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

How do Arbella and Metlife compare when it comes to car insurance rates and discounts? If you want to find out which carrier has the best prices for your unique profile, check out our latest guide below.
Newly insured car driving down the road
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Quick Facts

  • In general, Arbella offers significantly cheaper premiums than Metlife
  • Arbella offers more affordable rates for policyholders who have a clean record
  • Metlife may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Arbella Insurance


Arbella or 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 huge savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Arbella or Metlife as your top options, but which one has less expensive premiums for auto insurance?

Arbella Metlife
$150$340

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Arbella has average rates that are around 55% a month more affordable than those from Metlife.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Arbella will be the cheaper option for every single driver. Insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like where you live, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, and all sorts of other factors, so rates will vary quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Arbella or Metlife is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Arbella vs. Metlife: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

State Arbella Metlife
MA$150$180

Arbella and Metlife only compete against each other in Massachusetts, where Arbella offers the cheaper average premiums. Undefined drivers tend to pay about undefined per month less on average compared to drivers who use undefined for their auto insurance.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just your home state. Read on to learn more.


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Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Arbella Metlife
18-year-old drivers$351$959
25-year-old drivers$128$274

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

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Arbella save over 65% a month compared to those who use Metlife.

That being said, both carriers will reduce rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Arbella policyholders drop almost 65% and Metlife's rates lower more than 70% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Arbella Metlife
65+-year-old drivers$94$205

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the most affordable insurance premiums out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally lowers their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise prices.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Arbella and Metlife? Arbella gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $94 per month compared to Metlife's $205.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Arbella Metlife
Single$175$434
Married$116$216

Did you know that auto insurance rates are usually more affordable for married drivers than they are for single drivers? That's because policies for married policyholders generally cover several vehicles, which lots of companies will give you a discount for.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Arbella premiums coming in at around a third of Metlife's. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Arbella offers the cheapest average rates.

Arbella or Metlife: Average Rates by Gender

Arbella Metlife
Male$150$354
Female$150$326

Because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, they have a decreased chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, insurance companies will often charge women less than men.

Men and women end up paying the same monthly premiums with Arbella, but with Metlife, the difference is closer to 8% per month.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, Arbella comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $204 a month and women save about $176 with Arbella compared to the average Metlife policyholder.


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Arbella vs. Metlife: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

Arbella Metlife
State Minimum*$83$215
Full Coverage**$216$466

*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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Arbella has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $83. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Arbella again has the edge, with policies averaging around $216 per month to Metlife's $466.

Is Arbella or Metlife Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their auto insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Arbella Metlife
Clean Record$117$220
1 Speeding Ticket$125$279

Policyholders who use Arbella for their car insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 6% after getting a speeding ticket. Metlife policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 21%.

However, Arbella is normally the less expensive option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket. With Arbella Insurance, drivers with a clean record can save about $103 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $154 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Arbella Metlife
Clean Record$117$220
1 At-Fault Accident$151$368

Arbella drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices climb by just under 25%, while those who have insurance through Metlife will see about a 40% increase.

At the end of the day, Arbella offers the lowest premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average prices coming in at $151 compared to MetLife's $368.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

Arbella Metlife
Clean Record$117$220
1 DUI$206$494

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly insurance bill -- typically a lot more than a collision or ticket. On average, Metlife will raise your premiums around 55% after a DUI, while Arbella's average rates rise by nearly 45%.


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How does Credit Score Impact Arbella and Metlife Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly car insurance prices. This isn't true for everyone (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it might come into play for quite a few policyholders.

The reasoning insurance companies use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so normally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper rates.

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?

Arbella Metlife
Excellent Credit ScoreNo Data AvailableNo Data Available
Good Credit ScoreNo Data AvailableNo Data Available

If you have stellar credit, MetLife will generally reward you. Improving your "good" credit score to an "excellent" one will usually save MetLife customers about 20%. Because Arbella, doesn't have data available for credit scores, they most likely don't use credit to calculate your rates.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Arbella Metlife
Fair Credit ScoreNo Data AvailableNo Data Available
Poor Credit ScoreNo Data AvailableNo Data Available

Having bad credit normally means you'll also see higher premiums with MetLife. If your credit score is in the "poor" range, at MetLife, you may pay around 35% more a month compared to those with "fair" scores (and even more compared to drivers with good or excellent scores). Arbella, on the other hand, doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means drivers with bad credit could find better rates with Arbella over MetLife.


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Is Arbella or Metlife Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Arbella Metlife
6,000 Annual Miles$142$339
12,000 Annual Miles$157$342

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 prices since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

Arbella tends to be the more affordable option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Arbella's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $197 less expensive than Metlife. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay around $185 less with Arbella over Metlife.

Arbella or 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. Typically, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Arbella Metlife
Urban Areas$186$389
Suburban Areas$168$333
Rural Areas$96$299

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Arbella usually comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about 68% with Arbella compared to Metlife. People who live in suburban areas pay around 50% less with Arbella compared to Metlife. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Arbella Insurance's average rates are about 52% less than MetLife.

Arbella vs. Metlife Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Arbella and Metlife so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Arbella Metlife
AAA Discount 
ABS Discount 
Academic Discount 
Agency Transfer Discount 
Annual Mileage Discount
Anti-Theft Discount
Combat Auto-Theft Discount 
Continuous Insurance Discount 
Defensive Driver Discount 
Distant Student Discount
Driver Training Discount 
EFT Discount 
Employee Discount 
Employers Subject to MA Worker Discount 
Employment Tenure Discount 
Family Car Discount 
Farm Discount 
Good Driving Discount
Good Student Discount
Group Discount

Metlife blows Arbella away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 18 more discounts than Arbella.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Metlife also offers discounts for AAA, ABS, academic, and more.

On the other hand, Arbella has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like continuous insurance discounts, driver training discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, and more.


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Final Thoughts: Is Arbella or Metlife Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best company for you and your specific needs?

Arbella might be best for you if....

  • You will be the only person on the auto insurance policy.
  • You live in an suburban area.
  • You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower premiums.


Metlife might be best for you if...

  • You have below-average credit.
  • You already have a great credit score.
  • You care about discounts (Metlife offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Arbella and Metlife and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Arbella and Metlife. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.


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Arbella vs. Metlife FAQs

Is Arbella or Metlife cheaper?

Arbella is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $150 per month with Arbella and $340 for Metlife. But that doesn't mean Arbella will be the lowest company for everyone, since there are multiple different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Arbella or Metlife?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, Metlife is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Arbella offers cheaper rates for policyholders with an at-fault accident on their record.

Why do Arbella and Metlife offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use several different factors when determining the prices they charge. Variables such as where your home is, where you park your vehicle, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Arbella and Metlife use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

How do I know if Arbella 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 multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Arbella or Metlife at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!


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.

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