21st Century vs. Metlife: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, 21st Century offers significantly cheaper rates than Metlife
• 21st Century offers more affordable premiums for residents of urban areas
• Metlife offers less expensive average rates for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit

21st Century vs. Metlife: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering large discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to 21st Century or Metlife for your next policy, but which one has cheaper prices for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, 21st Century is quite a bit cheaper than Metlife, with premiums averaging $146 per month compared to $340 with Metlife.

However, 21st Century may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. Insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how old you are, where you live, how good your credit score is, and a ton of other factors, so rates could change drastically from person to person.

Wanting to know if 21st Century or Metlife is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

21st Century or Metlife: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

21st Century and Metlife only compete against each other in one states, with 21st Century offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. California has the most noticable difference, where 21st Century prices are over 70% less expensive than auto insurance rates at Metlife.

But there's more to car insurance than just where you call home. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance carriers calculate your premiums. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. Typically, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $500 less a month by choosing 21st Century over Metlife.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your prices drop significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for 21st Century policyholders reduce nearly 40% and Metlife's rates decrease over 70% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest prices you can find.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between 21st Century and Metlife? 21st Century gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older more than 40% more affordable than the national average for Metlife.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples. That's normally because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, 21st Century is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices about $276 per month cheaper than Metlife, on average. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - 21st Century has the edge when it comes to average rates.

21st Century vs. Metlife: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into collisions and get tickets, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to get higher rates than women.

Everyone gets the same monthly premiums regardless of gender with 21st Century, and almost 10% with Metlife.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, 21st Century offers the most affordable average prices for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $208 a month and women save around $180 with 21st Century compared to the average Metlife policyholder.

21st Century or Metlife: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

Car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, 21st Century normally offers significantly less expensive rates of $79 compared to Metlife's $215. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, 21st Century again has the edge, with policies about $250 per month cheaper than Metlife, on average.

Is 21st Century or Metlife Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

You'll probably end up paying more with at-fault accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest premiums to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

21st Century policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $24 a month if they get a ticket, while Metlife generally raises rates around $59 per month, on average.

But 21st Century has less expensive premiums for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are 58% and 58% more affordable, respectively, compared to MetLife.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Metlife climbing by just under $150. 21st Century has a less extreme rise, but you can still expect to pay $80 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, 21st Century offers the cheapest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $173 compared to MetLife's $368.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, Metlife increases average rates by over $250 a month -- that's over a 55% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact 21st Century and Metlife Rates?

Did you know that many insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (for example, are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect several drivers out there.

Car insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

So, which carrier offers the most affordable premiums for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

You'll often be rewarded if you have stellar credit. With MetLife, improving your score from "good" to "excellent" will typically save you about $50. 21st Century, on the other hand, doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means they most likely don't use credit to calculate your prices.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Having bad credit usually means you'll also see higher rates with MetLife. As you can see, MetLife customers with poor credit scores pay around 35% per month more than those with fair scores (and even more compared to drivers with good or excellent scores). Because 21st Century doesn't have data available for credit scores, they might have better premiums for drivers with bad credit over MetLife.

Is 21st Century or Metlife Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a big impact on how much auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Generally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive rates since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

21st Century tends to be the cheaper option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure. Metlife's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in just under 60% more expensive than 21st Century. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay more than 55% more with Metlife over 21st Century.

21st Century vs. Metlife: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a pretty big impact as well. Usually, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

21st Century boasts the most affordable average premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the lowest prices from both companies, but 21st Century comes out on top with average premiums about $141 monthly. 21st Century also has more affordable average rates for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $238 and $188 a month respective difference when compared to Metlife drivers in similar areas.

21st Century vs. Metlife Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be difficult to find all the ones you qualify for.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts 21st Century and Metlife offer their customers so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Metlife knocks 21st Century out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 36 different discounts to 21st Century's 36.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and multi-policy discounts -- but Metlife also offers AAA discounts, academic discounts, agency transfer discounts, and more that 21st Century does not.

On the flip side, 21st Century has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, deluxe discounts, paid in full discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is 21st Century or Metlife Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance prices. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which company is the right fit for you?

21st Century might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

Metlife might be best for you if...

• Your credit is below-average.
• Your credit score is high.
• You're looking for discounts -- Metlife has the most.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare 21st Century and Metlife and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just 21st Century and Metlife. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

21st Century vs. Metlife FAQs

Is 21st Century or Metlife cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, 21st Century is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $146 per month compared to $340 for Metlife. Even so, 21st Century won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for each policyholder, since there are many different factors that are considered when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, 21st Century or Metlife?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for every driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile. For example, 21st Century offers cheaper prices for policyholders with an at-fault collision on their record, while Metlife is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do 21st Century and Metlife offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different variables when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Factors such as age, gender, your driving record, where you park your car, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both 21st Century and Metlife calculate prices using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

How do I know if 21st Century or Metlife is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be 21st Century or Metlife at all!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.