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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Houston General offers significantly cheaper premiums than Metlife
• Houston General offers more affordable prices for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record
• Metlife offers more discounts than Houston General Insurance Exchange

Houston General vs. Metlife: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Houston General or Metlife as your top options, but which company will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Houston General has average rates that are about 55% per month less expensive than those from Metlife.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Houston General will be the more affordable option for each driver. Car insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how clean your driving record is, where you live, how old you are, how good your credit score is, and tons of other factors, so premiums could vary drastically from person to person.

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

Houston General or Metlife: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Houston General and Metlife only compete against each other in Texas, where Houston General offers the cheaper average premiums. For Texas residents, undefined offers auto insurance for undefined per month on average. undefined's average prices come out to be more expensive, at undefined monthly.

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for auto insurance than any other group of drivers. Usually, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Houston General save more than $500 a month compared to those who use Metlife.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your rates lower significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Houston General policyholders reduce nearly $150 and Metlife's prices drop over $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 see.

When looking at Houston General and Metlife specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Houston General gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $108 a month compared to Metlife's $205.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance prices are generally less expensive for married policyholders than they are for those who are single? This usually boils down to married couples having more than one car on their policy -- something lots of insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Houston General is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums about $250 per month cheaper than Metlife, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Houston General is also obvious, where drivers save around $90 a month.

Houston General vs. Metlife: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, they have a higher chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to pay more for car insurance than women.

With Houston General, men typically pay about 7% more per month than women., and almost 10% with Metlife.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Houston General offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women, with average prices 53% less for men and 53% cheaper for women.

Houston General 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.

For most people, 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.

But most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Houston General normally offers significantly more affordable premiums of $83 compared to Metlife's $215. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Houston General again has the edge, with policies around $250 a month cheaper than Metlife, on average.

Is Houston General or Metlife Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance carriers offering great rates for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

It's no secret secret that tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- Houston General or Metlife -- has the lowest premiums for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Houston General policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $37 per month if they get a ticket, while Metlife generally raises premiums about $59 a month, on average.

Even so, Houston General is typically the more affordable option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering prices that are 50% and 47% less expensive, respectively, compared to MetLife.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Houston General can expect to see around an $122 -- or about 52% -- increase in their insurance rates. Drivers who use Metlife for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill around $148 (or 40%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance company.

Overall, Houston General offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with monthly prices averaging $233 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 auto insurance bill. On average, Metlife will raise your rates about 55% after a DUI, while Houston General's average premiums rise by just under 25%.

How does Credit Score Impact Houston General and Metlife Rates?

Did you know that many insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (for example, Hawaii and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect quite a few drivers out there.

Car insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper prices.

So, which carrier offers the cheapest rates 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 Houston General 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. Usually, those who drive less will end up with more affordable premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Houston General charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Metlife, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Houston General is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you call home can have a pretty big impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because of the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Houston General boasts the most affordable average premiums for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 45% with Houston General compared to Metlife. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 55% less with Houston General compared to Metlife. In urban areas, Houston General Insurance Exchange's average rates are about 57% less than MetLife.

Houston General vs. Metlife Discounts

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

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you qualify for, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Houston General and Metlife so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Metlife blows Houston General away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 36 different discounts to Houston General's eight.

Both companies offer several of the same discounts -- like ABS discounts, anti-theft discounts, and discounts for being a good student -- but Metlife also offers AAA discounts, academic discounts, agency transfer discounts, and more that Houston General does not.

On the flip side, Houston General has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts and excess vehicle discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Houston General or Metlife Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which carrier is the best one for you and your specific driver profile?

Houston General might be best for you if....

• Your credit is less-than-stellar.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" auto insurance.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Metlife might be best for you if...

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- undefined is only available in.
• You care about discounts (Metlife offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Houston General and Metlife and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best 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 Houston General and Metlife. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Houston General vs. Metlife FAQs

Is Houston General or Metlife cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Houston General is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $160 per month compared to $340 for Metlife. That being said, Houston General won't necessarily be the cheapest company for every driver, since there are a bunch of different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Houston General or Metlife?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for each driver -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Houston General and Metlife offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at several different variables when determining the rates they charge drivers. Factors like gender, where you park your vehicle, your driving record, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Houston General and Metlife use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

How do I know if Houston General 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 companies 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 free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Houston General 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.