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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Metlife offers significantly more affordable prices than Michigan
• Metlife tends to be a much cheaper option for residents of urban areas
• Michigan offers more affordable rates for residents in Michigan

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Metlife or Michigan as your top options, but between the two, which carrier has less expensive prices for car insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Metlife has average rates that are about 30% per month more affordable than those from Michigan.

However, Metlife may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Auto insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on where you live or how good your credit score is (among a lot of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Metlife and Michigan by a bunch of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Metlife or Michigan: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Metlife and Michigan only compete against each other in Michigan, where Metlife offers the cheaper average rates. For Michigan residents, Metlife offers insurance for $233 a month on average. Michigan's average prices come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $480 monthly.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance payment than just your home state. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. It's generally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Metlife for their auto insurance pay nearly $350 less than those who use Michigan. It's worth noting that Metlife offers insurance in 44 different states compared to Michigan's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your rates lower significantly by the time you turn 25. Michigan offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Metlife still has the most affordable prices at $274 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Metlife and Michigan specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Metlife gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $121 cheaper than the national average for Michigan.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

When it comes to relationship status, Metlife is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices around $149 a month more affordable than Michigan, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Metlife is also obvious, where drivers save almost $150 per month.

Metlife vs. Michigan: Average Rates by Gender

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

On average, women see rates nearly 10% a month less with Metlife; women and men get the same monthly premiums with Michigan.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Metlife offers the lowest average prices for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $126 per month and women save about $154 with Metlife compared to the average Michigan policyholder.

Metlife or Michigan: 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.

Car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. 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 that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which typically refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Metlife generally offers significantly less expensive rates of $215 compared to Michigan's $312. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Metlife again has the edge, with policies around $200 a month cheaper than Michigan, on average.

Is Metlife or Michigan Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance companies offering great premiums 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 at-fault collisions and tickets lead to higher rates, but which company -- Metlife or Michigan -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Metlife policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $59 per month if they get a ticket, while Michigan typically raises premiums about $205 a month, on average.

Even so, Metlife tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering prices that are 22% and 43% more affordable, respectively, compared to Michigan Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Metlife drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums rise by just under $150, while those who have insurance through Michigan will see around a $150 increase.

Overall, drivers who use Metlife end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $368 compared to Michigan Insurance Company's $431.

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 car insurance bill. For example, Michigan increases average prices by just under $450 per month -- that's over a 60% increase.

Metlife has the overall cheapest premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $494 monthly, but it's worth noting that Metlife's average rates come from 44 states compared to just one for Michigan, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Metlife and Michigan Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly insurance prices. This isn't always the case (for example, are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect many policyholders out there.

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

Looking at Metlife and Michigan specifically, which company has the lowest prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Michigan is one of a small number of states that bans car insurance companies from using credit scores to calculate premiums. And since Michigan is only available in Michigan, there is no data available on how credit score impacts rates because it's not a factor at all. This may be a good thing, since Metlife and other carriers tend to raise premiums quite a bit in other states if you don't have excellent credit.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit and live in Michigan, the good news is it won't cost you extra when it comes to insurance. As you can see, poor credit can really cost Metlife drivers in other states, but no need to worry if you live in Michigan.

Is Metlife or Michigan 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 big impact on your monthly rates? That's because the more miles you drive, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure, Metlife tends to be the cheaper option. Michigan's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over $100 more expensive than Metlife. Those who drive 12,000 miles each year can expect to pay more than $150 more with Michigan over Metlife.

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

Where you live can play a considerable role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Usually, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the road in those areas, which lowers the chances of an accident.

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

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest prices from both carriers, but Metlife comes out on top with average premiums about $299 a month. Metlife also has more affordable average rates for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 21% and 32% a month respective difference when compared to Michigan policyholders in similar areas.

Metlife vs. Michigan Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car 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 table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Metlife and Michigan 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 knocks Michigan out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 19 more discounts than Michigan.

Both companies offer several of the same discounts -- like ABS discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and passive restraint discounts -- but Metlife also offers AAA discounts, academic discounts, agency transfer discounts, and more that Michigan does not.

On the flip side, Michigan has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, family discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Metlife or Michigan Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Metlife or Michigan the right one for you and your specific driver profile?

Metlife might be best for you if....

• You already have plans to move to another state -- Michigan Insurance Company is only available in Michigan.
• You live in an urban area.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

Michigan might be best for you if...

• You like the personalized touch of a small, local carrier.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Metlife and Michigan. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Metlife and Michigan. 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 car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Metlife vs. Michigan FAQs

Is Metlife or Michigan cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Metlife is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $340 per month compared to $480 for Michigan. That being said, Metlife won't necessarily be the lowest company for every driver, since there are multiple different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Metlife or Michigan?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Metlife and Michigan offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Factors like your driving record, gender, age, where you park your car, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Metlife and Michigan calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

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

The only way to find the car 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Metlife or Michigan 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.