Data like accurate mileage capture, for instance, is key to fair reimbursement strategies, and one of the strengths that makes Motus the go-to vehicle program solution for thousands of businesses across industries. However, there’s a wealth of additional, actionable data about your driving workforce that can help inform better strategies—and, ultimately, a more productive driving workforce.  

We’ve now supercharged our best-in-class reporting capabilities with the launch of Insights Pro, a suite of dashboards and reporting tools that provide quick answers to complex questions about your vehicle program.  

These latest features are designed to help you save time and make faster, data-driven decisions that can unlock value across your vehicle program and beyond.  

Here’s how it all works. 

Simplifying complex data analysis 

Our intuitive dashboards allow you to visualize a wealth of data while delivering actionable answers faster than traditional reporting. Rather than static reports that list out raw data, for instance, Insights Pro turns your data into rich visuals that can be shared with stakeholders across your business. This provides a deeper understanding of your vehicle program, while informing stronger business results.  

Along with being able to visualize a comprehensive Program Mileage Audit to identify driving patterns across your entire driving workforce, you can also zero in on individuals, identifying outliers and shining a light on key areas of optimization.  

Along with capturing Driver Productivity, you can even gain clarity on which locations are visited most often, while tracking the positive habits of top performers that can be applied across your workforce.  

The TL;DR? Insights Pro offers a one-stop-shop for all the information you need to continually optimize spend, reduce risk, and increase productivity of your teams in the field.  

“We’ve listened to our most progressive customers to develop Insights Pro to deliver critical decision support and actionable insights to their sales, operations, and financial leaders even faster and more comprehensively,” said Motus CEO Phong Nguyen about these latest features.  

Now, vehicle program administrators can have confidence that they are only reimbursing for valid business miles, while quickly identifying areas for improvement across the business.  

To learn more about Insights Pro and to start improving program performance, reach out to the Motus team today. 

Insights Pro: 5 Key FAQ About Motus’ Vehicle Program Analytics

Q1: What is Insights Pro?

Insights Pro is Motus’ enhanced suite of dashboards and reporting tools designed to provide quick answers to complex questions about your vehicle program. It transforms raw data into rich visuals and actionable insights to enable faster, data-driven decision-making.

Q2: What Types of Data Can Insights Pro Analyze?

• Comprehensive Program Mileage Audit data
• Driver productivity metrics
• Most frequently visited locations
• Individual driver performance patterns
• Best practices from top performers

Q3: How Does Insights Pro Improve Vehicle Program Management?

Insights Pro allows administrators to verify they’re only reimbursing valid business miles while quickly identifying optimization opportunities. The platform visualizes complex data in intuitive dashboards that can be easily shared across stakeholders.

Q4: What Business Benefits Does Insights Pro Deliver?

• Optimized program spending
• Reduced organizational risk
• Increased field team productivity
• Faster identification of improvement areas
• Time savings through streamlined reporting

Q5: Who Can Benefit From Using Insights Pro?

Insights Pro is designed for vehicle program administrators, sales leaders, operations managers, and financial directors who need comprehensive decision support for managing driving workforces. It’s particularly valuable for businesses seeking to improve their mobile workforce performance.

For more information on how to implement Insights Pro for your vehicle program, contact the Motus team.

The post Supercharge Your Vehicle Program with Insights Pro appeared first on Motus.

That puts the national average to cover a standard passenger car at $2,543—a new highwater mark for premiums, and another factor that’s contributing to the sky-high cost of vehicle ownership in 2025.  

While there’s little that drivers can do to control the rising costs of buying or leasing a car in today’s market, there are personal factors that go into calculating insurance premiums that individual policyholders can steer.  

In this blog, we’ll unpack the state of auto insurance rates in 2025, the variable factors that go into determining an individual’s premiums, and what this all means in the context of driving employees and determining the best vehicle programs for your business.  

Even minor driving violations can cause premiums to balloon 

A 2024 study from Zebra.com found that just one violation can increase a driver’s insurance rate by 70 percent. To that end, the report found that traffic tickets alone could double your personal insurance rate—and the implications can be even bigger depending on your geography. 

For instance, just driving with a suspended license in Massachusetts can push premiums up 90 percent (or roughly $1,200). At the same time, if you’re caught racing in North Carolina, you can expect a 375 percent jump in your premium, with an average increase of almost $4,000. 

