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

Quick Facts

• In general, Mendakota offers significantly cheaper prices than Metlife
• Mendakota tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record
• Metlife has cheaper rates for policyholders who live in urban areas

Mendakota or Metlife: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering large savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Mendakota or Metlife for your next policy, but between the two, which one has more affordable prices for car insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Mendakota is quite a bit cheaper than Metlife, with rates averaging $244 a month compared to $340 with Metlife.

Even so, that doesn't mean Mendakota will necessarily be less expensive than Metlife for every single driver. Auto insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on where you live or how good your credit score is (among quite a few other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Mendakota 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.

Mendakota vs. Metlife: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Mendakota and Metlife only compete against each other in Nevada, where Mendakota 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.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance payment than just the state you live in. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance prices of any group on the road. It's typically because teen 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 rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Mendakota save over 55% a month compared to those who use Metlife.

That being said, both companies will decrease premiums once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Mendakota policyholders lower more than 45% and Metlife's premiums reduce over 70% 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 prices you can find.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Mendakota gets the slight edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $18 more affordable than the national average for Metlife.

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 couples. This usually boils down to married drivers having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something many auto insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Mendakota prices coming in at a third less than Metlife's. It's not quite so glaring for married policyholders, where drivers who use Mendakota save around $10 per month.

Mendakota or Metlife: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but car insurance is generally more expensive for men than for women. That's because men are more likely to get tickets and get into collisions, which increases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

On average, men see premiums almost $20 a month higher with Mendakota, and about $30 with Metlife.

Looking at overall affordability, Mendakota comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, women save about $91 per month and men save around $101 with Mendakota compared to the average Metlife policyholder.

Mendakota 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 auto insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different limits and terms 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 if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Mendakota has the edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $172. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Mendakota again has the edge, with policies averaging about $316 a month to Metlife's $466.

Is Mendakota 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest premiums to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Mendakota for their auto insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 8% after getting a speeding ticket. Metlife policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 21%.

If you have gotten a ticket, Mendakota tends to offer the best rates at around 14% cheaper, while Metlife has the edge for drivers with a clean record.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Mendakota drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums climb by over $50, while those who have insurance through Metlife will see about a $150 increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Mendakota end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $273 compared to MetLife's $368.

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 speeding ticket or even a collision. On average, Metlife will climb your prices around 55% after a DUI, while Mendakota's average rates increase by nearly 10%.

How does Credit Score Impact Mendakota and Metlife Rates?

Did you know many car insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining premiums? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it does affect several policyholders out there.

The reasoning insurance companies use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so usually, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive prices.

Looking at Mendakota and Metlife specifically, which company has the most affordable premiums 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 Mendakota 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 car insurance bill. Normally, those who drive less will end up with cheaper rates since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Mendakota charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Metlife, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car every year paying about $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, for drivers in both categories, Mendakota is the less expensive company.

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

Where you call home can have a considerable impact on your monthly insurance cost. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas due to the number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

Mendakota boasts the cheapest average rates in rural and suburban areas, while Metlife wins in urban areas.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, MetLife's average prices are around 7% less than Mendakota Insurance Company. People who live in suburban areas pay about 47% less with Mendakota compared to Metlife. Those in rural areas can expect to save around 54% with Mendakota compared to Metlife.

Mendakota vs. Metlife Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to nail down the company 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 Mendakota and Metlife so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Metlife blows Mendakota away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 31 more discounts than Mendakota.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and passive restraint discounts. Metlife also offers discounts for AAA, ABS, academic, and more.

On the other hand, Mendakota has a proprietary discount of their own -- a paid in full discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Mendakota 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, is Mendakota or Metlife the best fit for you?

Mendakota might be best for you if....

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You live in a rural area.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles yearly.

Metlife might be best for you if...

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- undefined is only available to residents.
• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Mendakota and Metlife and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

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

Mendakota vs. Metlife FAQs

Is Mendakota or Metlife cheaper?

Mendakota is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $244 per month with Mendakota and $340 for Metlife. However, that doesn't mean Mendakota will be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are many different variables that are considered when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Mendakota or Metlife?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Metlife is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit, while Mendakota offers more affordable premiums for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Mendakota and Metlife offer me different rates?

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

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier 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 does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once 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 best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Mendakota 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.