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There are two main ways to buy a car: pay cash or finance your purchase (i.e. take out an auto loan and pay it off over time). You can probably guess which option is more popular — as the average price of a new car has topped $45,000, it’s not surprising that a whopping 86% of new vehicles purchased in the US were financed in Q2 2020 according to Statista.

While financing a car can be a convenient way to purchase a vehicle without decimating your savings, it could cost you more than whatever interest rate your lender is charging. We’ll explain why and what you can do about it below.

What is a lienholder?

A lienholder is a lender who holds a lien (legal claim) on something you own because they lent you the money to purchase it. In the case of financing a car, the lienholder is your auto lender — whether that’s your bank, the car dealer, or an individual — and the “something you own” is your vehicle.

When you finance a car, your lender is considered the legal owner and may be listed on the vehicle title and your auto insurance policy until you pay off your loan and own the car outright. The lien basically gives the lender (your lienholder) a guarantee that it’ll receive repayment for your loan — either through your payments or repossession of the vehicle if you stop making payments.

If you’re not sure whether your vehicle has a lienholder, check your car’s Certificate of Title or your state’s DMV website, or run a Vehicle History Report (VHR).

Who needs a lienholder?

A lienholder is only needed if you financed your vehicle (i.e. have a car loan). If you paid for your car in cash, you own the car in full. If you’re leasing it, you’re basically renting it until your lease is over — you’re not giving someone money to eventually own the vehicle.

In rare cases, a mechanic may place a lien on your vehicle if you don’t pay your bill, but it may need to be approved by a court to be added.

How do lienholders impact car insurance?

Your lienholder can require you to purchase certain types of car insurance to protect their investment.

States usually only require liability insurance, which covers injuries to others or damage to their property — but doesn’t cover your car. Since the lienholder legally owns your car until you pay off the loan, they often require you to purchase insurance that’ll cover it if it gets damaged or stolen.

In practice, this usually means they’ll require you to get “full coverage” car insurance (comprehensive and collision insurance) — sometimes with a specific deductible amount — and add their name to your insurance policy. Collision insurance covers damages to your car from collisions, while comprehensive coverage covers theft and damage that happens to your car when it’s not being driven (think car branches falling on your car, animals running into it, hail, etc.).

If your policy coverage doesn’t meet the requirements of your lienholder, they might take out their own policy on the vehicle (often called force-placed insurance) and make you pay the premiums in addition to the policy you have.

Should your car get damaged, the money paid out by your insurance may be addressed to both you and the lienholder, and they may not endorse the check until you agree to certain stipulations. For example, they might want proof you actually used the money to repair the car. And if the vehicle is totaled or stolen, your insurance provider is required to reimburse the lender for their remaining interest before you receive anything.

Once you pay your loan off and remove the lienholder from your policy, you have full control over what car insurance to buy (though you do need to hit your state’s minimum).

What is a lienholder on a car title?

The lienholder listed on your car title is your auto loan lender. They’ll usually appear on your car title (or, in some states, keep the title) until you pay off the loan. The process generally looks something like this:

1. The lienholder files the lien with your state’s transportation agency or department of motor vehicles.
2. When you pay off the loan, they send a lien release document to the appropriate state transportation agency.
3. The car title gets updated and transferred to you.

How to add and remove a lienholder from your auto insurance policy

It’s relatively easy to add a lienholder to your auto insurance policy. First, adjust your policy to meet the lienholder’s requests (remember: they’ll usually require full coverage, which means you may need to add collision and comprehensive coverage with specified deductibles). Then, ask your insurance company to add the lienholder to your policy and notify the lienholder when they’ve done so. Finally, follow up with the lienholder to make sure the paperwork was filed properly.

To remove the lienholder from your policy, you’ll usually need to prove to your insurance company that you own the vehicle outright (for example, show the updated car title that only lists your name). Once you do that, they should be able to help you remove the lienholder from your policy — and adjust your policy if you wish.

Bottom line

While the insurance your lienholder requires can come in handy if you get into an accident or your car gets stolen, you’ll likely need to pay higher monthly premiums for this additional coverage. The good news is you could pay less with Metromile than with other insurance providers since the rate you pay for comprehensive coverage and collision coverage is based on your driving habits. Get a free quote to see how much you could save today!

Cars are a modern-day engineering marvel, but most of the magic is invisible to you as the driver. You simply turn on the car, hit the gas, and drive at your leisure and convenience. But behind the scenes, there’s a particular car part that provides energy to various vital car functions like engine cooling, power steering, and more and that is the serpentine belt. In this guide, we’ll cover what it does, how it works, and when is a good time for serpentine belt replacement.

What is a serpentine belt and what does it do? 

A serpentine belt is a snake-like belt (hence, the name) made of rubber that is part of your car’s engine and provides power to several parts of your car. These parts include:

• The alternator
• Air conditioner 
• Power steering 
• Water pump

The belt is located on the exterior of the engine and works with a closed-loop system. The serpentine belt connects various pulleys to transport energy sources that activate the aforementioned car parts. As your car runs, the belt consistently moves and powers other car parts seamlessly. 

What’s the difference between the serpentine belt vs. timing belt? 

Everyone has varying levels of car parts knowledge, ranging from “I don’t know a thing about car parts, I just drive” to “I’m an expert and can fix my own car” and everything in between. 

Regardless of where you’re at on the car knowledge spectrum, it can be easy to confuse the serpentine belt and timing belt. These car parts both have the word “belt” in them, but in fact, they serve very different purposes and are in different locations. 

As noted above, the serpentine belt provides power to other essential car parts and is on the exterior of the engine. 

A timing belt works to connect the engine valves of your car with the crankshaft so that the exhaust valves and the vehicle’s engine intake open and close seamlessly and in sync. The timing belt is located in the interior of the engine. 