But even for minor violations, geography plays a huge factor. As Zebra notes in their report, “a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt in California can raise rates by 29 percent ($520), while the same ticket in Maine won’t raise rates at all.”  

Looking broadly, however, infractions like driving without a seatbelt (average rate hike of 4 percent) or failing to turn headlights on at night (a 3.4 percent penalty bump) might seem manageable on their own, but can quickly pile up, making getting behind the wheel cost-prohibitive for many drivers.  

For broad-based context, here is a ranking of the moving violations that unlock the biggest rate jump: 

Top 10 Violations That Hike Insurance Premiums 

1. Hit and run: +82.2% (+$1,209) 
2. Refusing a breathalyzer test: +74.1% (+$1,089) 
3. DUI: +73.9% (+$1,086) 
4. Racing: +73.7% (+$1.084) 
5. Reckless driving: +70.4% (+$1,034) 
6. Driving with a suspended license: +62.4% (+$918) 
7. At-fault accident: +42% (+$617) 
8. Driving with an open container: +34.9% (+$513) 
9. Operating a vehicle without permission: +32.8% (+$482) 
10. Passing a stopped school bus: +27.0% (+$398) 

With this knowledge in hand, how can drivers and businesses get on the defensive to help minimize the rising costs of insurance coverage and the downstream costs? 

For individual drivers… 

To begin with, for individuals who are driving their own personal vehicle for work—or are just looking for fair coverage in any context—be sure to shop around. While the breadth of insurance options varies from region to region, some providers are more willing to take on elements of risk without raising premiums for policyholders.  

Another strategy is avoiding add-ons to insurance coverage that are increasingly tacked on at the 11th hour. That said, features like roadside assistance or even rental car reimbursement could be attractive for certain driving populations—but they will come at a premium.  

Keep an eye out for things like rate reductions for covering multiple vehicles (a perk for multi-driver households) or even adjusting to an annual or semi-annual pay schedule versus monthly to uncover savings opportunities.  

Of course, for drivers that use a personal car for work, all of this will have to be acceptable within the terms of their employer’s vehicle program policy. 

For businesses… 

The implications for businesses really come down to the nature of the vehicle program and driver policies therein.  

For organizations that manage an old-school passenger fleet (read: company-provided cars), the implications of insurance coverage are likely the largest. In scenarios where insurers offer a blanket policy to a business, for instance, underwriters will be evaluating the risk based on the driving records of your entire driving workforce. As such, they may lock businesses in at an unnecessary high default rate to “cover bases” across a wide-range of driving behaviors and trends.  

To that end, businesses take on 24/7 liability for company cars and are responsible for any violations incurred during off hours, regardless of who is driving. This consideration on its own significantly broadens the risk footprint for businesses—an unnecessary and frustrating scenario considering it’s estimated that only 40 percent of incidents occur during business hours.  

Beyond shopping around for providers, businesses are wise to consider reimbursement models that give employees choice—not only in the specific cars they drive (a big factor in determining premiums), but the insurance coverage they choose.  

Fixed and variable rate (FAVR) vehicle program strategies, for instance, fold ‘variable’ factors—including coverage and even MSRP value—into the calculations that enable fair, accurate reimbursement from their employer for driving a personal vehicle on the clock. FAVR also considers geography and the regional costs of vehicle ownership in each state or region.  

To that end, motor vehicle records (MVR) tracking is a key component of ensuring compliance within FAVR reimbursement models. It’s more than just ‘due diligence’ in this context for businesses to be looking into driver safety records on a rolling basis to avoid surprises—either by the IRS when bills are due, or when premiums spike.  

While reimbursements may not be a fit for every business, exploring options and weighing the pros and cons from the lens of insurance coverage is a critical step for any business with driving employees. 

To learn more about these reimbursement programs—along with the true costs of each—check out our 101 Guide here.  

Insurance Premiums 2025: Your Essential FAQ 

Q1: How Much Have Auto Insurance Rates Increased in Recent Years? 

Auto insurance premiums have spiked dramatically, with the average American driver experiencing a 51% increase over just three years. As of 2025, the national average for insuring a standard passenger car now stands at $2,543 – a new all-time high that significantly impacts vehicle ownership costs. 

