First Chicago vs. MetLife: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, First Chicago offers significantly cheaper rates than MetLife
• First Chicago has less expensive prices for policyholders who live in urban areas
• MetLife may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than First Chicago Insurance

First Chicago 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 large savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering First Chicago or MetLife as your top options, but between the two, which one will offer you more affordable premiums?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, MetLife is quite a bit more expensive than First Chicago, with rates averaging $340 a month compared to just $156 with First Chicago.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean First Chicago will be the less expensive option for every single driver. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your age, your driving record, your credit score, or even where you call home (among other things), so prices could differ drastically from person to person.

Wanting to know if First Chicago 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.

First Chicago vs. MetLife: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

First Chicago and MetLife only compete against each other in Illinois, where First Chicago offers the cheaper average rates. Undefined drivers tend to pay about undefined per month less on average compared to drivers who use undefined for their insurance.

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that teen 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 First Chicago save over 65% a month compared to those who use MetLife.

Even so, both carriers will drop prices by the time drivers turn 25. MetLife offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, First Chicago still has the most affordable premiums at $141 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the lowest auto insurance rates out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for insurance.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between First Chicago and MetLife? First Chicago gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older almost 45% more affordable than the national average for MetLife.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance premiums tend to be cheaper for married policyholders than they are for single policyholders. That's because policies for married drivers usually cover more than one vehicle, which lots of companies will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with First Chicago rates coming in at around half of MetLife's. The advantage for married couples with First Chicago is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 45% per month.

First Chicago or 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 normally end up paying a little more.

On average, women see premiums about 7% a month less with First Chicago, and almost 10% less with MetLife when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at overall affordability, First Chicago offers the cheapest average prices for both men and women, with average rates 54% less for men and 54% cheaper for women.

First Chicago 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.

Insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

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

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, First Chicago has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $73. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, First Chicago again has the edge, with policies averaging around $240 per month to MetLife's $466.

Is First Chicago 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.

Collisions and speeding tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is First Chicago or MetLife less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use First Chicago for their auto insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 24% after getting a speeding ticket. MetLife policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 21%.

However, First Chicago has more affordable rates for drivers in both categories. With First Chicago Insurance, drivers with a clean record can save about $111 a month and drivers with a ticket can save around $135 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through First Chicago can expect to see about an $37 -- or around 25% -- rise in their insurance prices. Drivers who use MetLife for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $148 (or 40%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, First Chicago offers the most affordable rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average premiums coming in at $146 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 auto insurance bill -- generally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. For example, MetLife increases average prices by more than $250 a month -- that's more than a 55% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact First Chicago and MetLife Rates?

Did you know many car insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it will come into play for quite a few drivers.

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

Looking at First Chicago and MetLife specifically, which carrier has the best rates 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 First Chicago 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 your monthly prices. Typically, the more milage you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much First Chicago charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for MetLife, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $3 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, for drivers in both categories, First Chicago is the cheaper company.

First Chicago or MetLife: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a considerable role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Normally, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders due to the number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

First Chicago tends to offer the cheapest prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, First Chicago Insurance's average premiums are about $193 less than MetLife. People who live in suburban areas pay around $205 less with First Chicago compared to MetLife. Those in rural areas can expect to save about $154 with First Chicago compared to MetLife.

First Chicago vs. MetLife Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem hard 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 First Chicago and MetLife so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

MetLife blows First Chicago away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 36 different discounts to First Chicago's nine.

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

On the other hand, First Chicago has a few proprietary discounts of their own like advance quote discounts and driver training discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is First Chicago or MetLife Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is First Chicago or MetLife the right one for you and your specific driver profile?

First Chicago might be best for you if....

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You're looking for the best premiums on liability only coverage.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's auto insurance policy.

MetLife might be best for you if...

• You are considering moving to another state -- undefined only offers policies in.
• You care about discounts (MetLife offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare First Chicago and MetLife and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple companies, not just First Chicago 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 auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

First Chicago vs. MetLife FAQs

Is First Chicago or MetLife cheaper?

First Chicago is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $156 per month with First Chicago and $340 for MetLife. Even so, that doesn't mean First Chicago will be the most affordable carrier for every driver, since there are a bunch of different factors that are considered when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, First Chicago or MetLife?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do First Chicago and MetLife offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use several different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Things such as gender, age, your driving record, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both First Chicago and MetLife use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

How do I know if First Chicago or MetLife is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company 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, 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 companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't First Chicago 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.