American Select vs. Metlife: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, American Select offers significantly more affordable prices than Metlife
• American Select offers cheaper average rates for people who are single and purchasing insurance by yourself
• Metlife offers more discounts than American Select Insurance Company

American Select vs. Metlife: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to American Select or Metlife as potential options, but which carrier will offer you less expensive premiums?

Looking at nationwide averages, Metlife has average rates that are about 50% per month more expensive than those from American Select.

But American Select may not be the lowest or best option for every driver out there. Auto insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on where you live or how good your credit score is (among a whole bunch of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both American Select and Metlife by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

American Select or Metlife: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Select and Metlife compete against each other in six states, with American Select offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. Pennsylvania has the most noticable difference, where American Select premiums are over 70% more affordable than insurance prices at Metlife.

But there's more to car insurance than just the state you live in. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance carriers determine your rates. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance premiums of any group out there on the road. The reason is that 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 American Select over Metlife.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your prices drop significantly once you turn 25. For example, average rates for American Select policyholders decrease over 45% and Metlife's premiums reduce more than 70% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the most affordable car insurance rates you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

When looking at American Select and Metlife specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? American Select gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $69 less expensive than the national average for Metlife.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance prices than married couples. This usually boils down to married drivers having multiple cars on their policy -- something a lot of insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, American Select is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates around $243 per month cheaper than Metlife, on average. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - American Select has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

American Select vs. Metlife: Average Rates by Gender

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

Usually, women see rates about 1% a month less with American Select, and around 8% less with Metlife.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, American Select comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $156 per month and men save about $183 with American Select compared to the average Metlife policyholder.

American Select 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.

For most people, car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different limits and terms 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 (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and 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 liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, American Select usually offers significantly more affordable prices of $90 compared to Metlife's $215. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, American Select again has the edge, with policies around $200 a month less expensive than Metlife, on average.

Is American Select or Metlife 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.

It's no secret secret that tickets and at-fault collisions lead to higher rates, but which company -- American Select or Metlife -- has the cheapest premiums for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

American Select policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $32 per month if they get a ticket, while Metlife typically raises premiums about $59 a month, on average.

However, American Select tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records, offering rates that are $103 and $130 more affordable, respectively, compared to MetLife.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

American Select drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices rise by over 25%, while those who have insurance through Metlife will see around a 40% increase.

Overall, the less expensive rates come from American Select, with monthly premiums averaging $158 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 accident or ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, Metlife increases average prices by over $250 per month -- that's over a 55% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact American Select and Metlife Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (for example, are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for lots of policyholders.

Insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which reduces the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which carrier offers the lowest premiums for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is American Select or Metlife 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 car insurance companies will charge for coverage. Normally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper prices since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident 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 American Select charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Metlife, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying about $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, American Select is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

American Select vs. Metlife: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a large impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Generally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads in those areas.

American Select boasts the most affordable average rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, American Select Insurance Company's average premiums are around 47% less than MetLife. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about 55% less with American Select compared to Metlife. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around 48% with American Select compared to Metlife.

American Select vs. Metlife Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new 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 auto insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both American Select and Metlife so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Metlife blows American Select away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 16 more discounts than American Select.

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like agency transfer discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, distant student discounts, and multi-policy discounts -- but Metlife also offers AAA discounts, academic discounts, annual mileage discounts, and more that American Select does not.

On the flip side, American Select has a couple unique discounts of its own -- account relationship discounts, advance quote discounts, companion auto discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is American Select 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. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is American Select or Metlife the best company for you and your specific driver profile?

American Select might be best for you if....

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Metlife might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national car insurance company.
• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between American Select and Metlife and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto 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 American Select and Metlife. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American Select vs. Metlife FAQs

Is American Select or Metlife cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, American Select is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $170 a month compared to $340 for Metlife. Even so, American Select won't necessarily be the lowest company for everyone, since there are lots of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, American Select or Metlife?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do American Select and Metlife offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different variables when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Factors such as age, gender, where you call home, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both American Select and Metlife calculate prices using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

How do I know if American Select or Metlife is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be American Select 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.