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Metromile car insurance review 2023
Score cheaper rates than traditional car insurance policies, based on the miles you drive.
finder.com's rating: 4 / 5
★★★★★
- Get a quote if you don’t drive much or are a safe driver.
- Pick something else if you drive a lot or don’t want to deal with an app.
- Safe, low-mileage drivers will save the most
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Details
| States served | Arizona, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington |
|---|---|
| Roadside assistance | Optional |
| Accident forgiveness | No |
| New car protection | Yes |
| Pay schedule | monthly |
| Claims methods | Online, Phone |
| Rideshare coverage | No (they used to offer the service but they are no longer accepting new applications) |
| SR-22 support | Yes |
Pros
- Rates from $29/month plus pennies per mile
- Low-mileage drivers could save $611/year
- All miles over 250 a day are free
- Easy app and online claims plus 24/7 support
Cons
- Limited service to only 7 states
- Older vehicles excluded
- Not all drivers eligible
| Anti-theft device discount | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bundling discount | Yes |
| Defensive driving discount | Yes |
| Good student discount | No |
| Loyalty discount | No |
| Homeowner discount | No |
| Military discount | No |
| Safety device discount | Yes |
| Special employment discount | No |
| Usage-based discount | Yes |
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Finder experts pick Metromile as a 2021 best brand for car insurance.
What we think of Metromile car insurance
If you’re a car owner who doesn’t drive much, look into this cool new startup to save on your auto insurance by paying only for the miles you drive. You’re quoted a base rate in addition to a rate per mile that’s typically a few pennies.
You also get the benefit of using Metromile’s intuitive app, which offers some of the best features in the industry. You manage your policy and track your mileage in the app. But because Metromile runs through a device installed in your car, you also can check your car’s engine lights or locate your car if it gets stolen.
Plus, the company gives free perks that add value to your policy, like waiving your collision deductible if you’re in an accident with an uninsured driver.
Not everyone will find a good deal with Metromile though. Commuters with a long drive might not save much, and drivers who aren’t as careful on the road might not qualify. Metromile is best suited for safe drivers or those who drive fewer than 12,000 miles a year — or about 30 miles a day.
finder.com's rating: 4 / 5
★★★★★
| Category | Our rating | Why we gave this score |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | ★★★★★ 4/5 | Metromile offers wellrounded coverage options that go beyond the basics, including rental car reimbursement and roadside assistance. |
| Discounts | ★★★★★ 5/5 | It doesn’t offer the usual rewards that most car insurance companies do. However, it claims to save you hundreds of dollars for low mileage and safe driving. |
| Customer service | ★★★★★ 3/5 | The company receives a high Better Business Bureau rating. But it gets average customer ratings on Trustpilot and many complaints filed with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). |
Metromile car insurance rates
We pulled full-coverage car insurance rates using Metromile’s online quote tool for good drivers living in California with a clean driving record.
| Age | Premiums |
|---|---|
| 18 | $518.70 |
| 21 | $271.80 |
| 30 | $166.20 |
| 40 | $162.60 |
| 50 | $151.80 |
How to get a free quote for Metromile car insurance
Metromile’s innovative approach to car insurance extends to its robust online platform, which allows customers to get a quote and purchase coverage instantly.
- Visit the Metromile home page and enter your ZIP code to get started.
- Enter your name, address and birthdate.
- Enter your vehicle information (make, model, mileage, etc.) and select Next step.
- Add driver information including marital status and employment info.
- Choose your desired policy options and verify that all information is correct.
- Upload your driver’s license and other necessary documents.
- If you’re satisfied with your quote, enter your payment details to pay for your policy.
If you’d rather apply by phone, reach Metromile at 888-964-4132.
Metromile and the COVID-19 pandemic
Finder spoke to Rick Chen, director of membership at Metromile, on the launch of the insurer’s partnership with Ford — manufacturer’s first with an insurtech company. The conversation highlighted a growing trend toward pay-per-mile insurance.
“Pay-per-mile car insurance has grown in popularity amid the pandemic as people drive less and look for additional savings to stretch their budgets,” Rich said. “We expect usage-based insurance like ours to be a part of the ‘COVID-19 boom’ and the new normal.”