Q2: What Driving Violations Can Cause the Biggest Insurance Rate Increases? 

According to a 2024 study, certain driving violations can dramatically raise your insurance rates: 

• Hit and run: 82.2% increase (+$1,209) 
• Refusing a breathalyzer test: 74.1% increase (+$1,089) 
• DUI: 73.9% increase (+$1,086) 
• Racing: 73.7% increase (+$1,084) 
• Reckless driving: 70.4% increase (+$1,034) 

Even minor infractions like not wearing a seatbelt can increase rates by up to 29%, depending on your location. 

Q3: How Do Insurance Rates Vary by Location? 

Geographic location plays a crucial role in insurance pricing. For example: 

• A seatbelt violation in California can raise rates by 29% ($520) 
• The same violation in Maine might not increase rates at all 
• Driving with a suspended license in Massachusetts can push premiums up by 90% 
• Racing in North Carolina can trigger a 375% premium increase 

Q4: What Strategies Can Individuals Use to Reduce Insurance Costs? 

Individual drivers can implement several strategies to manage insurance expenses: 

• Shop around for competitive rates 
• Avoid unnecessary add-on coverage 
• Consider multi-vehicle discounts 
• Explore annual or semi-annual payment schedules 
• Maintain a clean driving record 

Q5: How Can Businesses Manage Vehicle Insurance Costs? 

Businesses have several approaches to managing insurance expenses: 

• Consider Fixed and Variable Rate (FAVR) vehicle programs 
• Implement ongoing motor vehicle record (MVR) tracking 
• Explore reimbursement models that provide employee choice 
• Recognize that only 40% of incidents occur during business hours 
• Carefully evaluate blanket insurance policies for company fleets 

Note: Always consult with insurance professionals to determine the best strategy for your specific situation. 

The post Coverage in 2025: Navigating insurance rate spikes appeared first on Motus.

So, with that in mind, let’s jump into a quick reimbursement 101 session and learn about exactly how the figures you and your co-worker receive for reimbursement may differ.

The Type of Reimbursement Program Matters

Historically, companies with mobile workers have administered one-size-fits-all reimbursement programs, such as a car allowance or cents-per-mile (CPM) reimbursement. Neither of these programs account for the different factors each individual employee experiences while driving their personal vehicle for business. A flat auto allowance program reimburses employees the same amount, regardless of where they live and how many miles they travel for business.

On the other hand, CPM programs do have a place. When a smaller group of drivers working in the same regional area drive less than 5,000 miles a year, a cents-per-mile program will work great. But CPM doesn’t take into account that it’s more expensive to drive in, say, California than Ohio, given the difference in gas prices, insurance premiums, license and registration fees, etc. One-size-fits-all types of programs aren’t fair or accurate in all situations and tend to over and under-reimburse employees as a result.

Understanding Individualized Reimbursement Programs

A fixed and variable rate reimbursement program, known as FAVR, reimburses employees for their individualized fixed and variable costs. There’s no guesswork involved, and employees are reimbursed based on where they live and how much they actually drive for business. But what exactly do “fixed” and “variable” costs refer to? Good question. Let’s dive into that.

How Your Fixed Reimbursement Could Vary

Fixed costs are constant month over month, but can vary from employee to employee. They include insurance premiums, license and registration fees, taxes and depreciation. Each employee’s fixed cost will vary depending on where they live and how much he or she drives. To illustrate this further, let’s consider a fictional example.

Janice drives 20,000 business miles annually and lives in New Jersey, which is known for having a very high state property tax. Janice’s employer has also determined her reimbursement is based on driving a large sedan. Ron, on the other hand, drives only 5,000 business miles annually and lives in Alabama, which is known for having a very low state property tax. Ron’s employer has decided his reimbursement is based on driving a small sedan. Should Janice and Ron be reimbursed the same fixed amount? Of course not.

Based on this example, Janice should receive a higher fixed reimbursement than Ron based on depreciation (20,000 annual business miles vs. 5,000 annual business miles), personal property tax (New Jersey being much higher than Alabama) and employer-determined standard automobile (large vs. small sedan).

