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Ah, twenty-something city-dwellers: You’re out on your own, overpaying for a small but great apartment in a chill neighborhood. You’re moving up in life. Done are the days of working a meaningless gig — you’ve got a “real” job now. Heck, maybe you’ve finally parted ways with your rickety old dresser from college. But more importantly: you’ve got bills. You’re doing it. You’re #adulting.

The truth is, your first car insurance policy was likely possible thanks to your parents adding you on to their coverage, maybe even bundling with their homeowner’s insurance. At 16 and freshly licensed, you shoved your insurance card in the glove box and hit the road.

Just like filing your taxes, crafting an eye-catching resume, or making sense of a lease agreement, shopping around for car insurance and figuring out the right coverage is just another necessary life skill no one teaches you. 

4 things you should know about car insurance

1. Car insurance is required in most cases.

Car insurance is an important purchase if you want to drive. You know being insured is basically mandatory after first hearing about it during your driver’s ed course, but the instructor never goes into much detail about what it all means. What you should know is that it can help protect your car, your bank account, and your well-being if you’re in a car accident or your car is damaged or stolen.

2. There are many types of coverage.

Like many aspects of adult life, car insurance comes with its own bag of terms. What you should know is that in most cases, you can personalize your policy. There can be a lot of car insurance jargon, so understand you might want more coverage and higher limits for extra peace of mind. 

It can pay off to do some research before you buy and to make sure your current coverage still works for you.

3. It doesn’t always pay off to bundle your car insurance.

To bundle or not to bundle? Chances are, you’re probably still on your family’s cell phone plan. Data plans are typically more economical when split between family members, but this isn’t necessarily the case with car insurance. 

You may be living in a different city than your parents, so it doesn’t make much sense to still be included in their policy. 

Other than renter’s insurance, you also may not have additional insurance needs that would even warrant a bundle, which may actually be less economical. Insurance companies might mask higher rates in their all-in-one-bill convenience when really, having separate policies can be more budget-friendly overall.

The moral of the story? It can pay to shop for car insurance and to shop regularly.

4. Most people could save with pay-per-mile car insurance.

You pay for the miles you drive with pay-per-mile auto insurance. You can think of it as a pay-as-you-go plan for your car.

Metromile charges a base rate as low as $29 per month to keep your car covered and a few cents for each mile you drive. If you don’t drive very often or very far, you could save on car insurance.

6 reasons why pay-per-mile auto insurance makes sense for young city-dwellers

With all of the different coverage options out there, pay-per-mile auto insurance might make sense for you if you are in your 20s and live in a city.

1. You recently moved (or are thinking about it).

Chances are, the pandemic may have you considering moving. Or, if you’ve already jumped on a new place with a pandemic discount — congrats! 

When you move, you need to let your car insurance company know. Where you park your car each night usually impacts the price you pay, and your rate could go up, stay the same, or go down. 

One way to help lock in any savings is to switch to pay-per-mile car insurance. Whatever your circumstances might be, you could save money with pay-per-mile insurance if you only drive occasionally.

2. You recently got a car.

Whether it’s brand new or new to you, this might be the first time you’ve had a set of wheels in a while. 

If your tried and true hand-me-down Camry is still kicking, you’re in luck: it’s less expensive to insure an older car. Used cars are typically a more affordable option to buy. They tend to be easier to repair because parts are more readily available or cheaper for you or your mechanic to purchase and install. 

A pay-per-mile auto insurance policy can also help you cut down on expenses further.

3. You can personalize your coverage to only pay for what you need.

In terms of coverage, you might not need comprehensive and collision coverage. These coverage options help you replace or pay for repairs to your vehicle and may come with a deductible that’s higher than the car is worth. This is because cars generally lose their value over time. By opting out of coverage you might not need, you could lower your insurance bill overall.

You can personalize your coverage with Metromile, giving you the confidence that your policy is right for your needs and lifestyle. 

Metromile’s pay-per-mile auto insurance offers four different levels of liability protection and choices for your comprehensive and collision deductibles so that you have greater control over how much you want to pay.

4.. You’re now working from home.

#OOTD: Business on top, pajamas on the bottom. 

You might be thrilled to have done away with your morning commute. If you’ve traded mind-numbing bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic getting home for Zoom fatigue, you’re probably not driving as much these days.

Your WFH routine could result in lower auto insurance bills if you switch to pay-per-mile insurance. Other drivers have cut down on their bills by switching.

5. You take trips on the weekends.

Burnout is very real, and your home office view is getting a little stale. All the more reason to get away on the weekends, right? 

If you’re a weekend warrior, taking longer trips out of town now and then for a much-needed change of scenery, Metromile could still be the right coverage option for you since all miles over 250 (or 150 for New Jersey drivers) in one day are free! 

6. You’re going back to school.

Perhaps you’re making most of this crazy year and, with more time on your hands now than ever before, have decided to go back to school. Students, like work-from-homers, tend to be infrequent drivers. When you’re spending the majority of your time at home, you probably don’t put too many miles on your car. In this case, it just doesn’t make sense to pay for expensive insurance coverage that you don’t use. With pay-per-mile insurance, you could save money if your car insurance bill considered the miles you drive.

What’s next?

