Metromile

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 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 iOS and 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 iBeacon technology.

History

Metromile was founded in Redwood City, CA in 2011 by David Friedberg and Steve Pretre. David Friedberg currently sits as the chairman of the board, and the company is led by CEO Dan Preston. To date, Metromile has raised $205 million in disclosed funding (Series A through D) and additional undisclosed funding, with investors including NEA, Index Ventures, First Round Capital, and SV Angel. In 2013, the company moved its headquarters to San Francisco and in April 2015 added a second office space. A new location was opened in Boston in April 2015 and in Tempe in May 2015. In September 2016 they announced a new round of $192 million in funding and acquired a carrier which enabled them to start underwriting their own policies.