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Pay-as-you-go car insurance
Only pay for how much you drive with mileage-based car insurance.
Why should a driver with a five-minute commute pay the same as a driver with a two-hour commute? If you want great car insurance but don’t drive much, compare pay-as-you-go car insurance.
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How does pay-as-you-go car insurance work?
The pay-as-you-go feature is available from a handful of insurers. It’s also known as a low-mileage discount, usage-based insurance, black box insurance or telematics insurance.
With usage-based insurance, the cost of your insurance will be based on the amount you drive and how you drive. If you only do a little bit of driving, your premiums are reduced to reflect this.
It works by installing a device, using your smartphone or using a built-in telematics service such as OnStar or SYNC, that tracks the miles you drive and your driving behavior. Behaviors tracked include hard braking and rapid acceleration among other habits. All three tracking methods act similarly.
- Plug-in device. This requires the installation of a telematics device, sometimes called a “black box,” on your car that’s occasionally removed and analyzed by your insurance company. Not only does it track your mileage, it can track your speed, braking patterns and when and where you drive. This can seem invasive to some drivers.
- Built-in device. Mileage and driving behavior is reported automatically with a built-in telematics service, like OnStar or SYNC. If you have OnStar or a similar service, you can qualify for the mileage discount if you drive less than 15,000 miles per year.
- Smartphone app. Instead of using a device, you’ll download your provider’s app, which collects driving data.
How does a telematics device rate my driving?
The telematics device records how you drive. Rather than looking at any one specific journey, the black box looks at the combined effect of many trips to work out what kind of driver you are on the whole. Keep in mind that not every insurance company uses every part of what’s tracked when determining your rate.
Some of the factors the black box tracks include:
- Acceleration
- Deceleration
- Smoothness
- Braking
- Speed
- Where you drive
- How often you drive
- Time spent on the road
Ask an expert: How does telematics help me save on insurance?
One type of lesser known insurance discount is new to most people: allowing the insurance company to put some type of data recorder in your vehicle to monitor your driving habits. If you have safe driving habits or don’t drive all that often then the insurance company will reward you with lower rates.
Virtually every large carrier offers some form of potential telematics discount: GEICO, Allstate, Progressive, Esurance, Liberty Mutual, State Farm, and many others. Additionally, some specialty insurance carriers who offer “pay-by-the-mile” insurance like Metromile use telematics to calculate miles driven and determine rates.
So should you place a device in your car to record and analyze your driving? Privacy advocates are leery of yet one more device tracking us, but you may just determine that savings of 5% or more is well worth what is essentially a “set it and forget it” car insurance discount opportunity. Now just make sure to drive safely, but you already do that regardless, right?
How can pay-as-you-go car insurance help me save?
A good driver safety score, based on telematics information recorded by the black box, will lower your premiums, while a bad score may increase them.
- Replaces no-claims discounts. Black box car insurance replaces the no-claims bonuses offered by most insurers. It can take up to six years to get the top level of no-claims bonus, but if you are a good driver, black box insurance can help you achieve the equivalent within a single year.
- Reduces risk category. If you are in a high-risk category, such as a new driver or an under-25 driver, then the black box can prove that you are not actually a high risk provided you consistently drive well. You will still be charged higher age or experience-related premiums, and additional penalties, but these will be partially offset by a good black box driver score.
- Claims penalize your premiums less. Because your no-claims bonus has been replaced by your driver safety score, you are able to make claims without worrying about a large premium hike. Your premiums will still increase upon making claims, but your driver safety score will remain largely unaffected.
- Provider-independent driver score. If you want to change insurers, some may recognize a good driver safety score and offer reduced premiums or higher no-claims bonuses.
- Works for multiple drivers. The black box is for everyone who drives that car. If there are multiple drivers on the policy, and all of them are in high-risk categories, then this would typically result in a significant price increase. However, if they are all safe drivers as evidenced by black box data, then you may be able to get significantly lower premiums than you would otherwise.
- View your own driving stats. You can access the telematic data and take action yourself. For example, you can check what kind of driver someone else on your policy is. If they tend to be unsafe it’s possible that they’re single-handedly hiking up your premiums and you could save money by cutting them from the policy and not letting them drive the car.
- Makes you a safer driver. Analysis has shown that compared to standard insurance, young black box drivers are 20% less likely to be involved in a car crash. And their accidents are less severe, costing an average of 30% less. This is thought to be partly because naturally safe drivers are more likely to opt for black box insurance, but also because black boxes help people drive more safely.
How much can I save with pay-as-you-go car insurance?
The amount of money you can save with a black box device depends entirely on your driving score. A good score can get you a sizable discount while a bad score might raise premiums. For example, drivers who switch to Metromile save an average of $661 on their annual rates.
However, regardless of your score, you may still have higher rates for being a young driver or having made claims in the past. The black box score does not replace these; it simply puts the focus on your driving and not on factors you can’t help. There might also be an additional fee for renting the device itself.
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Is pay-as-you-go car insurance right for me?
Anyone who drives less than the average person can potentially benefit from the pay-as-you-go system. Similarly, anyone who wants full coverage insurance but doesn’t drive enough to warrant paying full price for it may also want to consider this.
- Seniors. After you’ve retired, it’s likely that you will drive much less, and no longer need to pay for full coverage.
- Students. Pay-as-you-go options are perfect if you’re a student and leave your car at home while you’re away at school or stay on campus most of the time.
- City dwellers. If you live in a metropolitan city like New York or San Francisco, you may own a car but leave it parked much of the time. Pay-as-you-go is a great option.
- High risk drivers. Insurers charge higher rates for riskier drivers, including drivers under 25 and drivers without perfect credit. But usage-based insurance rates are based on your actual driving, not your demographic info.
