Metromile

Metromile is a San Francisco-based technology startup that offers pay-per-mile car insurance, licenses a digital insurance platform to insurance companies around the world, and provides a digitally native offering featuring smart driving features, automated claims, and vehicle information.

Pay-per-mile insurance

Pay-per-mile insurance is a type of usage-based insurance where the user pays a base rate along with a fixed rate per mile. The billing model is intended to benefit low-mileage drivers and does not take driving style or behavior into account (for determining rates or discounts). To measure mileage, the Metromile Pulse device is plugged into the onboard diagnostic (OBD-II) port of the car. The OBD-II port is the same port that mechanics use to diagnose issues that trigger a car’s “check engine” light. The device then transmits mileage data to servers. Metromile provides a full customer service team and 24/7 claims team. Metromile began underwriting its own policies in September 2016.

Per-mile insurance through Metromile is currently available in Arizona, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington. Drivers in other states can add themselves to a waitlist to be notified as additional states become available. Metromile is only offering personal car insurance policies at this time.

Driving app

The Pulse device provided to per-mile insurance customers also collects data about trips and car health. Metromile visualizes this information in an app to give drivers insights that can simplify car ownership. Features include street sweeping alerts, where the driver is notified if their car is parked in a street sweeping zone, and a car health monitor. The car locator feature shows where a car is parked, and some users have recovered their stolen vehicles by knowing their car’s location. The app is currently available for both Apple iOS and Google Android phones.

In June 2015, the Metromile Tag was introduced to give non-insurance customers a way to also use the driving app. The Tag wirelessly connects to smartphones via Apple iBeacon technology.