Who Offers Pay Per Mile Car Insurance?
Don't drive much? Hate the idea of paying the same premium as someone clocking up 20,000 miles a year? That's exactly what pay-per-mile insurance is designed to try out. It flips the traditional model on its head - and finally gives low-mileage drivers the chance to stop subsidising the road warriors.
Whether you work from home, live in a city, or just use your car for the occasional Sunday roast run, mileage-based cover might be right up your alley. But where do you actually get it; and how does it work in real life?
How Does Pay Per Mile Insurance Work?
In simple terms, it splits your cover into two parts:
- A base monthly fee - covers your car whilst parked (theft, fire, vandalism, etc.).
- A per-mile charge - you only pay when you drive.
This setup means if you only do 200 miles one month, you're not paying like someone doing 2,000. A small device (or app) tracks your mileage, and you get billed accordingly. Transparent. Fair. Refreshingly logical.
Who Offers Pay Per Mile Car Insurance in the UK?
A few providers have carved out a name for themselves by embracing this flexible approach. These names are worth keeping an eye on:
- By Miles
Perhaps the most well-known in this space. They offer fully comprehensive cover with mileage tracked via a small "Miles Tracker" plugged into your car. Everything's managed via a slick app, and you can view your charges live. Popular with city drivers and those working from home. - Marble
A relatively new entry, Marble blends tech-driven car cover with pay-as-you-go principles. Their focus is on flexibility and fair pricing - though availability may be limited depending on your location and vehicle. - Prudent Plus / Tempcover / Cuvva (for occasional use):
Whilst not strictly pay-per-mile, these providers offer short-term policies by the hour or day; ideal if you drive very rarely and want ultra-flexible cover without an annual policy at all.
Just imagine: you drive to the gym twice a week, do the school run, and maybe pop to the shops on a Saturday. You're clocking up 100 miles a month; but paying the same premium as someone doing five times that. Switching to pay-per-mile could cut your costs and finally align your policy with your actual driving.
Who Does It Work For?
This isn't for everyone; but for certain drivers, it makes a lot of sense. Consider it if you:
- Work remotely or part-time and rarely drive
- Live in a city and mostly use public transport
- Own a second car you only use occasionally
- Are a low-mileage, cautious driver with no recent claims
One London-based driver switched after realising she'd done under 2,000 miles in a year. Her new mileage-based policy ended up costing less than half of what she'd paid before, and came with a real sense of control over her cover.
Things to Watch Out For
As with anything, it's not all sunshine and savings. Keep an eye on:
- Extra fees: Some policies charge admin or installation fees for the tracking device.
- Mileage caps: Some providers may limit how much you can drive annually without the rate increasing.
- Device reliability: If your tracker fails or disconnects, your data (and your bill) could be off.
- Driving style not tracked: Unlike black box insurance, these policies focus purely on miles - not how you drive. That's a plus for some, but worth noting.
Is Pay Per Mile Worth It?
If you're doing under 6,000 miles a year, quite possibly. It can feel like a breath of fresh air, especially if you've been paying over the odds for traditional cover that doesn't reflect your actual driving habits.
It's not always the lowest price upfront, but over time, the savings often speak for themselves. Plus, there's something deeply satisfying about seeing exactly where your money's going - right down to the mile.
Curious to See What You'd Pay?
Whether you're running errands once a week or clocking occasional countryside miles, there's a growing number of insurers willing to tailor cover to how often you *actually* drive. You don't need to fit the usual box anymore; just the one that suits your lifestyle.
Click here to compare car insurance quotes now - see if pay-per-mile or flexible cover options work for you, and get a quote that finally matches your reality.