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

Quick Facts

• In general, Buckeye offers significantly cheaper prices than Metlife
• Buckeye has more affordable premiums for residents of urban areas
• Metlife offers more discounts than Buckeye Insurance Group

Buckeye vs. Metlife: 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 might be considering Buckeye or Metlife as your top options, but which one will offer you less expensive prices?

Looking at nationwide averages, Metlife is quite a bit more expensive than Buckeye, with premiums averaging $340 per month compared to just $132 with Buckeye.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Buckeye will be the cheaper option for every driver. Auto insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like where you live, how old you are, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, and a variety of other factors. So, at the end of the day, prices from each company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Buckeye or Metlife is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each carrier broken down by a range of different rate factors.

Buckeye or Metlife: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Buckeye and Metlife only compete against each other in two states, with Buckeye offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Indiana has the most noticable difference, where Buckeye rates are over 70% less expensive than car insurance premiums at Metlife.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just where you call home. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance prices of any other group of drivers. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $500 less a month by choosing Buckeye over Metlife.

But both carriers will drop premiums 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, Buckeye still has the lowest prices at $114 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable rates you'll ever see.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Buckeye and Metlife? Buckeye gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older nearly 50% cheaper than the national average for Metlife.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance rates tend to be more affordable for married policyholders than they are for single drivers. This usually boils down to married drivers having several cars on their policy -- something lots of insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Buckeye is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums about $284 per month less expensive than Metlife, on average. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Buckeye offers the cheapest average prices.

Buckeye vs. Metlife: Average Rates by Gender

Women generally to pay less for car insurance than men. This is because men are more likely to get tickets and get into collisions, which increases the chances of an insurance claim.

Women typically pay around $15 a month less than men with Buckeye, while with Metlife, the difference is closer to $28 per month.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, Buckeye offers the most affordable average prices for both men and women, with average premiums $214 less for men and $201 cheaper for women.

Buckeye 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, auto insurance can be pretty complicated. There are many different coverages that account for lots of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

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

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Buckeye normally offers significantly cheaper rates of $73 compared to Metlife's $215. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Buckeye again has the edge, with policies about $300 a month less expensive than Metlife, on average.

Is Buckeye 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.

At-fault accidents and tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is Buckeye or Metlife more affordable for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Buckeye policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $6 per month if they get a ticket, while Metlife usually raises premiums around $59 a month, on average.

That being said, Buckeye is normally the cheaper option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save about $139 per month and drivers with a ticket can save around $192 a month with Buckeye Insurance Group.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Buckeye drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates increase by over 15%, while those who have insurance through Metlife will see about a 40% increase.

Overall, the more affordable prices come from Buckeye, with monthly premiums averaging $98 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 speeding ticket or even a collision. Metlife drivers usually see a 55% climb in their car insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Buckeye will generally raise rates by around 69%.

How does Credit Score Impact Buckeye and Metlife Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating prices? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for quite a few policyholders.

Insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with less expensive premiums.

So, which company offers the best rates for policyholders 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 Buckeye or Metlife Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a big impact on your monthly car insurance cost. That's because the more miles you drive, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Buckeye charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Metlife, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles yearly paying about $3 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, Buckeye is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Buckeye vs. 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 sizable 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.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Buckeye usually comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the lowest rates from both carriers, but Buckeye comes out on top with average prices around $107 a month. Buckeye also has cheaper average rates for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $258 and $174 per month respective difference when compared to Metlife drivers in similar areas.

Buckeye vs. Metlife Discounts

Regardless of 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 possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing 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 can take advantage of.

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Buckeye and Metlife so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

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

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Metlife also offers AAA discounts, ABS discounts, academic discounts, and more that Buckeye does not.

On the flip side, Buckeye has a unique discount of its own -- a paid in full discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Buckeye or Metlife Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the right company for you and your specific driver profile?

Buckeye might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" car insurance.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's insurance policy.

Metlife might be best for you if...

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

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Buckeye and Metlife and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Buckeye and Metlife. 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 insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Buckeye vs. Metlife FAQs

Is Buckeye or Metlife cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Buckeye is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $132 a month compared to $340 for Metlife. However, Buckeye won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are several different factors that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Buckeye or Metlife?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Buckeye and Metlife offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at several different variables when determining the prices they charge policyholders. Factors such as your driving record, where your home is, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Buckeye and Metlife calculate premiums using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

How do I know if Buckeye or Metlife 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Buckeye 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.