The number of miles you drive directly affects the risk you pose to your insurance company. The more miles, the higher the risk — and the more expensive your rates.
For example, here’s what a 40-year-old male commuting to work in a 2013 Subaru BRZ Premium in Oakland, Calif., would pay for full coverage at various mileage levels:
- 7,000 miles: $2,060
- 12,000 miles: $2,161
- 15,000 miles: $2,275
- 25,000 miles: $2,589
Your car insurance might reflect some kind of discount off standard rates below 10,000 miles, and if you drive less than 7,000, you should expect a fairly substantial break.
More than 84 percent of drivers who submitted car insurance quote requests through our online comparison tool over an 18-month period reported annual mileage of 12,000 miles a year or less. About 18 percent reported annual mileage of 7,000 miles or less.
How everyone else drives
Based on more than 345,000 recent insurance quote requests, our data show that annual mileage hits its peak among younger drivers and declines steadily. Annual mileage by age range:
- 16 to 24: 11,800
- 25 to 34: 11,526
- 35 to 44: 11,462
- 45 to 54: 11,091
- 55 to 64: 10,606
- 65 and over: 9,575
Women reported higher annual mileage than men did, 11,448 versus 11,110. That holds true for every age bracket but is especially pronounced among the ages most likely to have small children at home.
| Age Range | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 16 to 24 | 11,851 | 11,754 |
| 25 to 34 | 11,710 | 11,362 |
| 35 to 44 | 11,636 | 11,306 |
| 45 to 54 | 11,199 | 11,005 |
| 55 to 64 | 10,792 | 10,484 |
| 65 and over | 9,628 | 9,549 |
For the four most recent model years, 2010 through 2013, Mini and Smart owners reported the lowest annual average mileage at 10,682 and 10,721, respectively. Buick and Cadillac owners reported the highest at 13,260 and 12,769.
As cars get older, they tend to be driven less. Here is the average reported mileage by model year going back to 1990:
| Year | Miles |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 10,328 |
| 1991 | 10,297 |
| 1992 | 10,646 |
| 1993 | 10,602 |
| 1994 | 10,477 |
| 1995 | 10,547 |
| 1996 | 10,555 |
| 1997 | 10,502 |
| 1998 | 10,796 |
| 1999 | 10,815 |
| 2000 | 10,842 |
| 2001 | 10,886 |
| 2002 | 11,009 |
| 2003 | 11,054 |
| 2004 | 11,342 |
| 2005 | 11,466 |
| 2006 | 11,635 |
| 2007 | 11,820 |
| 2008 | 11,910 |
| 2009 | 11,917 |
| 2010 | 11,851 |
| 2011 | 11,660 |
| 2012 | 11,597 |
| 2013 | 11,959 |
It’s not just the miles; it’s how the miles are racked up. Certain types of use mean a vehicle is on the road more often or at more dangerous times, which is why your insurance company asks how you intend to use it. This is what average mileage looks like by usage classification.
- Artisan: 13,455
- Business calls: 13,563
- Clergyman: 13,435
- Delivery: 15,199
- Farm or ranch: 10,066
- Government: 16,355
- Pleasure: 9,290
- School: 10,931
- To/from work: 11,977
How to get a low-mileage discount
Any discount you get for low mileage depends largely on your insurance company, says CarInsurance.com consumer analyst Penny Gusner.
“The discount is typically 5 to 15 percent, and at some companies the discounts start at 10,000 miles, and others at 7,500 miles,” she says, noting that the discounts usually apply to collision and liability coverages. “You may not see a line item on your policy that says ‘low mileage discount’ because many companies adjust your base rates, so you may have to ask your agent or company to make sure your premium reflects any change.”
Some companies may require verification of your mileage. That could come from several sources: a form that you fill out; a photo you take and mail in; or service and emissions records.
If you drive an exceptionally small number of miles — safely — pay-as-you-drive insurance might save you even more. Insurers such as Progressive send you a device that plugs into your car and reports odometer readings and driving habits, then calculate a discount that can reach 40 or 50 percent in some rare cases.
And, if you’re driving that little, you likely qualify for a host of other discounts as well, Gusner says. Check out CarInsurance.com’s discounts page.
Ask the Insurance Expert
Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
Ask the Insurance Expert
John McCormick
Editorial Director
John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.
Ask the Insurance Expert
Leslie Kasperowicz
Executive Editor
Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.
Ask the Insurance Expert
Nupur Gambhir
Managing Editor
Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.