MetLife vs. North Star Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, North Star Mutual offers significantly more affordable premiums than MetLife
• MetLife may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than North Star Mutual
• North Star Mutual has less expensive rates for policyholders who haven't received any speeding tickets or been in a collision in the last few years

MetLife or North Star Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about 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 it down to MetLife or North Star Mutual as your top options, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, MetLife has average rates that are around 45% a month more expensive than those from North Star Mutual.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean North Star Mutual will be the cheaper option for each driver. Auto insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on how old you are or where you live (among numerous other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both MetLife and North Star Mutual by several different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

MetLife vs. North Star Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

MetLife and North Star Mutual only compete against each other in three states, with North Star Mutual offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Nebraska has the most noticable difference, where North Star Mutual rates are $145 less expensive than insurance prices at MetLife.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance cost than just the state you live in. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

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

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have North Star Mutual for their car insurance pay over 65% less than those who use MetLife.

Even so, both carriers will decrease premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for MetLife policyholders reduce about $500 and North Star Mutual's rates drop more than $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the lowest auto insurance premiums you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for insurance.

When looking at MetLife and North Star Mutual specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? North Star Mutual gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older almost 30% cheaper than the national average for MetLife.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance premiums tend to be less expensive for married policyholders than they are for single policyholders. This usually boils down to married couples having multiple vehicles on their policy -- something quite a few auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with North Star Mutual rates coming in at around half of MetLife's. The advantage for married drivers with North Star Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 30% per month.

MetLife or North Star Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women normally pay less for car insurance than men? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

On average, women see rates almost 10% a month less with MetLife, and about 2% less with North Star Mutual.

Looking at overall affordability, North Star Mutual offers the cheapest average premiums for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $172 per month and women save around $148 with North Star Mutual compared to the average MetLife policyholder.

MetLife vs. North Star Mutual: 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.

Insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which typically refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, North Star Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $65. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, North Star Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging about $295 a month to MetLife's $466.

Is MetLife or North Star Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from 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 collisions and speeding tickets lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- MetLife or North Star Mutual -- has the lowest premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use MetLife for their car insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up around 21% after getting a speeding ticket. North Star Mutual policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 30%.

But North Star Mutual tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record, offering prices that are 54% and 48% more affordable, respectively, compared to MetLife.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

MetLife drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates climb by over 40%, while those who have insurance through North Star Mutual will see around a 40% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use North Star Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $174 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. For example, MetLife increases average premiums by more than $250 per month -- that's more than a 55% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, North Star Mutual tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $299 to MetLife's $494.

How does Credit Score Impact MetLife and North Star Mutual Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Massachusetts and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect lots of policyholders out there.

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

Looking at MetLife and North Star Mutual specifically, which company has the most affordable rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, North Star Mutual will normally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, North Star Mutual comes in nearly 38.74 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save around 45% with North Star Mutual compared to average premiums from MetLife.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

North Star Mutual typically offers lower prices than MetLife when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 47% a month less with North Star Mutual compared to MetLife, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around 52% monthly.

Is MetLife or North Star Mutual 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 rates. Normally, those who drive less will end up with cheaper premiums 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 North Star Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for MetLife, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying about $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, North Star Mutual is the more affordable company.

MetLife or North Star Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a substantial role in how much you pay for insurance. Usually, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas since there are a lot fewer cars on the roads where they live.

North Star Mutual tends to offer the lowest prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, North Star Mutual's average premiums are around $181 less than MetLife. People who live in suburban areas pay about $168 less with North Star Mutual compared to MetLife. Those in rural areas can expect to save around $133 with North Star Mutual compared to MetLife.

MetLife vs. North Star Mutual 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 taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by MetLife and North Star Mutual so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

MetLife blows North Star Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 36 different discounts to North Star Mutual's six.

Both carriers offer a lot of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, multi-policy discounts, and passive restraint discounts -- but MetLife also offers discounts for AAA, ABS, academic, and more.

On the other hand, North Star Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own like family discounts and paid in full discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is MetLife or North Star Mutual Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the right carrier for you and your specific needs?

North Star Mutual might be best for you if....

• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.
• Your credit score is high.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower rates.

MetLife might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national insurance carrier.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between MetLife and North Star Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 multiple carriers, not just MetLife and North Star Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

MetLife vs. North Star Mutual FAQs

Is MetLife or North Star Mutual cheaper?

North Star Mutual is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $180 per month with North Star Mutual and $340 for MetLife. That being said, that doesn't mean North Star Mutual will be the most affordable carrier for every driver, since there are lots of different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, MetLife or North Star Mutual?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do MetLife and North Star Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use a lot of different factors when calculating the prices they charge. Variables like your driving record, where you park your vehicle, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both MetLife and North Star Mutual calculate rates differently, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

How do I know if MetLife or North Star Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't MetLife or North Star Mutual 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.