Teensurance

General Information about Teensurance™
Buying and Paying for Teensurance™
Roadside Assistance
General Information about the Safety Beacon™ GPS
Installing the Safety Beacon™
Setting up and Using the Safety Beacon™
Your Privacy
Contacting Customer Care

General Information about Teensurance™

How much does Teensurance cost?

Safeco will offer subscribers access to Teensurance online services and roadside assistance for a limited-time introductory price of $14.99 a month. This price is guaranteed for 2 years for those who sign up for the introductory offer. The regular price for Teensurance is $29.99 a month.

The Teensurance bundle includes 100 credits, one of which is used each time the Safety Beacon sends or receives a command, notification, or location-based message. The credits do not expire. Additional credits are available for purchase at a cost of $29.99 per 100 credits. For more information, see How do Safety Beacon™ Credits Work?

By signing a Teensurance service agreement, Safeco customers receive the Safety Beacon, professional installation, roadside assistance and access to online account services to help them establish a safe driving plan with their new teen driver.

What is included in the Teensurance Program?

With Teensurance™ you can:

Track a car’s location online, in real time
Have a car door remotely unlocked, in seconds, by making a phone call.
Set speed alerts
Set a driving curfew and receive an alert when the car is moved past a specified time
Set “safe driving zones” to create boundaries for new drivers
Access roadside assistance, 24/7, in case of car trouble
Request stolen vehicle recovery service and support
Use other resources on the Teensurance Web site to improve driver safety, including a teen/parent contract, the TeenDASH for Safety™ online assessment and other tools.

All of these features are available as part of the monthly rate. The Safety Beacon device and one-time professional installation also are included.

How does it work?

Information about a new driver’s performance is made possible via a small GPS-based device — the Safety Beacon™ — installed in the vehicle, usually out of sight under the dashboard.

One-time professional installation is free with the Teensurance purchase.

After setting up an account and having the device installed, parents decide what ground rules they want their young driver to follow. For instance, a parent could have the system send a notification if the driver takes the car more than 30 miles away from the family home. Or if the driver exceeds 70 mph for more than 30 seconds.

Notifications can be sent via e-mail, cell phone or regular phone, or accessed in the online Teensurance account.

The system works in any model of vehicle, but the remote-door-unlock capability requires a vehicle with power door locks. Drivers who are locked out of a car that does not have power door locks can utilize roadside assistance.

Why is Safeco introducing Teensurance?

Learning to drive is an important milestone in the lives of both parents and teens. Often parents are anxious about their teen’s lack of experience behind the wheel. They worry about the danger that other motorists pose. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 16-year-olds have a higher accident rate than drivers of any other age – and car crashes remain the leading cause of death for teens in the United States.

The Teensurance program encourages teens to drive responsibly and provides several tools to give parents some assurance that their child will be safe with the keys to the car.

And the included roadside assistance program — available 24/7 — gives both parents and teens additional peace of mind.

Do any other insurance companies have a similar service?

Many top insurers are concerned about teen driving, and most companies have some sort of program to encourage teens to drive responsibly. Some carriers are dabbling in GPS technology.

However, Teensurance goes beyond traditional industry approaches – it gives parents a broad set of tangible tools, including actual real-time driving data.

We expect the program can have a strong impact on the way parents and teens negotiate driving privileges. With the assurance that a teen is driving safely, parents can give teens greater freedom.

Q.	Do policyholders who purchase Teensurance receive a discount on their Safeco policy?
A.	Once actuarially sound proof about driving habits is established, Safeco may ask state regulators to grant a discount. Because the Safety Beacon adds theft-protection features to a vehicle, customers may qualify for an anti-theft discount on their policy. Customers should check with their agent to determine eligibility, since not all states allow insurers to offer anti-theft discounts.

Q.	Are Teens receptive to the Teensurance program?
A.	In early pilot tests, teens liked the roadside assistance features but had some initial concerns about the GPS-based Safety Beacon device. After just a few weeks, though, many teens used Teensurance program data to prove to their parents they drive responsibly and to gain additional driving privileges.

Q.	Who is Safeco Insurance?
A.	Safeco, in business since 1923, is a Fortune 500 property and casualty insurance company based in Seattle. The company sells insurance to drivers, home owners and owners of small- and mid-sized businesses principally through a national network of independent agents and brokers. For more information, visit www.safeco.com.

Buying and Paying for Teensurance

How much does Teensurance cost?

Safeco will offer subscribers access to Teensurance online services and roadside assistance for $14.99 a month.

The Teensurance bundle includes 100 credits, one of which is used each time the Safety Beacon sends or receives a command, notification, or location-based message. The credits do not expire. Additional credits are available for purchase at a cost of $29.99 per 100 credits. For more information, see How do Safety Beacon™ Credits Work?

