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

Quick Facts

• In general, Dairyland offers significantly more affordable premiums than Metlife
• Dairyland offers cheaper average prices for policyholders who may not have much of a commute
• Metlife offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who have a clean record

Dairyland 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 huge discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Dairyland or Metlife for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Metlife is about $84 more per month than Dairyland.

Even so, Dairyland may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. Auto insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how old you are or where you live (among a multitude of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

Dairyland or Metlife: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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

There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance payment than just where you call home. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for insurance than any group out there on the road. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Dairyland save nearly $450 a month compared to those who use Metlife.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your prices lower significantly once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Dairyland policyholders reduce more than 55% and Metlife's prices decrease over 70% 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 cheapest rates you'll ever see.

When looking at Dairyland and Metlife specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Dairyland gets the slight edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $203 per month compared to Metlife's $205. However, that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other factors, such as your credit score or where you live.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance prices are generally more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples? That's usually because married policyholders tend to own and insure multiple cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Dairyland is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums about $138 per month more affordable than Metlife, on average. But for married drivers, that advantage is much less clear - Dairyland has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Dairyland vs. Metlife: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents. That means when it comes to car insurance men will typically end up paying a little more.

Generally, women see prices around 4% a month less with Dairyland, and almost 10% less with Metlife when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Dairyland offers the lowest average premiums for both men and women, with average rates $93 less for men and $75 cheaper for women.

Dairyland 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 pretty complicated. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy.

That being said, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Dairyland generally offers significantly less expensive prices of $142 compared to Metlife's $215. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Dairyland again has the edge, with policies about $95 per month cheaper than Metlife, on average.

Is Dairyland or Metlife Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

You'll probably end up paying more with at-fault accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Dairyland policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $40 a month if they get a ticket, while Metlife normally raises premiums around $59 per month, on average.

If you have a clean record, Metlife tends to offer the best rates at about 2% more affordable, while Dairyland has the edge for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Dairyland drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices climb by over $70, while those who have insurance through Metlife will see around a $150 increase.

Overall, drivers who use Dairyland end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $297 compared to MetLife's $368.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. Metlife drivers usually see a 55% climb in their car insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Dairyland will typically raise prices by about 5%.

How does Credit Score Impact Dairyland and Metlife Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly auto insurance rates. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for several policyholders.

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

Looking at Dairyland 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 Dairyland 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 considerable impact on your monthly prices? That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less 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 Dairyland charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Metlife, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying around $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Dairyland is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Dairyland vs. Metlife: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a big role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Generally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers because there are a lot more vehicles on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

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

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the lowest rates from both companies, but Dairyland comes out on top with average premiums about $203 a month. Dairyland also has more affordable average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $75 and $82 a month respective difference when compared to Metlife policyholders in similar areas.

Dairyland 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 difficult to find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Dairyland and Metlife so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

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

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good student, and discounts for being a homeowner. Metlife also offers AAA discounts, ABS discounts, academic discounts, and more that Dairyland does not.

On the flip side, Dairyland has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, paid in full discounts, prior insurance discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Dairyland or Metlife Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which carrier is the best carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Dairyland might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" insurance.
• You and your spouse are buying auto insurance together.

Metlife might be best for you if...

• You have a clean record.
• You're thinking about moving to another state -- undefined only offers policies in.
• You're looking for discounts -- Metlife has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Dairyland and Metlife. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 multiple companies, not just Dairyland and Metlife. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make 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.

Dairyland vs. Metlife FAQs

Is Dairyland or Metlife cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Dairyland is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $256 per month compared to $340 for Metlife. But Dairyland won't necessarily be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are many different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Dairyland or Metlife?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Dairyland and Metlife offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different factors when calculating the prices they charge drivers. Things such as age, where you live, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Dairyland and Metlife calculate rates using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Dairyland 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.