Metromile Insurance Review: Is Pay-Per-Mile Right for You?

Metromile is a pay-per-mile auto insurer that charges drivers a base monthly price plus a cost-per-mile rate. Mileage is counted with Metromile Pulse, a telematics technology device that plugs into your vehicle. Your monthly base rate is determined by various factors, including your driving history, vehicle model and personal information.

Metromile insurance is available only in eight states and may be a worthwhile insurance option if you're a low-mileage driver. To help you decide if you should switch, our Metromile insurance review will cover coverage options, pricing and more.

On This Page

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  Overview

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  How Metromile Insurance Works

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  Where Is Metromile Car Insurance Available?

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  Metromile Rates

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  What Coverage and Discounts Does Metromile Insurance Offer?

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  How Do You Get a Quote From Metromile?

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  Can You Easily File an Insurance Claim With Metromile?

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  Pros and Cons of Metromile Insurance

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  Metromile FAQs

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  Driving Less and Need Cheaper Car Insurance?

Overview

How Metromile Insurance Works

Metromile's pitch is that traditional car insurance companies may be overcharging low-mileage drivers. Metromile claims to offer a better insurance product with car insurance that is based on the actual number of miles you drive as well as safe driving habits.

While Metromile considers many of the factors that traditional car insurance companies use to determine rates (age, car model and zip code) they place extra weight on your mileage. How much you drive strongly affects your likelihood of filing a car insurance claim. If you're not on the road, then you're not getting into accidents. Therefore, low-mileage drivers may enjoy more affordable auto insurance rates with Metromile.

Metromile Pulse collects data about your driving behavior

The Metromile Pulse device uses your vehicle's GPS features to collect information about your daily mileage. The telematics device plugs into your car's OBD-II port, which exists on most cars with a gasoline engine built after 1996. The Pulse must be plugged into your vehicle at all times — although, you may unplug it if your mechanic needs to access the OBD-II port.

While Metromile considers many of the factors that traditional car insurance companies use to determine rates, they place extra weight on your mileage.

Pulse can do more than measure your mileage to provide more accurate premiums. It may even decode your check engine light and send you street sweeping alerts to help you avoid getting a ticket.

Where Is Metromile Car Insurance Available?

Metromile car insurance is available in only eight states: Arizona, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington.

Metromile Rates

Metromile auto insurance policies start at $29 per month plus a per-mile rate.

Metromile quoted our sample California driver that drives 3,000 miles annually for a policy with minimum coverage requirements for liability insurance plus collision and comprehensive coverage at $100 per month plus 20.7¢ per mile. This pricing is still comparable to average rates in California — although pricing can still vary based on your actual driving data, discounts and more.

We also played around with different coverage levels and annual mileage to bring you more sample rates.

Methodology

Here is the California driver sample profile we used to collect the above rates:

• Age: 25
• Location: Los Angeles
• Average annual miles: 1,150 miles
• Model: 2019 Honda CR-V 4WD
• Medical payments: $1,000 insurance coverage
• Collision deductible: $500
• Comprehensive deductible: $500
• Uninsured motorist property damage: None
• Rental car reimbursement: None
• Emergency roadside assistance: None

The Metromile Pulse device uses your vehicle’s GPS features to collect information about your daily mileage.

What Coverage and Discounts Does Metromile Insurance Offer?

*Only in Arizona, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington. Coverages may be required in other states.

Pet injury coverage

Policyholders who purchase collision coverage automatically receive up to $1,000 of pet injury coverage. This coverage is available only for dog and cat owners. Coverage would activate in a couple of different scenarios:

1. If your pet sustains an injury while inside your vehicle due to a covered auto claim, insurance would cover veterinary bills up to the insurance coverage limits.

2. If your pet passes away while inside your vehicle due to a covered auto claim, you can claim a $1,000 death compensation minus any veterinary expenses.

3. If your pet is in the car while it is stolen and was never found, you can claim up to $1,000.

Keep in mind that Metromile's pet injury coverage only applies when your pet is involved in a covered vehicle incident. You would need to purchase pet insurance separately to cover your pet in all other cases.

Renting out your car

Metromile posts that they do not insure vehicles when used for commercial purposes, which includes food delivery and rideshare services. Although, you may be covered if you host your vehicle on Turo, a carsharing company. Speak with your insurance agent about whether or not coverage is available to you.

Discounts

• Multi-car: Save money when you list more than one vehicle in your auto insurance policy.

• Multi-policy: Save up to 15% when you bundle your Metromile auto insurance policy with a Hippo home insurance policy.

• Safe driving: Save up to 15% if your driving data shows you use safe driver habits.

• Defensive driving class: Available to new drivers that take a defensive driving course, a class that teaches good driving techniques.

• Cars with safety features: Cars with features that help lower the risk of theft may earn a discount.

• Senior discount: Available to senior citizens.

How Do You Get a Quote From Metromile?

Drivers can obtain a free online quote from the Metromile website. You will be asked multiple questions, including:

• Personal information (e.g., name, birthday, marital status)

• Zip code

• Estimated monthly mileage

• Vehicle model

Metromile easily allows you to adjust your coverage levels and add on additional coverage to generate new insurance quotes on the spot.

Get a more accurate estimate with Ride Along

For a more accurate quote based on your driving behaviors, you can download the Metromile app for free and drive with it for 17 days. During this time, the app will analyze how many miles you drive. Metromile claims that your rate may be up to 15% less than what you would be quoted without the app data.

Find Cheaper Car Insurance Rates

Can You Easily File an Insurance Claim With Metromile?

Customers can file claims online, through Metromile's mobile app or by calling 1 (888) 595-5485. Metromile's claims team is available 24/7.

Customers are encouraged to use the mobile app to file claims, since their AI claims system, AVA, helps streamline the process. AVA will instruct you on what photos to take and how to upload them. It will also pull data from Pulse to provide some context on the car incident.

AVA takes it a step further by connecting you with local repair shops and reserving a vehicle if you have rental car coverage.

Pros and Cons of Metromile Insurance

Per-mile insurance is not ideal for drivers who spend a lot of time on the road.

Pros

• Streamlined claims process: Metromile's AI can help walk policyholders through the claims process, as well as locate nearby repair shops after an accident and reserve vehicles if they have rental car coverage.

• Pet injury coverage: Metromile customers automatically receive $1,000 in pet injury coverage during covered car claims if they have collision coverage.

• Free 17-day trial to estimate your monthly rate: You can download the Metromile app for free and drive it for 17 days to have Metromile provide you with a more accurate quote based on the driving data collected.

Cons

• Available only to eight states: Metromile car insurance is available only in Arizona, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington. Unfortunately, it is not an option available to most Americans.

• Expensive for moderate- to high-mileage drivers: Since Metromile is per-mile insurance, a policy would not be ideal for drivers who spend a lot of time on the road.

Driving Less and Need Cheaper Car Insurance?

The rise of remote working has shifted the insurance industry. Shouldn't you get to enjoy affordable rates if you're spending less time on the road? Less driving means less risk, after all.

If you're seeking a new car insurance policy that reflects your "new normal" or you're buying car insurance for the first time, SmartFinancial can help you get the best rates in car insurance. We analyze hundreds of auto insurance companies in your area to match you with the best rates. Just enter your zip code below to get started on your free quotes.