By signing a Teensurance service agreement, Safeco customers receive the Safety Beacon, professional installation, roadside assistance and access to online account services to help them establish a safe driving plan with their new teen driver.

Q.	Are there additional fees or charges?
A.	Customers can purchase credits for additional Safety Beacon alerts to meet their usage needs. For more information, see How do Safety Beacon™ Credits Work? Customers who cancel their Teensurance service within the first 12 months will incur a $299 termination fee. This allows Safeco to recoup some of the costs associated with the device and installation, and the Teensurance services.

Q.	How do I pay for Teensurance? Is it included in my insurance premium?
A.	Teensurance is billed monthly to an individual’s credit card or debit card. Teensurance is not an insurance product — it is separate from your insurance policy and your insurance bill.

Do you have to be a Safeco policyholder to buy Teensurance? Do you have to be a teenager to have it installed in your car?

Customers must have a Safeco personal auto insurance policy or a Safeco commercial lines policy with an auto or truck on it to sign up for Teensurance services, or they must purchase a Safeco policy at the same time they subscribe to Teensurance.

Though it likely will most interest families with children ages 15-18, customers don’t need to be a teenager or parent of a young driver to purchase Teensurance. It’s a great fit for people who want to protect their vehicle, monitor their own driving behavior and have access to roadside assistance.

Q.	What if we cancel our Safeco policy after we’ve signed up for Teensurance?
A.	If customers cancel their Safeco personal auto or commercial policy, the Teensurance membership service will remain active. If a customer chooses to terminate Teensurance service in the first 12 months, the $299 early-termination fee would apply – whether or not the customer holds a Safeco personal auto or commercial policy.

Do we have to give the Safety Beacon back if we cancel Teensurance?

The device itself remains installed in the customer’s vehicle unless customers choose to have it removed at their cost. Once the Teensurance subscription ends, the device will stop sending information and will become inactive – it’s not necessary to remove it from the vehicle.

Please note that once the service has been canceled the device will be removed from the network and cannot be used to report or track a stolen vehicle.

Q.	How do I add another vehicle to my account?
A.	To add another vehicle, you must purchase another Teensurance bundle. You may purchase up to four bundles per Safeco Auto Policy.

What is your return/cancellation policy?

Once the Safety Beacon is installed, returns are accepted only if the unit is defective or needs repair. The device comes with a lifetime warranty against defects and will be repaired or replaced at no charge – unless the unit is damaged by the customer, in which case they will bear the cost of repair or replacement. Installation also carries a warranty for the life of the vehicle.

Returns are accepted with no early termination fee within the first 30 days after receiving the Teensurance package if the Safety Beacon device is not installed and is in new condition, and all components and packaging of the original package are returned. (The customer will still be charged for the first month’s service.) After that period, the early-termination fee applies, whether or not the device is installed. In any event, the customer is responsible for return shipping.

Roadside Assistance

What services are included with roadside assistance?

Teensurance roadside assistance covers teens in case of:

Dead battery. The service truck can give a teen’s car a jump start and make sure the vehicle is operating reliably enough to reach its destination.
Flat tire: A technician will remove the flat tire and install the spare.
Fuel outage. A technician will deliver up to 3 gallons of fuel to help a teen get back on the road and make it to the nearest gas station.
Vehicle stalls. If the vehicle cannot be safely moved under its own power, a towing service will be dispatched to deliver the vehicle and driver to a safe location.
Keys locked in car. Teens can use the instant remote unlock capability of the Safety Beacon system (power door locks required) or roadside assistance can dispatch a service truck.

Services for up to four roadside assistance incidents per year are covered at no extra charge.

Q.	Who provides Teensurance roadside assistance?
A.	A nationwide service provider that represents several other national clients will provide roadside assistance for the Teensurance program.

Q.	How do we access the roadside assistance services?
A.	The Teensurance package includes a toll-free telephone number for drivers to call if they need assistance. Teens will need to answer a security question to access the service.

Q.	Does roadside assistance apply to anyone driving the car, or only the driver registered for Teensurance? What about our other cars?
A.	Roadside assistance is provided only to drivers registered in the Teensurance program. They can access roadside assistance in any vehicle, whether they are a driver or passenger. But they must be present to access the service.

Q.	Is there a limit to how many times roadside assistance can be used?
A.	Services for up to four incidents per year are provided at no extra charge. Having doors unlocked remotely does not count as one of the four incidents.

General Information About the Safety Beacon™ GPS

What is GPS (Global Positioning System) technology?

The Safety Beacon used with the Teensurance program is based on the Global Positioning System, a series of satellites that circle Earth. Circulating signals allow people — using a GPS receiver — to determine their location anywhere on the planet, in real time.

