [R4] Steer Clear® 1/5 · US Not helpful: Modules asked question that can go either way
  11. [R11] Steer Clear® 4/5 · US Well done training: Thought intended for new drivers, good reminders for experienced drivers.
  12. [R14] Steer Clear® 5/5 · US Awesome!: Very easy to navigate and understand topics.
  13. [R8] Steer Clear® 4/5 · US Driving in itself was a hassle: I drive to school every day but it’s not registering anything at all every time that I do it… I thought I needed to get the gps my mom has in her car but I see that wasn’t the case and now I’m truly lost on what the issue is…
  14. [R15] Steer Clear® 3/5 · US Doesn’t score accurately: The testing stuff was good, but it got complicated when it came to driving. I often had several events of rapid acceleration and sharp cornering, but I live on a mountain - I can’t help that. It’s also extremely difficult when calibrating. Again, you need to be going dead straight or hold the phone as steady as possible. It’s taken 5-10 minutes off my drive time almost ev
  15. [R19] Steer Clear® 1/5 · US What a scam: Calibrated the phone and started the drive twice with the timer going. The app kept resetting itself or went back to the home screen not saving any of the times. I drove twice which should’ve recorded 3 hours total. A waste of time
  16. [R34] Steer Clear® 1/5 · US Constant crashes and faulty systems: My first drive it triggered 52 sharp turns on a straight line not even a mile long, yesterday it erased an entire trip for some reason and wouldn’t let me into the app until a phone restart, and constantly stops a trip mid ride
  17. [R5] Steer Clear® 5/5 · US hard to operate, but easy to understand: I mostly never used this while driving that was because apparently you have to manually start your driving segment for a complicated step process. there’s also side lessons you can do to make sure you can get proper claim values, but one of them added a photo of a tornado on it and they never bring up a tornado anywhere in the tutorials.
  18. [R13] Steer Clear® 1/5 · US Pointless: Most useless app EVER. How am I supposed to remember to log my hours? It doesn’t make sense
  19. [R17] Steer Clear® 5/5 · US Very easy to use: This app is easy to use, is visually appealing, and does a good job of doing what it’s meant to do
  20. [R37] Steer Clear® 1/5 · US Propaganda!: This is a scam so that StateFarm can make more money by forcing you to get their app. It is big insurance propaganda don’t fall for it!
  21. [R64] USAA DriveSafe 2/5 · US Always on: This is the ONLY app on my phone that requires location services “Always On”. It refuses to work with “while using app” & keeping the app open in the background. Always On drains my battery & interrupts my privacy. USAA needs to fix their protocol requirements for this app or I’m going to have to drop out of their drive safe program.
  22. [R24] Steer Clear® 3/5 · US Saves money but is a hassle.: Giving it 3 stars because it saves you a decent bit on the auto insurance with having this program completed. But this app has honestly been such a head ache and hassle. It doesn’t monitor your driving habits accurately, you can drive like someone’s grandma and it’s going to tell you that you made a score of 50 because of accelerating, braking too hard and Cornering.
  23. [R32] Steer Clear® 5/5 · US Money: Money
  24. [R16] Steer Clear® 1/5 · US Horrible: Every little bump in the road triggers an event…either a hard brake or rapid acceleration. Turning onto a street is considered hard cornering.
  25. [R48] Steer Clear® 5/5 · US Safe Driving 1 on 1: Very informative information. I loved that it pretty much captured every possible scenario with visuals. Overall great program!!

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store