How Your Variable Reimbursement Could Vary

Variable costs vary month over month and are based on the actual number of business miles driven by the employee. These costs include gas, oil, vehicle maintenance and tire wear. To continue our fictional example from above, Janice would also receive a higher variable reimbursement than Ron because New Jersey is a far more expensive state to own and operate a vehicle than Alabama.

Individualized Reimbursement Programs are Fair and Accurate

A FAVR program considers demographic factors – which are different for each mobile employee – and calculates an individualized reimbursement rate for each employee. This ensures that each employee is treated fairly and accurately, and that no one is being over-or-under reimbursed.

How much should you be reimbursed for mileage? Your reimbursement is determined by the company you work for and the vehicle program they operate with. Looking to find out what you should be receiving in reimbursement? Check out our blog “How Much Should I Be Reimbursed for Mileage?”

Read the Blog

The post Why Is My Reimbursement Different From My Co-Worker’s? appeared first on Motus.

While transitioning to FAVR makes perfect sense from a business perspective, it’s understandable for some employees to be initially reluctant to give up their company vehicle. This article explores some common concerns and objectives you may hear and how Motus simplifies this transition. 

Common Employee Objectives and Concerns

Several common concerns and objectives arise when employees transition from a company fleet to a mileage reimbursement system like FAVR. Understanding these concerns is crucial for employees and employers, as addressing these challenges paves the way for a seamless transition. 

Paying for Their Own Insurance Policy

A significant change employees face when moving from a company fleet to a FAVR reimbursement system is paying for their own auto insurance. Many employees are accustomed to having their insurance covered by their employer’s fleet program, so it can be a shock to do their own insurance shopping for a provider and coverage. 

In addition to the time commitment of insurance shopping, this shift can create financial concerns, especially for those who might see a substantial increase in their monthly expenses. Considering the rising cost of insurance, it’s completely understandable that some employees may object to covering the cost themselves.

That said, employees should already have auto insurance for their other personal vehicle(s), so unless someone is dissatisfied with their provider, there shouldn’t be a need to shop around. If they need to purchase a personal vehicle to replace their company-provided vehicle, they can easily expand their existing policy to cover the new vehicle.

As for the added costs of insurance, a good vehicle reimbursement program should provide more than enough compensation to cover their premium costs. In fact, if the employee shops around for a good value, they may be able to pocket the difference between the company-provided insurance reimbursement and their actual cost of insurance.

The Motus Solution

Finding auto insurance can feel complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. With Motus Perks, drivers can get quotes from multiple providers and find an insurance plan that meets their company’s reimbursement requirements. Employees can easily compare rates, seamlessly sign up for coverage, and potentially find a plan more affordable than their current coverage. 

Wear and Tear on Personal Vehicles 

Another concern is the wear and tear that personal vehicles will incur as they drive more miles for work. More annual miles means more frequent vehicle maintenance and a notable impact on the vehicle’s longevity and lifespan. 

The Motus Solution

Fortunately, a FAVR reimbursement system already takes this into account. Employees aren’t just given gas money to use their personal vehicle – they’re compensated for the depreciation and wear and tear, so they can afford maintenance costs and ultimately be in a great position to sell and replace their vehicle down the road.

Increased Maintenance Costs 

In a company fleet, maintenance is covered by the employer. The fleet manager will schedule routine maintenance, pay for auto shop visits, and ensure the employee has a replacement vehicle while their fleet vehicle is in the shop. In other words, the company covers the headache and the financial burden.

In a vehicle reimbursement system, the employee is responsible for scheduling maintenance, paying for repair bills, and lining up a rental car while their vehicle is in the shop. Coming from a system where the fleet manager handles all of this, it’s understandable why some employees would find this new responsibility frustrating.

While a FAVR reimbursement system covers the cost of maintenance, it doesn’t explicitly compensate for the hassle of taking your vehicle to and from the auto shop and lining up a rental car when repairs take multiple days. Some insurance plans may cover the cost of a rental car, but that’s often limited to accident-related repairs.

This is an area where companies can step in to ensure their vehicle program takes contingencies into account. To resolve the objection, your program can either arrange the rental car and pay the cost directly, thus saving the employee the hassle and cost; or you can let the employee handle the reservation and simply ensure they’re adequately reimbursed.