- Seasonal workers. Seasonal workers like teachers who don’t drive to work in the summer could choose seasonal insurance or pay-as-you-go insurance to save during the off season.
- Remote workers. With a 10-foot commute to your home office, you likely don’t drive much except to run occasional errands.
What does the insurance company do with telematics data?
The app or device automatically transmits data back to the insurance company or is occasionally taken out and the data is downloaded manually. The insurance company reviews this data and uses it to adjust your premiums.
The information gathered by the black box will be used to assign you a driver safety score, which indicates how safe you are and what kind of risks you may pose to the insurance company. The insurer can choose to give you a score for every trip or assign an adjustable overall score.
This wealth of information is a gold mine for car insurance brands, as it lets them calculate risk levels much more accurately. Telematics car insurance can let safer drivers pay lower premiums to match their personal driving habits.
What else does the black box do?
In addition to tracking how smoothly you drive, the black box also records some other important information. This includes:
- Location. Your insurer may use the black box data to confirm that your car is kept overnight where you say it is. This helps personalize your premiums further and confirm that the information you have provided is accurate.
- Distance driven per year. This makes a big difference to the lifespan of a car and the chances of needing to make a claim, but can be difficult to prove. The use of a black box lets your insurer understand how far you drive in a year and whether this is more or less than most other people, and adjust your premiums accordingly.
- GPS data. The black box also includes a GPS tracker which can be used to help police recover the vehicle if it’s stolen, and provide further information about driving habits.
Is it safe to trust a telematics device with my data?
Some privacy advocates have expressed concerns over the data that is collected from these telematics devices. What is being done with this personal information? And is it being shared with anyone?
If you share these concerns, you’ll want to make sure your insurance provider offers full disclosure of what happens to the data that is collected. Fortunately, you’ll find that most, if not all, of the insurance companies that offer usage-based insurance do not sell your info to third parties and are fully transparent with what they do with that data.
Another factor that might help to put your mind at ease is that none of these tracking programs is mandatory. The insurance provider allows you to opt-in and opt-out at any point.
Another privacy concern is the GPS tracking feature on the device. For some, this is too invasive. There is concern for what is called “location discrimination.” If you park your car or travel in a part of town that is considered dangerous and has a high crime rate, this might cause your insurance premium to increase.
However, some devices allow drivers to turn off the GPS feature. If this is a worry for you, check to see if disabling the GPS is an option.
When deciding if usage-based insurance is the route you want to take, you’ll want to weigh any privacy concerns with the discount you might receive.
Pros and cons of pay-as-you-go car insurance
Pros
- Lets you get car insurance at a lower price if you drive less and well
- Means you only pay for the amount you drive
- Can be used to quickly achieve the equivalent of a high no-claims discount
- Will actively result in lower premiums for good drivers
- GPS functionality assists recovery if your vehicle is stolen
- Helps you become a safer driver and provides feedback
- Provides thorough information and evidence in the event of a dispute
Cons
- Only ideal for people who drive less or better than average
- Requires more policy management than most typical policies
- It’s currently only available with comprehensive car insurance policies
- You’re required to pay an additional one-time fee in order to rent the black box
- Because monthly premiums can change based on your driving, you need to consistently drive safely to get the best value rather than simply installing and then forgetting about it
- You may have concerns regarding data collection and privacy issues
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Sign up for pay-as-you-go insurance in 6 steps
- Review the terms
- Sign up with the app or policy
- Receive your black box telematics device from the company in the mail
- Install it under your car’s dashboard by following the instructions provided
- Drive as normal
- Regularly review your driver safety scorecard to look for ways to drive more safely and reduce your premiums
Once the data has settled or become consistent over time, your driver safety score is locked in, which determines your future premiums, and you can send the box back to the insurer. As such, step six is very important for reducing future costs.
The black box will draw a small amount of power while the car is running, but enters sleep mode when it’s turned off. It won’t interfere with any onboard electronics, other systems or the vehicle’s functions in any way.
Black box insurance exclusions
The same exclusions apply to black box car insurance as apply to most typical car insurance policies. The insurer will generally not pay out for:
- Damage incurred in the course of or resulting from illegal activities
- Damage that occurred while the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs other than those taken as prescribed
- Damage sustained when the vehicle was driven by someone not listed as a driver on the policy
- Damage that is in any way related to acts of war, or biological, radioactive or chemical contamination
- Damage incurred while the vehicle was being used in a race or trial, or on a racetrack
- Loss resulting from the car being left unattended and unlocked in a public place
- Loss of value resulting from depreciation or wear and tear
- Repairs conducted by an unauthorized mechanic, or damage resulting from shoddy repairs unless they were done by someone authorized by the insurer
- Damage caused by pets or other domestic animals owned by you or which you are legally responsible for
In addition to these, insurers will also typically refuse to pay out if there is evidence of you knowingly being dishonest in your dealings with them. Black boxes make this a lot easier to spot, and insurers will often have clear proof of this if it occurs.
Bottom line
Enjoy individual car insurance premiums customized for your driving with pay-as-you-go car insurance. If you don’t mind transmitting your driving data to your insurer from a black box device, app or built-in telematics, you could save a bundle on your car insurance.
If you’re not sure whether pay-as-you-go insurance is worth it, compare your other car insurance options to find the best policy for you.
Frequently asked questions about pay-as-you-go insurance
Ask an Expert
I just need a comprehensive insurance for 2 months starting 9/8/17 for driving 3000km coverage only
Hi there!
For short-term low mileage drivers, I’d definitely recommend taking a look at Metromile. They offer comprehensive coverage and you’ll only pay per mile driven.
Thanks for asking a question on Finder!