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

Quick Facts

• In general, Penn National offers significantly less expensive rates than MetLife
• MetLife offers more discounts than Penn National Insurance
• Penn National offers more affordable average prices for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to MetLife or Penn National as your top options, but which company will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, MetLife has average rates that are about 35% per month more expensive than those from Penn National.

But that doesn't mean Penn National will necessarily be cheaper than MetLife for every single driver. Auto insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how good your credit score is (among a variety of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of MetLife or Penn National is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each carrier broken down by lots of different rate factors.

MetLife or Penn National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

MetLife and Penn National compete against each other in five states, with MetLife offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Maryland, MetLife is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at the overall average premiums. Penn National is the cheaper option in New Jersey, Tennessee, and Virginia.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance cost than just your home state. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance prices of any other group of drivers out there on the road. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $500 less a month by choosing Penn National over MetLife.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums decrease significantly by the time drivers turn 25. Penn National offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. MetLife's average rates drop more than 70% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between MetLife and Penn National? Penn National gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $163 a month compared to MetLife's $205.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance rates are usually more affordable for married couples than they are for single drivers? That's because policies for married policyholders generally cover multiple cars, which several companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Penn National is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums about $183 per month cheaper than MetLife, on average. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Penn National offers the most affordable average rates.

MetLife vs. Penn National: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which means they'll usually end up paying more for car insurance than women.

With MetLife, men typically pay almost 10% more a month than women., while with Penn National, the difference is closer to 2% per month.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, Penn National comes out as the most affordable option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $134 a month and women save around $111 with Penn National compared to the average MetLife policyholder.

MetLife or Penn National: 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 can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

That being said, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Penn National normally offers significantly less expensive premiums of $144 compared to MetLife's $215. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Penn National again has the edge, with policies about $150 per month cheaper than MetLife, on average.

Is MetLife or Penn National 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with at-fault collisions and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

MetLife policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $59 a month if they get a ticket, while Penn National generally raises rates around $40 per month, on average.

However, Penn National tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering premiums that are 37% and 36% 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 prices rise by just under $150, while those who have insurance through Penn National will see about a $65 increase.

Overall, the less expensive rates come from Penn National, with monthly premiums averaging $206 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 accident or ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. MetLife drivers usually see a 55% raise in their auto insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Penn National will typically climb prices by around 60%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Penn National tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $346 monthly compared to $494 from MetLife.

How does Credit Score Impact MetLife and Penn National Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly insurance prices. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for a lot of policyholders.

Car insurance carriers argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking at MetLife and Penn National specifically, which one has the best premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Penn National. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 25% compared to MetLife, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $92 or 34% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Penn National typically offers lower prices than MetLife when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $131 a month less with Penn National compared to MetLife, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about $210 per month.

Is MetLife or Penn National 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 substantial impact on your monthly insurance bill? Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper rates since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

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

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

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a big impact as well. Normally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

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

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Penn National offers premiums about $275 monthly compared to MetLife's $389. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $212 per month for Penn National and $333 for MetLife. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable rates from both carriers, with average monthly prices coming in at $165 and $299 for Penn National and MetLife respectively.

MetLife vs. Penn National Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

The difficult part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by MetLife and Penn National so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

MetLife blows Penn National away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 20 more discounts than Penn National.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, discounts for being a good student, and multi-policy discounts. MetLife also offers AAA discounts, academic discounts, agency transfer discounts, and more that Penn National does not.

On the flip side, Penn National has a couple unique discounts of its own -- added pip option discounts, advance quote discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is MetLife or Penn National Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which carrier is the best company for you and your specific profile and needs?

Penn National might be best for you if....

• You want to save money on your insurance after an accident.
• Your credit is less-than-stellar.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's auto insurance policy.

MetLife might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national car insurance company.
• You care about discounts (MetLife offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between MetLife and Penn National and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple companies, not just MetLife and Penn National. 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 the top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

MetLife vs. Penn National FAQs

Is MetLife or Penn National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Penn National is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $218 a month compared to $340 for MetLife. That being said, Penn National won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are multiple different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, MetLife or Penn National?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do MetLife and Penn National offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at lots of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Things such as your driving record, gender, where you call home, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both MetLife and Penn National calculate rates differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company 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, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be MetLife or Penn National 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.