3 Questions To Ask If You Are Considering Usage-Based Car Insurance
If you are interested in saving money on your car insurance expense, you may be considering getting usage-based insurance. Usage-based car insurance is something that allows a person to have more control over how much they spend on car insurance by charging a fee based on the number of miles you drive. If you are interested in this, here are three good questions to ask before making the switch.
1. What Is the Rate Per Mile?
The first question you may want to ask is how much the rate is per mile for insurance coverage. The answer to this question will vary, but you can multiply it by the average number of miles you drive to find out approximately how much you would spend per month on your insurance costs. Additionally, you may want to ask the insurance company if they also factor in your driving patterns and behaviors, as this is very typical with usage-based programs. If they do, it means that there are other factors that will also affect how much you pay for your insurance, including how fast your drive and how quickly you come to stops.
2. How Much Would a Traditional Policy Cost?
Secondly, you should find out how much a traditional car insurance policy would cost. If you already have car insurance, you could use this amount to compare it to the amount a usage-based program would cost. If you do not currently have insurance, you would need to ask for a quote for coverage, simply so that you can have an amount to compare it to.
3. Is Usage-Based Insurance Available in Your State?
The other thing you will need to find out is whether or not you can even get this type of coverage in the state where you live. Most states do not currently allow it, but there are some that do, including New Jersey, Illinois, Washington, and California. If you live in a state that does not offer it, you will have to stick with a traditional type of car insurance coverage.
Usage-based car insurance is a relatively new type of insurance and is not the best option for all drivers. If it is available in your state and if you drive very little, this might be a good choice to look into. If this is not right for you, contact your local auto insurance services to find out how much traditional car insurance would cost.