Metromile Auto Insurance: Pay-Per-Mile Coverage

Metromile is a pay-per-mile car insurance company that bases its rates on the number of miles you drive per billing cycle. It is ideal for those who don't drive regularly or have a short commute, as it can save them money on their monthly premiums. The company uses a device called Metromile Pulse that plugs into your car's diagnostics port to track your mileage and transmit data back to the company for billing. Metromile also offers additional coverage options, such as rental car reimbursement and roadside assistance. However, it is important to note that Metromile has received more complaints than expected about auto insurance to state regulators.

How does Metromile auto insurance work?

Metromile is a pay-per-mile car insurance company, meaning your pricing is based on the number of miles you drive per billing cycle. Your monthly rate is broken down into two parts: a base rate and a per-mile rate. The base rate is a flat fee that doesn't vary month to month, while the per-mile rate is typically a few cents per mile. For example, if your base rate is $29 per month and your per-mile rate is $0.06, and you drive 500 miles in a month, your total bill for that month would be $59 ($29 base rate + $30 for 500 miles driven).

Metromile provides a telematics device called Pulse that plugs into your car's diagnostics port to track your mileage. The Pulse device is required for coverage, and it uses cellular service to connect and needs to be plugged in at all times. In addition to tracking mileage, Metromile monitors customers' driving behaviour in some states, including average speed, time of day, and day of the week. This data is used to reward safe drivers with lower rates.

Metromile offers all the usual types of auto coverage, including liability insurance, collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, medical payments coverage, personal injury protection, and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. They also offer add-on options such as rental reimbursement, pet injury protection, and no-deductible glass repair.

Metromile is a good option for those who don't drive regularly or have a short commute, as it can provide more savings than traditional auto insurance. However, it is important to note that Metromile is only available in eight states: Arizona, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.

What does Metromile auto insurance cover?

Metromile offers pay-per-mile auto insurance coverage, meaning your pricing is based on the number of miles you drive per billing cycle. The company offers all the standard types of coverage you would expect from a traditional car insurance provider, with some add-ons available.

Comprehensive Coverage

Metromile comprehensive coverage includes the repair or replacement of your vehicle for damage outside of a collision, such as falling objects, fire, vandalism, theft, broken windshields, or weather.

Liability Coverage

If you cause an accident, liability insurance pays for the injuries or property damage someone else may have incurred as a result. For example, if you injure anyone in another car or a pedestrian, liability pays for their injuries. It may also cover lawsuits and attorney fees, up to your policy limits.

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage pays for the repair or replacement of your vehicle if there’s an accident, whether or not you’re at fault. A lender or lessor often requires collision coverage if you’re financing your car.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage helps pay for an accident when someone else is at fault and doesn’t have any insurance or enough insurance to fully cover the damages.

Personal Injury Protection

Sometimes called no-fault coverage, personal injury protection (PIP) helps pay medical bills and related expenses after an accident, regardless of who’s at fault.

Medical Payments Coverage

Medical payment coverage helps with medical expenses for you and your passengers following an accident, including ambulance rides, hospital visits, and other needs.

Roadside Assistance

Roadside assistance helps get your car going again after an unexpected issue like a flat tire, dead battery, or locking your keys in your vehicle. Depending on your needs, roadside assistance could fix your issue on the spot or cover towing to a full-service repair shop.

Rental Car Insurance

Metromile rental car insurance can cover the cost of a rental car while yours is repaired or replaced following an accident.

Pet Injury Protection

If you select comprehensive and collision coverage, you automatically get pet injury protection at no extra cost, which covers up to $1,000 for dog or cat injuries from a covered accident. This coverage is not available in Illinois or Virginia.

Metromile auto insurance discounts

Metromile auto insurance offers a range of discounts to its customers. The availability of these discounts varies by state. Here are some of the auto insurance discounts offered by Metromile:

• Accident-free discount: If you have been accident-free for at least five years, you may be eligible for a discount.
• Anti-theft devices: Installing an anti-theft device in your vehicle can earn you a discount on your insurance premium.
• Bundling discount: If you have other types of insurance policies, such as home, renters, pet, or life insurance, with Lemonade (Metromile's parent company), you can get a bundling discount.
• Claim-free discount: Customers who have maintained a claim-free record for five years may be eligible for a discount.
• Continuous insurance discount: You may be eligible for a discount if you have had continuous car insurance coverage before joining Metromile.
• Full coverage discount: This discount applies when you carry collision coverage on your vehicle.
• Homeowner discount: If you own a house, mobile home, or condo, you may be eligible for a discount on your car insurance policy.
• Multi-car discount: Metromile offers a discount on the base and per-mile rates for each vehicle if you insure more than one car with them.
• Paperless discount: You can save on your premium by opting to receive policy documents electronically.
• Safe driver discount: Metromile offers reduced rates for customers who demonstrate safe driving behaviours in certain states.
• Senior safe driver discount: Mature drivers aged 55 or older who have successfully completed an approved safe driver program may be eligible for a discount.
• Vehicle alarms discount: Depending on your state, you may get a discount for having alarms installed on your vehicle.
• Anti-theft/vehicle recovery device discount: Installing an anti-theft or vehicle recovery device in your car may earn you a discount.
• No at-fault accidents discount: If you have a clean driving record with no at-fault accidents, you may be eligible for a discount.
• Mature driver discount: This discount is available for older drivers.
• Clean driving record discount: If you have no points on your driver's license, you may be eligible for a discount.
• Safety equipment discount: You may get a discount for having safety equipment installed in your vehicle.
• Ride Along safe driving discount: Metromile offers a discount of up to 15% in Arizona and 40% in Oregon for safe driving behaviour during the Ride Along trial period.
• Online quote discount: You can get a discount just for getting an online quote from Metromile.

Pros and cons of Metromile

Pros of Metromile

• Affordable coverage for low-mileage drivers
• The app can locate a stolen vehicle if the device is plugged in
• The app can diagnose check engine light issues
• Offers roadside assistance
• Offers pet injury protection
• Offers 24/7 roadside assistance
• High rating through the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
• Mobile app available

Cons of Metromile

• Requires constant cell service for the plug-in device
• Few add-on coverages available
• High volume of customer complaints filed through the BBB
• Mixed customer feedback
• Only one type of coverage offered
• Customers report increasing rates and frustrating service experiences
• No 24/7 claims reporting via phone
• Poor customer service record
• Pulse devices can malfunction (stop transmitting or drain car battery)
• Metromile raises customers’ rates if statewide rates increase

Is Metromile a good insurer?

Metromile is a pay-per-mile car insurance company that bases its rates on the number of miles you drive per billing cycle. The company was acquired by Lemonade in 2022 and currently operates in eight US states: Arizona, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.

Metromile's insurance coverage includes standard options such as liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured and underinsured motorist, personal injury protection, and medical payments coverage. They also offer roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and pet injury protection.

Metromile has received mixed reviews from customers. On the one hand, some customers have praised the company for its low rates, especially if they drive infrequently. There are also positive reviews for its app, which allows users to customize their coverage, view their insurance card, file a claim, and locate their car if it gets stolen.

However, Metromile has received a higher number of complaints than other companies of its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Some customers have reported issues with claims, including delays and denials. There are also concerns about the requirement to have driving tracked and the need for constant cell service for the plug-in device to work.

Overall, Metromile can be a good option for those who don't drive regularly or have short commutes, as it can provide significant savings. However, it may not be ideal for those who drive longer distances or those looking for additional coverage options.

Frequently asked questions