What Is the Difference Between a Commuter and a Pleasure Vehicle?

Commuter vehicles generally rack up more mileage and sit in more traffic than pleasure vehicles, and they are more likely to be involved in collisions as a result. For this reason, insuring a pleasure vehicle can be cheaper than insuring a daily commuter car, though some insurance providers may not differentiate between the two uses.

Find out how coverage works for commuter versus pleasure cars and how to get necessary insurance coverage regardless of usage.

On This Page

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  What Is a Commuter Car?

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  What Is a Pleasure Vehicle?

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  What’s the Difference Between Commuter and Pleasure-Use Cars?

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  How Does Vehicle Use Affect Car Insurance Rates?

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  Does Commuter or Pleasure Car Insurance Cost More?

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  What if You Use Your Car for Both Commuting and Pleasure Purposes?

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  How To Get Insurance for Commuter and Pleasure Vehicles

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  Commuter vs. Pleasure Car FAQs

What Is a Commuter Car?

A commuter car is typically used for regular or daily activities on the road, such as a commute to work. However, a “commute” isn’t always limited to the drive to and from the office, but can also include:

• Driving to school
• Dropping kids off at day care
• Daily errands

What Is a Pleasure Vehicle?

Pleasure vehicles are typically driven infrequently, such as short trips on the weekend or to run the occasional errand. Some pleasure driving activities can include:

• Being shown off at occasional car events
• Weekly trip to the grocery store and other irregular errands
• Dropping kids off at weekend sport practice
• Occasional road trips

What’s the Difference Between Commuter and Pleasure-Use Cars?

The difference between commuter and pleasure-use cars has nothing to do with the cars themselves and is instead based on how they are used. Car insurance companies often distinguish between the two to denote frequency of use and mileage driven.^[1]

For example, a luxury car occasionally driven a few times a year for an event will likely be considered a pleasure car. In contrast, the same luxury model regularly driven to the office would likely be designated as a commuter vehicle. Even if your commute is only a few miles a day, your car may still qualify as a commuter due to the fact that it is regularly on the road.^[1]

When applying for a car insurance policy, the insurer may ask you which type of car you drive to help in the underwriting process. Discuss how you use it, including the length and frequency of your regular drives, to get an accurate designation. Keep in mind that insurers may vary when it comes to how far or often you must drive your car for it to qualify as a commuter.

How Does Vehicle Use Affect Car Insurance Rates?

Various factors are used to determine how likely you are to file a claim and how much you should have to pay for auto insurance, including how much you use your car. Because of this, commuter car insurance could have higher rates.^[2] For example, since vehicles used for commuting are on the road more frequently, they may be more likely to be involved in accidents, making them riskier to insure.

Conversely, pleasure-use vehicles, which see infrequent usage, aren’t typically as risky.

Does Commuter or Pleasure Car Insurance Cost More?

Car insurance premiums for pleasure-use cars are generally slightly lower than those for commuter cars, although the difference is not always significant. Insurance cost differences between these two designations can range from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars a year, depending on your insurer.^[1]

When shopping around for insurance, check to see whether your potential car insurance company considers the distinction between commuter and pleasure use and whether you might take advantage of it to reduce your costs. For example, opting to work from home or carpooling with coworkers to your office could result in savings on your car insurance, as it may qualify your car for pleasure use due to the lower annual mileage.

Additionally, some insurers may offer special discounts for policies covering low-mileage cars, which can further reduce your premiums for pleasure-use vehicles. For example, American Family Insurance offers a low-mileage discount in select states for cars that drive less than 8,000 miles a year, resulting in savings of up to 25%.^[3] You may also consider usage-based or pay-per-mile insurance, which can offer reduced rates compared to traditional car insurance if you rarely drive your vehicle.

What if You Use Your Car for Both Commuting and Pleasure Purposes?

You may not face any issues if you use your car for both commuting and pleasure, but it will depend on how your insurer has designated your vehicle. For example, a car designated for commuter use shouldn’t encounter any problems being used for pleasure purposes, as commuter use already takes into account higher mileage.

Keep in mind that significantly increasing your annual mileage due to frequent pleasure driving could result in increased rates during policy renewal.

However, a car designated for pleasure use that you also use for commuting could result in consequences, as your premiums are often based on frequency of use. Lying about the amount you drive could potentially result in unanticipated increases to your premiums, claim denial or policy cancellation. In some cases, it may even be considered insurance fraud, which can result in criminal charges and jail time, depending on your state laws.^[4]

To avoid these issues, ensure you inform your insurer about any regular driving you do, including any commuting. Your car should qualify as a pleasure-use vehicle as long as you drive a few thousand miles or less per year, even if a commute is part of that, allowing you to remain honest with your insurer and potentially enjoy reduced insurance costs.^[1]

How To Get Insurance for Commuter and Pleasure Vehicles

You’ll want to get quotes from three to five insurance companies to get a range of options for auto insurance, as insurers may vary in how they underwrite based on your car usage. You’ll typically need to provide information about your car, including how it’s used and its model, alongside information about yourself, such as your age and driving record. Getting these quotes may become tedious, as you’ll typically need to get them one at a time from each insurer.

You can speed up this process by using an insurance marketplace like SmartFinancial. After answering a few questions about yourself and your insurance needs, we can connect you with a licensed insurance agent to help you get the ideal auto insurance policy, whether you drive to commute, for pleasure or both. Click here for a free auto insurance quote today!