“As a result of this partnership, Metromile expects to move the insurance industry away from factors like credit score, gender, profession or ZIP code — factors that can potentially exacerbate existing socioeconomic inequalities. Instead, our goal is to advance personalized car insurance, where we determine risk and price insurance based on actual driving, which is fairer and more affordable for many drivers.”
What discounts can I get with Metromile?
Metromile doesn’t offer the typical discounts that traditional insurance companies offer. However, according to Metromile, customers save an average of $741 a year compared to other providers because of its unique per-mile system.
If you get your quote through the Ride Along app and demonstrate safety during the driving period, you could see up to 40% off your premium, according to Metromile. The discount applies in specific states.
Metromile does offer a multivehicle discount that reduces the base rate and per-mile rate for each vehicle you add to your policy.
What extra benefits and add-ons does Metromile offer?
Metromile also offers some perks and add-ons you might like.
- Mileage over 250 is free. Unless you live in New Jersey — where the cap is 150 miles a day — you’re charged for up to 250 miles a day only. So if you go on a trip, there’s no need to worry.
- Roadside assistance. This add-on can get you a tow truck or other help if you’re stranded on the road.
- Rental reimbursement. Collision and comprehensive coverage also comes with up to $30 daily for up to 30 days to cover a replacement car while yours is in the shop.
- Pet injury protection. Full coverage comes with up to $1,000 toward vet bills if your pet is injured in an accident.
- Deductible-free glass repair. You won’t need to pay a deductible on your comprehensive coverage when repairing your windows.
- Smart apps. Metromile’s smart app offers car health updates, street-sweeping alerts, access to ID cards and more. Plus, Metromile’s new Ride Along app tracks your driving and lets you see your quote without being obligated to buy up front.
- Collision deductible waiver. If you’re in an accident with an at-fault driver who’s uninsured, your collision deductible is waived.
Metromile car insurance reviews and complaints
While Metromile has only been around since 2011, it’s held an official accreditation on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website since 2013. It also boasts an impressive A+ rating by the BBB and 3.52 composite score out of 5, as of April 2022. These positive customer reviews are rare in the auto insurance industry.
However, Metromile received a 5.94 on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index for private passenger vehicles in 2021. The industry standard is 1.00, showing that the company sees a high volume of complaints for its size. Unhappy customers mention their difficulty in getting claims approved, unhelpful claims reps and significant rate hikes at renewal.
On the other hand, it’s common for new brands to have a high complaint ratio because they’re fresh on the market and don’t have as many customers as top national brands.
| AM Best financial rating | NR |
| BBB accredited | Yes |
| BBB rating | A+ |
| Trustpilot score | 3.8/5 out of 5 customer reviews |
| Customer reviews verified as of | April 2022 |
Our star ratings for Metromile, explained
Our car insurance experts rate Metromile above average for its comprehensive list of coverage, including freebies like rental reimbursement if you buy comprehensive and collision coverage. We also like the company’s premise to save low-mileage drivers money, starting with base rates as low as $29 per month.
Compare Metromile to competitors
See the policy features and perks that Metromile’s competitors offer, and select Get quotes to see your customized rate.
What car insurance coverage does Metromile offer?
While its coverage options are designed for those who don’t rely heavily on their vehicles, policies are similar to what other providers offer.
- Bodily injury. Covers costs related to injuries or deaths to other parties in the event of an accident that’s your fault.
- Property damage. Covers damage to another person’s property from an accident.
- Underinsured motorist bodily injury. Covers medical costs for you and your passengers if the other person doesn’t have insurance.
- Underinsured motorist property damage. This type of coverage pays for damage to your vehicle if you’re hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver.
- Medical payments. This can cover medical deductibles and copays that aren’t covered by your health insurer if you’re in an accident.
- Personal injury protection. Covers your medical costs regardless of who’s at fault for the accident.
- Collision coverage. Pays for repairs to your vehicle after an accident, regardless of if you are at fault.
- Comprehensive coverage. Protects against damages that aren’t in your control, like fire, vandalism and theft.
How does Metromile set my rates?
With Metromile, you’re quoted a base rate in addition to a rate per mile that typically costs a few pennies. Monthly bills are adjusted to reflect that base price and the cost of your total miles driven in the previous month. Metromile does look at standard rating factors when setting your premium, such as your age, the car you drive and your driving record.