An easy way to tell them apart is based on the types of grooves they have. Serpentine belts have vertical grooves, whereas timing belts have horizontal grooves. 

Though there are some major differences between serpentine belt vs. timing belt, oftentimes they both need to be replaced around the same timeframe, which is typically around the 60,000 to 100,000 miles mark. 

Keeping your serpentine belt in good shape 

Seeing as your serpentine belt powers so many other vital car functions, you want to do what you can to check in on the belt and make sure it’s in good shape (and keep it that way). 

The first thing you can do is consult your car’s owner manual to see how often you should check the serpentine belt. You can examine it yourself and see if there are common signs of wear and tear. For example, if you see cracks in the belt or see oil on it, it’s likely time for a repair. 

You may also be able to purchase a special gauge tool that can help you assess if there is damage that you may not be able to see. 

When should you get a serpentine belt replacement?

You should get a serpentine belt replacement every 60,000 to 100,000 miles or so. If you’re unsure if it’s ever been replaced, you may want to get it inspected by a professional or look for telltale signs that there is damage. According to The Drive’s Guide on Serpentine Belts, you should look out for the following: 

Visual

• Fraying 
• Cracking
• Shiny or glazed surface area
• Dirt or grease build-up
• Slack

Non-Visual

• Squeaking, chirping squealing, or rattling noises (the most common)
• Failing charging system or weak battery
• Failing air conditioning
• Overheating

You can also see if your engine light is on and if you’re experiencing engine trouble, a drained battery, or trouble with steering, you may need to get a serpentine belt replacement. 

If you see or hear any of these telltale signs, it may be time for an update. You can also get it looked at while getting your oil changed or by a mechanic if you have concerns. 

If you don’t drive that often, you could be a low-mileage driver and may not ever have to get a serpentine belt replacement. If you do, it may take a very long time until it’s time for an update. 

The bottom line 

Car maintenance is an inevitable part of being a car owner. You may know about your oil changes but not as much about your serpentine belt. Now you have an idea of what it is, how it works, and when to get a serpentine belt replacement. If you don’t drive very much, it may not be something you need to consider as much. 

If that’s the case, it might be time to rethink your insurance to make sure you’re getting the most savings. Using pay-per-mile auto insurance with Metromile, you pay an affordable base rate and several cents per mile. If you pay gas by the gallon, why not insurance by the miles you drive? Grab a free quote today to see about potential savings. 

Melanie Lockert is a freelance writer, podcast host of the Mental Health and Wealth show, and author of Dear Debt. She’s a cat mom to two jazzy cats, Miles and Thelonious, an amateur boxer, music lover, and needs coffee to function.

We spent the spring and early summer months at Metromile refreshing our values to make sure they were aligned with who we are, the work we’re doing, and the future we’re building. The end result? Five updated value statements that express how we operate and treat each other:

• Create fiercely loyal customers.
• Invent the future
• Be intellectually persistent
• Be outcome oriented
• Nurture diversity, inclusion, and belonging

When we put our values in writing and commit to them, we’re saying something about what’s important to us as an organization, and what’s important to our stakeholders, customers, and employees.

The best way to introduce our values is to let Metromilers speak for themselves. After all, values don’t mean much without the people who believe in them.

Invent the Future

“I’m inventing the future with Metromile, but I’m also able to invent my own future and continue to build my experience and my knowledge base just to become a better employee here,” Senior Process Manager Megan Kurin said. “It’s very challenging at times. And more technical than what I’ve worked on in the past. And I love it. I love being challenged.”

Megan is a self-described insurance geek, and her role is focused on helping enterprise customers—other insurance carriers—find solutions to improve claims organization, track mileage, tighten fraud processes, and more.

“My purpose at Metromile Enterprise is to drive an “innovation-first” roadmap with our enterprise customers. How can we come up with solutions that’ll resolve issues before they even become a problem? That’s what I think is really exciting.”

It’s easy to see that Megan loves her job. It’s the focus on innovation and growth, she said, that gives her so much passion. “I’m always thinking about so many ideas. I actually had to start keeping an Excel spreadsheet,” she said. “The ideas just keep coming to me!”

Customer Experience (CX) Manager Ti-Jael Stafford sees inventing the future as core to Metromile’s business.

“I think many legacy or larger insurance companies think that insurance is simply a product that will always be needed, so they don’t see much need for change or adaptation. Metromile’s model of disrupting the insurance industry and inventing the future shows that they value what is to come over what has always been,” she said. “Just because everyone who owns a car needs insurance doesn’t mean they need the same insurance that their grandparents had 50 years ago.”

Brandie Smith is a Senior Principal User Researcher and sees inventing the future playing out in her day-to-day work life.

“Invent the future, as well as two of our other values—be outcome oriented and be intellectually persistent—all relate to curiosity, exploration, openness. I see that in the open lines of communication around what product is working on, what CX is hearing. We have this regular feedback loop so that we can work on what CX is hearing, share improvements and so forth,” she said. “Metromile is constantly thinking about how we can make insurance more fair and easier to use. Invent the future is a guidepost for our work.”

Brandie is a Metromile veteran of several years, but Dan Wakefield, a Senior Content Designer who’s new to the company, thinks about it along the same lines. “The great thing about inventing the future here is that everyone is onboard. Building something new and different takes a lot of ideation, and everyone I’ve worked with across the company gets just as excited about ideas as I do and works hard to push them forward. I’m blown away at how open and efficient the process has been compared to other places.”

