Direct Auto vs. MetLife: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Direct Auto offers significantly cheaper prices than MetLife
• Direct Auto tends to be a much more affordable option for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision
• MetLife may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Direct Auto Insurance

Direct Auto or MetLife: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering Direct Auto or MetLife for your next policy, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Direct Auto is quite a bit cheaper than MetLife, with premiums averaging $170 a month compared to $340 with MetLife.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Direct Auto will be the less expensive option for every driver. Car insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how old you are or how good your credit score is (among an array of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Direct Auto 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.

Direct Auto vs. MetLife: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Direct Auto and MetLife only compete against each other in two states, with Direct Auto offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. Mississippi has the most noticable difference, where Direct Auto prices are $239 less expensive than insurance premiums at MetLife.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance cost than just where you call home. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. It's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance rates. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Direct Auto for their auto insurance pay over 60% less than those who use MetLife.

That being said, both carriers will drop prices once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Direct Auto policyholders reduce around $200 and MetLife's prices lower more than $500 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? Direct Auto gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older almost 40% more affordable than the national average for MetLife.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly less expensive auto insurance premiums than single policyholders. This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something quite a few car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with Direct Auto premiums coming in at about half of MetLife's. The advantage for married couples with Direct Auto is also obvious, where drivers save around $85 per month.

Direct Auto or MetLife: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into accidents and get tickets, they run a lower risk of filing a claim with insurance. So, women typically pay less for insurance than men.

Women generally pay about 2% a month less than men with Direct Auto, and around 8% less with MetLife.

Looking at overall affordability, Direct Auto comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $182 per month and women save about $158 with Direct Auto compared to the average MetLife policyholder.

Direct Auto 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.

Auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are several different coverages that account for many 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.

But most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Direct Auto has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $96. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Direct Auto again has the edge, with policies averaging around $244 a month to MetLife's $466.

Is Direct Auto or MetLife Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their car insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

Speeding tickets and at-fault collisions will most likely raise your rates, but is Direct Auto or MetLife more affordable for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Direct Auto for their auto insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 21% after getting a speeding ticket. MetLife policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 21%.

However, Direct Auto is generally the cheaper option for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket. With Direct Auto Insurance, drivers with a clean record can save about $77 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $98 a month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Direct Auto drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums climb by over $45, while those who have insurance through MetLife will see about a $150 increase.

At the end of the day, Direct Auto offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with average prices coming in at $190 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 an accident. MetLife drivers usually see a 55% raise in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Direct Auto will usually increase premiums by around 13%.

How does Credit Score Impact Direct Auto and MetLife Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly car insurance prices. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a car insurance factor, but it does affect several policyholders out there.

Auto insurance carriers 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 Direct Auto and MetLife, which carrier has the cheapest rates 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 Direct Auto 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 how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage? 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.

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

Direct Auto or 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 substantial impact as well. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because of the small number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

Direct Auto tends to offer the cheapest rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Direct Auto Insurance's average prices are around $163 less than MetLife. People who live in suburban areas pay about $165 less with Direct Auto compared to MetLife. Those in rural areas can expect to save around $183 with Direct Auto compared to MetLife.

Direct Auto vs. MetLife Discounts

No matter 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 you can. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

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

MetLife blows Direct Auto away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 36 different discounts to Direct Auto's 19.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but MetLife also offers discounts for AAA, academic, agency transfer, and more.

On the other hand, Direct Auto has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, bike policy discounts, mobile home policy discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Direct Auto or MetLife Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which carrier is the right fit for you?

Direct Auto might be best for you if....

• You have a clean record.
• You're looking for the best premiums on liability only coverage.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower prices.

MetLife might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- undefined only offers policies to residents.
• You care about discounts (MetLife offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Direct Auto and MetLife. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just Direct Auto and MetLife. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Direct Auto vs. MetLife FAQs

Is Direct Auto or MetLife cheaper?

Direct Auto is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $170 per month with Direct Auto and $340 for MetLife. That being said, that doesn't mean Direct Auto will be the lowest company for each policyholder, since there are a variety of different variables that are considered when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Direct Auto or MetLife?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Direct Auto and MetLife offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use lots of different factors when determining the premiums they charge. Things like age, where you call home, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Direct Auto and MetLife calculate rates using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

How do I know if Direct Auto or MetLife is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier 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 make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Direct Auto 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.