Does annual mileage affect car insurance?

Asked by: Cordie Stiedemann  |  Last update: August 2, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (74 votes)

Annual mileage is a key factor insurance companies use to asses risk and set insurance rates. The more miles a driver spends on the road, the higher the risk of being involved in a car crash, and vice versa.

Does higher annual mileage affect car insurance?

Does driving more miles increase insurance? Yes. There is a good chance that if you drive more miles, your insurance rate will increase.

What should I put for annual mileage for insurance?

To figure out your annual mileage for insurance, add up all the time you spend driving your car in a week and then multiply that number by 52. This includes things like driving to: Work.

What is the best annual mileage for insurance?

In general, you'll see the most savings if you drive less than 5,000 miles annually. According to Insure.com, someone who drives 10,000 miles annually will pay 4% less than someone who drives 12,000 miles. Driving 7,500 miles annually could reduce your premiums 10% compared with driving 10,000 miles.

What if I drive less than 25 miles a day?

Car insurance has a basis on the concept of risk. The more mileage you cover, the more likely you can get into an accident. Most insurance companies use your average yearly mileage to calculate their car insurance rates. So it is very likely that you will pay lesser premiums if you drive for less than 25 miles daily.

How Do Car Insurance Companies Know Your Mileage | How To Lower Insurance Check It Out!

35 related questions found

How many miles is considered low mileage for insurance?

How many miles a year is considered low mileage? According to KBB, insurers typically offer insurance discounts for low-mileage drivers who log less than 7,000 miles annually. The average American drives 13,476 miles per year, according to the Federal Highway Administration's 2022 report.

Is car insurance cheaper if you drive less than 50 miles a day?

While several factors influence your car insurance cost, you may pay a lower premium if you drive less. That's because insurers may consider you a lower risk of filing a car insurance claim if you spend less time on the road. Many insurers incentivize low-mileage drivers by offering discounts on their premiums.

Does your car insurance go up if you drive more?

From California to New York, all states have varying car insurance rates because insurance companies look at geographic factors such as crime rate, number of auto accidents, and weather conditions to determine your premium. Miles You Drive: The more you drive, the more likely you will get into an accident.

Why do insurance ask for annual mileage?

Annual mileage is a key factor insurance companies use to asses risk and set insurance rates. The more miles a driver spends on the road, the higher the risk of being involved in a car crash, and vice versa.

What is a realistic annual mileage?

While the current average hovers around 7,400 miles, it's important to recognise the intricate web of factors that influence this number. As technology continues to shape our vehicles and the way we live, it will be intriguing to witness how average mileage numbers shift in the years to come.

What is a good annual mileage?

The average car gets in 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year, so used cars with an annual average lower than that can be considered as having good mileage. Simply divide the odometer number by the car's age in years to determine it's annual average.

What two other factors can affect the cost of your insurance?

Some factors that may affect your auto insurance premiums are your car, your driving habits, demographic factors and the coverages, limits and deductibles you choose. These factors may include things such as your age and your driving record.

What is annual mileage limit?

As mentioned previously, nearly all car leases have an annual mileage limit. This effectively puts a cap on how many miles you can drive your car in a given year. Annual mileage limits vary lease to lease. Limits are commonly between 5,000-12,000 miles.

Does high mileage make insurance cheaper?

How many miles you drive annually is one of the rating factors insurers use to determine your insurance premium. Drivers who clock more miles than the average — about 12,000 miles per year — pay more for car insurance because of the heightened risk of being on the road more often than a low-mileage driver.

Does mileage matter more than year?

While it's a good idea to consider the age of a vehicle and the number on its odometer, it's more important to look at how well the owner maintained the car. A 10-year-old car with 100,000 miles may have received more TLC than a 5-year-old model with 50,000 miles.

Can car insurance track your mileage?

Telematics-powered auto insurance is a form of policy in which insurance companies rely on in-car tracking devices to monitor your driving habits and tendencies. These devices track your vehicle's speed, mileage, total driving time and other factors to help determine the policyholder's car insurance premiums.

What is considered high mileage for insurance?

If you drive a lot, insurance companies will charge you higher premiums because they're taking on more risk. Generally, anything over the U.S. average annual mileage (roughly 14,000 miles) is considered high and will result in a rate hike.

Does mileage cover car insurance?

While mileage reimbursement does not directly cover car insurance premiums, the standard mileage rate provided by the IRS considers an average cost for insurance as part of the vehicle's operating expenses.

How do you lower your car insurance bill?

7 ways to lower your car insurance premium
  1. Qualify for insurance discounts. Getting more discounts that lower your car insurance premium might be easier than you think. ...
  2. Increase your deductible. ...
  3. Reduce your coverage. ...
  4. Compare rates. ...
  5. Try usage-based insurance. ...
  6. Take a defensive driving course. ...
  7. Get a car that's cheaper to insure.

What is the lowest mileage for car insurance?

Most insurance providers consider someone who drives between 0 and 7,500 miles per year a "low-mileage driver." Most insurance consumers are initially rated by default at the standard U.S. average mileage of 12,000 miles per year.

Who normally has the cheapest car insurance?

Geico, Nationwide and Travelers are among the least expensive for car insurance. Americans are paying a lot for car insurance these days: Average annual rates for a full coverage policy are up to $2,638 per year, while minimum coverage averages $767 per year.

What to put for annual mileage?

Every mile that a car is driven adds up, and eventually gets divided by the number of years since the car was manufactured. That number is known as the car's annual mileage. So if your 2011 Subaru Outback has 200,000 miles on it by 2021, its annual mileage is 20,000 miles.

Is it worth paying more for a car with less miles?

If you manage to find used cars with low mileage, you might find yourself paying a little more to get behind the wheel. Subsequently, the first car will cost more because there has been less operation, meaning less wear and tear, so that car is of a higher value to the consumer.

What mileage is not worth buying?

That said, based on the 12,000 miles per year rule, you can get a general idea of what type of mileage to expect on a used vehicle. If a car has accumulated far more than 12,000 miles per year, you may want to consider a different vehicle.