The brakes on your car are literally a life-saver. They help you stop on time and avoid accidents and help you manage the dance of driving with other cars on the road. Brakes can suffer from wear and tear, and sometimes you may start to hear squeaky brakes. Hearing the high pitch sound can be unsettling and in a panic make you think, “Why are my brakes squeaking?!” If you’re dealing with this issue right now, read on to learn why this is happening and how to fix it.

Why are my brakes squeaking?  

If you’re wondering why my brakes are squeaking, it could be a number of things. Squeaky brakes happen for many reasons but here are the most common. 

Slamming on the brakes 

As noted above, your car brakes can be an actual life-saver. You use them day-to-day normally, but sometimes another car swerves in front of you, or you miscalculate the distance, and you need to slam the brakes hard. If all goes well, this maneuver can avoid an accident. But it’s not without consequence. Slamming on the brakes can lead to squeaky brakes that can be annoying and may need additional attention. 

Run-down brake pads

Using anything enough can lead to overuse and eventually become run-down. That includes your brake pads. As the brake pads are used continuously, they may deal with wear and tear, and the metal pads may start to screech, squeak, or squeal. If you start to hear squeaky brakes, it’s a warning sign that it’s time to get them looked at for potential issues. 

A rusty rotor 

Your car’s brake rotors can accumulate rust over time, leading to that unpleasant sound you hear. If your car doesn’t sit in a covered garage and is continuously exposed to the elements like rain or snow, the additional moisture from weather conditions can lead to a rusty rotor. The rust may be able to come off while driving. But if it’s deeper than the surface, to fix squeaky brakes you may need to see a mechanic to remove the excess rust. 

Subpar installation

Let’s say your car got fixed for a particular issue, and now you’re dealing with squeaky brakes. If that’s the case, there could be subpar installation or use of shoddy or low-quality parts that are contributing to the high-pitched sound. Another thing to look out for is if your caliper is sticking out or isn’t lubricated enough, which could be another underlying reason your brakes squeal or squeak. 

How to fix squeaky brakes 

It’s natural to wonder, “Why are my brakes squeaking?” but the more important thing is to figure out how to fix the issue. In some cases, it could be something you can do yourself, in other cases, you may need to see an automotive professional.

According to AutoZone, you can fix squeaky brakes by:

• Replacing the brake hardware. Their website states, “…it’s essential that brake hardware is changed every time you change your brake pads. This means changing the pad clips, removing and cleaning the slide pins, and replacing the pin boots if they are cracked or damaged. If your brake pads don’t come with the pad clip hardware, they can be purchased separately at this time. Many times, it’s more cost-effective to simply opt for the better-quality brake pads that already have the hardware included.”
• Getting new brake pads. 
• Apply lubrication to specific contact points. AutoZone recommends adding brake lubricant to the edge of the brake pads, pad clips, as well as the caliper and slide pins.  
• See a mechanic. Sometimes you can’t DIY it and need professional help.

You can watch a YouTube tutorial on how to fix squeaky brakes but if you’re hesitant to do it yourself or the problem persists, take your car to a mechanic to inspect your brakes and help remedy the issue. 

Will my car insurance fix squeaky brakes?  

If you need to fix squeaky brakes, you might wonder if your car insurance will cover the cost. In many cases, you’re fully responsible for covering car maintenance and repairs. However, if the squeaky brakes are related to a car accident or other incident with your vehicle, it may be covered. To have your car insurance cover it, you’d typically need to have comprehensive or collision coverage, which would include such things. It’s important to note that if your brakes were squeaky before the accident, it likely won’t be covered as it’s not directly related to the accident. 

The bottom line 

If you’re panicking and wondering “Why are my brakes squeaking?!”, take a deep breath. It could be something fairly harmless like rust or it could be something serious. You don’t know until you try to fix squeaky brakes yourself or consult a professional. 

The key is to get help as soon as you notice things aren’t right with your brakes to make sure you’re safe and secure. If you were in an accident, contact your car insurance provider. If you’re looking for more affordable car insurance coverage, check out pay-per-mile auto insurance with Metromile, where you’re charged based on how much you drive and not a generic flat fee. Get personalized car insurance that makes sense for how much you drive. Grab a free quote. 

Melanie Lockert is a freelance writer, podcast host of the Mental Health and Wealth show, and author of Dear Debt. She’s a cat mom to two jazzy cats, Miles and Thelonious, an amateur boxer, music lover, and needs coffee to function.

Live in the Garden State and thinking of selling your car for some extra cash? Right now may be a good time to sell your car on the private market, as the market is hot. You can make room in your garage and earn more than you would at a dealership to help cover rising costs, pay down debt, or you can use it as a down payment for another car. If you’re a NJ resident, here’s how to sell your car in New Jersey.

Step 1: Get your car photo-ready 

Just like you might get ready with hair, wardrobe and makeup for new headshots, you need to get your car photo-ready too. Do an in-depth cleaning of the car and remove your personal belongings. Vacuum the floor mats, get a car wash, take out any trash, and make it look as good as new (even if it isn’t). 

Once your car is photo-ready, snap some pictures so you can advertise your car properly. These photos of your car will essentially be a prospective buyer’s first impression of the vehicle, so be sure to capture the car’s good angles and make the photos appealing for buyers. 

Step 2: Add your listing to several car marketplaces 

When selling a car in New Jersey, you need a place to connect with buyers. The good news is there are various car marketplaces that make the process easier for you. For example, many people are using the power of apps and social media to sell cars. You can check out Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, Craigslist, and AutoTrader, and any options unique to New Jersey. 

Put your photos up, add a catchy and comprehensive description, and publish your listing so buyers know your car is officially on the market. 

