Farmers vs. Metromile: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Metromile offers significantly more affordable premiums than Farmers
• Farmers may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Metromile
• Metromile offers more affordable rates for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record

Farmers or Metromile: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might be considering Farmers or Metromile, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Farmers is quite a bit more expensive than Metromile, with prices averaging $203 a month compared to just $150 with Metromile.

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

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Farmers and Metromile by several different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Farmers vs. Metromile: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Farmers and Metromile only compete against each other in Arizona, where Metromile offers the cheaper average premiums. Metromile drivers tend to pay about $69 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Farmers for their insurance.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance cost than just your home state. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance prices of any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's normally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 40% less a month by choosing Metromile over Farmers. It's worth noting that Farmers offers insurance in 25 different states compared to Metromile's one, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your prices decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. Metromile offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Farmers's average premiums lower more than 70% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance rates you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally reduces their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise premiums.

When looking at Farmers and Metromile specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Metromile gets the slight edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $14 cheaper than the national average for Farmers.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance rates than married policyholders. This usually boils down to married couples having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something lots of car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Metromile rates coming in at a quarter less than Farmers's. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - Metromile has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Farmers or Metromile: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but auto insurance is typically cheaper for women than it is for men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher rates.

With Farmers, women generally pay around 3% per month less than men, but surprisingly, with Metromile, women typically pay about 3% more a month than men.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, Metromile offers the cheapest average prices for both men and women, with average premiums 29% less for men and 24% cheaper for women.

Farmers vs. Metromile: 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 car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are many different coverages that account for a range 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, alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Metromile has the edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $99. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Metromile again has the edge, with policies averaging around $201 per month to Farmers's $281.

Is Farmers or Metromile 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.

At-fault accidents and speeding tickets will most likely raise your rates, but is Farmers or Metromile less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Farmers for their insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Metromile policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 22%.

But Metromile has more affordable prices for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are 29% and 28% cheaper, respectively, compared to Farmers Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Farmers drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates climb by just under 30%, while those who have insurance through Metromile will see about a 35% increase.

At the end of the day, the more affordable premiums come from Metromile, with average prices coming in at $171 compared to Farmers Insurance's $224.

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. On average, Farmers will climb your rates around 27% after a DUI, while Metromile's average prices rise by more than 30%.

Metromile has the overall lowest premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $167 a month, but it's worth noting that Farmers's average rates come from 25 states compared to just one for Metromile, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Farmers and Metromile Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly auto insurance rates. This isn't true for everyone (for example, Michigan and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for a lot of policyholders.

Insurance companies 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 at Farmers and Metromile specifically, which carrier has the most affordable prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Metromile will usually reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Metromile comes in nearly 28.05 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save about 26% with Metromile compared to average premiums from Farmers.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Metromile typically offers lower rates than Farmers when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 25% a month less with Metromile compared to Farmers, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about 26% monthly.

Is Farmers or Metromile 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 car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper prices since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Farmers or Metromile report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, Metromile comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle yearly, with average rates of $150 per month for both.

Farmers or Metromile: 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. Normally, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders because of the small number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

Metromile boasts the cheapest average prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $50 with Metromile compared to Farmers. People who live in suburban areas pay about $68 less with Metromile compared to Farmers. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Metromile's average rates are around $42 less than Farmers Insurance.

Farmers vs. Metromile Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Farmers and Metromile so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Farmers knocks Metromile out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 28 different discounts to Metromile's four.

Both companies offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a good driver, multi-policy discounts, and paperless discounts -- but Farmers also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, alternative fuel, and more.

On the other hand, Metromile has a proprietary discount of their own -- a online quote discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Farmers or Metromile Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is Farmers or Metromile the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Metromile might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the auto insurance policy.
• Your credit is less-than-stellar.
• You want to save money while purchasing insurance for a teenager.

Farmers might be best for you if...

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- Metromile only offers policies to Arizona residents.
• You care about discounts (Farmers offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Farmers and Metromile 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 insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Farmers and Metromile. 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 auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Farmers vs. Metromile FAQs

Is Farmers or Metromile cheaper?

Metromile is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $150 a month with Metromile and $203 for Farmers. However, that doesn't mean Metromile will be the most affordable carrier for each driver, since there are a bunch of different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, Farmers or Metromile?

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

Why do Farmers and Metromile offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use quite a few different factors when determining the rates they charge. Variables like age, where you park your vehicle, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Farmers and Metromile calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

How do I know if Farmers or Metromile is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies 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 information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Farmers or Metromile 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.