You are typically considered a low-mileage driver if you drive less than the U.S. average of about 13,500 miles per year, or 37 miles per day. Certain insurers offer discounts if your annual mileage is below a certain amount. There are even a few companies that specifically cater to low-mileage drivers.
You will learn more about cheap low-mileage car insurance in this article, which covers:
- What are the best car insurance companies for low-mileage drivers?
- How can I get a low-mileage discount?
- What are the best car insurance companies for low-mileage drivers?
- Who should consider low-mileage car insurance discounts?
What are the best low-mileage car insurance companies?
Although some car insurance companies take your word that you drive less than 7,500 miles per year and give you a lower rate or a discount as a reward, many require proof that you’re a low-mileage driver.
One way insurance companies can prove you’re a low-mileage driver is to use telematics devices to monitor your driving behavior and habits. They usually do this through usage-based or pay-as-you-go insurance programs. Regardless, some of these telematics devices plug into your car, while others come in the form of an app you download on your phone.
Here are some of the best car insurance companies for low-mileage drivers. Their pay-as-you-go or usage-based discount programs may help low-mileage drivers save money.
| Insurance company | Low-mileage program | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| Allstate | Milewise | Between 30% and 40% |
| Liberty Mutual | ByMile | 25%, on average |
| Nationwide | SmartMiles | Up to 10% for safe driving after the first renewal |
| Progressive | Snapshot | $146 annually, on average |
| Safeco | RightTrack | Between 5% and 30% |
| Metromile | Pay-per-mile | $741 annually, on average (for drivers travelling 6,000 miles per year) |
Allstate
Allstate’s Milewise is another pay-per-mile car insurance program to consider if you don’t drive much and you want to save money on coverage as a result.
How much can you save using Milewise? The average Milewise driver saves approximately 30% to 40% compared to a traditional policy.
Liberty Mutual
With Liberty Mutual’s ByMile program, you only pay for the auto insurance you need. A telematics device tracks the number of miles you drive and then bases your rate on how many miles you drove the previous month.
Although this means your bill may change each month, you will never be charged for more than 150 miles per day.
According to Liberty Mutual, ByMile users save an average of 25% compared to a traditional auto policy.
Nationwide
Nationwide’s SmartMiles is a pay-per-mile program that bases your monthly insurance premium on your mileage. The less you drive, the less you pay for auto coverage.
Additionally, you can save up to 10% by earning a safe driving behavior discount that is based on data collected during the first term of your participation in the SmartMiles program.
Progressive
Progressive’s Snapshot is a usage-based car insurance program that tracks your driving habits through either a plug-in device or a mobile app.
Snapshot focuses on a few key factors — specifically, how you drive, how much you drive and when you drive.
On average, Snapshot users save $145 a year.
Safeco
Safeco's RightTrack program tracks your mileage, driving time, braking and acceleration rate through a mobile app or plug-in device. Depending on your driving behaviors during the program’s 90-day review period, you could receive a discount of up to 30%. You can keep this discount for the life of your policy, too.
Metromile
Metromile is an insurance company specializing in pay-per-mile car insurance and is a great option for low-mileage drivers. Your car insurance premium is determined by how much you drive, with the average Metromile customer saving $741 per year on coverage for a driver travelling 6,000 miles annually.
How can I get low-mileage car insurance?
To get low-mileage car insurance, you often need to either tell your insurer how many miles you drive a year or let your insurer monitor how many miles you drive a year.
How much is low-mileage car insurance?
Based on our analysis of the three biggest states in the country, we found that average drivers who travel 7,500 miles a year pay over $200 less than those who drive the average 13,500 miles.
| Miles | Average annual cost |
|---|---|
| 13,500 | $1,339 |
| 7,500 | $1,104 |
| 5,000 | $1,074 |
| Note: Average rates are based on non-binding estimates by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | |
What is low-mileage auto insurance?
Low-mileage auto insurance is car insurance ffor people who drive less than a certain amount of miles per year. For some insurance companies, this amount is anything below the national average of 13,500 miles or so. For other insurers, this amount is far lower.
Companies sometimes give you a lower car insurance rate or offer you a discount if you don’t drive much because it lowers your risk of getting into an accident and costing them money by filing a claim.
Not all companies offer low-mileage car insurance discounts. Some insurers offer low-mileage discounts, but only in certain states. Because of this, it’s important to shop around and compare auto insurance quotes from several providers if you want to save money for driving less.
What is considered low mileage?
Car insurance companies consider people who drive less than 7,500 miles per year to be low-mileage drivers, generally speaking.
Don’t take this as gospel, though. Some companies consider anything under 12,000 miles per year to be low mileage. Others consider anything under 10,000 miles to be low mileage. And yet others only consider you a low-mileage driver — and reward you for it with better rates or a discount — if you drive less than 5,000 miles per year.
The only way to know for sure if an auto insurance provider will lower your rates or give you a discount for low mileage is to contact them and find out.
How to estimate your mileage
Telling your insurance provider how many miles you drive per year is one way to get a low-mileage discount. To do this, you usually estimate your annual mileage for your insurer when you sign up for a policy.
Just be aware that if you give them an estimate that’s far below average, they may ask you for regular proof of how much you drive.
Also, be aware that the size of your low-mileage discount may vary from state to state. For example, people in Hawaii tend to drive less, so low-mileage discounts there may be next to nothing. In places like California, where state law mandates that mileage be used as a rating factor, your low-mileage savings might be as much as 20% or more.
Insurer estimate of mileage
Another way to get low-mileage auto insurance is to allow your coverage provider to monitor or track how much you drive per year. Sometimes this is done using a telematics device that plugs into your vehicle; at other times, it’s done using an app downloaded to your phone. In both cases, your insurer uses the device or app to track your driving behavior and habits. Older cars are usually incompatible with these devices.
You may receive your low-mileage rebate or discount via an insurance company’s pay-per-mile program or usage-based program. Although the goals of these programs tend to differ, the result is the same — especially for your auto insurance rates.
Not all companies have usage-based or pay-per-mile programs, though. And those that have them usually don’t offer them in all states. So you may need to shop around a bit to find low-mileage car insurance like this.
Low mileage isn’t everything
Although you'll usually pay less for car insurance if you drive less, that isn't always true. This is because the number of miles you drive each year is only one-factor companies consider when calculating your rate. Other car insurance rate factors include:
- Your age.
- Your gender.
- Your vehicle.
- Where you live.
Who should consider low-mileage car insurance?
You should consider low-mileage car insurance if you are in any of the following situations, as it could make your policy more affordable.
You're retired
If you’re retired or you’re going to retire soon, chances are you do little to no commuting. Especially if you are on a fixed income, the money you save through a low-mileage car insurance discount might make a big difference in your life.
You work from home
Are you commuting less, or maybe not at all, because you now work from home part or full time? It could make you eligible for a low-mileage discount, and that could have a big impact on your car insurance costs.
You carpool
Carpooling may lead to lower car insurance rates, too. The reason: it usually means you drive less, and this should help you qualify for a low-mileage discount.
You use public transportation
If you regularly use public transportation to get around, you may not drive your car much. In that case, see if your current insurance company will reduce your policy premium to match your reduced time on the road.
If they won’t, shop around and see which other insurers offer low-mileage discounts or rebates. You might save money due to your legwork.
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