Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation today announced it is the first automobile insurer in Massachusetts to reward its new and renewing policyholders with lower rates for "going green," by driving less. Committed to reducing emissions and helping customers find new ways to save on their insurance policies, Plymouth Rock will lower rates for customers who drive fewer miles than the average customers in their geographic area.

While Plymouth Rock continues to offer a standard low-mileage discount, it now provides an additional reward to those customers that drive fewer miles than their neighbors, by examining the average mileage for drivers in the type of geographic area in which they live (rural, suburban, inner suburban or urban), based on individual vehicle mileage records collected by the state Registry of Motor Vehicles during annual inspections. While drivers in an urban area can depend upon public transportation alternatives to reduce their mileage, drivers throughout the state still have an opportunity to reduce how much they drive, by carpooling or making fewer trips to the grocery store.

This new program is designed to reward any customer who helps to preserve the environment by driving fewer miles than the average in his or her community. Plymouth Rock policyholders who drive as little as 15 percent below the average for their area can see their rates go down by as much as 15%. The rate reduction is offered in addition to the statewide low mileage discount, so customers who keep their mileage low can see the savings add up.

"We are pleased to be able to take the lead in the use of mileage in the pricing of auto insurance in Massachusetts," said Hal Belodoff, president of Plymouth Rock Assurance. "Consumers are thinking more and more about how they can save on their auto insurance. We're providing a way for them to do that and help the environment as well. Our mileage-based rating, coupled with other exciting services and discounts, gets them more for their insurance dollar."

The mileage-based rating initiative is only one of the company's efforts to help its customers save natural resources. Plymouth Rock's "Make Your Life Easier Servicessm," or MYLESsm , program offers paperless account management, online payment, electronic billing and secure email document delivery. With MYLES, customers can also choose to receive email reminders for license, registration and inspection sticker renewals for every car and driver on their policies. Each of these benefits saves time, money and eliminates the need for paper mailings.

About Plymouth Rock Assurance

Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation ( www.plymouthrock.com) is the flagship carrier of The Plymouth Rock Group of Companies, which together write and manage over $1 billion in auto and homeowners insurance throughout the Northeast. Plymouth Rock's industry-leading service innovations include MYLESSM, an exclusive, first-of-its-kind program of online services and more than $200 in retail discounts; its Crashbusters(R) vans, the nation's first complete mobile automobile claim service; its Door to Door Valet Claim ServiceSM that offers vehicle pick-up, delivery and guaranteed auto repairs; and its True Service(R) Pledge, an industry-leading written commitment to service excellence. Plymouth Rock has received a rating of "A-/Excellent" from A.M. Best, the insurance industry's premier independent rating service.