)
17+ years in insurance and personal finance writing
In-depth knowledge of home and real estate topics
Angela is an insurance and personal finance expert who uses her experience to create content that helps readers understand important and complex topics.
Featured in
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7+ years in content creation and management
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
Featured in
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30+ years in financial services
Clinical Professor of Finance, University of San Diego
Dan is a well-recognized and widely quoted financial services expert, regularly appearing in a variety of national and local media as a subject matter expert.
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7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Updated
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We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.
Table of contents
If you don’t drive much, you may wonder why your car insurance cost is so high. On average, Americans drive about 13,500 miles per year. If you put less than 7,500 miles on your car every year, you may qualify for significantly discounted rates or low-mileage policies.
You may also consider pay-per-mile policies, which have rates based on actual usage, especially if you drive less than 10,000 miles annually.[1] Multiple insurers offer pay-per-mile coverage, so it’s a good idea to compare quotes to help you find the best low-mileage car insurance policy for your needs.
The “low-mileage” designation is specific to drivers who travel less than 7,500 miles yearly.
Telematics programs can collect data from drivers’ vehicles to help personalize premium costs.
Not all mileage-based programs use telematics to calculate car insurance premiums.
How low-mileage car insurance works
If you’re a low-mileage driver, you can take advantage of a variety of options when shopping for car insurance:
Telematics: Some companies use telematics programs that track your driving performance and provide data to the insurer. If you demonstrate safe driving habits, you can receive lower premiums.
Pay per mile: With a pay-per-mile policy, insurance companies typically charge you a base rate for coverage, plus a per-mile rate for the number of miles you drive each month.
Pay as you go: Most car insurance companies offer only six- or 12-month policies. But with Hugo, you can get a policy for three, seven, 14, and 30 days, as well as six months. Unfortunately, the insurer offers only state-minimum liability insurance.
Low-mileage discount: Some insurance companies offer discounts to people who drive fewer miles. The exact discount will vary by insurer.
If you work from home, are retired, or have a very short daily commute, you might consider a low-mileage car insurance policy to help you save.
Best low-mileage car insurance companies
Choosing the right car insurance company is important for all drivers. If you’re looking for lower rates based on your annual mileage, it’s a good idea to check for companies that specifically offer pay-per-mile insurance, usage-based coverage, or significant discounts for low mileage.
You can find policies that provide the same or similar coverage as traditional insurance policies at a much lower rate.
Hugo: Best for drivers on a budget
User Reviews | 4.1 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 7 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $208/mo |
Drivers appreciate the pay-as-you-go option and affordability but dislike the lack of full coverage and poor customer service.
Drivers appreciate the pay-as-you-go option and affordability but dislike the lack of full coverage and poor customer service.
Andrea
April 15, 2025
Excellent
Donna
April 2, 2025
No Thanks
Rebekah
March 18, 2025
Never Able to Speak with Customer Service, So I Switched!
Hugo launched in 2021 and is currently the only insurance company offering on-demand car insurance. Drivers can open a Hugo account without paying a down payment up front. You can choose a policy term of three, seven, 14, or 30 days, or six months, and you can pay smaller amounts more frequently instead of all at once. You’ll also receive instant proof of insurance. Hugo currently only offers state-minimum liability coverage in 13 states.
Short-term policies
No up-front down payment required
Flexible, pay-as-you-go insurance
Available in only 13 states
Doesn’t offer collision or comprehensive coverage
No discounts available
Mile Auto: Best for privacy
User Reviews | 4.2 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 7.5 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $55/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $89/mo |
Drivers appreciate the quality service but find the rates high and claim processing slow.
Drivers appreciate the quality service but find the rates high and claim processing slow.
Hector
May 28, 2025
Very nice and Happy.
Arlene
May 24, 2025
Not bad
Janet
April 8, 2025
Mile Auto Insurance is Great
Mile Auto offers pay-per-mile insurance coverage. Unlike some companies, which typically use a black box to track mileage usage, Mile Auto asks you to send a photo of your odometer once per month. You pay a base rate plus a set rate per mile. Mile Auto uses a system that ensures the images you send are legitimate and compares your usage to your previous odometer readings.
Low-mileage drivers may see significant savings
You don’t have to install a telematics device in your car
Offers roadside assistance and rental reimbursement add-ons
Available in only seven states
No bundling or discount opportunities
No scores from J.D. Power or the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
Allstate: Best for drivers who don’t want to think about coverage
User Reviews | 4.0 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 8.9 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $61/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $130/mo |
Drivers appreciate the friendly customer service and efficient claims processing, but many find the rates too high and experience unexpected price increases. Some also report poor communication from agents.