With so many life changes this year — from moving to working from home — it’s more important than ever to find the car insurance coverage that best fits your lifestyle. With most insurance companies, you pay a flat rate no matter how much you drive. We don’t think this is fair. It’s like going out to dinner and then being forced to split the bill four ways when you only ordered an appetizer while Becca over there ordered two palomas and the flatbread for herself.

With Metromile, you can control how much you pay for car insurance because your rate is based on your driving. We know one size doesn’t fit all.

Find out how much you could save with Metromile’s pay-per-mile car insurance. Get a free quote in minutes or download our app and Ride Along to see if pay-per-mile is right for you.

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned many former office employees into remote workers, and with their jobs no longer tying them down to a particular location, some are leaving the cities they used to call home for greener pastures.

If you find yourself in this situation, it’s important to let your car insurance company know you’re moving, so they can update your address. 

Location affects the price you pay for car insurance, so your premium could change. This means it could also be a good time to look for a new auto insurance policy if your rate increases. Metromile’s pay-per-mile car insurance charges you for the miles you drive, so drivers who don’t drive often or long distances can save hundreds of dollars by switching.

We all know how stressful moving can be. Between finding a new place to live and packing, car insurance is probably the last thing on your mind right now. But this is one more item you should add to your moving to-do list.

Why is it so important? Let’s find out.

Why do you have to change auto insurance when you move?

There are two important reasons why you need to update your auto insurance when you move. 

1. Your car insurance company might not operate in the state where you’re moving. Each state has its own licenses for insurance, so you’ll want to make sure your car insurance company operates in your new state. You might need a new auto insurer if your old insurance company isn’t available where you are moving.
   
2. Even if they do have a presence there, they might want to adjust your premiums based on your new address.
   Location matters. Many insurance companies consider where you usually park your car each night to determine the price you pay.

What if I don’t tell my car insurance company I moved?

It could be tempting to not say anything, especially if you’re concerned your premiums will go up. 

But there are a few reasons why you’ll want to let your auto insurer know you’re moving:

1. If you move out of a state, you’ll need a new auto insurance policy before you can register your car. Failing to register your car could get you into trouble with your new state.
2. If you get into a car accident and need to file a claim, your insurance company might cancel your policy when they find out you moved without telling them. That means you might not be covered if something goes wrong. Not to mention, driving without insurance is illegal in most states.
3. If that doesn’t get your attention, this might: Not updating your address could be a form of insurance fraud.

We’re not trying to scare you, but we think it’s important you understand the consequences of not updating your auto insurance policy when you move.

Of course, if you’re just out of town on vacation, you don’t need to update your address.

The same goes if you’re only moving temporarily, but plan to return home in a few months. But each insurance company might have a different timeline for what constitutes a temporary move. So you should check with your provider to be sure.

Does your ZIP Code affect your car insurance? 

Your auto insurance rate is based on a number of factors, including where you live and:

• Age
• Driving experience
• Safety record
• Vehicle type and age
• Location

So if you move, your auto insurer might update the price you pay to match the rates in your new location.

Why does your car insurance go up when you change your address?

No matter how safe a driver you are, your location is bound to impact your car insurance.

There are three reasons why the price you pay for car insurance might go up when you change your address:

1. You move to a place with a higher rate of car accidents.
2. You move to a place with a higher rate of stolen cars.
3. You move to a place with higher or different state minimum insurance requirements.

So we’d expect your car insurance premium to go up if you move from a small town where there are fewer cars or more patient drivers to a big city with heavy traffic and drivers who might speed or run red lights.

But of course, changing your address doesn’t always mean your premiums will increase. On the flip side, your car insurance rate could go down if you’re leaving an urban area to someplace where there are fewer drivers or hazards on the road.

If you’re looking for more value from your car insurance, Metromile could help low-mileage drivers (most Americans!) save money.

What are the state minimums where I’m moving?

Each state has different minimum coverage requirements for auto insurance.

Metromile can help you figure out what the minimum requirements for insurance coverage are if you’re moving to one of the eight states where we operate:

• Arizona
• California
• Illinois
• New Jersey
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Virginia
• Washington  

When should you change your car insurance when you move out of state?

Whether you’re moving out of state or across town, it’s essential to update your address.

Depending on where you go, you might also need to register your car with the local department of motor vehicles or the licensing department and get a new driver’s license. 

But with so many moving pieces, it can be confusing to figure out what to do first, and when to do it. So we put together a few steps for you to follow.

1. Let your car insurance company know before you move 

Each car insurance company has its own policies. 

So it’s important to communicate with them early and often to figure out if they offer car insurance where you are moving, how much it will cost, and exactly when you should update your policy.

2. Don’t cancel your current car insurance policy before you move 

Driving without insurance is illegal in most states.

Even if it’s only for a few days, you risk having no insurance coverage if you get into an accident.

You should also know that canceling your old insurance policy before you start a new one could increase your premiums. Auto insurers will refer to this as a “gap in coverage,” and they see it as a sign that you might be a risky driver. 

So you should wait until after you line up a new policy to cancel your old one.

3. Update your address after you move

After you move, call your insurance company and give them your new address.

Typically, you have 30 to 90 days to update your insurance, but you should verify these details with your car insurance company when you call to let them know about your upcoming move.

4. Shop for a cheaper car insurance

If your auto insurance company doesn’t operate in the new state you’re moving to, or charges too much, you can also shop for another car insurance policy.

