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Allstate Milewise review
Save 20% or more on your car insurance if you drive fewer than 10,000 miles per year, but only if you’re a safe driver.
Pros
- Driving less than 10,000 miles per year can save you up to 20%
- Tracks your miles with a plug-in device only without using your phone’s battery
Cons
- Only available in 21 states and D.C.
- Doesn’t offer the option to track miles by phone for drivers who prefer it
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Allstate Milewise pros and cons
Consider the positives and negatives when weighing your decision
Pros
- Allstate estimates drivers who travel fewer than 10,000 miles per year could save at least 20% over a traditional auto policy.
- Allstate’s Milewise program measures your trips using a plug-in device to track miles so you can reserve your mobile device’s battery while driving.
- Safe drivers receive discounts based on their tracked safe driving habits at renewal.
Cons
- Usage-based insurance isn’t suitable for distance commuters or people who take long road trips.
- Milewise has limited availability, approved in 21 states and DC.
- Milewise only offers a plug-in device to track mileage.
Our take on Allstate Milewise
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.
How Allstate Milewise works
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.
How Milewise rates your driving
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.
- How many miles you drive. Your per-mile rate adds up to how many miles you drive that month. Fewer miles means a lower cost.
- Speeds over 80 mph. Speeding is a risky driving habit and the device measures speeds over 80 mph as riskier.
- Sudden braking. The device records your braking habits, and slamming on your brakes often could lead to higher rates.
- Late night driving. If you frequently drive between the hours of 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. you may be a higher-risk driver, since nighttime driving can be more hazardous.
How to join Allstate Milewise
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.
How much you save with Milewise depends on how much you drive
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% |
Allstate Milewise reviews and complaints
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:
- Users liked seeing their trip details. Some policyholders appreciated reviewing the details of their trips and seeing their safety habits.
- Some users save money. People who saved money with the policy praised the precision and accuracy of the GPS and tracking details.
- Users like the convenience of the app. Some users liked paying their bills through the app or the convenience of viewing and printing their ID cards from the app.
Other customers took to their keyboards to critique the app, with common complaints noting:
- Updates break the app. When Allstate updates the app or customers update their phones, the app frequently fails. Some customers complained the app stopped working on their devices after an update from Allstate.
- Some users disliked the app’s interface. Some complaints reported the app was clunky, difficult to use and not intuitive. Other users disliked getting updates while doing other things on their mobile devices, or complained about the app’s slow speed.
- Some features don’t work. Users complained not every app feature worked for them. Others had trouble between logging in and getting randomly kicked out. Many users complained the app is glitchy.
How to use the Milewise device
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.
How Allstate shares your Milewise data
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:
- Research
- Analytics and marketing
- Policy maintenance
- Protect its business
- To comply with legal requirements
What to watch out for
Using the plug-in comes with a few considerations:
- Plug-in runs on your car battery. The plug-in device is powered using a small amount of your vehicle’s battery. You may need to monitor the plug-in to prevent draining the battery if you have an older battery.
- Some vehicles aren’t compatible with the device. Older models may not have the right port for the device to plug into. If your vehicle was manufactured prior to 1996 it may not be technically compatible.
- Devices can signal alerts. Because the device plugs into your vehicle’s diagnostic port, it can keep you aware when your vehicle needs maintenance or an alert light is activated.
Allstate Milewise or Drivewise?
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.