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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Cig offers significantly less expensive prices than Metlife
• Cig tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Metlife offers more discounts than CIG Insurance

Cig vs. Metlife: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering hefty discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Cig or Metlife for your next policy, but which company will offer you cheaper premiums?

As you can see, Metlife has average rates that are about 65% per month more expensive than those from Cig when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

But Cig may not be the cheapest or best option for every single driver out there. Insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how good your credit score is, where you live, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, and a ton of other factors. So, at the end of the day, premiums from each carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Cig or Metlife: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Cig and Metlife compete against each other in four states, with Cig offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Washington has the most noticable difference, where Cig premiums are over 70% cheaper than car insurance rates at Metlife.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just the state you live in. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for car insurance than any group on the road. It's because young, inexperienced 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 teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Cig save more than $500 a month compared to those who use Metlife.

However, both carriers will decrease prices once 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, Cig still has the most affordable rates at $119 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the lowest car insurance premiums you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally lowers their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Cig gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $119 more affordable 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 expensive for single policyholders than they are for married drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having several cars on their policy -- something many insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Cig is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $295 per month cheaper than Metlife, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Cig is also obvious, where drivers save over 55% a month.

Cig vs. Metlife: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men tend to pay more for car insurance than women? This is because men are more likely to get into accidents and get tickets, which increases the chances of an insurance claim.

With Cig, men typically pay about $4 per month more than women, while with Metlife, the difference is closer to $28 a month.

When it comes to the most affordable premiums for each gender, Cig comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, women save about $209 per month and men save around $233 with Cig compared to the average Metlife policyholder.

Cig 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.

It's no secret that auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. 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 -- alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Cig generally offers significantly more affordable prices of $71 compared to Metlife's $215. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Cig again has the edge, with policies about $300 a month less expensive than Metlife, on average.

Is Cig or Metlife Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance carriers offering great premiums for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

At-fault collisions and tickets will most likely raise your rates, but is Cig or Metlife cheaper for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Cig policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $24 per month if they get a ticket, while Metlife typically raises prices around $59 a month, on average.

That being said, Cig is normally the less expensive option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket, offering rates that are 60% and 60% more affordable, respectively, compared to MetLife.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Cig drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums rise by over 25%, while those who have insurance through Metlife will see about a 40% increase.

Overall, the less expensive rates come from Cig, with monthly prices averaging $118 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. On average, Metlife will climb your rates around 55% after a DUI, while Cig's average premiums increase by just under 45%.

How does Credit Score Impact Cig and Metlife Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for several policyholders.

Car insurance carriers argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Cig and Metlife, which carrier has the best prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Cig or Metlife 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 how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. Usually, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

Cig tends to be the more affordable option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure. Cig's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over 65% cheaper than Metlife. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay nearly 65% less with Cig over Metlife.

Cig 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 big impact as well. Normally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Cig generally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the lowest rates from both companies, but Cig comes out on top with average prices about $106 per month. Cig also has more affordable average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $261 and $210 per month respective difference when compared to Metlife drivers in similar areas.

Cig 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 insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to find all the ones you qualify for or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Cig and Metlife so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Metlife blows Cig away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 11 more discounts than Cig.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, employee discounts, and group discounts. Metlife also offers AAA discounts, academic discounts, agency transfer discounts, and more that Cig does not.

On the flip side, Cig has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, company car discounts, good payer discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Cig or Metlife Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors auto insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Cig might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• Your credit score is high.
• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Metlife might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national insurance company.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Cig and Metlife and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just Cig and Metlife. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Cig vs. Metlife FAQs

Is Cig or Metlife cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Cig is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $119 a month compared to $340 for Metlife. But Cig won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are multiple different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Cig or Metlife?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

Why do Cig and Metlife offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when calculating the rates they charge policyholders. Variables such as age, where you live, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Cig and Metlife use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

How do I know if Cig 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 carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Cig 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.