Pleasure Use vs. Commuter Car Insurance
Not sure if you need pleasure or commute car insurance? Here’s the difference:
- Commute: Daily driving to work or school
- Pleasure: Occasional or weekend driving
Choosing the right type can affect your rate—get a quote based on how you actually use your car.
Pleasure vs. commuting: What's the difference?
Pleasure and commuting car insurance policies are the most common vehicle use options. On average, you will be quoted $11 less per year for a pleasure use car insurance policy than a commuter policy. Let’s explore the ins and outs of these policies, and evaluate some car insurance premiums from popular providers.
Car insurance terms: Pleasure and commuting
The typical American driver carries a commuter car insurance policy. This means the vehicle is their primary method of transportation, and is used to get to and from work or school. A pleasure use car is a weekends-only vehicle, or one driven only occasionally. Pleasure use car insurance comes into play in several instances: if a driver has a classic auto or sports car for recreational purposes, or if a driver takes public transit or a bike to work and relies on their car for occasional essential trips. See average insurance rates for typical vehicle uses.
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| Use of Vehicle | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Farm | $1,660 |
| Pleasure | $1,760 |
| Work - One-way commute (less than 10 miles) | $1,778 |
| Work - One-way commute (10-15 miles) | $1,784 |
| Work - One-way commute (15+ miles) | $1,799 |
| Business | $2,012 |
Source: The Zebra
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.
Pleasure use car insurance is slightly less expensive than commuter coverage, at an average of $1,427 per year for auto insurance versus a commuter vehicle’s $1,438. This difference is fairly insignificant until you assess specific car insurance providers. See below the companies offering the cheapest rates for pleasure use and commuter car insurance.
Other vehicle use designations for insurance
Vehicles used on a farm for agricultural activities.
Vehicles used for limited commercial or business functions.
Is car insurance cheaper for commuters or pleasure use drivers?
A commuter policy is slightly more expensive than a pleasure use policy on average. But what you pay for car insurance coverage will depend on you, your insurance provider, and your vehicle. See below how your premiums can change based on your car insurance company and your vehicle use. These car insurance rates are based on a standard driving profile (methodology outlined here).
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| Use of Vehicle | Company | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Pleasure | Allstate | $2,414 |
| Work - One-way commute (10-15 miles) | Allstate | $2,395 |
| Work - One-way commute (10-15 miles) | Farmers | $1,789 |
| Pleasure | Farmers | $1,786 |
| Pleasure | GEICO | $1,542 |
| Work - One-way commute (10-15 miles) | GEICO | $1,553 |
| Work - One-way commute (10-15 miles) | Nationwide | $1,488 |
| Pleasure | Nationwide | $1,476 |
| Pleasure | Progressive | $1,887 |
| Work - One-way commute (10-15 miles) | Progressive | $1,902 |
| Pleasure | State Farm | $1,569 |
| Work - One-way commute (10-15 miles) | State Farm | $1,571 |
| Work - One-way commute (10-15 miles) | USAA | $1,365 |
| Pleasure | USAA | $1,365 |
Source: The Zebra
For each vehicle use, USAA is the cheapest option. On average, a USAA policy costs $531 or $497 per six months for a commute or pleasure use policy, respectively. If you do not qualify for USAA, your next best bets are Nationwide and GEICO. Nationwide's policies cost $642 or $583 per standard six-month term, for commute and pleasure uses. Your rates will vary depending on your driving history, the car you drive, and who insures it. Your best bet for finding the cheapest car insurance premium is to assess as many options as possible. Enter your zip code below to find affordable rates for commuter and pleasure vehicle uses.
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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.