Mileage-based car insurance: who’s using it and which company do you like?

I had the same worries about the tracker, especially since my last car got broken into and it made me hyper-aware of who knows what about my driving. I tried Metromile for a while - honestly, the data collection felt a bit much. They say it’s just miles, but I swear it knew when I stopped for coffee... Maybe I’m just paranoid, but I ended up going back to regular insurance after a year. The savings were decent, but not enough to offset that nagging feeling.

I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’d rather have the tracker than risk higher rates after another ticket or accident. My record’s not great, so the savings with pay-per-mile stuff actually made a difference for me. Yeah, it’s weird knowing they’re tracking, but I figure my phone already does half that anyway... At least this way I’m saving some cash.

Honestly, I felt the same way at first - kinda weirded out by the idea of a tracker. But after my last speeding ticket, I figured it was worth a shot. Here’s what worked for me: 1) Plug in the tracker, 2) Drive like your grandma for a bit (seriously, it helps), 3) Watch the savings add up. I use Metromile and haven’t had any issues so far. The app’s actually kinda fun to check, too... makes me feel like I’m leveling up or something.

I’ve been eyeing Metromile for a while but haven’t made the switch yet. My biggest worry is if they ding you for little things, like braking too hard or driving late at night. Do they actually track that stuff, or is it really just mileage? My current insurer tried to push their tracker on me and it felt a bit too “Big Brother” for my taste. But saving money’s tempting, not gonna lie...

My biggest worry is if they ding you for little things, like braking too hard or driving late at night. Do they actually track that stuff, or is it really just mileage?

Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve looked into Metromile and a couple others, and from what I’ve seen, Metromile is strictly mileage-based. They use a device that plugs into your car, but it just tracks how far you drive, not how you drive. No scoring you for braking or late-night trips, which is honestly a relief compared to some of the “safe driver” programs out there.

That said, I’m a bit skeptical about the savings unless you really don’t drive much. If you’re under, say, 8-10k miles a year, it might be worth it. But if you’re closer to average or have random long trips, it adds up fast. I had a friend who thought he’d save, but after a couple of road trips, his bill wasn’t much different than before.

I’m still on the fence, but at least with Metromile, it feels less “Big Brother” than those apps that ding you for every hard stop or phone touch. Just make sure to read the fine print - sometimes there are weird fees or minimums they don’t advertise upfront.