About the App

How does tracking work?

Just download and register the app. You never need to start, stop, open, or close your app to accurately capture your driving habits.

How does OnTrack affect my battery life?

Like any app that uses your location, OnTrack can affect your battery life. In general, OnTrack uses a tiny amount of battery when you're not driving and slightly more while you're taking a trip. Most people won't notice a huge battery difference after installing OnTrack, but if you have a particularly long commute or an older phone, you may want to plug in your device to charge it while driving.

How does OnTrack affect my data plan?

The OnTrack app is designed to minimize data usage. Data is transmitted using either WiFi or your data plan, depending on which network is available. The app is expected to use between 30-60 MB per month, which represents a very small fraction of the average data plan (usually at least 1000-2000 MB or more per month).

How does OnTrack know when I’m the driver?

OnTrack uses cutting-edge technology that analyzes aspects of your driving and behavior to identify whether you are a driver in a car, a passenger in a car, or traveling via some other mode of transit (bus, light rail).

How do I know if my cell phone is compatible?

Incompatible phones won’t be able to download the app. This generally only applies to certain Android phones that don’t have a gyroscope.

How do scores work?

In OnTrack, your score is a measure of how safely you drive. Possible scores range from 0-100, with most scores falling in the 75-85 range. Your score is based on a combination of factors:

  • Total Mileage (e.g., driving short distances, road trips)
  • Time of Day (e.g., late night driving, rush hour)
  • Smoothness (e.g., hard braking, harsh acceleration)
  • Road Type (e.g., highways, local roads)
Each factor above is also scored from 0-100, where 100 is safest.

Is distracted driving affect my score?

Distracted driving is not used in your OnTrack score but appears in the app to promote safe driving behavior. Distracted driving is how much you’re using your phone, including handheld phone calls and apps and texting. Playing music through an app or using navigation won't count against you as long as you aren’t touching your phone. You won’t be penalized for handsfree phone calls.

I’ve taken a drive, why don’t I have a score?

If you've driven since installing OnTrack, you should have a score. There are a few reasons why you might not have a score after driving:

  • OnTrack hasn't been granted the required permissions to collect driving data. The app needs authorization to use your location. If you've turned off location services globally or revoked the app's authorization since you set it up, it may be unable to record your drives. Make sure you have location services enabled both globally and for OnTrack specifically.
  • Your trip isn't done processing. After you complete a drive, it generally takes around five minutes for OnTrack to compile your driving data and get the results. Try waiting a few minutes and returning to the app.
  • We thought you weren't driving. At the bottom of your screen you should see a list of trips. If none of the trips have a steering wheel or car icon next to them, we didn’t detect you as a driver. To correct a trip, tap on it from the trip list, then tap the icon in the upper right of the trip detail view that appears.
  • You were in Airplane Mode during the trip. If you enabled Airplane Mode, your trips won't be recorded until it’s turned off.
  • You force-quit OnTrack. Although in some cases forcing the app closed will still result in your trips being captured, in other cases it may not be able to resume itself in the background. Force-quitting OnTrack will not improve your battery life or device performance.