People who don’t often drive or drive too far should look at Metromile. Metromile customers pay for the miles they drive and can save hundreds of dollars if they are a low-mileage driver. 

5. Get a driver’s license and register your car in your new state 

Once you update your car insurance, you can head over to the DMV to register your car.

The DMV will want to see proof of insurance before they approve your vehicle registration and give you new license plates. Most states will give you at least a month to register your car, but keep in mind some states require you to do it immediately! It might take a while to schedule an appointment, so it’s important to get on top of this as soon as you move. 

While you’re at the DMV, this could also be a good time to get your new driver’s license so you can knock two things off your to-do list at the same time.

What is this “pay-per-mile insurance” you keep talking about?

Pay-per-mile auto insurance lets you pay for what you use.

Most car insurance companies bundle up everything into one big insurance policy and don’t know how much you drive. But with pay-per-mile insurance, you pay for how much you drive.

At Metromile, you’ll pay a base rate, starting as low as $29 per month, plus a few cents for every mile you drive, measured accurately through a secure device you plug into your car.

That means the less you drive, the more you save on car insurance.

How much could Metromile save me?

Let’s take a look at how much low-mileage drivers could save with Metromile:

* Average annual car insurance savings by new customers surveyed who saved with Metromile in 2018.

What’s next?

If you’re moving, it might be the perfect time to switch to pay-per-mile car insurance. 

It might seem easier to stick with your current car insurance company. But because you have to update your policy anyways, you might as well shop for the best rates while you do that.

Find out how much you could save with a free quote from Metromile.

There’s nothing like the feeling of getting your first car.
But before you surprise your teenage driver with the keys to an old car on their 16th birthday, you should know car insurance might cost more than the car itself.
Teenage drivers are expensive to insure because they tend to get into car accidents more often than experienced drivers. But they also don’t drive as often as most adults. If the teenager in your family only drives to school and their part-time job, you might be able to save money with pay-per-mile car insurance.

Metromile’s pay-per-mile car insurance charges you for the miles you drive.

Why is car insurance so expensive for teens?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers.

Out of some 300,000 teenagers who get injured in car accidents each year, the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control (CDC) found 2,364 are involved in fatal accidents.

That comes out to more than six teenagers who die every day in car accidents.

So, naturally, it can be more expensive to insure teen drivers.

But if your teenager doesn’t drive very often, you might be able to minimize the expense by signing up for pay-per-mile insurance.

How much does car insurance cost for teenagers?

Car insurance rates gradually decline as your teenager gets older.

According to Business Insider, teen drivers can expect to pay between $1,260 and $6,777 per year on average for traditional car insurance, depending on their age and driving record:

But at Metromile, your car insurance rate is based on how much you drive. So teenagers who don’t drive as often as their parents or other drivers might save money.

For example, younger, teenage drivers, who are the primary drivers on Metromile, can pay considerably less for their car insurance.

What are the biggest risks for teen drivers?

According to the CDC, some of the leading causes of teenage car accidents include:

• Inexperience
• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Distracted driving
• Drunk driving
• Drowsy driving
• Peer pressure
• Not wearing a seat belt

How can I keep my teen driver safe? 

The best way to keep your teen driver safe is to establish a clear set of rules: 

• Buckle up. Always wear a seat belt.
• Keep your eyes on the road. Your teenager shouldn’t use their cellphone, change the music or radio station often, check their makeup, eat or drink while they’re driving. 
• Take your time. There’s no need to speed or tailgate, even if you’re running late.
• You shouldn’t be drinking, especially not if you’re driving. Be strict about driving when alcohol might be involved. “Buzzed” driving, or driving while intoxicated but under the legal limit to be considered drunk driving, can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. No one, especially not teenagers under the age of 21, should consider driving after drinking.
• Don’t drive when you’re tired. Consider setting a curfew to help ensure your younger drivers operate a vehicle only when they’re most alert.
• No friends in the car without a responsible adult to supervise.

It’s also important for parents to lead by example. If your teenage driver sees you breaking the rules, they might think they can get away with it, too.

Is it better for teenagers to get their own car insurance or be added to their parents’ policy?

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you make your decision.

Can teenagers get their own car insurance policy?

You might be thinking about getting your teenage driver their own car insurance policy, especially if they drive their own car.

This can be a good way to shield the rest of the family from expensive insurance premiums. 

Unfortunately, teenagers might have trouble getting car insurance on their own because they’re underage. But if a parent co-signs, that could make it easier to separate the teen driver’s policy from the family’s policy. 

Should parents add a teenage driver to the family’s car insurance policy?

If your teenager drives the family car, you might be required to add them to your auto insurance policy, as they are a potential driver in your household.

This could raise your insurance rates.

But if you have a good driving record, your experience could help reduce the rate your teen would pay if they have their own car and took out a separate insurance policy. 

The catch to adding a teen driver to the family’s insurance policy is if they get a ticket or crash the car, it could raise the whole family’s rates.

5 reasons why pay-per-mile insurance makes sense for teen drivers

Teenagers drive fewer miles than any other age group.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, teenagers drive an average of 7,624 miles per year, which is about half as many miles as adults drive, except senior drivers.

The less you drive, the more you could save with Metromile.

1. You only drive to school

If you use your car to drive to school instead of riding the bus, you probably don’t spend that much time behind the wheel.

