AAA vs. Metromile: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Metromile offers significantly more affordable premiums than AAA
• AAA offers more discounts than Metromile
• Metromile tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

AAA vs. Metromile: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to AAA or Metromile as your top options, but which company will offer you less expensive rates?

As you can see, Metromile has average rates that are about 50% per month cheaper than those from AAA when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

That being said, Metromile may not be the most affordable or best option for every driver out there. Insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among a range of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both AAA and Metromile by many different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

AAA or Metromile: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

AAA and Metromile only compete against each other in Arizona, where Metromile offers the cheaper average rates. For Arizona residents, Metromile offers auto insurance for $150 per month on average. AAA's average prices come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $349 monthly.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance cost than just where you live. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's generally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Metromile for their car insurance pay more than $350 less than those who use AAA.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. Metromile offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. AAA's average prices decrease nearly 60% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the cheapest auto insurance rates you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between AAA and Metromile? Metromile gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $129 a month compared to AAA's $238.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance rates tend to be more affordable for married couples than they are for single policyholders. That's usually 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, Metromile is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices about $195 a month less expensive than AAA, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Metromile is also obvious, where drivers save over $100 per month.

AAA vs. Metromile: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which means they'll normally end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

On average, men see rates almost $35 a month higher with AAA, but surprisingly, with Metromile, men generally pay around $4 per month less than women.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Metromile comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $183 a month and women save about $145 with Metromile compared to the average AAA policyholder.

AAA or Metromile: 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.

It's no secret that car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different terms and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which typically refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Metromile usually offers significantly more affordable premiums of $99 compared to AAA's $169. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Metromile again has the edge, with policies around $250 per month cheaper than AAA, on average.

Is AAA or Metromile Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their 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 tickets and accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

AAA policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $86 a month if they get a ticket, while Metromile normally raises rates about $33 per month, on average.

But Metromile is typically the less expensive option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket, offering prices that are 46% and 51% cheaper, respectively, compared to AAA Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with AAA climbing by just under $150. Metromile has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay over $55 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, Metromile offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly prices averaging $171 compared to AAA Insurance's $339.

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 ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. For example, AAA increases average rates by nearly $200 a month -- that's over a 45% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Metromile tends to be the much less expensive option with average rates of $167 monthly compared to $403 from AAA.

How does Credit Score Impact AAA and Metromile Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly insurance prices. This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for several drivers.

Car insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking at AAA and Metromile specifically, which one has the lowest premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Metromile. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save more than 35% compared to AAA, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $110 or 45% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Metromile typically offers lower prices than AAA when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $148 per month less with Metromile compared to AAA, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around $350 a month.

Is AAA or Metromile Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in how much auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Generally, those who drive less will end up with less expensive rates since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Metromile charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for AAA, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $13 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Metromile is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

AAA vs. Metromile: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a substantial impact as well. Normally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Metromile boasts the most affordable average prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Metromile offers premiums around $209 per month compared to AAA's $384. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $121 a month for Metromile and $301 for AAA. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest rates from both companies, with average monthly prices coming in at $120 and $256 for Metromile and AAA respectively.

AAA vs. Metromile Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you qualify for.

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by AAA and Metromile so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

AAA knocks Metromile out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 33 different discounts to Metromile's four.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a good driver, multi-policy discounts, and paperless discounts -- but AAA also offers AAA discounts, academic discounts, advance quote discounts, and more that Metromile does not.

On the flip side, Metromile has a unique discount of its own -- a online quote discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is AAA or Metromile Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance company is the best company for you and your specific driver profile?

Metromile might be best for you if....

• Your credit is below-average.
• You live in an urban area.
• You live in a rural area.

AAA might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- Aaa has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between AAA and Metromile. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 several companies, not just AAA and Metromile. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

AAA vs. Metromile FAQs

Is AAA or Metromile cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Metromile is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $150 per month compared to $314 for AAA. However, Metromile won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are a range of different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, AAA or Metromile?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do AAA and Metromile offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different factors when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Things like age, where you park your vehicle, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both AAA and Metromile calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

How do I know if AAA or Metromile is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be AAA or Metromile 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.