By Miles Car Insurance review

Best for Low Mileage

Pay-per-mile car insurance — ideal for low-mileage drivers. Pay a fixed daily rate plus a per-mile charge tracked via a GPS device.

Overview

By Miles pioneered pay-per-mile car insurance in the UK. If you drive less than 7,000 miles per year, this model can save you significantly compared to traditional annual car insurance. You pay a daily fixed rate plus a per-mile charge tracked via a small GPS device.

Who Is By Miles Best For?

• Low-mileage drivers (under 7,000 miles/year) — the savings are significant
• Work-from-home professionals — your car sits on the drive most days
• Second car owners — the car you only use at weekends
• City dwellers — those who walk, cycle, or use public transport most days
• Retirees — driving less but still needing a car

How It Works

1. Get a quote online — provide your details and estimated mileage
2. Receive the Miles Tracker — a small device that plugs into your car's OBD port
3. Pay a daily fixed rate — covers you even when the car is parked
4. Pay per mile driven — tracked automatically by the device
5. Check the app — see your daily and monthly costs in real-time

Cost Comparison

For a typical low-mileage driver (4,000 miles/year):

Insurance Type	Approximate Annual Cost
Traditional annual policy	£400-600
By Miles (4,000 miles)	£250-400
Potential saving	£100-250/year

Traditional insurers charge based on estimated annual mileage — and there is no refund if you drive less. By Miles charges for actual miles driven. If your car sits in the driveway 5 days a week, you are not paying for insurance you are not using.

Cover Levels

By Miles offers the same cover levels as traditional insurers:

• Comprehensive — full cover including your own vehicle
• Third party, fire and theft — covers damage to others and theft of your car
• Third party only — minimum legal cover

All policies include breakdown cover and a courtesy car (on comprehensive).

The Tracker Device

The Miles Tracker is a small OBD plug-in device:

• Plugs into the diagnostic port under your dashboard
• Tracks miles automatically — no manual logging
• Does NOT track speed or driving style (privacy-friendly)
• Does NOT share location data
• Free to use — included with the policy

Unlike telematics black boxes that monitor speed and braking, By Miles only tracks distance. They do not monitor how you drive, where you go, or when you drive. It is purely a mileage counter.

What By Miles Lacks

• Not suitable for high mileage — above 7,000 miles/year, traditional insurance is usually cheaper
• Requires OBD device — not everyone wants hardware in their car
• Newer insurer — smaller than established brands
• Per-mile cost varies — can increase at renewal
• Not the cheapest for commuters — daily driving adds up quickly

The Bottom Line

By Miles is a genuinely innovative product that makes car insurance fairer for low-mileage drivers. If you drive under 7,000 miles a year, you should at least get a quote — the savings can be substantial. For daily commuters doing 10,000+ miles, stick with traditional insurance.

Pros

• Pay only for miles driven
• GPS tracking device provided
• Great for WFH/low-mileage
• App tracks spending in real-time
• Fair pricing model

Cons

• Not suitable for high mileage
• Requires GPS device installation
• Per-mile costs can vary
• Less suitable for commuters