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

Quick Facts

• In general, Personal Service offers slightly cheaper rates than MetLife
• MetLife offers more affordable prices for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Personal Service offers more affordable average rates for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to MetLife or Personal Service as your top options, but between the two, which company will offer you less expensive premiums?

As you can see, Personal Service is about $15 per month cheaper than MetLife when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean