Thursday, February 26, 2009

The Advantages of Pay As You Drive Insurance

By Tom Martens

Insurance premiums are usually based on factors such as a driver?s gender, age and where they live. But Pay As You Drive insurance is different because it is based on the number of miles you drive. The less you drive, the less you pay.

The obvious advantage of Pay As You Drive, then, is cost. Since Pay As You Drive premiums are computed on the basis of how many miles the vehicle is driven, it is extremely easy to reduce the monthly insurance bill. Simply reduce the number of miles driven. Not only does this save money on the insurance bill, it also means less on gas and maintenance and repair. The fewer miles driven, the longer the vehicle lasts. It may be possible to keep the vehicle long after that last car payment is made?and in our tough economy, who can't find things to do with the money that otherwise would be spent on a car payment?

Another benefit of Pay As You Drive coverage is that it is possible to customize the insurance program to personal needs. Premiums are determined either within a range of miles driven, or hours driven. The owner may elect to a Pay As You Drive plan that focuses on a specific time period, such as six months, or just the total number of miles driven. Freedom and flexibility in Pay As You Drive allows drives to design the insurance coverage that works best for them.

Pay As You Drive insurance offers an incentive to drive fewer miles, and the less you drive, the less likely you are to get into an accident. Low mileage drivers tend to be more cautious and focused behind the wheel as well.

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 Institute found that two-thirds of American households would save an average of $270 per year with Pay As You Drive. In the current economic situation, that is welcome 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.

A close look finds many advantages to Pay As You Drive plans. Contact an authorized insurance broker for more details on a plan that best suits your individual needs. - 15224

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