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Consider the positives and negatives when weighing your decision
Usage-based insurance, or pay-as-you-go car insurance, is auto insurance that bases your rates partially on how much you drive. Best for low-mileage drivers, usage-based insurance can save you money when you don’t drive often.
Allstate’s Milewise program isn’t widely available yet, although the company is continually adding states as it receives approval from each state’s insurance department. This means reviews are still limited — but Allstate is a well-established company with sound financial ratings and business history, meaning it’ll likely be around to service your policy and handle any claims.
For drivers who commute or enjoy road-tripping, a usage-based policy isn’t going to save you money. But for low-mileage drivers, paying a base rate plus a per-mile rate based on your individual rating factors can wind up costing you less than a traditional policy. Allstate’s Milewise program is similar to other insurers’ usage-based programs, but Allstate has the benefit of being a highly rated and solid company.
Allstate’s Milewise program is a usage-based insurance policy that charges you for the miles you drive. You pay a base rate and a per-mile rate.
Your base rate and per-mile rate are based on a number of rating factors that might include your driving history, location, age and credit score. Your rates can change at renewal based on your driving habits.
When you enroll in Milewise, Allstate sends you a device to measure your miles. The device plugs into your vehicle’s diagnostics port, usually located below your steering wheel. The device measures and rates you based on speeds over 80 mph, sudden braking and late-night driving between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m.
The Milewise program uses a pay-as-you-go system. When you purchase a Milewise policy, you’ll put down a deposit using a credit card.
As you drive and accrue daily and mileage charges, your account pays for these trips. It replenishes automatically when your balance is low. If you don’t drive at all on a given day, you’ll only pay your base rate for that day.
Download the Allstate Mobile app to review your trips. However, there is no option to track your trip’s miles with the app.
The mobile app provides more specific details about your trips, miles driven and your safe driving habits. At renewal, your rates could change based on your driving patterns.
Milewise charges you a base rate and a per-mile rate. These rates are determined by your individual rating characteristics. After you install the Milewise device in your vehicle, the details it gathers on your driving patterns act as a rating factor at your next policy renewal.
If Milewise is available in your area, enroll by going online, calling your agent or calling Allstate’s call center to purchase your Milewise policy. Once you’re approved, simply install the device and begin driving. Your base rate and per-mile rate remain the same until your policy renews — and then your rates may change based on your driving behavior.
If you already have a traditional Allstate auto insurance policy your agent cancels that policy when your new pay-as-you-go Milewise policy begins. If you aren’t already an Allstate customer, enroll directly with a Milewise policy.
Allstate offers a feature on its website to view your estimated percent savings for miles driven between 1,000 and 10,000. We pulled a few annual mileage scenarios to give you an example of possible savings.
Annual miles driven | Average percent savings |
---|---|
10,000 | 20% |
8,000 | 31% |
5,000 | 49% |
2,000 | 66% |
There isn’t a specific Milewise program app, but drivers who enroll can view their trip details and safe driving habits using the Allstate Mobile App. The mobile app is available for Apple or Android and has 4.8 stars in the app store, with over 700,000 reviews.
Some common praises of the app include:
Other customers took to their keyboards to critique the app, with common complaints noting:
Once you are enrolled in Milewise, Allstate sends you the device to measure your miles. Plug the device into your vehicle’s diagnostic, or OBD-II port, usually located near or below your steering wheel.
If you have more than one vehicle enrolled in Milewise, take care to use the correct device in each vehicle. Your Milewise device is linked to your vehicle so it has to stay plugged into the same car.
You’ll need to use the plug-in device to track miles for the Milewise program, but you can also download Allstate’s mobile app to review your discount and trips.
Allstate collects your data from the Milewise device. While the company doesn’t sell your information, it may share it with its affiliates, agents, partners, vendors and law enforcement. Allstate may use your data for many reasons, including:
Using the plug-in comes with a few considerations:
Allstate has a telematics discount program called Drivewise for people who wouldn’t consider themselves low-mileage drivers. Drivewise uses an app or plug-in device to measure your driving habits, including your braking, acceleration and nighttime driving habits — then offers a discount based on how safely you drive.
Milewise is best for people who drive less than 10,000 miles annually. But Drivewise can help any safe driver get a discount on their car insurance regardless of mileage.