Still, I wonder, is mileage tracking really that much less invasive? I mean, they still know where and when you’re driving, right?
That’s a fair point. I use Metromile for my weekend car, and honestly, the device just tracks miles—not location or time specifics, at least according to their FAQ. But yeah, if you lend your car to someone, those miles count against you. I’ve forgotten to log a trip or two and had to just eat the cost. It’s not perfect, but for low-mileage folks like me, it’s been cheaper than traditional insurance. There’s always a bit of a trade-off, I guess.
Honestly, I was worried about the “big brother” thing too, but after digging into it, most of these mileage trackers are just counting miles—no GPS breadcrumbs or timestamps. At least that’s what my policy says (I’m with Allstate Milewise). I do wish they’d let you flag when someone else drives your car though... My roommate borrowed mine for a Costco run and there went my “low mileage” discount for the month. Still, for folks who don’t drive much, it’s not a bad deal. Just gotta remember to unplug the dongle if you’re getting your car serviced, or those test drives rack up quick.
Had the same issue with my partner taking my car for a weekend trip—suddenly my “low mileage” month was toast. I’m with Metromile, and yeah, it’s mostly just counting miles, but I wish there was a way to separate out who’s driving. Still, it’s saved me a ton since I mostly just use my car for road trips and errands. Just gotta be careful during those rare busy months...
I wish there was a way to separate out who’s driving. Still, it’s saved me a ton since I mostly just use my car for road trips and errands.
Yeah, that’s the one thing that bugs me about these pay-per-mile deals. Doesn’t matter if it’s you or your partner or your neighbor behind the wheel, those miles just rack up all the same. I had my brother borrow my car for a week when his was in the shop—totally blew my “cheap month” out of the water. Not gonna lie, I was a little salty about it.
Still, like you said, it’s way cheaper for folks who don’t commute daily. I’m with Milewise (Allstate) and honestly, it’s been solid for me, but I do wonder if any of these companies are ever gonna get smart enough to let us tag different drivers. Would make splitting costs way easier too.
Curious—do you guys ever just say screw it and take the hit on mileage for a big trip? Or do you try to keep those miles low no matter what? Sometimes I feel like I’m playing some weird game with myself...
I had my brother borrow my car for a week when his was in the shop—totally blew my “cheap month” out of the water. Not gonna lie, I was a little salty about it.
That’s exactly the kind of thing that makes me side-eye these programs. Like, I get the logic, but it’s not always fair if you’re not the one racking up the miles. I’ve had friends ask to borrow my car and honestly, I hesitate now. Do you think it’d be worth it if they started tracking *how* you drive, not just how far? Or would that just get too invasive?