Maryland Automobile vs. Metlife: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Maryland Automobile offers significantly cheaper premiums than Metlife
• Maryland Automobile offers more affordable prices for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record
• Metlife offers less expensive average rates for couples purchasing auto insurance together

Maryland Automobile vs. Metlife: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering hefty discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Maryland Automobile or Metlife, but which carrier has more affordable premiums for car insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Metlife has average rates that are about 25% per month more expensive than those from Maryland Automobile.

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

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Maryland Automobile and Metlife by lots of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Maryland Automobile or Metlife: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your insurance bill than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

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 group on the road. That's generally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Maryland Automobile save more than $500 a month compared to those who use Metlife.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Maryland Automobile policyholders lower over 30% and Metlife's rates drop more than 70% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the cheapest insurance prices out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

When looking at Maryland Automobile and Metlife specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Metlife gets the slight edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $19 more affordable than the national average for Maryland Automobile.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance prices tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married drivers. That's normally because married policyholders tend to own and insure multiple cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Maryland Automobile is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates around $154 per month cheaper than Metlife, on average. But for married couples, that advantage is much less clear - Metlife has the edge when it comes to average prices , but the difference is less than $10.

Maryland Automobile vs. Metlife: Average Rates by Gender

Men tend to pay more for auto insurance than women. This is because men are more likely to get into collisions and get tickets, which raises the chances of an insurance claim.

Typically, women see premiums over $15 a month more affordable with Maryland Automobile, and about $28 less with Metlife.

When it comes to the most affordable prices for each gender, Maryland Automobile offers the lowest average premiums for both men and women, with average rates 25% less for men and 24% cheaper for women.

Maryland Automobile 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.

It's no secret that car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different terms and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Maryland Automobile typically offers less expensive premiums of $168 compared to Metlife's $215. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Maryland Automobile again has the edge, with policies around $100 per month cheaper than Metlife, on average.

Is Maryland Automobile or Metlife Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

It's no secret secret that tickets and at-fault collisions lead to higher prices, but which company -- Maryland Automobile or Metlife -- has the most affordable rates for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Maryland Automobile 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 20%.

However, Maryland Automobile tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records, offering prices that are 0% and 21% more affordable, respectively, compared to MetLife.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Metlife increasing by just under $150. Maryland Automobile has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay over $60 more than you were prior to your first accident.

Overall, drivers who use Maryland Automobile end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $281 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 collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, Metlife increases average prices by more than $250 a month -- that's over a 55% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Maryland Automobile and Metlife Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (for example, Hawaii and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might 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 each month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

Looking specifically at Metlife and Maryland Automobile, which one has the cheapest premiums 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 Maryland Automobile 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 large impact on how much auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage? Generally, the more miles you put on your vehicle, 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 Maryland Automobile charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Metlife, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying around $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Maryland Automobile is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Maryland Automobile vs. Metlife: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas due to the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Looking at these companies side-by-side, Maryland Automobile usually comes out as the cheaper option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while Metlife wins in urban areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about $137 with Maryland Automobile compared to Metlife. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $136 less with Maryland Automobile compared to Metlife. In urban areas, MetLife's average prices are about $19 less than Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund.

Maryland Automobile vs. Metlife Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Maryland Automobile and Metlife so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

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

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a good driver -- but Metlife also offers AAA discounts, ABS discounts, academic discounts, and more that Maryland Automobile does not.

On the flip side, Maryland Automobile has a unique discount of its own -- a paid in full discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Maryland Automobile or Metlife Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors car insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Maryland Automobile might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing insurance by yourself.
• Your credit is below-average.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

Metlife might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national car insurance carrier.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• You are purchasing your insurance with a spouse.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Maryland Automobile and Metlife and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto 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 multiple carriers, not just Maryland Automobile and Metlife. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Maryland Automobile vs. Metlife FAQs

Is Maryland Automobile or Metlife cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Maryland Automobile is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $256 per month compared to $340 for Metlife. But Maryland Automobile won't necessarily be the cheapest company for every driver, since there are a variety of different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Maryland Automobile or Metlife?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, Maryland Automobile offers less expensive rates for single drivers, while Metlife is cheaper for drivers who have already retired.

Why do Maryland Automobile and Metlife offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Things like where you park your vehicle, gender, age, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Maryland Automobile and Metlife calculate rates differently, 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 multiple different carriers.

How do I know if Maryland Automobile or Metlife is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Maryland Automobile 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.