MetLife vs. Patriot: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Patriot offers significantly more affordable rates than MetLife
• MetLife offers more discounts than Patriot Insurance
• Patriot offers more affordable prices for policyholders who have a clean record

MetLife vs. Patriot: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to MetLife or Patriot as potential options, but between the two, which carrier has cheaper rates for car insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Patriot is quite a bit cheaper than MetLife, with premiums averaging $191 per month compared to $340 with MetLife.

Even so, Patriot may not be the cheapest or best option for each driver out there. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, your credit score, where you call home, or even your age (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 MetLife and Patriot by a variety of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

MetLife or Patriot: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

MetLife and Patriot only compete against each other in three states, with MetLife offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Maine, MetLife is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at the overall average premiums. Patriot is the less expensive option in New Hampshire and Vermont.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance payment than just the state you live in. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. That's 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.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance rates. As you can see above, teens who use Patriot save more than $500 a month compared to those who use MetLife. It's worth noting that MetLife offers insurance in 44 different states compared to Patriot's three, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

But both carriers will lower premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for MetLife policyholders drop over $500 and Patriot's rates decrease nearly $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the lowest auto insurance prices you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally reduces their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

When looking at MetLife and Patriot specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Patriot gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older almost 40% cheaper than the national average for MetLife.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance premiums are typically more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples? That's usually 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, Patriot is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices about $211 per month less expensive than MetLife, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Patriot is also obvious, where drivers save around $65 a month.

MetLife vs. Patriot: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and file an insurance claim, which means they'll normally end up paying more for car insurance than women.

On average, women see rates nearly 10% per month less with MetLife, and about 9% less with Patriot.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Patriot comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices $154 less for men and $144 cheaper for women.

MetLife or Patriot: 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 insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

That being said, 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 typically refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Patriot generally offers significantly more affordable rates of $80 compared to MetLife's $215. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Patriot again has the edge, with policies around $150 a month cheaper than MetLife, on average.

Is MetLife or Patriot 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.

At-fault accidents and tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is MetLife or Patriot more affordable for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

MetLife policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $59 per month if they get a ticket, while Patriot normally raises premiums about $23 a month, on average.

However, Patriot has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around $136 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $172 a month with Patriot Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

MetLife drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices climb by just under $150, while those who have insurance through Patriot will see around a $20 increase.

Overall, Patriot offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $103 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 ticket or even an accident. On average, Patriot will raise your premiums about 82% after a DUI, while MetLife's average prices rise by over 55%.

Patriot has the overall lowest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $472 a month, but it's worth noting that MetLife's average rates come from 44 states compared to just three for Patriot, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact MetLife and Patriot Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (for example, Hawaii and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for lots of policyholders.

Auto insurance carriers 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 Patriot, which one has the best rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Patriot. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 30% compared to MetLife, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $103 or 38% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Patriot typically offers lower prices than MetLife when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $152 per month less with Patriot compared to MetLife, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $283 monthly.

Is MetLife or Patriot 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 how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

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

MetLife vs. Patriot: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a considerable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders because there are a lot fewer cars on the roads in those areas.

Patriot boasts the most affordable average prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the lowest rates from both carriers, but Patriot comes out on top with average premiums around $183 per month. Patriot also has cheaper average rates for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 50% and 41% a month respective difference when compared to MetLife drivers in similar areas.

MetLife vs. Patriot 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 car insurance discounts as you can.

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.

Below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by MetLife and Patriot 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 Patriot out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 36 different discounts to Patriot's 11.

Both companies offer a lot of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a good driver, life policy discounts, and passive restraint discounts -- but MetLife also offers AAA discounts, ABS discounts, academic discounts, and more that Patriot does not.

On the flip side, Patriot has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, full coverage discounts, and paid in full discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is MetLife or Patriot Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the right company for you and your specific driver profile?

Patriot might be best for you if....

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

MetLife might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- Patriot Insurance only offers policies in three states.
• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

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

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

MetLife vs. Patriot FAQs

Is MetLife or Patriot cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Patriot is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $191 per month compared to $340 for MetLife. But Patriot won't necessarily be the most affordable company for each driver, since there are a range of different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, MetLife or Patriot?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do MetLife and Patriot offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at several different factors when determining the prices they charge policyholders. Things like where your home is, where you park your vehicle, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both MetLife and Patriot calculate premiums using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

How do I know if MetLife or Patriot is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information 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 best premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be MetLife or Patriot 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.