Car Insurance for Commuting

How do your auto insurance premiums change when you select "commute" on your insurance application?
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Ava Lynch

Insurance Analyst

Credentials
  • 7+ years of Experience in the Insurance Industry

Ava joined The Zebra as a writer and licensed insurance agent in 2016. She now works as a senior insurance contributor, providing insights and data a…

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Jean Lucey, CPCU

Faculty, IIAA Virtual University

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  • CPCU, Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter

Jean Lucey has researched and written about insurance matters for well over 30 years. A current member of The Zebra's Insurance Expert Review Bo…

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Susan Meyer

Senior Editorial Manager

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  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty

Susan is a licensed insurance agent and has worked as a writer and editor for over 10 years across a number of industries. She has worked at The Zebr…

Car insurance for commuting to work

If your primary use of your vehicle is driving to and from work, you should select a "commuter" car insurance policy. On average, commuter use car insurance doesn't cost all that much more than pleasure use auto insurance. On average, a commuter car insurance policy costs about $900 every six months. Let’s assess some popular car insurance companies offering commuter policies.


What car insurance is appropriate for commuters?

Most car insurance companies distinguish commuting vehicles from pleasure-use cars, which are usually driven less often. Insurers assign commuter insurance policies to drivers who use their vehicles only for their daily commute. See below common mileage classifications and insurance premiums for common vehicle uses.

Average Annual Insurance Premiums by Vehicle Use
Use of Vehicle Avg. 6 Mo. Premium Avg. Monthly Premium
Work $904 $151
Pleasure $903 $150
Farm $848 $141
Business $1,035 $173
Artisan $1,035 $173

The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool data methodology

The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.

The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.

For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.

Alternate vehicle uses

  • Farm: Vehicles used on a farm for towing and other farm-related activities.
  • Business: Vehicles in which there are limited commercial/business purposes functions.

Cheapest car insurance companies for a commuter

Using our user profile (methodology), we got car insurance rates for a commuter policy from top providers in the US.

Average Premiums for Commuters by Insurance Company
Company Avg. 6 Mo. Premium Avg. Monthly Premium
Allstate $1,259 $210
American Family $913 $152
Farmers $1,029 $172
GEICO $803 $134
Nationwide $879 $146
Progressive $825 $138
State Farm $652 $109
USAA $660 $110

For our user profile, USAA and State Farm are the cheapest car insurance provider for a commuter car insurance policy. If you do not qualify for USAA, you can also find below-average rates with GEICO and Progressive.


How to find cheap commuter car insurance

Search for usage-based insurance

If you're a low mileage driver, a commuter policy might not be your most cost-efficient option. While relatively new to the world of auto insurance, usage-based insurance policies can be a great solution if you drive infrequently. Backed by telematics, usage-based insurance policies use how you drive and how much you drive to calculate your insurance policy. In theory, the less you drive, the more you can save. Compare quotes online today to save on your next policy.

 

Change your commuter mileage

Lowering the number of miles that you drive can lower your premium. While the savings are not likely to be dramatic, most car insurance companies will offer a lower rate to drivers who don't have long commutes. If the distance of your commute changes, logging this with your insurer can help you save money.

For those who find themselves no longer needing to commute, whether due to a change in your job or other circumstances, it's important to let your insurance company know. If you find that you are not driving at all, you could look into another option known as car storage insurance. This option allows you to drop collision coverage which can lower your rates. 

If you’re interested in seeing commuter rates from some of the top car insurance companies, enter your ZIP code below to get started.

Find the right policy in only a few minutes.

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No junk mail. No spam calls. Free quotes.

About The Zebra

The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.

  • The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
  • The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
  • The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
  • The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.