Step 3: Agree to a car inspection, if asked 

If you have a serious buyer on your hands, they may want to move forward in the process but with a caveat — they want a car inspection first. Typically, prospective buyers will go to a mechanic of their choice to execute the inspection. If a potential buyer wants an inspection, coordinate with them to make it happen. If you’re not asked, you can provide a Vehicle History Report from CarFax to give the buyer an idea about the vehicle’s history and condition. 

Step 4: Get your vehicle records in order

Before selling a car, get your vehicle records in order. That can include the vehicle history report, maintenance records, owner’s manual, emission testing records (NJ typically requires vehicles to be inspected every two years), and the vehicle title. Your car title shows that you’re the rightful owner of the vehicle and is required as part of selling a car in New Jersey. 

If you need a replacement title, you’ll need to schedule an appointment and complete the Form OS/SS-UTA, which is the Universal Title Application. You’ll also need to provide proof of insurance or registration and pay a fee of $60 to get a new title. 

Step 5: Sign the title and provide Bill of Sale NJ 

When you have a serious buyer, it’s time to close the sale and accept payment. As the seller, you need to sign the back side of your title as part of transferring ownership to the new buyer. You can use a Bill of Sale NJ template as well to have a record of the transaction. According to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJ MVC) website, you’ll need to include:

• The buyer’s full name and address
• The date of the sale
• Mileage odometer reading
• Sale price 

Step 6: Take off your license plates 

As part of transferring ownership of the vehicle, you’ll need to remove your license plates. You can either transfer them to a new vehicle or “surrender” them at a motor vehicle agency, which you can find here. 

It’s important to note that to officially transfer the title the buyer will need to fill out their part of the title and bring it to a local motor vehicle agency and fill out the Vehicle Registration Application (Form BA-49). 

Make sure you keep all receipts and records to prove you’ve sold the car and surrendered the license plates so that the MVC knows that you’re no longer the owner. This will complete the car selling process and ensure you have a paper trail in case there are any questions.

The bottom line 

Figuring out how to sell a car in New Jersey can be a process. Using this guide, you can take these six steps to simplify the process and have your records in order. After selling your old car, you may be ready to buy a brand new set of wheels. If so, it might be time for an update of your insurance as well. Check out affordable car insurance with pay-per-mile coverage with Metromile, where you pay a low base rate and for the miles you drive, nothing more, nothing less. Check out your savings here. 

Melanie Lockert is a freelance writer, podcast host of the Mental Health and Wealth show, and author of Dear Debt. She’s a cat mom to two jazzy cats, Miles and Thelonious, an amateur boxer, music lover, and needs coffee to function.

There’s no doubt that getting into a car accident can shake you up in every way. It can do a number on your nervous system and put a damper on your day. But when it comes to types of car accidents, they differ in severity. There are the types of accidents that can result in injury and (gulp) death. 

On the other hand, there are fender benders, which  are typically minor and more of an annoyance to your day than a life-threatening accident. They’re also one of the most common types of accidents as well.

According to a report on Traffic Safety Facts in 2016 by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about half of all accidents aren’t reported to the police and involve only minor property damage and no severe injuries. More recent data in 2019 shows that property-damage-only crashes have the highest numbers, coming in at more than 4 million, which is about double the amount of injury and fatal crashes combined. Read on to learn what to do in a fender bender and what you should know. 

What is a fender bender, exactly? 

You’ve probably heard the term before, but what is a fender bender? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the term refers to “a minor automobile accident.”

The fender of your car is the part of the vehicle that curves over the wheels of the car to protect it. When you get into a fender bender, the fender can bend and become indented — hence the name fender bender. In general, these types of accidents cause minor or cosmetic property damage but typically not personal injuries. 

Top reasons fender benders happen

Fender benders are so common because it doesn’t take much to get into a minor accident. Your attention strays for a second when seeing an incoming text and suddenly you rear-end the person in front of you. Here are some common fender bender examples. 

• A driver doesn’t brake on time and rear-ends the car in front of them (this could be from texting, not paying attention, not slowing down far enough in advance, etc.)
• A driver is backing up and hits another car or vice versa — the other car hits the driver backing up. This could happen in a parking lot, narrow street, or areas with blind spots. 
• A driver isn’t paying close attention and hits a parked car (it happens!) 
• A driver doesn’t stop completely and hits another car

In many cases, fender benders occur at a slow to moderate speed which is why they typically aren’t as serious as an accident that causes injury or death. 

Fender benders can be caused by, among other things:

• Due to texting
• Being too close to another vehicle
• Not paying attention
• Not being aware of blind spots 

The best way to avoid fender benders is to stay focused, avoid distractions, and practice defensive driving. 

How to report a fender bender and file a claim 

Even if you stay on your A-game while driving, that doesn’t account for other people. Other drivers could be distracted and within mere seconds end up hitting you just enough for some bumper damage. Whether you’re at-fault or the other party is, here’s what to do in a fender bender.

Step 1: Stay calm and assess the situation 

Even though fender benders are relatively minor in the grand scheme of things, they’re still a shock to your nervous system. Take a deep breath and assess the situation. Is anyone hurt? Can everyone move, walk, and breathe properly? 

After determining that everyone is okay, then you can move the car to a safe spot and take a look at the damage on the vehicles. If there are injuries, call for medical attention right away. 

Step 2: Get to a safe spot 

Before you take an inventory of the damage, make sure to get to a safe spot. You might be in the middle of the road or blocking traffic, so see if you can go to the side of the road. If not, put on your emergency lights to remain visible to other drivers. 

Step 3: Take photos and exchange your information with the other driver 

In order to file a claim with insurance, you want to have all the information you need. First, start by taking photos of the car at all possible angles that include any damage. Next, you want to exchange your personal and car insurance information with the other driver. Each party in the fender bender should have:

• Full name
• Address
• Phone number
• Car insurance policy number
• Car insurance provider
• Details about time, date, location, etc. regarding the fender bender 

Getting all of this information ahead of time can make filing a claim easier and may help expedite the process.

