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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Central Mutual offers slightly more affordable rates than Metlife
• Central Mutual offers more affordable premiums for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision
• Metlife offers more affordable prices for policyholders who have a clean driving record, free of collisions, tickets, or DUIs

Central Mutual or Metlife: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering Central Mutual or Metlife as your top options, but which one will offer you cheaper rates?

As you can see, Metlife is around $0 more a month than Central Mutual when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

However, that doesn't mean Central Mutual will necessarily be less expensive than Metlife for every single driver. After all, car insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your driving record, your age, or even your credit score (among other things). So, at the end of the day, premiums from each company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Central Mutual vs. Metlife: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Central Mutual and Metlife only compete against each other in three states, with Metlife offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Central Mutual premiums are $100 more affordable than auto insurance rates at Metlife.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance cost than just your home state. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance prices of any group on the road. It's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance premiums. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Central Mutual for their auto insurance pay almost 40% less than those who use Metlife.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. Metlife offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Central Mutual's average rates reduce nearly 45% during that same period.

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 premiums you'll ever find.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Central Mutual and Metlife? Metlife gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $70 less expensive than the national average for Central Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Central Mutual rates coming in at about 15% less than Metlife's. The advantage for married couples with Metlife is also obvious, where drivers save around $80 per month.

Central Mutual or Metlife: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women generally pay less for auto insurance than men? That's because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which increases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

With Central Mutual, women usually pay about $15 a month less than men, and almost $30 cheaper with Metlife when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at overall affordability, Metlife is the cheapest company for women. Rates with Metlife are $7 cheaper for women, while with Central Mutual, men can save around $7.

Central Mutual 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.

It's no secret that insurance can be pretty complicated. There are several different coverages that account for lots 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.

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

When it comes to state minimum liability limits, Central Mutual has the edge, while Metlife offers the lowest average premiums for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $40 with Central Mutual Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be about $40 more affordable with MetLife.

Is Central Mutual 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 accidents and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the most affordable prices to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Central Mutual for their insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 26% after getting a speeding ticket. Metlife policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 21%.

But Metlife has less expensive premiums for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are $22 and $47 cheaper, respectively, compared to Central Mutual Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Central Mutual can expect to see around an $69 -- or about 22% -- rise in their insurance premiums. Drivers who use Metlife for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill around $148 (or 40%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, Central Mutual offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with average prices coming in at $311 compared to MetLife's $368.

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 -- usually a lot more than an accident or ticket. On average, Metlife will increase your rates about 55% after a DUI, while Central Mutual's average premiums climb by nearly 50%.

How does Credit Score Impact Central Mutual and Metlife Rates?

Did you know many car insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining prices? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a car insurance factor, but it will come into play for lots of policyholders.

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

Looking at Central Mutual and Metlife specifically, which company has the best premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Central Mutual 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 big impact on your monthly insurance bill? Normally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive prices since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

Looking specifically at Metlife and Central Mutual, Metlife is the more affordable option for people with short commutes, while Metlife has better rates for those who work from home. Metlife's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in $4 more expensive than Central Mutual. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay $3 more with Central Mutual over Metlife.

Central Mutual or Metlife: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can have a substantial impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Generally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

Looking at these carriers side-by-side, Central Mutual typically comes out as the cheaper option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while Metlife wins in urban areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $71 with Central Mutual compared to Metlife. People who live in suburban areas pay about $70 less with Central Mutual compared to Metlife. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, MetLife's average prices are around $140 less than Central Mutual Insurance.

Central Mutual vs. Metlife 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. That's where car insurance discounts comes into play.

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Central Mutual and Metlife so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Metlife blows Central Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 36 different discounts to Central Mutual's 15.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like ABS discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good student, and passive restraint discounts. Metlife also offers discounts for AAA, academic, agency transfer, and more.

On the other hand, Central Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like book transfer policy discounts, driver training discounts, DRL discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Central Mutual or Metlife Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the best carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Metlife might be best for you if....

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's auto insurance policy.

Central Mutual might be best for you if...

• You will be the only person on the car insurance policy.
• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your rates.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

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

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on auto insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Central Mutual 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 insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Central Mutual vs. Metlife FAQs

Is Central Mutual or Metlife cheaper?

Central Mutual is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $340 per month with Central Mutual and $340 for Metlife. Even so, that doesn't mean Central Mutual will be the most affordable carrier for each policyholder, since there are a range of different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Central Mutual or Metlife?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for every policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, Metlife is cheaper for drivers who have already retired, while Central Mutual offers more affordable prices for single policyholders.

Why do Central Mutual and Metlife offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use many different factors when calculating the rates they charge. Variables such as where you call home, age, where you park your car, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Central Mutual 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 Central Mutual or Metlife is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company 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 area information 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 carrier for you isn't Central Mutual 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.