You may also see your premium increase after the first five bills because, when you first start your policy, you actually prepay your premium. That prepayment gets spread across the first five bills, causing your initial payments to look lower than your actual premium going forward.
3 ways to track your driving with Metromile
You have a few options to let Metromile track your driving: plug a device directly into your car or use your car’s built-in connectivity. The device transmits your driving data to Metromile’s system, where it’s available for you to view and play with through the Metromile app. Or, use the app to pull up your insurance cards or policy documents, see where you last parked, learn about your car’s check engine light and more.
- Plug-in device. You receive the Metromile Pulse in the mail, a device that plugs into your car’s onboard diagnostic port.
- Cigarette adapter. Have an older car? The plug-in device can be retrofitted for older cars with an extra adapter for your car’s cigarette lighter.
- Direct car connectivity. Ford partnered with Metromile to offer tracking directly through Ford Connect. However, this functionality is fairly new, and Ford Connect is notoriously finicky, with a bad UI and often-dropped Bluetooth connections.
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Pay only for the miles you drive, plus enjoy app services you won’t find everywhere like claims and car health updates.
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Pros and cons of Metromile auto insurance
Metromile is one of the only companies to offer only per-mile car insurance through its app. But it’s not available in every state, and not all drivers save money with this policy.
Pros
If you’re a sporadic driver who’s OK with tracking your mileage, you might save hundreds of dollars over traditional policies.
- Pay for your actual use. Your rate is based on how much you use your car and how well you drive, not any risk assumptions based on your age, gender or other demographics.
- Free coverage. If you buy comprehensive and collision coverage, your policy also comes with free rental reimbursement and pet injury protection. Plus, get your deductible waived if you’re in a collision with an uninsured driver.
- Easy claims. File a claim online or call a toll-free number to report your policy number, accident information, names and vehicles involved in your accident.
- Try before you buy. Metromile released its Ride Along app in October 2020, letting any driver download and track their driving to see their rates without requiring a purchase. If you buy, you also might score an extra discount.
- Handy driving app. The sweet app can track your trips, decode your car’s diagnostic codes and alert you to city-specific street-sweeping and parking reminders — a boon for urbanites looking to curb the inevitable parking ticket.
Cons
There’s a lot to like with Metromile, but its policy comes with plenty of restrictions at the moment.
- Limited states. While Metromile plans to expand, it currently services only Arizona, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington.
- Older vehicles excluded. Metromile’s mandatory mileage device excludes older vehicles that may not have a port to plug it into.
- Not all drivers eligible. Underwriting guidelines could prevent some drivers from qualifying for pay-per-mile insurance.
What is Metromile?
Metromile is a pay-per-mile auto insurance startup based in the heart of a city that’s difficult to drive in: San Francisco. Founded in 2011, Metromile is changing the way we shop for car insurance through its innovative approach and convenient online platform.
This type of insurance is designed to benefit urban drivers who typically don’t drive as much as their suburban counterparts. But with more of us working from home, it could also be a fit for suburbanites, including retirees and those on limited incomes.
With Metromile, you’re quoted a monthly base cost along with a fixed per-mile rate. You agree to transmit your mileage through its proprietary Metromile Pulse, a device that plugs into your car. Policies come with a 24/7 customer service and a claims team accessible through a full-service app.
This startup is focused on rolling out pay-per-mile insurance in states with dense urban populations. If you’re looking for a provider that offers multiple types of insurance, you may want to look elsewhere.
How to contact Metromile
Reach Metromile by phone or by completing a secure form on its website.
- Call 888-242-5204 for a quote.
- Call 888-311-2920 for customer support.
- Call 888-595-5484 or go to claims.metromile.com to file a claim.
Metromile’s cancellation policy
Alternatives to Metromile
If you drive an average number of miles or don’t prefer an app-based policy, you may find lower rates or your preferred customer service features with one of these companies.
- Metromile vs. Nationwide
- Clearcover vs. Metromile
Car insurance ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
Our insurance team analyzes car insurance providers to help you choose the best car insurance for you.
We rank insurers from one to five stars based on key factors including customer satisfaction, policy options, price, billing, claims and support. We create these rankings to help you narrow down an insurance provider that best suits your budget and coverage needs.