Insurance companies usually price auto insurance policies on factors such as the driver's gender, age, driving record, and place of residence. Pay As You Drive insurance, however, is very different, being based on the number of miles you drive. The fewer miles 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 advantage to Pay As You Drive insurance is you can specifically tailor your insurance program to meet your driving needs. Premiums under Pay As You Drive insurance are determined either within a specific range of miles, by the total number of miles driven or by the number of hours driven. A driver can elect to have a Pay As You Drive insurance program that focuses on a specific time period, such as six months, or the driver can simply choose to focus on the total number of miles driven. Pay As You Drive insurance gives drivers plenty of freedom and flexibility when it comes to designing an insurance program that works for them.

Because Pay As You Drive incentivizes driving less, it makes it less likely you will get yourself into an accident. Low-mileage drivers are usually more focused and careful behind the wheel, too.

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.

There are plenty of advantages for Pay As You Drive insurance. Contact a qualified insurance provider for more detailed information on an insurance plan that best suits your driving needs.

Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator for Carinsurancesa.co.za. South Arica?s leading car insurance portal.