Metromile is a pay-per-mile car insurance company that offers affordable rates for low-mileage drivers. The company was acquired by Lemonade Insurance in 2022 and currently operates in eight states: Arizona, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. Metromile's insurance coverage includes standard options such as liability, collision, comprehensive, medical payments, personal injury protection, and uninsured/underinsured motorist. They also offer additional benefits like roadside assistance and pet injury protection. However, Metromile does not provide ridesharing coverage and has received complaints about claim delays and denials. Overall, Metromile is a good choice for those who work from home or drive infrequently, offering savings of up to $947 per year compared to traditional insurance.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Type of insurance | Pay-per-mile car insurance |
Monthly base rate | As low as $29 |
Per-mile rate | As low as 6 cents |
Availability | Eight states: Arizona, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington |
Discounts | Multi-car, multi-policy, accident-free, anti-theft devices, claim-free, continuous insurance, full coverage, homeowner, paperless, safe driver, senior safe driver |
App features | Locate parked car, street sweeping alerts, trip data, car health, access digital insurance card, policy documents, make changes to policy |
Additional coverage | Pet injury protection, rental car reimbursement, roadside assistance, zero deductible glass coverage |
What You'll Learn
Metromile's pay-per-mile insurance rates
The base and per-mile rates are determined by factors such as driver age, credit history (state-specific), type of vehicle, driver history, and length of prior insurance (state-specific). These rates can also vary by state. For example, in Arizona, Illinois, Oregon, and Virginia, Metromile uses average speed, time of day, and day of the week to help determine rates. In Virginia, time spent per trip is also considered.
Metromile offers a 17-day trial, called Ride Along, where the app tracks your driving behaviour and provides an expected monthly bill. This is a risk-free way to test the service, as there are no cancellation fees.
Metromile also offers a range of discounts, which vary by state. These include discounts for having alarms on your vehicle, anti-theft or vehicle recovery devices, having a clean driving record, continuous coverage, mature drivers, and having a clean licence.
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Metromile's coverage options
Metromile offers pay-per-mile car insurance, meaning your rate is based on your actual driving habits. On average, customers save 47% compared to what they were paying their previous auto insurer. You'll pay a low monthly rate, plus a few cents for each mile you drive. The first 250 miles (or 150 miles for New Jersey drivers) per day are free.
Metromile offers four different levels of liability protection, as well as choices for your comprehensive and collision deductibles. The company offers flexible, customizable coverage that meets your needs. This includes accidents with another vehicle, a fixed object, motorists, and more. You can also get coverage for things out of your control, like weather, animals, and theft.
Metromile also provides roadside assistance, glass repair, and 24/7 support from their claims team. Their app allows you to view your trips, understand your car's health, and avoid tickets with street-sweeping alerts (available only in select cities).
- Bodily Injury (BI): Most states require BI coverage to cover costs related to injuries or deaths of people other than the insured in the event of an accident that is the insured's fault. This type of coverage pays for things like medical treatment, rehabilitation, and funeral costs, as well as costs related to mental or emotional distress resulting from bodily injury. It may also pay for lawyer's fees if the insured is sued for an accident. Depending on the state, there may be a predetermined minimum amount of BI coverage required.
- Property Damage Liability (PD): If you're in an accident that damages someone else's property, PD liability will cover the costs. This covers any type of tangible property, including another driver's vehicle or something like a building, utility pole, fence, or garage door. Some states require a predetermined minimum amount of this coverage.
- Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI): If you're in an accident where the at-fault driver is uninsured, UMBI coverage will pay for necessary medical, rehabilitation, lost wages, pain-and-suffering, and funeral costs for the insured and/or their passengers. UMBI will only pay up to the coverage limit, and some states may require a set minimum amount.
- Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UIMBI): Similar to UMBI, but it pays up to the limit for expenses if the at-fault driver doesn't have sufficient coverage.
- Medical Payments: This optional coverage can pay the medical deductibles and copayments that aren't covered by the insured's health insurer or the insurer of their passengers. Depending on the state, this may be possible to combine with a health insurance policy.
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP): PIP generally covers the insured's medical costs, regardless of who is at fault for the accident. Benefits vary by state, with some offering coverage for lost wages, child care, and/or funeral costs.
- Comprehensive: This optional coverage is useful if your car is stolen or damaged by something other than a collision (e.g., hail, fire, vandalism, animal damage, flood, earthquakes, falling objects, or theft). The insured chooses a deductible amount, which is the out-of-pocket cost paid before coverage begins.
- Collision: This optional coverage protects the insured's car if it collides with another object. The chosen deductible amount is paid before coverage begins.
- Collision Deductible Waiver: In some states, if the insured is in an accident with an at-fault, uninsured driver, their collision deductible will be waived. The license plate number or name of the person who caused the damage is required.
- Underinsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD): If the insured is hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, this coverage will pay for the damage to their vehicle. UMPD may not be available in all states, and some states require a choice between UMPD and Collision coverage.
