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Choosing green car insurance allows you to become involved with a company that takes both you, the consumer, and the environmental repercussions (greenhouse gas emissions being one of them) of the auto industry into consideration.

Find it! Green car insurance providers

By buying auto insurance through a firm that practices sustainable business methods, you'll be able to offset carbon emissions, tackle pesky paperwork sans paper, and earn rewards for driving less.

Before you buy

Although it's noble to choose green car insurance based on your concern for environmental welfare and for the appealing eco-boons that green auto insurance offers, you should ultimately buy insurance based on what works for you. Are you a self-confessed Luddite when it comes to that newfangled thing they call the World Wide Web? Then a company that avoids paper usage and operates electronically perhaps isn't the match for you. Do you have an epic daily commute? Maybe a traditional, non-mileage-based plan would be a wise idea. Like any other significant financial decision—especially one that involves your plastic, steel, glass, and rubber baby—careful consideration should come into play before you sign—or e-sign—away.

Choosing green car insurance helps you go green because…

• You'll help to curb deforestation and the other environmental dangers attached to paper production by signing with companies that offer electronic policies.
• If participating in a mileage-based Pay as You Drive (PAYD) policy, you'll be inclined to drive less thus decreasing global warming-causing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Many green auto insurance firms employ other sustainable business practices such as carbon offsetting and offer eco-related perks to consumers such as discounts on fuel-efficient rental cars.

Given that the average US household has two midsize vehicles, which each emit upwards of 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide every year, the auto insurance industry has begun to make changes to cater to consumers who are concerned about the environment as well as their finances.[1] One significant step has been the development of pilot odometer-based Pay As You Drive (PAYD) policies in several states including Oregon and Texas. It's estimated PAYD (in lieu of traditional fixed monthly arrangements) can reduce driving and traffic congestion by 10 to 12 percent, positively affecting global climate change, tailpipe pollution, and other environmental ills associated with driving. It's also estimated that a 10 percent drop in driving results in a 17 percent drop in motor vehicle crashes.[2] England and Japan both have existing PAYD plans.

Alongside PAYD insurance policies, electronic policies have also left a positive environmental impact. Paperless insurance provider Esurance estimates that in 2006 alone 649 trees were saved through electronic policyholder communication. That same year, Esurance planted 21,525 to trees to offset company-generated carbon emissions.

In October 2007, the Progressive Group—America's third-largest auto insurance provider—unrolled paperless policy options in Indiana and plans to expand the program to all states that they operate in by the year's end. Progressive's paperless policy launch is being complemented by "70 Years, 70 Trees" events—the company will plant trees in parks across six different US cities to celebrate their 70th anniversary.

External links

• AutoblogGreen - How green is your auto insurance? Consider Esurance
• Government Technology - Quarter Miles
• Green Car Congress - Farmers Insurance Extends Hybrid and Alt-Fuel Discounts to 37 Additional States *Grist - Driving A Hard Bargain
• Guardian Unlimited - 'Green' insurance offsets carbon emissions