Metromile vs. The General: Discounts, quotes, and comparison

Though Metromile and The General both offer insurance, they serve different markets.

Metromile’s claim to fame is pay-by-mile insurance. Essentially, you’ll pay a flat monthly rate as well as a per-mile rate. This means you may pay very low premiums if you drive sparingly.

The General, on the other hand, caters to drivers whom other insurers may classify as “high risk.” The company claims to provide affordable premiums, even though insurance for riskier drivers tends to be more expensive. In contrast to other high-risk insurance providers, The General maintains a stellar rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Who do we recommend?

While Metromile is only available in 7 states, this company offers great rates for safe drivers. Your premiums are based on your actual driving risk, not your age, gender or other factors. Consider Metromile if you qualify for its coverage area and usage-based insurance.

Our top pick: Metromile

Pay only for the miles you drive, plus enjoy app services you won’t find everywhere like claims and car health updates.

• Start with low rates at $29/month, plus pennies per mile
• Mileage over 250 in a day is free
• Intuitive app that helps with claims, ID cards and car health updates
• 24/7 customer support for help around the clock

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	Go to site Read review	Go to site Read review
OVERVIEW			OVERVIEW
About the provider
About the brand	Pay only for the miles you drive, plus enjoy app services you won’t find everywhere like claims and car health updates.	Snag affordable coverage for high-risk drivers, a marketing claim backed by our rate analysis which showed premiums less than $80 a month.
States served
States served	AZ, CA, IL, NJ, OR, PA, VA, WA	All states except Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan and New Jersey
COVERAGE			COVERAGE
Roadside assistance
Roadside assistance	Optional	Optional
New car protection
New car protection	Yes	No
Accident forgiveness
Accident forgiveness	No	No
Rideshare coverage
Rideshare coverage	No (they used to offer the service but they are no longer accepting new applications)	No
SR-22 insurance
SR-22 insurance	Yes	Yes
Claims methods
Claims methods	Online Phone	Phone App
Payment schedule
Payment schedule	monthly	12 months monthly
DISCOUNTS			DISCOUNTS
Anti-theft device discount
Anti theft device discount	Yes	Yes
Bundling discount
Bundling discount	Yes	Yes
Home owner discount
Home owner discount	No	Yes
Military discount
Military discount	No	Yes
Multi car discount
Multi car discount	Yes	Yes
Paid in full discount
Paid in full discount	Yes	Yes
Safety device discount
Safety device discount	Yes	Yes
Safe driver discount
Safe driver discount	No	No
Special employment discount
Special employment discount	No	No
Student discount
Student discount	No	Yes
Usage based discount
Usage based discount	Yes	No
Learn more
Learn more	Go to site Read review	Go to site Read review

Bottom line

The General promises low prices, but it’s always worth shopping around to see if you’ll get a better deal elsewhere.

If you’re set on pay-by-mile insurance, Metromile is one of your few options. Other insurers offer a variation of pay-by-mile coverage; however, they deliver savings based mostly on how safely you drive, rather than calculating your rate based on mileage.

The General wins in states served. It covers 46 US states, while Metromile only operates in eight.

Compare your car insurance options to find the best insurance company for you.

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