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

Metromile auto insurance is a good fit for infrequent drivers who don't work for a ridesharing company. Its policies are pretty basic, but it offers everything a motorist needs to drive legally with rates based on their actual driving habits. Check out our full Metromile car insurance review below to learn how it works.

Customers on Trustpilot and Metromile's mobile app reviews seem to be in agreement that Metromile offers pretty affordable rates to infrequent drivers at least at the start. Some drivers have been unpleasantly surprised by rate hikes down the road. But it's tough to gauge how common this is. Some drivers may wind up paying more than they initially expected if they spend more time behind the wheel than they thought they would.

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

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.

Currently, Metromile only offers car insurance. Those interested in bundling car insurance with homeowners or renters insurance will have to explore other companies with a broader suite of products.

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.

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.

At The Motley Fool Ascent, insurers are rated on a scale of one to five stars. We primarily focus on pricing, coverage options, and customer satisfaction; however, we also take into account features like unique discounts, online and app-based experiences, and branch access. Our highest-rated auto insurances generally include low costs, solid coverage, and high customer satisfaction.