When people place a Teensurance device in their car, they can track where a driver is, how fast they are driving, and the time they arrive at a specific location.

Q.	How does the Safety Beacon communicate?
A.	The Safety Beacon uses the cellular communications network to send and receive notifications. There must be cell coverage for notifications to work.

Does the Safety Beacon work in all locations?

The Safety Beacon operates in all 50 states wherever there is a cellular network. The Safety Beacon’s satellite and/or cellular signals may become blocked when the vehicle is in a parking garage, under a heavy tree canopy or near other obstructions. In these instances, the system will not be able to report the exact location of the vehicle. If satellite signals are blocked but cellular signals are not, it can report the last known location of the vehicle or deliver a message that the device could not be located at this time.

Q.	How accurate is the GPS receiver?
A.	The Safety Beacon GPS receiver represents the latest in state of the art GPS designs and is usually accurate within 10 meters. Under certain conditions, such as when your vehicle is in an "urban canyon" or an area where there is limited visibility to the horizon, system accuracy is reduced.

Q.	Does the Safety Beacon work in any car?
A.	The notification, theft-protection and recovery functions are not affected by the model of car. The remote-door-unlock capability requires a vehicle with power door locks. Drivers who are locked out of a car without power door locks can utilize roadside assistance.

Q.	Can other GPS devices connect to the Teensurance system?
A.	Currently, we can only provide the Teensurance service through the Safety Beacon included as part of our offering. GPS technology is changing rapidly, and we will actively explore new technologies with our partners so we can consider features like this in the future.

Can the Safety Beacon be disabled?

Customers can change or turn off speed and location notifications at any time from their Teensurance account online. The Safety Beacon remains on at all times, unless power to it is disconnected. This ensures the theft-protection and recovery features are operational and prevents tampering. If the Safety Beacon slowly loses power inside the car, a notification is sent. If power is cut, the unit will store a message and send it as soon as power to the device is restored.

To protect against tampering, the Safety Beacon is installed in a hard-to-find location, usually under the dashboard, with wires that are not easily identified by casual observers. Other possible installation locations include the trunk, under the hood or in a door panel.

Q.	Can the Teensurance system send a notification if there is an accident? Are there any additional features?
A.	The Safety Beacon currently does not have the capability to send an automatic notification in the event of an accident. Consumers can ask their agent, or Teensurance customer service representative, about additional options and features.

What if the Safety Beacon is damaged or destroyed in a wreck? Is it covered by insurance?

Many insurance policies include coverage on aftermarket parts. The Safety Beacon would be included in that category and covered within policy limits.

If the Safety Beacon is destroyed after the first 12 months of a user’s subscription, the device will be replaced free of cost, with a new 12-month agreement. If it is within the first 12 months of a subscription, a new device can be purchased at a discount.

Q.	My child owns a car. Can I legally have the Safety Beacon installed in it?
A.	The terms and conditions Teensurance users must agree to in the Teensurance Customer Agreement require that, if you are not the registered owner of a vehicle, you must obtain written consent of the registered owner to install the device in the vehicle. However, the owner of the car may have the right to have the device removed.

Installing the Safety Beacon™ GPS

Q.	How is the Safety Beacon installed?
A.	Teensurance includes a gift card to have the Safety Beacon professionally installed for free. The device is placed in the car, usually under the dashboard and out of sight. The process takes about an hour. The Teensurance package includes instructions on setting up an appointment.

Q.	Will Safeco install the Safety Beacon in multiple vehicles within the same family?
A.	Yes, but only with a separate account and monthly fee. One Safeco policy enables a customer to purchase up to four Teensurance subscriptions. Each subscription carries the same monthly fee.

Q.	If we buy a new car, will Safeco reinstall the Safety Beacon in our new vehicle?
A.	Teensurance includes a one-time professional installation. If a customer needs to move the device to a different vehicle, Teensurance has arranged for a discounted installation price for our customers through the installation network.

Setting up and Using the Safety Beacon™

How do Safety Beacon Credits work?

Teensurance subscribers purchase and spend "credits" to enable and receive Safety Beacon™ notifications. For example, you spend one credit each time:

Safety Beacon™ notifies you about an event, such as your vehicle exceeding a speed threshold or reaching a destination.
You request information from Safety Beacon™—such as your vehicle's location—from a phone or your account at teensurance.com.
You configure a Safety Beacon feature or turn a feature on or off.

Please be especially careful when setting or scheduling features like the Vehicle Path Tracker or Motion Sensor, since these features report your vehicle's location automatically at regular intervals, and charge a credit each time they do so, for as long as you have the feature enabled.

You receive 100 free starter credits when you buy Teensurance. Additional credits must be purchased through your online account. A block of 100 credits costs $29.99.

