Pay-as-you-drive car insurance guide

Every motorist and their wheels are unique, so you should be on the lookout for a car insurance policy to suit your circumstances.
From third party car insurance to comprehensive cover, there are myriad options and extras to consider. If you want to investigate pay-as-you-drive car insurance, you’ve come to the right place.
What is pay-as-you-drive car insurance?
It’s sometimes referred to as a ‘pay per kilometre plan’, but both titles hint at the nature of this coverage: it’s car insurance that’s priced to reflect how often or far you drive. A pay-as-you-drive plan is normally an option within a comprehensive car insurance policy.
Providers will offer a premium discount to customers who drive fewer kms, as less time on the road generally means you’re less likely to be in an accident and claim on your policy. Insurance providers will have different kilometre limits (either agreed upon or set) and have varied processes for measuring and altering this.
Who’s it best for? Car owners who only drive occasionally, perhaps retirees or those commuting to work via public transport or bicycle and saving the car for the weekend. It’s also handy if you have multiple shared cars in one household, limiting the km range of each.
How does pay-as-you-drive insurance work?
The standard process is to agree to drive under a certain number of kilometres in a set period – generally annually or monthly – when taking out a policy. Your odometer is recorded when you take out the coverage, and monitored monthly or at the end of the policy period.
For a ball-park figure on how far you can drive with this kind of cover, a few providers advertise a limit of 15,000km to 20,000km a year. Some insurance companies will allow you to bump up this limit if you anticipate extra time behind the wheel, but this usually comes with at an additional cost.
Other policy options will be more closely linked to usage. This can involve receiving further discounts rewarding lower usage on a monthly or even daily basis, while still adhering to a set limit.
Which companies offer pay-as-you-drive insurance?
As more innovative, tech-focused car insurance companies are coming onto the market, more providers are having to compete with the flexibility they offer. So don’t be surprised if you see pay-as-you-drive or pay-per-km policies popping up more often. Some companies offering these include:
Is pay-as-you-drive car insurance cheaper?
In short, yes. The primary selling point of this type of car insurance policy is that you receive a discount for driving less, so this will make it cheaper than standard comprehensive cover.
However, if you exceed the kilometre range without letting your provider know, or if you have to keep topping it up, this could end up costing you more.
As with most insurance policies, if you want optional extras included this could also make it more costly. And despite the km cost-savings, it won’t necessarily be cheaper than a third party car insurance policy, or reduce your excess at the time of a claim.
Pay-as-you-drive pros and cons
There’s light and shade to all things in life, including car insurance. So consider the pros and cons of pay-as-you-drive car insurance before signing onto a policy (and always read the PDS).
Pros:
- You can get comprehensive cover at a lower price
- You can often top up your kilometres if circumstances change
- The discount could incentivise you to reduce unnecessary driving
Cons:
- You have to pay an extra premium to bump up the km limit
- Your claim might be denied or excess increased if you’ve exceeded the limit
- You can’t set and forget this kind of policy, since kms need to be monitored
Once you’ve assessed all the details of pay-as-you-drive car insurance, check out some of the comprehensive options below.
Compare comprehensive car insurance - rates updated daily
Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Choice of excess
- $500 - $1,850
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
- Online Discount Up To 15%
Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance
Get award winning Car Insurance. Save 15% ^ on your first year’s premium when you purchase a new policy online. Budget Direct offers tailor-made cover, new-for-old replacement, 24/7 claims, a highly-rated claims service, and get a hire car following a theft.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 2 years or 40,000 kilometres of original registration, whichever comes first
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days, max $1,000 total.
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - Yes. At fault - Optional Extra. Up to 14 days for at fault accidents.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess. Option to reduce windscreen excess to $40 on every windscreen claim for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- $600 for drivers under 21, $500 for drivers under 24, $600 for unlisted drivers, $500 for inexperienced drivers over 24.
- Roadside assistance
- Optional Extra
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about Budget Direct Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Choice of excess
- $400 - $1,850 (varies By State)
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
- No Claim Discount
Comprehensive Car Insurance
Want to save on your car insurance? Qantas Car Insurance has competitively priced cover you can tailor to suit you and your budget. And because it's Qantas Insurance, it’s more rewarding too with up to 20,000 points just for joining. Points based on your premium after 60 days. T&Cs and eligibility apply.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 2 years and 40,000 km of original registration
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days, max $1,000
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - Yes. At fault - Optional Extra. Up to 14 days.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess. Option to reduce windscreen excess to $40 for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- $600 for drivers under 21, $500 for drivers aged 21 to 24 inclusive, $600 for unlisted drivers, $500 for inexperienced drivers.
- Roadside assistance
- Optional Extra
- Other benefits
- Earn up to 20,000 Qantas Points when you sign up. Points earned depend on the amount spent on your premium. Points earn thresholds and T&Cs apply.
- Other restrictions
- -
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about Qantas Comprehensive Car Insurance
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes
- Choice of repairer
- No
- Choice of excess
- $500 - $5,000
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
- Pay As You Drive Cover With Pricing Tiers Available For Limited Kms.
Comprehensive Car Insurance
Huddle Car Insurance, Pay as you drive & save up to 30% (T&Cs apply). 24/7 claims lodgement and new-for-old replacement (under 2 years).
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 2 years of original registration
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days, max $70 per day.
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - Optional Extra. At fault - Optional Extra. Up to 10 days, max $70 per day.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess. Option to reduce excess for first windscreen claim each year to $0 for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Most modifications covered automatically
- Young driver excess imposed
- $1,200 for listed drivers under 21, $800 for listed drivers under 24, $2,000 for unlisted drivers under 21, $1,600 for unlisted drivers under 24, $800 for inexperienced drivers over 24, $800 for learner drivers.
- Roadside assistance
- Optional Service
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about Huddle Comprehensive Car Insurance
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- No
- Choice of excess
- $800 - $2,000
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed
Available discounts
- No Claim Discount
Comprehensive Car Insurance
Stella have created a more intuitive experience and offer a product that’s been designed with women in mind; offering premium benefits, and optional extras and rewards for being a safe driver. Stella are backed by QBE. Purchase a new comprehensive car insurance policy from Stella by 31st July 2022 and receive a $100 EGift Card. To redeem enter STELLA100 at checkout. T&Cs apply.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 3 years and 60,000 km of original registration
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days.
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - yes. At fault - Optional Extra. Up to 14 days.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess. Option to reduce windscreen excess to $0 on every windscreen claim for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- $600 for listed drivers under 25. $1,600 for unlisted drivers under 25
- Roadside assistance
- Optional Extra
- Other benefits
- Receive a $100 eGift card for new Comprehensive Car Insurance policies purchased from Stella by 31st July 2022. To redeem enter STELLA100 at checkout.
- Other restrictions
- -
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about Stella Comprehensive Car Insurance
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Choice of excess
- $400 - $2,500
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
- 20% Discount On Contents Insurance If Youi Car Insurance Also Held
Comprehensive Car Insurance
When change happens to you, like a new or used car, think Youi - a car insurer that’s all about you and where your life’s at right now. Start a quote with Youi today to see what you could save. Mozo People’s Choice Most Recommended Car Insurance award winner in 2021^.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 2 years and a listed driver is the first registered owner
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days.
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - Yes. At fault - Optional Extra. Up to 14 days.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess. Option to reduce windscreen excess for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- Yes for drivers under 25 years old - amount varies per policy
- Roadside assistance
- Yes
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about Youi Comprehensive Car Insurance
* Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Car Insurance Awards