Step 4: File a police report 

You also want to file a police report regarding the accident to have a paper trail. That can help your insurance claim. A police officer may come to the site of the fender bender or you may need to go to a station to file a report. In some cases, you may be legally required to file a police report if the property damage is over a certain amount. For example, in California that amount is $1,000. You can check out state reporting requirements here.

Be sure to get a copy for yourself to have it ready for your insurance. In the case of a fender bender, some people think it’s not necessary to call the police but it can help with your claim and make things official. 

Step 5: Contact your car insurance provider and file a claim 

After a fender bender or any accident, you want to contact your car insurance provider ASAP. Give them the information first regarding what went down. Give the insurance agent all of the details of the accident and file a claim. You’ll pay your car insurance deductible and submit a claim to receive funds for repairs. 

What to do after filing a car insurance claim for a fender bender 

After filing a claim for a fender bender, get the claim processed and pay your deductible. Once that happens, you may be eligible to receive funds to cover repair costs. 

Depending on your car insurance provider, you may need to do one of the following to get an estimate for repairs:

• You may have to submit photos 
• Go to an auto repair shop 
• An insurance adjuster may come to review the damage to your vehicle 

Once you’ve paid your deductible, if applicable,and received an estimate, you can go to an auto shop of your choice to fix the vehicle. If you’re unsure of options, you can always ask your car insurance provider for recommendations. 

How to prevent fender benders 

Fender benders are no fun to deal with. On one hand, you’re likely safe and okay, but on the other hand, you now have paperwork and repairs to deal with. Sometimes these things are out of your control but if you want to prevent fender benders, you can take some proactive measures. 

• Make sure there’s enough space between you and other cars on the road 
• Turn your phone off or put it on silent while behind the wheel
• Take extra precautions and drive slowly during severe weather conditions
• Practice defensive driving
• Brake on time to make full stops at red lights as well as stop signs 
• Follow all traffic signs
• Be aware of blind spots
• Drive slowly when backing up 

Taking these steps consistently can help you do your part to avoid a fender bender. 

The bottom line 

Figuring out what to do in a fender bender can be stressful, but following these steps can make the process smoother. Fender benders are nobody’s cup of tea, but they’re quite common. You can do your part to stay safe on the road and if you find yourself dealing with a fender bender, contact your insurance right away. 

If you’re looking for an insurance company that offers a simple way to file a claim, check out Metromile. You can use AVA, the AI claims assistant to walk you through the process. On top of that, you can score affordable coverage that you pay by the mile alongside a low base rate, so you never pay for more than you have to. Get a free quote with Metromile to see how much you could save. 

Melanie Lockert is a freelance writer, podcast host of the Mental Health and Wealth show, and author of Dear Debt. She’s a cat mom to two jazzy cats, Miles and Thelonious, an amateur boxer, music lover, and needs coffee to function.

Getting around by bike is a great way to limit your carbon footprint. It can also give you a sense of freedom, pedaling by the power of your own two feet and feeling the wind hit your face as you ride. The pandemic has created a biking boom, with more people getting into biking or rekindling their former hobby. In fact, as of April 2020, bike sales had increased a staggering 75%, amounting to 1 billion in sales, according to NPD, a market trends firm. Though biking has become popular again, that doesn’t mean that all cities are built for bicyclists. Some cities are lacking the infrastructure and safety, while others are on the frontier of creating some of the most bike-friendly cities in the U.S. Find out the top 10 best biking cities in the U.S.

Our methodology 

To determine the most bike-friendly cities in the U.S., we looked at two primary metrics. We looked at Bike Scores, a measure of bike-ability that shows access to bike lanes, connections within the city, and more. Next to bike-ability, we also looked at bicyclist safety as measured in fatalities, or the number of deaths, by looking at city and state data from the most recent Traffic Safety Facts Report (NHTSA). This report was issued in October 2021 and includes data for 2019. 

We looked at data from 25 bike-friendly cities in the U.S. by SmartAsset and evaluated bike scores and bike fatalities. We gave the bike score a weight of 85% and the NHTSA safety score a weight of 15%. To create the Metromile bike-ability score, we used the following equation:

Metromile bike-ability score = bike score (85%) – safety score (15%)

From there, we ranked the top 10 best bike-friendly cities in the U.S. 

10. New York, NY 

The Big Apple is well-known for its 24-hour subway system, coming in the top spot for public transportation in the U.S. Aside from that though, the city also makes it to the tenth spot for best bike-friendly cities in the U.S. The city has the Citi Bike bike-sharing program and is home to many bike paths and greenways. You can find a bike map of New York City here. 

Bike score: 70 

Cyclist fatalities: 24

Metromile bike-ability score: 55.9

9. Sacramento, CA

Sacramento, CA makes it in the number nine spot as part of the most bike-friendly cities in the U.S. The city is home to Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail (also referred to as the American River Bike Trail), which is 32 miles and was named as the number one bike path as of 2006 for Trails.com. The city boasts many other bike trails and paths with great views, making it a great spot for cyclists. 

Bike score: 68

Cyclist fatalities: 2

Metromile bike-ability score: 57.5 

8. Washington D.C. 

The nation’s capital isn’t just a popular place for politics but also for biking. Washington D.C. is home to 150 miles of bike lanes and trails and has 6,100 Capital Bikeshare bikes, according to goDCgo.com. The city also comes in the fourth spot for top walkable cities and top cities with best public transportation as well. 