Drivers appreciate the friendly customer service and efficient claims processing, but many find the rates too high and experience unexpected price increases. Some also report poor communication from agents.
Donny
May 28, 2025
I'd never deal with them again.
Howard
May 27, 2025
Used to be a good value
John
May 25, 2025
Excellent
Allstate’s Milewise program charges based on how far you drive each month. You install a box that sends driving data to the mobile app so the company can track your mileage and charge you accordingly. Allstate charges a base rate plus a cost per mile. With this plan, you don’t have to worry about sending a photo each month; instead, the tracking box uploads the data independently.
Ample opportunities for bundling discount
Offers a pay-per-mile option
A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best
Low customer satisfaction
Rates are merely average compared to other insurers
Below-average rank for customer satisfaction in many regions, according to J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study
Best telematics programs for low-mileage drivers
Telematics refers to data a device collects and sends back to an insurance company’s server. The devices track mileage and driving habits to help insurers better understand drivers’ behavior and customize their car insurance rates accordingly. Auto insurance companies may collect telematics through a device installed in a vehicle or through a mobile app.
Telematics can be helpful if you drive less often or practice very safe driving habits. The collected data allows you to save (sometimes substantially) on your car insurance rates. The data can also help you learn to recognize and correct bad driving habits. Though it’s important to keep in mind privacy concerns as you start sharing this information with your insurance company.
The table below shows how much you could save with some different insurers’ telematics programs.
Telematics Program | Average Monthly Cost: Full Coverage | Average Annual Savings with Telematics Program |
---|---|---|
Progressive Snapshot | $154 | $231 per year |
Allstate Drivewise | $130 | Up to 40% off premium |
Nationwide SmartMiles | $179 | $38 per month |
Travelers IntelliDrive | $189 | Up to 30% off premium |
American Family KnowYourDrive | $150 | Up to 20% off premium |
The biggest drawback of telematics programs is privacy concerns. For example, some consumers may be concerned about telematics’ ability to track location and gather other personal data.[2]
Some states, such as California and New York, have enacted legislation that requires insurers to disclose tracking practices and devices.[3]
How to choose the best low-mileage car insurance
If you think low-mileage car insurance could be right for you, follow these steps to choose a policy:
Check your mileage. Start tracking your mileage to get an idea of how many miles you put on your car each month. This will give you a clearer idea of whether low-mileage car insurance makes sense for you.
Compare car insurance quotes. Many large car insurance companies have some sort of telematics program. Compare quotes from three to five insurers with these programs, and read customer reviews to get a better sense of how each company does business.
Consider pay-per-mile options. Consider whether you want to install a tracking device in your car or whether you’d rather pay a base rate plus a rate for each mile you drive. Not every insurer requires you to install a tracking device to submit your monthly mileage information.
Purchase a policy. Once you’ve chosen an insurer, provide some additional details and purchase your new low-mileage policy.
Low-mileage car insurance FAQs
Saving money on auto insurance may be simple if you don’t drive often. Here’s some additional information about low-mileage car insurance policies.
What is considered a low-mileage driver?
Low-mileage drivers typically drive 7,500 miles or less per year. But some insurers offer rates for people who drive less than 10,000 miles annually.
Does lower mileage reduce car insurance costs?
Sometimes. Being a low-mileage driver can help you reduce your car insurance costs if you put less than 10,000 miles on your car each year.
Is pay-per-mile insurance worth it?
Pay-per-mile insurance can save drivers a lot of money. Retirees, drivers working from home, and people who primarily use public transportation can save on insurance premiums without sacrificing coverage.
What’s the difference between pay-per-mile and usage-based insurance?
Pay-per-mile programs allow drivers to pay a base rate and a per-mile fee. Usage-based insurance uses telematics technology to consider factors like mileage, speed, turning, and other safe driving behaviors to offer discounts for good driving practices.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
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Sources
- U.S. Federal Highway Administration. "Average Annual Miles per Driver by Age Group."
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners. "Telematics."
- Insurance Information Institute. "Background on: Pay-as-you drive auto insurance (telematics)."
)
Angela Brown is a freelance writer with 17 years of professional writing and editing experience.
She specializes in finance, real estate, and insurance content. Angela uses her experience to
create easy-to-understand content that helps consumers understand tough topics better. When
she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and planning vacations.
Angela has been a contributor at Insurify since October 2022.
)
7+ years in content creation and management
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
Featured in
)
30+ years in financial services
Clinical Professor of Finance, University of San Diego
Dan is a well-recognized and widely quoted financial services expert, regularly appearing in a variety of national and local media as a subject matter expert.
)
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.