So you might as well pay for the miles you drive.

2. You’re at college, but left your car at home

If you’re away at college for most of the year, you probably don’t put too many miles on your car. Instead, you might spend more miles on public transportation, ride-sharing, or your bike. 

With pay-per-mile insurance, you don’t pay for miles you don’t drive. College and student drivers can pay less than other drivers who might have to commute far distances for work or drive more regularly.

3. You drive an old car

It’s less expensive to insure a used or older car. Insurance companies provide lower rates because the vehicle might be cheaper or easier to repair than a newer model or a luxury car.

You also might not need as much coverage for an older car because cars tend to drop in value over time. You don’t want to have a deductible that costs more than how much your car is worth, for example.

4. You took a defensive driving course

In some states, Metromile offers discounts to teenagers who take defensive driving classes. 

Being proactive about improving your driving can demonstrate responsibility and show your insurer you are a lower-risk driver.

5. Your car has safety features

Metromile offers discounts to drivers whose cars have certain safety and anti-theft equipment. This might include automatic seat belts, airbags, alarms, tracking devices, and vehicle recovery devices.

If your vehicle is equipped with features that make your driving safer or decreases the likelihood of an accident or other car-mishap, you could be rewarded with a lower rate.

What’s next?

Does your teenager only drive to school and work?

If they don’t get behind the wheel that often, find out how much you could save with a free quote from Metromile.

Women tend to be more responsible drivers. Compared to men, they drive less often, get into fewer car accidents, and are more likely to wear seatbelts. But in many cases, women pay just as much — if not more — for car insurance than men.
That’s where Metromile comes in. If you’re a safe driver who doesn’t get behind the wheel very often, you might be able to save money with one of our personalized pay-per-mile car insurance policies.

How much do women drive?

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, women drive about 40% fewer miles than men.

The average driver logs 13,476 miles each year.

Now, take a look at how those miles are split up between men and women:

You’ll notice that in every age group, men outlap women in total miles driven each year, and the disparity only grows with age.

So by default, women drive less than average.

Why does it matter that most women drive less than men?

When it comes to insurance, the fewer miles you drive, the less risk you carry. With a pay-per-mile policy, the insurance company passes the savings onto you.

So you can reap the benefits of driving less often.

What’s the difference between regular car insurance and pay-per-mile insurance?

Most car insurance companies charge drivers a large flat rate. But if you don’t drive very much, that’s sort of like paying for an all-you-can-eat restaurant buffet when you’re only hungry enough for a small salad.

You’re overpaying to compensate for other people who drive more than you.

The way pay-per-mile car insurance works, by contrast, is you pay for the miles you drive. It’s fairer and can be more affordable. 

At Metromile, you’ll pay a base rate, starting as low as $29 per month, plus a few cents for every mile you drive, which is measured accurately through a secure device you plug into your car.

Because you get charged by the mile, a pay-per-mile insurance policy could make sense for women who drive less often than men.

How much could Metromile save women drivers?

Low-mileage drivers who switch to Metromile save hundreds of dollars on average:

Are women better drivers than men?

Not only do women drive less often than men, but they’re generally also more responsible on the road.

“Women tend to be better drivers than men — much better, judging by the number of deaths they cause on the road,” Nicholas Bakalar wrote for The New York Times.

But it gets worse: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety claims “crashes involving male drivers often are more severe than those involving female drivers.” According to the institute, male drivers are more than twice as likely to be killed in a car accident. 

If you look at the causes of those fatal car accidents, male drivers are about four times more likely than women to be caught speeding, or drinking and driving.

As you might imagine, the safer you drive, the more you can save on car insurance. In some states, Metromile even offers good drivers a discount on their car insurance premiums.

5 reasons why Metromile makes sense for women

Whether you’re a college student who walks to class, a young professional who commutes to work, or a stay-at-home mom who drops her children off at school, if you don’t drive very often, you could probably save a bunch of money with pay-per-mile car insurance.

1. You’re a student

Students put fewer miles on their cars than most other drivers, and this is especially true among women.

If you’re in high school, your parents might only allow you to drive to school or a part-time job, or you might be getting around mostly by carpooling with friends.

While some college students who live on campus might not bother taking their cars with them to college during the school year, choosing to take public transportation or ride their bike when classes are in session.

Either way, if driving is more of an occasional task than a necessity, you could save money with pay-per-mile car insurance.

2. You’re a young professional

After you graduate, you might rely on your car more often to get to work.

Young professionals, especially women between the ages of 20 and 34, drive more than any other group of women. But they still put fewer miles on their cars than the average driver. After all, chances are the office is accessible by public transportation or isn’t too far away from home.

That means they could save money by switching to pay-per-mile car insurance.

3. You’re a stay-at-home mom

If you’re a stay-at-home mom, you might not get behind the wheel that often.

Whether you’re dropping your kids off at school, sports practice, or picking up groceries, if you’re not the primary driver in your family, you could probably save money with a pay-per-mile car insurance policy.

4. You’re a grandma

If you enjoy driving once in a while to visit your grandchildren or only get behind the wheel to run occasional errands, you might save money with pay-per-mile car insurance. Women who are over the age of 65 drive less often than any other group of female drivers.

And because you can control how much you want to spend each month with pay-per-mile insurance, you can reduce the chances of any surprises on your bill, especially helpful if you’re on a fixed budget or income.