Bike score: 69

Cyclist fatalities: 1

Metromile bike-ability score: 58.5

7. Seattle, WA

Seattle may have an abundance of rainy days, but that doesn’t stop the city from being a popular haven for cyclists. Though the number of cyclists goes down in the winter months, as you can see in the chart below. 

Source/credit: Seattle Department of Transportation 2020 Traffic Report 

The Emerald City offers various options for cyclists, including protected bike lanes and multi-use trails. On top of that, the city has a robust bike-sharing program making the city even more accessible by bike. 

Bike score: 70

Cyclist fatalities: 2

Metromile bike-ability score: 59.2

6. Boston, MA

Coming in the sixth spot of most bike-friendly cities in the U.S. is Boston. According to Boston.gov, “The Boston Transportation Department works to make bicycling fun, safe, and convenient.” The city has an aggressive goal to increase bicycling fourfold by 2030. The city of Boston takes pride in being one of the first cities to adopt a bike-share program (Bluebikes) in 2011. There are about 4,000 Bluebikes and 400 stations, so you can get around Boston by bike. 

Bike score: 70

Cyclist fatalities: 1

Metromile bike-ability score: 59.35

5. San Francisco, CA 

San Francisco is a walker’s paradise, coming in the top spot for best walkable cities in the U.S. But aside from walking, it’s also one of the best biking cities in the U.S. as well, coming in the fifth spot. As of 2019, the city by the bay counted over 10.8 million bikes and added 670 bike racks, according to SF MTA data. San Francisco also has a growing bike-share program for residents and tourists alike to take advantage of. 

Bike score: 72

Cyclist fatalities: 1

Metromile bike-ability score: 61.05

4. Chicago, IL

Chicago aka the Windy City makes it to the fourth spot for best bike-friendly cities in the U.S. The city has major perks for cyclists including more than 200 miles of bike lanes, 13,000 bike racks, and a beautiful 18.5-mile Lakefront Trail, according to Chicago.gov. On top of that, Chicago has the Divvy bike-share program making it easier than ever to get around by bike, even if you don’t own one. 

Bike score: 73

Cyclist fatalities: 5

Metromile bike-ability score: 61.3

3. Denver, CO

When it comes to most bike-friendly cities in the U.S., Denver takes the third spot. The Mile High City is working to build a safe, convenient, and reliable bike city that cyclists can take advantage of as an affordable, healthier alternative to driving. The city is building out protected bike lanes and neighborhood bikeways, putting safety as a top priority. 

Bike score: 73

Cyclist fatalities: 3

Metromile bike-ability score: 61.6

2. Portland, OR 

Portland is nearly a bike utopia, which makes it the second spot for best biking cities in the U.S. The Rose City had the highest number of bike commuters in 2017, coming in at 6.3%, according to Portland Bureau of Transportation data. The city boasts 385 miles of bikeways, with even more on the way.  

Additionally, the city has some unique things that make it bike-friendly, such as having bike-specific traffic signs at 31 different intersections as well as 42 bike boxes to help protect cyclists from drivers. Portland also has the Biketown bike-share program, sponsored by Nike, which is headquartered in the metro area. 

Bike score: 82

Cyclist fatalities: 2

Metromile bike-ability score: 69.4

1. Minneapolis, MN 

Coming in the top spot for most bike-friendly cities in the U.S. is Minneapolis. According to the city’s website, Minneapolis has 98 miles of bike lanes as well as 101 additional bike paths and trails and has 16 miles of protected bikeways. The city also ranks as one of the top cities for bike commuters. Minneapolis also has the Nice Ride Minnesota bike-share program that has over 3,000 bikes and 400 stations to make it easy to get around by bike. 

Bike score: 84

Cyclist fatalities: 11 (in the state of MN) 

Metromile bike-ability score: 69.75

The bottom line 

Exploring or commuting on two wheels instead of four can be good for your health and the environment. As a cyclist, obviously, you want to stay safe and bike in cities catered to your needs. Choosing to bike in one of these 10 best bike-friendly cities in the U.S. can help you get the most out of your ride and stay safe. 

If you prefer to ride on two wheels instead of four, but still have a car, it might be time to re-evaluate your car insurance. Using pay-per-mile insurance, you pay a low base rate and several cents for each mile you drive. That way if you don’t drive much, you actually benefit from it and never pay more than you need to. Consider a switch and get a free quote with Metromile today. 

Melanie Lockert is a freelance writer, podcast host of the Mental Health and Wealth show, and author of Dear Debt. She’s a cat mom to two jazzy cats, Miles and Thelonious, an amateur boxer, music lover, and needs coffee to function.

Thinking of selling a car in PA? If you live in downtown Philadelphia and want to ditch your car or live in a suburban area and are ready for something new, you might be wondering what to do next. There’s always the dealership option available, but since the pandemic started there’s been a used car boom, making a private market sale an attractive option. If you live in Pennsylvania, here’s how to sell a car in PA.

Step 1: Snag some great pics 

Selling a car on the private market means that you have to do the marketing. To do that, snag some great pics of your car. Just like you see enticing photos of houses and apartments on places like Zillow, you need something similar when selling a car. 

Take photos of the interior of your car as well as  the exterior of your car. Before you do that, obviously spruce up the car a bit by  removing your belongings and trash. Also, give it a wash so it sparkles and shines. 

Your photos will do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to selling the car. Remember, people don’t just buy cars sight unseen. It’s a process. Your first goal isn’t to sell the car, your goal is to get a prospective buyer to take the next step with you, which is likely to come and see the car in person. 

Step 2: Put up your car for sale 

After snagging some great pics, it’s time to put up your car for sale. You can add the photos and a comprehensive description of your car to various car marketplaces. 

For example, this can include Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Include the year, make, model, color, and anything that buyers should be aware of before seeing the car, so they know of any potential issues. Once you have photos and a description uploaded, press submit. Then your job is to weed through responses and take people to the next step. 

