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

Quick Facts

• In general, Metlife offers significantly less expensive premiums than Great Northern
• Metlife offers more affordable average prices for policyholders who live in suburban areas
• Metlife offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles yearly

Great Northern 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've maybe even narrowed your search down to Great Northern or Metlife, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Metlife is quite a bit cheaper than Great Northern, with prices averaging $340 a month compared to $496 with Great Northern.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Metlife will be the cheaper option for every driver. Car insurance carriers use a ton of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among a whole range of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Great Northern or Metlife is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each carrier broken down by a range of different rate factors.

Great Northern vs. Metlife: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Great Northern and Metlife only compete against each other in Michigan, where Metlife offers the cheaper average rates. Metlife drivers tend to pay about $263 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Great Northern for their auto insurance.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance cost than just your home state. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance premiums. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Great Northern for their insurance pay almost 1% less than those who use Metlife.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time you turn 25. Metlife offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Great Northern's average prices reduce nearly 50% during that same period.

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 find.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Great Northern and Metlife? Metlife gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older over 40% less expensive than the national average for Great Northern.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance prices tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples. That's because policies for married policyholders generally cover multiple vehicles, which many carriers will give you a discount for.

For single drivers, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with Metlife rates coming in at a quarter less than Great Northern's. The advantage for married drivers with Metlife is also obvious, where drivers save almost 50% a month.

Great Northern or Metlife: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into a collision, which means they'll typically end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

With Great Northern, everyone ends up paying the same monthly prices regardless of gender, and around $28 less with Metlife.

Looking at overall affordability, Metlife offers the lowest average rates for both men and women. On average, women save about $170 per month and men save about $142 with Metlife compared to the average Great Northern policyholder.

Great Northern 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.

It's no secret that car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Metlife has the edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $215. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Metlife again has the edge, with policies averaging around $466 a month to Great Northern's $737.

Is Great Northern or Metlife Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their 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 prices, but is Great Northern or Metlife more affordable for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Great Northern car insurance policies don't report seeing their premiums increase after getting a ticket, but Metlife policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by about $60.

Even so, Metlife tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records, offering rates that are $276 and $217 cheaper, respectively, compared to Great Northern Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Great Northern drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices rise by 0%, while those who have insurance through Metlife will see around a 40% increase.

At the end of the day, Metlife offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average rates coming in at $368 compared to Great Northern Insurance's $496.

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. For example, Metlife increases average prices by more than $250 per month -- that's more than a 55% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Great Northern and Metlife Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for quite a few 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.

So, which company offers the best premiums for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Great Northern or Metlife Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on your monthly rates. Usually, the more milage you put on your car each year, 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 Great Northern charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Metlife, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles each year paying about $3 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, for drivers in both categories, Metlife is the less expensive carrier.

Great Northern or Metlife: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can have a substantial impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Generally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

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

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $299 a month with Metlife compared to Great Northern's $432. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly premium of about $333 with Metlife compared to $486 with Great Northern. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Metlife's average premiums are around $389 while Great Northern offers prices about $570.

Great Northern 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 insurance discounts as possible.

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 Great Northern and Metlife so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

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

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

On the other hand, Great Northern has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like driver training discounts, occasional operator discounts, and vehicle ownership discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Great Northern or Metlife Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Metlife might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You care about discounts (Metlife offers the most).
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

Great Northern might be best for you if...

• Your credit score is high.
• You want to save money while purchasing car insurance for a teenager.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Great Northern and Metlife and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just Great Northern and Metlife. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Great Northern vs. Metlife FAQs

Is Great Northern or Metlife cheaper?

Metlife is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $340 a month with Metlife and $496 for Great Northern. That being said, that doesn't mean Metlife will be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are several different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, Great Northern or Metlife?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, Great Northern is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit, while Metlife offers cheaper prices for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Great Northern and Metlife offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use several different factors when calculating the rates they charge. Things like your driving record, gender, where you park your vehicle, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Great Northern and Metlife calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Great Northern 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.