The Motus Solution

Another advantage of the Motus Perks program is the vehicle-specific discounts and promotions available for employees. These discounts can make vehicle ownership and maintenance more affordable for drivers, offsetting the cost of handling their own vehicle services. 

Learning a New System

Adapting to a new mileage tracking and reimbursement system can be a daunting task for many employees. The complexity and learning curve associated with new systems, apps, and software can cause anxiety and apprehension. 

The Motus Solution

Fortunately, the Motus app is the most user-friendly app on the market. It’s easy and intuitive, so the learning period is significantly decreased and less stressful. 

The Motus app simplifies mileage tracking for employees. With user-friendly features and a mobile app, employees can effortlessly keep tabs on their mileage, eliminating the need for manual mileage tracking and record-keeping. Employees can easily log their trips, capture receipts, and generate reports within seconds. This streamlines the entire process and reduces the burden on them.

Covering Fuel Costs 

Fuel costs are another area of concern for employees. Most fleet systems provide a company credit card and merely ask for receipts, and it’s hard to top something that simple.

The Motus Solution

While a FAVR reimbursement system initially feels more complex than a simple company credit card, it’s ultimately a win for employee flexibility. The Motus app makes it easy to record business mileage so employees don’t have to manually break out fuel costs for personal vs. business use, and it’s more accurate at reporting this mileage. This ensures personal-use charges don’t creep into your vehicle system, which can land your business in trouble during an IRS audit.

Employees don’t need to keep gas receipts anymore, and fleet managers won’t have to worry about convenience store add-ons finding their way onto the company car. Employees can fill up, grab a drink and snacks for the road, and the Motus app automatically ensures they’re fairly compensated for the gas – not the Doritos and fountain drink.

Trip Tracking Ambiguity 

Some employees worry about the transparency and privacy of trip tracking. They may wonder which trips are being monitored and how their data is used. These are both valid data privacy concerns that are quite relevant in today’s track-everything digital world.

The Motus Solution

The Motus app only tracks location data while you’re traveling for business, and the app makes it easy to designate when you’re working vs when you’re not. When employees are off the clock, the app will not collect any data. 

If drivers forget to turn off automated mileage capture while traveling personally, employees can easily mark the trip as non-business to remove it. Motus employs industry-leading standards to safeguard user data and does not share personal data with any third parties.

Needing to Buy a Personal Vehicle

While many employees who use a fleet vehicle still have their own personal vehicle, some do not. They will need to purchase a new vehicle if/when they lose their fleet vehicle. Or perhaps they have a personal car but don’t want to put business-related miles and wear and tear on that vehicle. In either case, purchasing or leasing a new vehicle can be time-consuming and expensive.

The Motus Solution

Companies employing a FAVR reimbursement system can easily overcome this obstacle by providing a one-time bonus to help employees cover the down payment needed to buy a new vehicle. Regular reimbursement checks can also be used to cover the business-related portion of monthly payments. This means that, in theory, an employee will only have to pay out-of-pocket if they want a vehicle outside of the budget that the company sets.

This is another area that feels like a hassle but can actually be a huge win for employees. If the new vehicle program provides a $5,000 bonus to be used towards a down payment and $600/month to cover the monthly car payment, but the employee only needs $4,000 for the down payment and $500/month for the car payment, they’re able to pocket the difference.

On the flip side, employees who want a higher-end vehicle can opt to pay a little extra for their monthly payment and only have to pay a small portion out of pocket – making their luxury car more affordable.

How Employers Can Support Transitioning From Fleet to FAVR 

Recognizing the significance of making this transition easier for employees, employers play a role in facilitating the process. Here are some ways they can support their employees when switching to FAVR. 

Reselling Fleet Vehicles 

Employers can support employees by reselling fleet vehicles to employees at fair market value. This seems like a simple concept, but considering many car dealerships aim to sell their vehicles above market value to increase profits, it’s actually a big deal for employees.

In addition to making the car-buying process easier for employees, this also ensures they’ll get the best possible ROI on the vehicle in the long run. Paying less for the vehicle today means the long-term cost of owning the vehicle will be less when they ultimately sell that vehicle down the road.

Equity Toward Using Personal Cars

Another option is offering equity to employees who choose to use their own vehicles for work purposes. This can be a significant financial relief, helping offset the costs of using personal vehicles for work. 