5. You’re married

Regardless of your age or gender, married drivers tend to be safer drivers. They take fewer risks on the road, so they’re cheaper to insure.

If you haven’t done so already or recently got married, consider letting your insurance company know about the major milestone. You could be due for a discount or a lower rate.

What’s more: If both you and your partner drive your own cars, you could save money by adding both vehicles to the same insurance policy to take advantage of the multi-vehicle discount Metromile provides.

What’s next?

If you only drive once in a while, you might be able to save a small fortune with pay-per-mile car insurance.

Find out how much you could save with a free quote from Metromile.

Julie Santiano is a Los Angeles native armed with a duo of Tesla vehicles and a penchant for helping to create a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly future. She shares her Tesla Model S and Tesla Model X on Turo to help people live out special moments. Julie chose Metromile car insurance to benefit from the transparent pay-per-mile pricing.

You own two Teslas! What’s the appeal for you?

I moved up to the San Francisco Bay Area a couple of years ago to work at an electric vehicle company. I’m a huge fan of a sustainable future, and a big part of that is improving cars on the road. I normally wouldn’t be able to afford a Tesla, but hosting through Turo had made it a lot more affordable and accessible. 

Are the people who book your cars on Turo techies like you?

Definitely — A lot of the reservations I get are out-of-towners, who have never driven a Tesla, and Bay Area locals who want to do a test drive before committing to owning and garaging one.  

Your Turo profile shows you’ve completed training on enhanced cleaning and disinfection practices. Is this something you did because of COVID-19?

I’m a neat freak anyway, so I’m always cleaning and detailing my cars! It’s my way to check in with the car between rentals. I want my guests to enjoy their experience, knowing they’re safe. 

How have Turo bookings changed because of COVID-19?

In the past, there were more bookings for weddings — brides and grooms wanting to roll up in style to their rehearsal dinner — just to add another special experience to their whole wedding weekend. Since COVID-19, I’ve seen more folks booking luxury weekend getaways — lots of trips down to Monterey and Santa Cruz. Some people will even rent one of my Teslas for a week to head down to Los Angeles or Yosemite.

How did you hear about Metromile?

I had been anxiously waiting for your partnership with Turo to launch since you announced it last year! I got really excited about Metromile and being able to remove the renters’ miles from my personal expenses.  Anything that simplifies my processes — I’m all about it!

What was your old car insurance like compared to Metromile?

I had been with my last insurance company for 10 years. I hated that I was double paying for insurance, with my policy and Turo’s coverage. I always meant to shop around for car insurance but never did. There was always so much ambiguity. 

I like Metromile because it’s super transparent. I don’t feel like you’re trying to give me a run for my money, and that alone makes it worth it. Teslas are really expensive, but with Metromile, I’m able to have the coverage I need; and I’m seeing about an 80% savings! Now I have peace of mind that I’m not leaving money on the table. Knowing I’m not getting ripped off is great.

What is your favorite Metromile feature?

I like that my bill is paid automatically. I don’t have to think about my coverage, and I’m still being taken care of. Your process for filing a claim is so seamless compared to my previous insurer. Setting up and plugging in the Pulse device was super easy. I love it!

To say Southern California resident Leon is a “car guy” is an understatement. Even with his collection of cars — now in the double digits, ranging from a Nissan Versa sedan to a high-end Maserati Ghibli — he manages to save on his insurance with Metromile’s fractional car insurance.

How did you start hosting on Turo?

I’ve always been a big car fan, even since I was a little kid. I’ve met a lot of great people from hosting, and it’s been a way to make a bit of extra income. 

How many cars do you share on Turo?

At most, I had 22 vehicles on Turo. I started with just a few and then was able to find good deals and add more over time. The only thing is insurance is the number one issue when you have this many cars. I try to be organized, but I was juggling six to seven different insurance policies at once across different companies. I wouldn’t have had the success on Turo if it hadn’t been for Metromile — it’s so much easier now!

How do you keep track of all of your cars?

I use the Notes app on my iPhone to make different lists, like which are due for maintenance. All of the numbers and cost breakdowns are in Excel; and my wife helps me out, too. It’s much easier to manage the insurance costs now that all of them are on Metromile!

With so many cars on Turo, have you seen a pattern in your bookings? 

Absolutely. I’ve been doing this for so long now that I can almost pinpoint which car a customer is going to book. Younger customers tend to go for the Maserati over one of the economy cars.

When did you find out about Metromile?

Turo’s CEO chats with “power hosts” to get feedback and hear about our experiences at the end of the year. I had asked about the progress of your partnership with Turo and was eager to know when it was getting started. Once it launched, I hopped right on it!

Have you seen changes in Turo reservations because of COVID-19?

During the initial stay-at-home order, I took all my cars off Turo. I have many listed now and am only getting about half of the reservations I typically do since people aren’t really traveling or taking leisure trips. Lately, my economy vehicles have been getting reserved by guests who need to work since public transit is less common in Los Angeles.

What’s been the best part of your Metromile experience?

When I became a customer, I was excited to try out the Metromile app. I love it, even from my first experience interacting with it. The opening messages and visuals are very inviting and very easy to figure out. It was also so easy to install the Pulse device.