Step 3: Take the next step with a vehicle history report and/or inspection 

What takes a buyer from “I’m just looking” to “I’m interested in buying”? If the prospective buyer wants a vehicle inspection. It’s always a good idea to provide a vehicle history report from a place like CarFax so that a buyer can be empowered with information about the car. In some cases, a buyer might want to take the next step and go to a mechanic of their choosing to inspect the car. In that case, coordinate a time that works for both of you so you can get one step closer to selling your car. 

Step 4: Get your vehicle documents in order 

As you get closer to selling your car, make sure you have all your important vehicle documents in order. Gather your owner’s manual, a vehicle history report, and proof of ownership. According to the Department of Motor Vehicles in Pennsylvania website, the following documents are valid as proof of ownership:

• Manufacturer Certificate/Statement of Origin (MCO or MSO)
• Pennsylvania Certificate of Title
• Out of State Certificate of Title
• Certificate of Salvage
• Court Order (PDF)

You’ll need one of these proof of ownership documents as part of selling a car in PA. If you previously had a lien on your vehicle, you’ll need to request a new title through Form MV-38O and pay a $58 fee. You can also use that form to get a new title if yours has been lost. 

Step 5: Accept payment and transfer the title

You’ve shown the car to some prospective buyers and finally get a response that says, “I want to buy it!”.
As part of selling a car in Pennsylvania, you need to write your name and sign on the title. Some very important points when it comes to how to sell a car in Pennsylvania: 

• You’ll need to have your signature notarized on your vehicle title
• You must meet with an authorized Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) representative such as an agent to transfer the title 

Additionally, you’ll need to include the mileage on the title or other proof of ownership document. Once you and the buyer sign the proof of ownership document and include the mileage, you can hand over the document to the new owner. 

Schedule a time for the buyer to come and pick up the car and hand over payment and meet with a PennDOT agent. 

It’s important to note that buyers will have to pay sales tax between 6% and 8%. Also, tax is based on the fair market value and not the final purchase price. If the car is sold for much less than the fair market value, the Department of Revenue has the authority to change the amount of sales tax due. 

Though it’s not required, you may also want to fill out a Bill of Sale to keep a paper trail and have a record of the transaction. You can use this online Bill of Sale form for Pennsylvania here. For more info, you can check out this PennDOT Fact Sheet about selling a car in PA. 

Step 6: Take off license plates 

As part of selling a car in Pennsylvania, take off your license plates as those stay with you. You’ll need to either transfer them to a new vehicle or mail them to the following address:

PennDOT at Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Return Tag Unit
P.O. Box 68597
Harrisburg, PA 17106-8597

You may also want to contact your local DMV to see if you need to report the sale and update your car insurance as well. 

The bottom line 

If you want to learn how to sell a car in Pennsylvania, you can take these six steps to get started. Selling a car in PA does require a bit more work in the sense you need your signature notarized and you need to meet with a PennDOT official. But it can be worth it to get the most out of selling your car. 

After selling your car, you may be ready to buy and upgrade to something new. During that time, you can look into affordable car insurance. If you don’t drive that often, why pay a flat rate for miles you aren’t driving? You can rethink your car insurance and pay based on the miles you drive with a low base rate, so you’re never overcharged for car insurance. Get a free quote with Metromile to see your potential savings. 


Melanie Lockert is a freelance writer, podcast host of the Mental Health and Wealth show, and author of Dear Debt. She’s a cat mom to two jazzy cats, Miles and Thelonious, an amateur boxer, music lover, and needs coffee to function.

While many people associate auto insurance with accidents and collisions, it can also cover other tragedies, such as theft — if you have the right type of coverage.

Whether your car insurance covers theft can also depend on what was stolen: your car, car parts (such as your catalytic converter), and/or items in your car.

We’ll cover what kind of insurance you need to cover each of these items below.

Does car insurance cover a stolen car?

While vehicle thefts have been trending downward since 1991, there were still 873,080 auto thefts in 2020 — a 9.2% increase compared to 2019.

Generally, if someone steals your vehicle, comprehensive coverage will cover up to its actual cash value (ACV), or replacement cost of your car — minus your deductible. For example, if your car is worth $5,000 and your policy has a $500 deductible, you’ll get a maximum insurance settlement of $4,500 for a covered claim.

While this can come in handy if your car is valuable, it may not be worth it if your car isn’t worth much more than your deductible.

Comprehensive insurance at a glance

In general, when you think of car theft insurance, you should think of comprehensive insurance. Like the name implies, comprehensive insurance covers a variety of car-theft scenarios, including:

• Stolen vehicle
• Vehicle crashed while stolen
• Stolen standard parts of your car, such as a catalytic converter
• Stolen keys or fob
• Damage to the car  that occurs during a break-in (such as broken door locks and windows)

Additionally, comprehensive coverage covers other damage not caused by a collision, such as destruction from falling tree limbs, fires, floods, animals, and more.

However, it won’t cover personal belongings stolen from your vehicle or the cost of a rental car (or alternate means of transportation). For these, you’ll need condo, renters, or homeowners insurance and rental reimbursement coverage , respectively.

If you only purchase the minimum car insurance coverage requirements in your state, you probably don’t have comprehensive coverage — it isn’t required by states (though if your car is leased or financed, your lender will likely require you to have it). This means if you want to protect your vehicle from theft, you may need to add comprehensive coverage to your auto insurance policy.

Is catalytic converter theft covered by insurance? 

These days, it feels like all anyone talks about on Nextdoor is stolen catalytic converters. And for good reason — catalytic converter thefts have skyrocketed since the start of COVID-19, especially as the value of metal continues to rise. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), in December 2019, 578 catalytic converters were stolen. A year later, in December 2020, that number grew to 2,347.