Stipend for Vehicle Costs

To further encourage employees to make the transition comfortably, employers can provide stipends to cover vehicle expenses. This financial support not only eases the financial burden but also motivates employees to embrace the new system confidently. 

Companies can take the money they were spending on vehicle costs and fleet maintenance and pass that on to their employees. This helps employees take care of their personal vehicles while using them for work-related purposes. 

Switch to Motus Today

Most employees are more than happy to give up their fleet vehicle in exchange for a fair, tax-free reimbursement system like FAVR, but not everyone will always be a fan. Fortunately, Motus makes it easy to overcome these objections while delivering key benefits such as simplified mileage tracking, a user-friendly app, and tax-free reimbursements. 

This transition can be a win-win for all parties, with Motus facilitating an efficient, cost-effective, and promising future for transportation management. Take a product tour of the FAVR system today!

Take the Tour

The post Transitioning From Fleet to FAVR: An Employee’s Perspective appeared first on Motus.

1. Plan Ahead

Before you start your trip, make sure your vehicle is in good shape for travel. This is especially important for winter driving conditions. Check the weather before heading out to ensure the roads are safe to drive on. When temperatures drop significantly… well, you know what happens. Most roads freeze, making driving conditions are far from safe. Statistics show that during icy road conditions, there are 1,836 deaths, 136,309 injuries and 536,731 crashes annually. Even more alarming? The average icy road fatality count is 3.6 times the total deaths from all other weather hazards combined. If you’ve got a long drive ahead, be sure to give yourself plenty of extra time for the trip and be sure to increase your following distance. In inclement weather, it is imperative to stay alert, mind your speed, drive defensively and avoid distractions.

Packing for the Worst

If you have winter tires or chains, you might not have as much to worry about. For those who don’t, you’re going to want more than spark plugs in your trunk. No one loves the thought of sliding off an icy/snowy road, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be ready for it. If you have the room in your trunk, think about stashing a few blankets, a shovel and even some non-clumping cat litter. Why all these?

First, you don’t know what kind of service you’ll have or how long you’ll be stuck. Blankets will help you retain heat through the cold. You also don’t want to be moving snow from around your tires with your windshield scraper. And digging your car out is only one part of the battle. Your tires will need traction, and cat litter will help with that.

2. Stay Fresh And Alert

Make sure you’re well-rested before a long drive. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that fatalities resulting from drowsy driving rose 8.2 percent in 2021. Get home safely this holiday season. Plan your trip with another person who is able to drive if you can, and take regular breaks to avoid drowsy driving.

3. Mind Your Speed

Give yourself plenty of time and distance to react to the traffic around you. An Automotive Fleet Magazine article notes that for every one percent increase in speed, a driver’s chance of an accident increases by two percent, the chance of serious injury increases by three percent, and the chance of a fatality increases by about four percent.

4. Drive Defensively

Increased holiday traffic and winter road conditions can be frustrating. Everyone would rather be at their destination than on the roads. Some drivers forget the importance of their own safety and the safety of others. Put the safety of everyone in your car first by letting impatient and aggressive drivers pass you or go through the intersection ahead of you so that you control the situation.

5. Don’t Drive Impaired

If you plan to drink, don’t plan to drive. NHTSA’s  “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign has set out to end drunk driving through cutting-edge technology. There’s no excuse for getting behind the wheel while under the influence. Using a designated driver or a ride-share service when you have a couple of holiday refreshments is always the safest choice.

6. Avoid Distractions

According to Distraction.gov, sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for five seconds. At 55 mph, that’s enough time to travel the distance of an entire football field. Driving requires your full attention. When you’re able to do so safely, pull off to the side of the road or find the nearest rest stop when you have to use your cell phone.

Times of High Travel

Whether you do or don’t believe there’s no place like home for the holidays, according to a recent survey, over 67 percent of Americans plan to travel for Thanksgiving, Christmas or both. No matter how you slice the pie, traveling is inevitable. Accidents may go hand in hand with poor weather conditions and exhaustion, but that doesn’t have to ruin your plans. We’re focused on making work life better for mobile workers. And we care about their safety during this time of year. That’s why it’s important for everyone to follow these driving tips to stay safe on the roads and have a wonderful holiday.

Discover More Driving Tips

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