Metromile Auto Insurance Review: A Usage-Based Alternative to Traditional Car Insurance

This auto insurer is a good fit for: Those who drive infrequently and don't work for a ridesharing company.

Metromile car insurance snapshot

Pricing

Metromile's pricing varies considerably based on how much a person drives. It's possible for infrequent drivers to score an affordable rate, but others might do better with a traditional insurer.

Discounts

The only discount Metromile offers is a multi-car discount for those insuring multiple vehicles. Beyond that, it relies heavily on its pay-per-mile model to help its customers save.

Perks

Metromile's unique approach to premiums is its biggest standout feature. But it also has a nice mobile app with some unusual options, including the option to track your vehicle's location and decode check engine lights.

Customer service

Reviews for the company aren't that impressive, but it also hasn't featured in any large-scale customer satisfaction surveys. This makes it difficult to gauge how it stacks up to its competitors.

Metromile auto insurance at a glance

Monthly premium costs:

• 35-year-old female with clean driving record: $86.24 to $191.54
• 35-year-old male with clean driving record: $86.24 to $191.54
• 35-year-old female with one accident: $103.60 to $235.00
• 18-year-old male with clean driving record: $243.88 to $623.23

Coverage options:

• Bodily injury liability
• Property damage liability
• Uninsured motorist
• Underinsured motorist
• Personal injury protection (PIP)
• Medical payments
• Roadside assistance
• Rental car
• Income loss

Top perks

Affordable for infrequent drivers

Metromile uses a pay-per-mile approach, which charges drivers a low monthly flat rate, plus a per-mile rate for their coverage. This unique strategy could save infrequent drivers a lot of money compared to a traditional insurer. Those who drive often will pay more, but the company only charges users for up to 250 miles per day (150 in New Jersey), so long trips shouldn't break the bank.

Income loss coverage

Drivers who choose Metromile have the option to add income loss coverage to their policies. This helps them pay their bills if they're temporarily unable to work following a covered claim. In states where personal injury protection (PIP) is required by law, this will include income loss coverage.

Innovative app

The Metromile mobile app, available for Apple and Android devices, enables drivers to track their mileage, which can help them estimate the size of their bill. It enables customers to do simple policy-related tasks, like update their coverage or file a claim through the app, but they can also track their vehicle's location, which can be useful in cities and crowded areas. The app can give drivers insight into the reason for certain check engine lights as well.

What could be improved

State availability

Currently, only drivers in Arizona, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington are able to get Metromile insurance. Those who live elsewhere will have to choose another car insurance provider.

Accessibility for all drivers

Metromile currently only sells policies to drivers who own their own vehicle and don't work for a ridesharing company. Drivers who occasionally need to rent a car can still get coverage for this, but those who don't own their own vehicle and rent as needed will need to choose another insurer.

Quote precision

When drivers get a quote from Metromile, they'll get a pretty wide range of what they could pay. This is understandable given that the insurer charges drivers by the mile, but it can still be a bit challenging for those who want to compare rates with a more traditional insurer.

When looking for an affordable traditional auto insurer: Geico is known for offering affordable rates to many drivers in all states. It also offers a number of driver discounts to help customers save even more. However, it doesn't have a pay-per-mile option like Metromile.

When looking for an easily customizable policy: Farmers offers a plethora of optional protections to help drivers build a policy that's right for them. It also offers quite a few driver discounts, though there's no pay-per-mile option.

A driver's premiums with Metromile depend a lot on how often they drive. Those who hit the road infrequently may score competitive rates. But it's also possible that rates may not look that different from what they could find with a traditional insurer. As with most auto insurance providers, young drivers and those with an accident history will pay more than adults with clean records.

Metromile offers a multi-car discount for those who insure multiple vehicles on the same policy. But beyond that, it falls back on its pay-per-mile structure to help customers save. Those who want to pay a lower rate can do so by limiting how often they drive.

Policy types

Currently, Metromile only offers coverage for automobiles. There's no option to insure boats, RVs, motorcycles, ATVs, or UTVs. This coverage may become available in the future, but for now, drivers looking to bundle multiple policies together may do better elsewhere.

Coverage types

• Bodily injury liability
• Property damage liability
• Uninsured motorist
• Underinsured motorist
• Personal injury protection (PIP)
• Medical payments
• Roadside assistance
• Rental car
• Income loss

Metromile does a good job of covering all the basics with its auto insurance. Drivers won't have a problem obtaining any coverage required by law, and they'll have several tiers of coverage to choose from. However, the company doesn't offer many optional protections for those looking to customize their policies.

Despite its innovative approach to auto insurance, Metromile has found plenty of detractors. The reviews on its website are glowing, but its Trustpilot score is nothing to brag about. The insurer's parent company, Lemonade, also isn't Better Business Bureau-accredited.

The company's mobile apps have mixed reviews, though many of the complaints here seem to be about the insurance rather than the app's features. This doesn't mean that all drivers who switch to Metromile are unhappy. But it's something to keep in mind when comparing rates.

Metromile could be a good fit for:

• Drivers who live in Arizona, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or Washington
• Drivers who own their own vehicle and don't work for a ridesharing company
• Drivers who don't spend a lot of time behind the wheel

But those seeking more affordable traditional auto insurance might prefer Geico or Farmers instead.