Julianne Sawyer is a freelance writer, app producer, and real-life Metromile customer living in the San Francisco Bay Area.
– – –
When was the last time you took a good, hard look at your car insurance policy? Can’t remember? For many people, car insurance is something they only think of when (heaven forbid) a car accident occurs. All the while, the car insurance policy sits there, gathering dust. Perhaps it’s time to shake the dust off and find out what your car insurance provider is actually, you know, providing. It might be time to try something new.
We polled 2,008 adults in the U.S., aged 18 and older, to learn about the relationship they have with their car insurance provider. We also explored the impact of switching car insurance providers, even when your term isn’t up yet.
Well, the results are in. You might want to sit down for this one.
Nearly half of Americans (45%) do not look for low-mileage driver discounts.
This survey finding had us genuinely shocked! Metromile saves low-mileage drivers — some 65% of Americans — money every day.
Do you mainly use public transportation? Are you no longer commuting to work? Maybe you only drive around your neighborhood for quick errands. Perhaps you’re in your golden years and prefer to walk everywhere. Metromile is currently available in Arizona, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, with plans for state expansion — and you could qualify for an average of $741 savings every year just by switching.
Only 1 in 10 Americans (11%) shop for auto insurance every year.
In other words, 89% of Americans don’t shop around for car insurance at least once a year! We all know how much can change in a year — people start new jobs, move, get married, get divorced, have children, teenagers start driving — the list goes on. With life-changing milestones happening minute to minute, a year is enough time for your car insurance needs to change.
15% of Americans would rather file their taxes or go to the DMV than shop for auto insurance.
Shopping for car insurance doesn’t need to be a task you avoid. With Metromile, you can grab a free quote online in a matter of minutes, and switching is easy. Unlike going to the DMV or filing your taxes, we won’t waste your time with complicated forms or time-consuming surveys. Switching to Metromile is so easy, you’ll wonder why you dreaded shopping for auto insurance at all.
More than 1 in 4 Americans (26%) say they do not want to give up their bundled auto and home insurance — even if they can save by unbundling.
Initially, bundling your home and auto insurance may sound appealing. However, insurance companies sometimes prey on that “convenience” factor and charge more for the home and auto insurance bundle than if you purchased the two policies separately. Consider taking the time to see how much you could save by signing up for home and auto insurance policies independently. You may be pleasantly surprised!
Almost 3 out of 4 Americans (74%) do not consider features like gas or trip-planners, street-sweeping alerts or vehicle health monitors when looking for a new insurance policy.
Does your current auto insurance carrier currently provide gas or trip-planners? With Metromile, our trip planner finds the shortest routes, saving you miles, time and money. Our street-sweeping alerts can save you the hassle of getting a ticket. And our vehicle health monitor decodes common engine problems, which can save you time and money at the shop.
Metromile delivers all of these handy features (and more) entirely free for our customers. If you don’t consider these features when deciding on a car insurance provider, maybe it’s time to start!
Bottom line
Switching car insurance providers, even if your current insurance term isn’t up, can lead to significant personal savings, reward you for driving fewer miles, and offer convenience on top of it all. And at Metromile we aim to make the switch painless — much better than doing your taxes or waiting in line at the DMV!
So ask yourself: is it time to break up with your car insurance provider?