Eric is an entrepreneur, freelance writer, and self-described personal finance expert from Ventura, California. He knows a thing or two about finding the best deals to maximize a budget. He switched to Metromile four years ago because it fits his family’s low-mileage lifestyle and now saves half of what he used to pay by paying per mile.

How did you find Metromile?

When we moved to Portland, Oregon, my old insurance company raised our rates, and the customer service was pretty bad. On a really heavy driving day, I’m only putting 10 miles on the car at most. It got me thinking: why would I pay so much when I’m driving so little? 

I like to shop around every few years to see if there is a better price out there. I came upon Metromile and got a quote. The math made sense when I saw the rates. We switched and are now saving 50% of what we used to pay! Over the years, our family has grown. Even when we moved to Southern California, we stayed with Metromile and have continued taking advantage of the great savings!

How has Metromile affected your family’s budget?

Having Metromile makes it manageable and affordable for us to have two cars. My wife’s minivan gets the most use with errands and toting the kids around. Since I’m not traveling to conferences or going into the office these days, my car just sits in the garage. You would think that it wouldn’t be worth having a secondary car that barely gets driven, but because of what we’re saving, it not only makes sense for us to keep it — it’s affordable! 

Metromile is the perfect service for having that extra car. On the occasional road trip, we appreciate the cap on the miles. We don’t feel like we’re getting gouged when we take our kids to visit their grandparents out of state.

What do you think about usage-based insurance pricing? 

Metromile’s fair, pay-per-mile pricing has changed how I think about how I buy and use other products and services. 

Soon after switching to Metromile, I did the same for my cell phone. I’ve moved away from a standard provider that charges a flat rate for data usage to one where I can pay per gigabyte of data. I’m saving $10 a month there, which doesn’t feel like a lot, but when you add that up over a year and compound potential interest earnings, it can make a huge difference in your budget and is worth checking out.

How can you save money by unbundling services?

There’s a lure with having everything bundled under one policy, in one place, on one bill. But it should be about the per unit cost and being a savvy consumer. I’m a big fan of unbundling insurance and other services. People tend to be more comfortable paying a bill that’s a consistent amount, even if it’s technically more expensive. But if I’m able to pay less overall, who cares if it’s a different balance every month?

Think of it like shopping at the grocery store: sometimes, the price per ounce is different based on the size of the container. With Metromile, I have that same insight and transparency into the pricing of my family’s car insurance. I know my per unit cost based on what I drive. If you have traditional insurance, that’s a lot harder to figure out. Metromile has revolutionized the way I think about my recurring expenses and spurred me to seek alternatives that bill more fairly based on how I’m using those services. 

I’m a travel “hacker” too. I always thought roundtrip tickets were the best value, but now with dynamic pricing, it’s sometimes less expensive to buy each flight separately. Take advantage of those rate aggregators. For a multi-city European vacation I took a few years ago, I was able to add another destination for free just by breaking up how I booked my flights! 

What do you like most about Metromile?

I consider myself a “good millennial” who wants to “self-serve” everything on the Metromile app. I appreciate that I can handle most of everything I need there, but I also know I can call someone when I need help with my policy. 

One of my favorite features is the check-engine-light tool. If anything lights up on my car’s dashboard, I check to see a warning code on the app. There was one instance where I got an alert and, since I knew what the code was, I knew it was minor enough that my car could make the drive to the shop without complicating the issue. I showed up and, since I could already tell them what was wrong with the car, they were able to give me a better repair estimate!

Michael Johnson is a self-made businessman from San Leandro, California. His entrepreneurial spirit, love of sports cars, and dedication to providing top-notch service recently helped him become one of Turo’s top new hosts in the San Francisco Bay Area. As an industry insider, he recognizes the value of an excellent customer experience and holds the companies he works with to a high standard. In his view, Metromile fits the bill. He’s saved $500 a year by switching to pay-per-mile car insurance.

How did you get started as a Turo host?

I’ve always been into cars. When I was in college, I had an internship at Enterprise Rent-a-Car. I was previously working for Coca-Cola full-time and renting my car out as a side hustle when I wasn’t driving on the weekends. Then I added a second sports car, and it just snowballed from there. Now I host on Turo full-time. It never feels like work because I’m doing what I enjoy. 

Did your internship influence how you run your business on Turo?

For sure — I had gone through an intense training program as a part of my internship. Enterprise likes to recruit college students and athletes: people with a type-A personality and a competitive spirit. I tried to soak everything in so I could learn how to be the best salesman. Now I’m able to take all of this insider industry knowledge to make my business that much better. I’ve even co-authored an e-book on how to build a business sharing cars on Turo.  

What attracted you to Metromile?

I heard about your partnership early last year on calls with Turo’s upper management. Prior to Metromile, insurance was the main pain point for other Turo hosts and me because we were essentially paying for double insurance that covered when I drove and when a guest drove. I was eagerly waiting for Metromile to go live. I kept calling them, asking if it was a “go” yet! 

There are a lot of insurance options out there, but they only offer really high deductibles. I don’t use my cars for personal use very much, so being able to have affordable coverage that only charges me for the miles I drive and not the miles driven by guests — that’s huge. 