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Metromile's app features
Metromile's app has a host of features that make it easy for customers to manage their car insurance policies and access useful information about their vehicles. Here is a detailed overview of the app's key features:
Insurance Management:
- Proof of Insurance: The app provides easy access to your up-to-date proof of insurance documents, which you can display in case of an accident, when pulled over by the police, or when registering your vehicle.
- File a Claim: You can report an accident, file for glass repair, and request roadside assistance directly from the app without having to open a web browser.
- Policy Changes: The app allows you to make changes to your policy, such as editing coverage, adding or removing drivers, and updating vehicle and personal information.
- Roadside Assistance: With a few taps, you can request towing services, assistance with a flat tire, a battery jump, or other types of roadside assistance.
Trip and Mileage Tracking:
- Monthly Charges and Billing: The app provides transparency into your monthly charges and billing history, helping you plan your trips and control your expenses.
- Trip Details: You can review details of your past trips, including route taken, miles driven, time driving, fuel cost, and estimated miles per gallon.
- Vehicle Locator: The app shows you a map with a pin indicating your vehicle's location and the current fuel level in the tank.
Alerts and Notifications:
- Street Sweeping Alerts: You'll receive notifications when your car is parked in a street sweeping zone, helping you avoid tickets or towing. This feature is currently available in select cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco.
- Check Engine Light Decoder: The app can decode your check engine light and provide information about potential issues, allowing you to research and address problems proactively.
Additional Features:
- 24/7 Claims Support: Metromile offers around-the-clock support from their claims team, providing assistance whenever you need it.
- Personalized Coverage: You can customize your insurance coverage, choosing from a list of options to get the protection you need at a lower cost.
- Stolen Vehicle Recovery: Metromile has a 92-94% stolen car return rate, providing peace of mind if your vehicle is ever lost or stolen.
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Metromile's insurance discounts
Metromile offers pay-per-mile car insurance, which bases your rate on your actual driving habits. This means that the more you drive, the more you pay. However, there are several discounts available to help lower your insurance costs.
The first is a multi-car discount, which saves you money on each vehicle's base rate and per-mile rate.
The second is a bundling discount. As Metromile is now a Lemonade company, you can get a discount if you bundle your car insurance with another Lemonade insurance policy, such as home, renters, pet, or life insurance.
The third is a safe driver discount. If you demonstrate safe driving behaviours, such as driving within speed limits and avoiding cornering or braking too hard, you may be eligible for a discount of up to 15% in Arizona and 40% in Oregon.
The fourth is a continuous coverage discount, which you can get if you've been continuously covered with car insurance before joining Metromile.
The fifth is a claim-free or accident-free discount, which is for customers who have gone at least five years without an at-fault car accident.
The sixth is a mature driver discount, for drivers aged 55 or older who have successfully completed an approved safe driver program.
The seventh is a discount for not having any points on your driver's license.
The eighth is a safety equipment discount, for having alarms, anti-theft devices, or vehicle recovery devices installed in your car.
Finally, you can get a discount for getting an online quote.
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Metromile's customer reviews
Metromile is now a subsidiary of Lemonade, so its customer reviews have been incorporated into Lemonade's Better Business Bureau (BBB) page. Lemonade has no rating on the BBB and has closed 371 complaints in the last three years. The company has a customer review score of 2.08 out of 5.0 on the BBB, with mixed reviews. Some customers have praised Lemonade, while others have reported issues with getting roadside assistance.
Most policyholders have positive experiences with Metromile's claims service, mentioning professional service and helpful agents. The company's claims process is a bit different from that of other companies, as it tracks driving data and uses an artificial-intelligence claims system called Ava to guide customers through collecting photos and reconstructing the accident. A human adjuster then enters the process to finish processing the claim.
Metromile's smartphone app has received mostly positive feedback, with a rating of 3.1 out of 5.0 on Google Play and 4.6 out of 5.0 on the App Store. The app allows users to customise their coverage, view their insurance card, file a claim, decode their check engine light, and locate their car if it gets stolen. It also provides street sweeping alerts in select cities to help users avoid tickets.
Overall, Metromile has received positive reviews from customers who have saved money by switching to the company's pay-per-mile insurance plans. Some customers have praised the company's communication, clear pricing, and app experience. However, Metromile has also received complaints about claim delays, denials, and premiums, with a complaint index triple that of the industry average.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Metromile does not offer Mexico auto insurance. Metromile offers car insurance in only eight states: Arizona, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.
Metromile offers pay-per-mile car insurance. This means that your pricing is based on the number of miles you drive per billing cycle.
Metromile's car insurance costs have two parts: a base rate that doesn’t vary month-to-month and a per-mile rate that does. The base rate is typically around $29 per month, and the per-mile rate is typically a few cents.
Metromile's pay-per-mile insurance is beneficial for those who don't drive frequently, as it can result in significant savings on their monthly premiums.