Auto-owners vs. Metromile: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Metromile offers more affordable rates than Auto-owners
• Auto-owners has less expensive prices for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision
• Metromile tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods

Auto-owners or Metromile: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Auto-owners or Metromile for your next policy, but which carrier will save you the most?

As you can see, Metromile has average rates that are around 16% a month more affordable than those from Auto-owners when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

But Metromile may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. Insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like how good your credit score is, how old you are, where you live, how clean your driving record is, and a variety of other factors, so prices will vary quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Auto-owners or Metromile is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each carrier broken down by a bunch of different rate factors.

Auto-owners vs. Metromile: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Auto-owners and Metromile only compete against each other in Arizona, where Metromile offers the cheaper average rates. Metromile drivers tend to pay about $48 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Auto-owners for their car insurance.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just the state you live in. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance prices of any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's because teen 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 auto insurance pay 20% less than those who use Auto-owners. It's worth noting that Auto-owners offers insurance in 23 different states compared to Metromile's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your rates decrease significantly once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Auto-owners policyholders lower about $250 and Metromile's rates reduce around $200 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 premiums you'll ever find.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? In this case, Metromile has the slight edge, with premiums about $4 a month less than Auto-owners. However, the difference is only around 5%, so other factors (like your credit score or where you live) will likely come into play when determining which carrier has the cheapest rates for you.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance prices are usually less expensive for married drivers than they are for single drivers? This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something quite a few insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Metromile premiums coming in at about 20% less than Auto-owners's. The advantage for married couples with Metromile is also obvious, where drivers save almost $20 per month.

Auto-owners or Metromile: Average Rates by Gender

Women tend to pay less for car insurance than men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and get tickets, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

Usually, women see rates around 6% a month less with Auto-owners, but surprisingly, with Metromile, women normally pay about 3% more per month than men.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, Metromile comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $22 a month and men save around $37 with Metromile compared to the average Auto-owners policyholder.

Auto-owners vs. 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.

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

Even so, most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside what you get with a liability policy).

When it comes to state minimum liability limits, Auto-owners has the edge, while Metromile offers the most affordable average prices for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $0 with Auto-Owners Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be about $60 cheaper with Metromile.

Is Auto-owners or Metromile Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their 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 collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest rates to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Auto-owners for their car insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up around 27% after getting a speeding ticket. Metromile policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 22%.

However, Metromile is typically the more affordable option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket -- their rates are around 5% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 10% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Auto-owners can expect to see around an $47 -- or about 28% -- rise in their insurance premiums. Drivers who use Metromile for their car insurance will see a monthly bill around $56 (or 33%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance company.

At the end of the day, the cheaper prices come from Auto-owners, with average rates coming in at $168 compared to Metromile's $171.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly insurance bill -- normally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. Auto-owners drivers usually see a 54% increase in their car insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Metromile will generally raise prices by about 31%.

Metromile has the overall cheapest premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $167 per month, but it's worth noting that Auto-owners's average rates come from 23 states compared to just one for Metromile, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Auto-owners and Metromile Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an auto insurance factor, but it might come into play for lots of policyholders.

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

Looking specifically at Auto-owners and Metromile, which one has the most affordable rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Auto-owners will typically reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Auto-owners comes in nearly 19.49 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save around 6% with Auto-owners compared to average prices from Metromile.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Metromile typically offers lower rates than Auto-owners when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 11% per month less with Metromile compared to Auto-owners, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around 40% a month.

Is Auto-owners 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 your monthly prices. That's because the more milage you drive, the more likely you are to be in an accident and file 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 Auto-owners, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle annually paying about $1 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, for drivers in both categories, Metromile is the cheaper carrier.

Auto-owners or Metromile: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can have a large impact on your monthly insurance payment. Typically, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders because of the number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Metromile tends to offer the cheapest option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while Auto-owners wins in urban areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $44 with Metromile compared to Auto-owners. People who live in suburban areas pay about $48 less with Metromile compared to Auto-owners. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Auto-Owners Insurance's average rates are around $4 less than Metromile.

Auto-owners vs. Metromile Discounts

No matter 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 you can, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as possible.

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

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

Auto-owners knocks Metromile out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 24 different discounts to Metromile's four.

Both companies offer many of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a good driver, multi-policy discounts, and paperless discounts -- but Auto-owners also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, anti-theft, and more.

On the other hand, Metromile has a proprietary discount of their own -- a online quote discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Auto-owners or Metromile Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance prices. 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 best carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Metromile might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the car insurance policy.
• You live in a rural area.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Auto-owners might be best for you if...

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.
• You live in an urban area.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Auto-owners and Metromile and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to 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 multiple carriers, not just Auto-owners and Metromile. 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 car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Auto-owners vs. Metromile FAQs

Is Auto-owners or Metromile cheaper?

Metromile is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $150 a month with Metromile and $179 for Auto-owners. But that doesn't mean Metromile will be the lowest company for everyone, since there are a range of different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, Auto-owners or Metromile?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Metromile is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Auto-owners offers cheaper prices for policyholders with an at-fault collision on their record.

Why do Auto-owners and Metromile offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use many different variables when determining the rates they charge. Factors such as your driving record, where you park your vehicle, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Auto-owners and Metromile calculate premiums using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

How do I know if Auto-owners or Metromile is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Auto-owners or Metromile 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.