How have Turo reservations changed during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Before COVID-19 hit, I worked to scale my business, where I could still be cash flow positive. About half of my Turo business is from people traveling to the San Francisco Bay Area. To adjust, I’ve been running ads targeted at locals for staycations, folks who aren’t comfortable taking BART or other public transportation, or essential workers who don’t want to have to pay for a rideshare every day. Fortunately, I’ve seen my reservations pick back up to a pretty normal pace lately since I was able to pivot my business so quickly.

How do you get your business on Turo?

I get a lot of customers through word of mouth because my business is so local. I share my Turo profile on Instagram. With Turo, you can be more specific to what you want compared to traditional rental cars where your choices are pretty much limited to the class of car: economy or mid-size. 

I’ve built up my sports car fleet based on my interests. People on Turo are more niche; they want that sports car experience, driving up to Napa or down the California coast. They’re willing to pay more for the experience, and I want to make sure they have the best experience possible.

What have you enjoyed most about Metromile?

I’m extremely satisfied with the product I’m getting from Metromile. The Metromile app is straightforward. Navigating the app is really easy; I’m able to see everything on the dashboard, like how many miles I’ve driven at any particular time. 

Customer service is the biggest thing; it’s very personal for me. Every time I’ve called Metromile customer service, I’m able to get through to someone really quickly. I was on hold for 45 minutes with my old insurer, just to cancel my insurance policy. 

I usually drive whatever car isn’t rented. My personal car is a 2016 Camaro XS, and with Metromile, I’m now saving more than $500 a year or about 70% compared to what I used to pay! 

If you’re driving less during the coronavirus pandemic, you might save money by switching to pay-per-mile car insurance.

With Metromile’s pay-per-mile car insurance, you only pay a low base rate and a few cents for the miles you drive, which gives you control over how much you want to pay.

That means people working from home or sheltering in place until it’s safe to go out again could save truckloads of money because they aren’t driving as much as they used to.

What is pay-per-mile insurance?

Pay-per-mile insurance is like buying insurance a la carte.

Similar to dining out at a restaurant, you only pay for what you need.

At Metromile, you’ll pay a base rate, starting as low as $29 per month, plus a few cents for every mile you drive, measured accurately through a secure device you plug into your car.

That means the less you drive, the more you save on car insurance.

How can I get a COVID-19 refund?

You might have heard some insurance companies are offering car insurance refunds because policyholders aren’t driving as much during the pandemic.

The savings typically range from 10% to 25% of your premiums.

Unfortunately, those discounts don’t match the decline in driving we’ve noticed from many of our customers. We don’t think that’s fair. If the risk goes down for insurers, so should the price you pay. 

That’s why Metromile offers pay-per-mile car insurance. So if you’ve reduced your miles by more than 25% during the COVID-19 pandemic, you could save even more with us simply by driving less.

3 reasons why pay-per-mile insurance makes sense during COVID-19

To see how driving habits are changing in response to COVID-19, Metromile looked at the traffic patterns in three cities — San Francisco, Portland, Oregon, and Seattle — in June 2020 and June 2019.

The changes are staggering. 

We found 22% fewer cars on the road in June 2020 than there were a year earlier, and those who still got behind the wheel drove 30% fewer miles.

What does that mean for you?

1. You could save money on car insurance wherever you live

Metromile customers in all three cities are driving far less often than they used to. 

• Seattle noticed the biggest decline with people driving 33% fewer miles.
• In Portland, people drove 30% fewer miles.
• While people in San Francisco drove 28% fewer miles.

Even in San Francisco, which experienced the smallest decline, drivers could still save more money with a pay-per-mile policy than traditional auto insurers’ discounts.

Metromile customers saved about 30% on average on car insurance, beginning in April, because they pay per mile. Unlike with other insurers, they didn’t need to ask for a discount or let us know their driving habits had changed—their bills dropped automatically when they stayed home or drove less. 

2. You could save money on car insurance if you’re working from home

We also looked at how many miles people drive on weekdays compared to the previous year.

• In Seattle, people drove 33% fewer miles.
• In Portland, people drove 31% fewer miles.
• In San Francisco, people drove 29% fewer miles.

It looks like people may be working from home, and they are spending much less time on the road because they don’t have to drive to work. These drivers have a lot to gain from switching to pay-per-mile insurance.

3. You could save money on car insurance if you’re following a stay-at-home or shelter-in-place order

We also looked at how many miles people drive on weekends.

This gives us a better idea of how shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders are changing driving behaviors when people are not working and have more time to get out of the house for a few hours or take a weekend trip.

• In San Francisco, people drove 20% fewer miles on weekends.
• In Seattle, people drove 30% fewer miles on weekends.
• In Portland, people drove 31% fewer miles on weekends.

Even though people are more likely to drive on the weekends, they’re still spending significantly less time behind the wheel than they did before COVID-19. Even if you take an occasional weekend road trip, you could save money by switching to pay-per-mile insurance because you’re likely driving less overall.

How much could Metromile save me in a post-pandemic world?

Some studies suggest the decline in driving may be even greater.

Between March 19, the start of many shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders, and April 20, 2020, Metromile customers collectively drove 58% fewer miles than they did last year.

Similarly, the Brookings Institute reports traffic has declined at least 53% in every major metropolitan area across the country, based on StreetLight Data’s statistics that use drivers’ cellphones to track vehicle miles traveled. 

You might be wondering when things will get back to normal?

