Pay-Per-Mile Car Insurance: What You Should Know – NerdWallet

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What is pay-per-mile insurance?

Pay-per-mile car indemnity lets you pay for coverage based on how many miles you drive. Because of this, it ’ randomness well suited for people who don ’ triiodothyronine by and large drive a lot. Pay-per-mile policy is different from a low-mileage dismiss offered by some car insurers. rather of a percentage off your traditional policy, low-mileage car policy determines your rate based on how far you drive.

How pay-per-mile car insurance works

Pay-per-mile indemnity has a base rate, which stays the lapp. The carrier typically creates a base rate using factors such as sex, age, and car do and exemplary, exchangeable to a traditional cable car insurance quotation mark. You ’ ll besides receive a per-mile pace, although charges are typically capped, normally at 250 miles per day. Although your rate is calculated differently, you get the same coverage as a traditional policy and aren ’ t limited to specific coverage or minimal liability indemnity. Companies use technology known as “ telematics ” to track how far you drive using an app or other device, and it can besides track hazardous habits — think hard brake or agile accelerate. Some pay-per-mile programs like Nationwide Smartmiles and Metromile besides collect and use driving habit data to determine rates or discounts. There are other usage-based programs that use telematics to produce a deduction ( or surcharge ) and do not take mileage into account. If you ’ re not comfortable with sharing data, Mile Auto offers pay-per-mile policy without using a circuit board device. alternatively, you ’ ll indigence to send the carrier a photograph of your odometer once a month.

Can you save with pay-per-mile insurance?

The price of pay-per-mile policy depends on how much you drive, but besides on the company you choose and on your own drive history and characteristics, like traditional car policy. Don ’ t buy into the savings the company says you may find — in rate to know how much you can save over your stream carrier, you ’ ll want to do the mathematics after you get a quotation mark. To estimate how much you ’ ll pay for pay-per-mile indemnity, use the follow formula : monthly base rate + ( Per-mile pace x Approximate number of miles you drive per month ). For case, let ’ s say your pay-per-mile quote shows a monthly base rate of $ 34 and a per-mile rate of 5 cents. You by and large drive 800 miles a month. You can calculate your monthly pace as : $ 34 + ( .05 x 800 ) = ( $ 34 + $ 40 ) = $ 74. again, this is only an estimate, and your actual cost per calendar month will vary depending on how many miles you drive. not certain how many miles you drive ? Keep track of your mileage before trying a pay-per-mile plan to give you a better idea of what your rate will be. Another choice is Metromile ’ s Ride Along plan. Metromile will track your driving for about two weeks through its app and give you an estimated beak based on your drive. You are not obligated to switch to Metromile if you use the Ride Along feature.

Who should use pay-per-mile car insurance?

Pay-per-mile indemnity is most likely to benefit people who drive very small, which may include those who :

• exploit from family .
• Are in college .
• Take mass passage, walk or use another mode of transportation .
• Have a second vehicle they rarely use. peak : Consider creating a separate pay-per-mile policy for lone this car to keep your mileage depleted .

Americans drive around 13,500 miles a year, on average, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation ‘s Federal Highway Administration. It ’ randomness unmanageable to know, though, how little you need to drive to benefit from low-mileage car indemnity. Mile Auto states on its web site that if you drive less than 10,000 miles a year, you ’ re likely paying excessively much for car indemnity. however, Nationwide says you ’ re most likely to benefit from its pay-per-mile indemnity platform if you drive less than 8,000 miles annually.

Companies that offer pay-per-mile insurance

There are alone a handful of insurers that offer a pay-per-mile insurance option. Some companies, like Metromile, specialize in this type of insurance, while a few large insurers, such as Allstate, besides offer a per-mile option.

Below are the companies offering pay-per-mile indemnity .

Allstate Milewise

How it works : A circuit board device in your cable car and a mobile app track your drive. Where available : AZ, D.C., DE, FL, ID, IL, IN, MA, MD, NJ, OH, OK, OR, PA, TX, VA, WA, WI, WV. » MORE : Allstate car indemnity review

Metromile

How it works : Specializes in pay-per-mile car policy. A circuit board device in your car tracks your drive. Driving demeanor is used to set rates in some states including AZ, IL, OR and VA, when you renew your policy. Where available : azimuth, CA, IL, NJ, OR, PA, VA, WA. » MORE : Metromile policy reappraisal

Mile Auto

How it works : Specializes in pay-per-mile cable car policy. You ‘ll need to send a photograph of your odometer once a calendar month to track mileage. Where available : AZ, GA, IL, OH, OR, TX .

Nationwide Smartmiles

How it works : A circuit board device in your cable car tracks your drive. Where available : All states except Alaska, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Oklahoma. » MORE : countrywide car policy follow-up frequently asked questions Is pay-per-mile car insurance worth it ? It depends on how often you drive. If you systematically log broken mileage, pay-per-mile policy may be cheaper than a traditional car policy. But if you ’ re considering it lone because you know you ’ ll be temporarily driving less, a traditional policy is distillery the best choice . How do indemnity companies check mileage ? Carriers check your mileage in a few different ways. Your insurance company may track your mileage through a device installed in your car ’ s diagnostic port, or an app on your call. early companies might ask you to take a photograph of your odometer on a unconstipated footing . What is the best pay-per-mile car indemnity party ? The best pay-per-mile caller for you depends on where you live and your policy needs. Although Metromile and Mile Auto specialize in low-mileage car insurance, their programs aren ’ thymine as widely available as Allstate Milewise and Nationwide Smartmiles. Anyone looking to bundle their policy will besides want to consider Allstate or Nationwide. Is pay-per-mile cable car indemnity worth it ? It depends on how often you drive. If you systematically log low mileage, pay-per-mile indemnity may be cheaper than a traditional car policy. But if you ’ re considering it merely because you know you ’ ll be temporarily driving less, a traditional policy is still the best choice. How suffice indemnity companies check mileage ? Carriers check your mileage in a few different ways. Your insurance company may track your mileage through a device installed in your car ’ s diagnostic port, or an app on your telephone. other companies might ask you to take a photograph of your odometer on a regular footing.

What is the best pay-per-mile car indemnity party ? The best pay-per-mile company for you depends on where you live and your indemnity needs. Although Metromile and Mile Auto specialize in low-mileage car indemnity, their programs aren ’ thymine as wide available as Allstate Milewise and Nationwide Smartmiles. Anyone looking to bundle their indemnity will besides want to consider Allstate or Nationwide .