The Advantages Of Pay As You Drive Insurance

Written By: Tom Martens on March 23, 2010 No Comment

The premiums you pay on your auto insurance are usually based on your age, gender, and where you live. Pay As You Drive insurance however is different. It’s based on the number of miles you drive. Drive fewer miles, pay lower premiums.

The obvious advantage of Pay As You Drive coverage is its lower cost. Since the premiums you pay are calculated on the basis of how many miles you drive, reducing your monthly insurance payment is a snap. Just drive fewer miles. Not only will you pay less for your policy, you will pay less for fuel and maintenance. The fewer miles you drive, the less wear and tear, and the greater likelihood you will be able to keep your car long after you make the last payment. And with the cost of new and used vehicles going up all the time, having a car without a payment is a major incentive.

The less obvious advantage of Pay As You Drive coverage is that you can tailor your program to your specific driving needs. Premiums under these plans are either computed on the basis of miles driven, or on the basis of hours driven. You can choose a Pay As You Drive policy that focuses on total miles, or total hours in a specific time period, such as six months. Pay As You Drive coverage offers you the flexibility and freedom you need to choose exactly the coverage you need, and to get it at a lower cost as you economize.

Because Pay As You Drive incentivizes driving less, it makes it less likely you will get yourself into an accident. Low-mileage drivers are usually more focused and careful behind the wheel, too.

Pay As You Drive plans require mileage monitoring, but there are multiple options. It is possible to have odometer readings, just as one would at the annual safety inspection. It is also possible to have a GPS-based monitor installed in the vehicle, which allows for data uploading. And since only periodic mileage readings as needed to compute the cost of Pay As You Drive coverage, the cost of monitoring will most likely be offset by the money saved in insurance premiums.

The Brookings Institution reported that two in three US households would save with Pay As You Drive, an average of $270 a year. In the current economic downturn, that is terrific news.

Moreover, not only does Pay As You Drive save you money, it protects the environment. Fewer vehicles on the streets and highways means a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Less traffic also means fewer traffic jams and less congestion, and less time wasted sitting in the car.

There are plenty of advantages for Pay As You Drive insurance. Contact a qualified insurance provider for more detailed information on an insurance plan that best suits your driving needs.

Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator for Carinsurancesa.co.za. South Arica?s leading car insurance portal.