They might not.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced many companies to rethink their remote work policies and pushed consumers toward online shopping more than ever before. If these changes and others like them continue, it’s possible driving patterns may never fully recover, even after health officials come up with a vaccine for COVID-19 and society returns to normal.

Notably, the accounting firm KPMG sees a future where Americans drive 270 billion fewer miles each year than they did before COVID-19, which would represent more than a 9% decline in traffic. 

If you see yourself driving less in the long run, Metromile might make more sense, because you’ll only be charged for the miles you drive.

What’s next?

Right now could be the perfect time to switch to pay-per-mile car insurance.
If you’re driving less during the COVID-19 pandemic, find out much you could save with a free quote from Metromile.

For many of us, a commute is a reality of life, whether it’s to work or the local shops for our everyday necessities. Most of us don’t have the good fortune to live close to where we work and need to shop. If you can’t travel by car, here is a guide of alternative transportation methods, so you can get where you need to go.

Should I start riding a bike?

Bicycles are an eco-conscious, healthy, and affordable option for transportation. Once you buy the bike, you don’t need to worry about expensive fuel, maintenance, or car insurance. After all, you power the bike yourself.

Cities are increasingly becoming more bike-friendly, adding new bike lanes and cracking down on dangerous driver behavior threatening cyclists. Fortunately, these steps are making the streets safer for those of us who don’t ride a bike, too.

A common choice for cyclists is an electric bicycle. You can generally fold the bikes in half for easy storage in seconds and ride them as traditional bikes. For added convenience, some electric bikes charge your smartphone and come with companion apps to track your distance or even turn on built-in LED lights to ride in style.

If you’re nervous about purchasing a bicycle because of cost, especially when some bicycles can now cost thousands of dollars, look into whether your city has a network of public bikes you can rent. Cities big and small, including New York, Portland, Oregon, and San Francisco, have bicycle stands with bikes available for rent, and there are now apps that have “dockless” bikes. These bike-sharing apps can help you find a bicycle that’s closest to you and can be more convenient. Often, there are also monthly or annual pass options suited for more regular riders, which could cut down your commute cost as well. And with docking stations located throughout bustling business areas of downtown, they offer a convenient alternative to hunting down an open parking space.

• Pros of commuting on a bicycle: 
  • Many cities are limiting through traffic on some main streets and expanding their network of bike lanes to make cycling safer
  • Healthy for you and the environment
  • Can be more affordable: you can purchase your own bicycle cheaply or rent a shared bike to keep costs low
• Cons of commuting on a bicycle:
  • Regular car traffic can be dangerous, especially in congested areas
  • Your office or home may not have space for you to store your bike securely
  • Some bicycles, including electric bikes, may be expensive to purchase or maintain over time



Should I buy a moped to commute?

Mopeds often bring to mind driving along some idyllic European coastline, but they can be a great way to get around here in the U.S., too. Like bicycles, mopeds can keep commute costs low, as they’re cheaper to purchase and maintain than cars.

If you’ve never driven a moped, companies now make it easy to start riding. In some cities, app-based moped rentals are becoming commonplace and usually cost just a few dollars. And there’s no need to own a helmet for the occasional ride — these companies often provide helmets in the cargo trunk, ready for riders!

• Pros of commuting on a moped: 
  • Can be more affordable: typically cost a few dollars to unlock and ride
  • Ready-to-ride with helmets often readily available
  • Faster than biking and less exerting on your body
• Cons of commuting on a moped: 
  • Congested streets can be dangerous or scary, especially for new moped drivers
  • Limited storage space for your bag, briefcase, or shopping bags



Is public transportation safe for commutes?

Public transportation, whether by bus, rail, or subway, can be a convenient way to get to work and around town. In many major cities and suburbs, it is the most common method of transportation. Generally, costing just a few dollars, it is also the most cost-effective. Plus, when taken instead of driving a car, public transport can be a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and reduce the effects of climate change on the environment.

• Pros of commuting on public transportation: 
  • Generally the most cost effective: fares can range from a few cents to a few dollars 
  • You can be more productive while commuting: multi-tasking gives you the opportunity to read your emails or a book
  • Can be less stressful: you don’t need to worry about traffic because someone else is driving
• Cons of commuting on public transportation: 
  • Can be very crowded and uncomfortable during peak morning and early evening commute times
  • Wait times can be long because of COVID-19, as some agencies have cut frequencies of service
  • Limited personal space or social distancing when crowded
  • Cleanliness may be an issue in heavily frequented routes, stations, or stops
    

Should I continue commuting by driving?

While carpooling may be less common because of health concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, many car owners are finding more value in their vehicles now more than ever. Driving with your family or people who you live with can help alleviate some cleanliness and hygiene concerns.

• Pros of commuting by driving:
  • Convenience of getting on the road straight from your home
  • If you’re able to commute with a partner, friend or coworker, you can take advantage of the carpool lane for a potentially quicker ride
  • Could allow you to better maintain social distancing and personal space
• Cons of commuting by driving:
  • Heavy traffic or accidents on the road can slow you down and stress you out
  • Driving is a significant contributor to climate change
  • Gas prices and car maintenance can be costly
  • Car insurance can be expensive and is another added cost to owning a car

If you find yourself driving your car less during the week or with a changed routine, Metromile’s pay-per-mile car insurance could be a great way to save money. When you drive less, you can save more because your bill is based on the miles you drive.