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

Quick Facts

• In general, Atlantic States offers significantly more affordable premiums than Metlife
• Atlantic States tends to be a much less expensive option for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record
• Metlife may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Atlantic States Insurance Company

Atlantic States or Metlife: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering large savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Atlantic States or Metlife as your top options, but which carrier has cheaper rates for auto insurance?

As you can see, Atlantic States has average rates that are around 55% a month less expensive than those from Metlife when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

That being said, Atlantic States may not be the lowest or best option for every driver out there. After all, insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your age, your credit score, or even your driving record (among other things), so prices could vary drastically from person to person.

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

Atlantic States vs. Metlife: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Atlantic States and Metlife only compete against each other in three states, with Atlantic States offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Pennsylvania has the most noticable difference, where Atlantic States premiums are $422 less expensive than auto insurance rates at Metlife.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just the state you live in. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance prices of any other group of drivers. It's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Atlantic States for their car insurance pay over 70% less than those who use Metlife.

However, with both companies, you'll see your prices decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. Metlife offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Atlantic States still has the cheapest premiums at $159 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable rates out there.

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Atlantic States gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $119 a month compared to Metlife's $205.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance rates tend to be more affordable for married policyholders than they are for single drivers. That's typically because married couples tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with Atlantic States prices coming in at around half of Metlife's. The advantage for married drivers with Atlantic States is also obvious, where drivers save about $90 per month.

Atlantic States or Metlife: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for insurance than men? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and file an insurance claim, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher rates.

On average, men see premiums around $15 a month higher with Atlantic States, and about $28 more with Metlife.

Looking at overall affordability, Atlantic States comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $187 per month and women save around $173 with Atlantic States compared to the average Metlife policyholder.

Atlantic States vs. 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, auto insurance can be pretty complicated. There are multiple different coverages that account for a variety of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

But most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Atlantic States has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $85. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Atlantic States again has the edge, with policies averaging about $235 a month to Metlife's $466.

Is Atlantic States or Metlife Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their car 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 accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest rates to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Atlantic States for their auto insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 5% after getting a speeding ticket. Metlife policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 21%.

Even so, Atlantic States is usually the cheaper option for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket. With Atlantic States Insurance Company, drivers with a clean record can save around $104 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $157 a month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Metlife increasing by around 40%. Atlantic States has a less extreme rise, but you can still expect to pay nearly 25% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, Atlantic States offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average prices coming in at $153 compared to MetLife's $368.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even a collision. Metlife drivers usually see a 55% climb in their insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Atlantic States will generally raise rates by about 54%.

How does Credit Score Impact Atlantic States and Metlife Rates?

Did you know many car insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an auto insurance factor) but it might come into play for quite a few drivers.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper premiums, while those with poor credit will usually be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the best rates 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 Atlantic States or Metlife Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a sizable impact on your monthly insurance cost? That's because the more milage you put on your car, the more likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

Atlantic States tends to be the less expensive option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Atlantic States's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in more than 55% more affordable than Metlife. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay over 50% less with Atlantic States over Metlife.

Atlantic States or Metlife: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a large impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because of the small number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

Atlantic States boasts the cheapest average rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around 56% with Atlantic States compared to Metlife. People who live in suburban areas pay about 57% less with Atlantic States compared to Metlife. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Atlantic States Insurance Company's average premiums are around 47% less than MetLife.

Atlantic States vs. Metlife Discounts

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

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Atlantic States and Metlife offer their customers so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

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

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Metlife also offers discounts for AAA, academic, agency transfer, and more.

On the other hand, Atlantic States has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, driver training discounts, family discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Atlantic States or Metlife Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which carrier is the right fit for you?

Atlantic States might be best for you if....

• You have a clean record.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower prices.

Metlife might be best for you if...

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

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Atlantic States and Metlife and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your 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 Atlantic States and Metlife. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply 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.

Atlantic States vs. Metlife FAQs

Is Atlantic States or Metlife cheaper?

Atlantic States is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $160 per month with Atlantic States and $340 for Metlife. That being said, that doesn't mean Atlantic States will be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are several different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Atlantic States or Metlife?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Atlantic States and Metlife offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use a lot of different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Factors like gender, age, your driving record, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Atlantic States and Metlife calculate premiums using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

How do I know if Atlantic States or Metlife is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. 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 best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Atlantic States 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.