How do I set up my Teensurance notifications? Do I need a cell phone or PDA to get them?

After activating the account using any computer with an Internet connection, customers can log into Teensurance services and set up the system to get notifications the way that works best for them. Subscribers also can get them via e-mail or phone – the system can be set up to send notifications to two e-mail addresses and two phone numbers. Subscribers also can access notification history by logging in to their Teensurance account.

How do I set up "safe-driving zones" for my teen’s driving? What happens if my child drives outside his or her designated safe zone?

Parents can use Teensurance to set up safe-driving zones. For example, they could decide that they’d like their teen to stay within 50 miles of their home. They can also set up to 10 specific "safe" locations — parent-approved destinations such as a school, a friend’s house or an after-school job.

If the teen drives outside the safe zone, a Teensurance notification is sent to the designated contacts. Destinations can be set to notify contacts upon arrival, departure or both so you will know your young driver is on schedule without having to constantly check in via phone.

The system can be set with a "curfew" as well, sending a notification if the car moves after a certain time.

When drivers meet the guidelines they’ve agreed upon with their parents, no alerts are sent.

How do I set up rules about speed? What happens if my child exceeds the speed limit?

Teensurance allows parents to set speed limits for new drivers. For example, if parents set a speed limit of 70 miles per hour, they will get a real-time notification when their teen exceeds that speed for 30 seconds. After that, the vehicle must drop below 70 mph for two minutes before the option will reset.

However, note that the system does not determine the legal speed limit on a particular street and whether a driver is exceeding it — the system sends speed notifications based only on the limit a parent sets. The notifications also do not include what speed the car was traveling — only that the defined parameter was exceeded.

How do I unlock the doors with Safety Beacon?

There are two ways to unlock your doors remotely:

Over the phone

Dial 1-866-507-TEEN (8336).
Select Option 1 for unlock doors; then select 1 for power locks (or 2 for Roadside assistance).
Enter your home phone number and PIN number.
Press 2 to unlock the doors. Music will play until you are notified that the unlock command was completed successfully.

From your Teensurance account
On the My Vehicles page, click the Unlock link. When the command has executed, a map showing the location of the vehicle will display.

Q.	What if the car is stolen? Can the Teensurance system help find it?
A.	The Safety Beacon can be set to alert you if the vehicle is moved unexpectedly so you can determine if a theft has taken place. Whether the Safety Beacon notifies you or you simply discover your vehicle is missing, Teensurance provides a 24-hour monitoring system for you to report the car as stolen, so an operator can help locate the car and work with police to help recover it.

What is the difference between TRACKING the vehicle and LOCATING the vehicle?

When you request the system to LOCATE the vehicle, the system sends a wireless signal to the vehicle to request the onboard GPS receiver to transmit its current or last known GPS coordinates, or position, back to you. A LOCATE only provides a single GPS position and is only performed on an "ON DEMAND" basis only when you request it.

When you request the system to TRACK the vehicle, the system sends a wireless signal to the vehicle to request the onboard GPS receiver to transmit not only its current or last known GPS coordinates or position back to you, but to also request that the system continue to automatically TRACK the vehicle sending you its position once every 3 minutes for a 30 minute interval.

Q.	How do I know if my vehicle receives my commands from the Internet web page or from my telephone commands?
A.	Both the Internet web page and the automated IVR telephone system verify your vehicles receipt of your commands prior to notifying you that your command has been performed.

Your Privacy

Q.	What information is collected about me and how is it used and protected?
A.	Please review our Privacy Policy.

Q.	Will Safeco track each family’s specific driving behavior?
A.	No. Individuals’ driving data (speed and location notifications) will be available only to parents and teens.

Will Safeco use Teensurance data to determine individual insurance rates?

No. Individuals’ driving data (speed and location notifications) will be available only to parents and teens.

Ultimately, Teensurance is a program that encourages safe driving behavior, so we would expect Teensurance users to become better-than-average drivers. If aggregate data studies show that the entire group of Teensurance customers drives better than others, Safeco could decide to provide Teensurance customers with policy discounts. This would be based on group, not individual, data.

Q.	If a teen is involved in an accident, will anyone besides the family have access to the Teensurance data?
A.	The Safety Beacon reports only the data the user selects – alerts about exceeding defined parameters for location and speed. It does not measure acceleration or deceleration, and does not record information like a “black box” used in airplanes. However, the information the Safety Beacon transmits could be subject to subpoena in a legal proceeding.

Contacting Customer Care

Q.	Who do I contact for additional support?
A.	Call 866-507-TEEN (8336).

Grab your Safeco policy number and buy now!

Need assistance getting Teensurance, buying credits, or using your account? We're here to help! Contact us.