Fortunately, comprehensive insurance can also cover stolen parts of your vehicle, such as catalytic converters and keys. Keep in mind that it usually only applies to factory-installed parts, though, so if your custom stereo system and new rims get stolen, you may be out of luck.

Also, if your deductible is higher than the cost of the stolen parts, it may not be worth filing a claim. For reference, it can cost around $950-$2,500 to repair a catalytic converter.

Does car insurance cover theft of personal items from your car? 

No, car insurance doesn’t cover stolen items from your car — it generally only covers components that are permanent features of the vehicle.

Fortunately, your condo, renters, or homeowners insurance may protect your personal property. If you’re on the road a lot and/or travel with valuables such as laptops, photo equipment, and other electronics, you may want to check your coverage for personal property on your home policy and increase it if necessary.

As always, keep in mind that your coverage won’t kick in until you hit your deductible. This means if your deductible is more than what your stolen items were worth, you won’t get any money.

How the Metromile app can help you recover your stolen car?

While comprehensive coverage can help you avoid getting stuck with a huge bill when something unexpected happens to your vehicle, like it getting stolen, having to replace your car — even if it’s mostly paid for — can still be a pain.

At Metromile, while we usually tout our ability to save drivers money (for good reason — on average, our customers save 47%* compared to what they were paying their previous auto insurance provider), another huge, understated benefit is that our technology can help you track and recover your vehicle if it’s ever stolen.

To power our pay-per-mile insurance model, we have each customer plug a small GPS system called the Pulse into their car’s diagnostics port. While it’s mostly used to collect data about each individual’s driving, customers have also used the technology to locate their stolen car and recover it with police assistance.

Bottom line

While there are many things you can do to minimize the chance of theft (e.g. not keeping valuables in your car, locking your doors, and keeping your car in a well-lit area), sometimes tragedy strikes anyway.

Comprehensive car insurance can give you peace of mind, knowing you’re protected if something happens to your vehicle. At Metromile, the rate you pay for comprehensive insurance coverage is based on your driving habits, which means you could pay less for the same reliable coverage you’d get from another provider. Get a free quote to see how much you could save today.

*Average annual car insurance savings by new customers surveyed who saved with Metromile in 2018.

By Jeff Rutledge, Metromile Senior Communications Manager and Data Geek

Metromile’s Data Drivers Report: October 2021 edition

No one is quite sure how to refer to this moment in time. Are we at the end of a pandemic, somewhere in the middle, or just getting started? Will I get tired of working from home and staring at endless Zooms? Whatever the case, many of us are settling into some version of a new normal, with new routines — especially with our driving habits, which took a big detour in mid-2020 and still haven’t quite stabilized.

When you price insurance fairly using actual individual behaviors, you tend to collect a data point or two, and our drivers’ collective time behind the wheel has given us a unique view of how driving for work, pleasure, travel, and everything in between has changed—maybe for good.

So, what does driving look like toward the end of 2021? I teamed up with our Data Science team to look at how Metromile customers are driving and shed light on some emerging trends.

Rush Hoursss have replaced Rush Hour. Commuting has definitely changed: morning and evening commutes are still a bit less intense, with peak traffic down 10% to 20% from pre-COVID levels. But if you’re like me, you might feel like you’re always in traffic these days. 

Here’s why: our research shows that drivers are starting and ending their commutes and school drop-offs at more varied times than they used to, meaning rush hour lasts longer. Not surprising given all the news about flex schedules and school bus concerns, but not great news if you’re looking to get somewhere quickly.

Mid-day can be me-time. Mid-day driving, meanwhile, is up as much as 5% in some markets, suggesting more daytime errands and/or more flexible family arrangements.

We’re driving faster than we used to. The average trip speed is elevated by about 3 to 4% across all trips, suggesting drivers are prioritizing different kinds of trips, encountering emptier roads (personally, I’d like to know where!), just losing patience, or some combination of all three.

Suburbs are having a moment. Total miles driven on urban roads has dropped 7 to 9% from this time in 2019, while suburban—and even some rural—miles have risen by a similar amount. This jives with the number of drivers taking notice of cost-saving insurance options, too; we’ve seen an increase as high as 5% in the number of suburbanites shopping for and purchasing pay-per-mile insurance during the past several months.

Back to school is…back. In 2021 we saw a clear increase in cars on the road as schools resumed in-person learning, commensurate with bumps we’ve observed in previous years. This customary surge was—as you might guess—dramatically smaller than usual in 2020, shrinking by about 20%.

We’re split into the drives and the drive-nots. Total miles driven have been creeping back to their 2019 levels, but all together we’re still driving 5-6% fewer miles than we were before COVID hit. But that’s not the whole story—far fewer drivers than before are accounting for all those miles—between 10% and 40% fewer depending on location and time of day. More than ever, we’re divided into the road warriors and the sofa soldiers.

Location is revealing (and so is age). While the trends above hold true across the board, we do see noticeably different behaviors across different states and metro areas. For example:

• Peak rush hour traffic is only down about 5% in Arizona, Virginia, and Illinois, but closer to 20% in California and our other states.
• Drivers in Portland haven’t gotten back behind the wheel quite as much as their peers in Seattle, and San Francisco-area drivers drive significantly more than both on a per-person basis.
• Age matters too; Gen Z has driven fewer miles than normal, but far more than Boomers and the Silent Generation, perhaps reflecting occupation or a lower perceived risk of illness, while Millennials have shown modestly safer braking habits, possibly due to being more likely to drive with small children.

We’ll be back with more driving trends soon. Stay tuned for the next edition of our Data Drivers report!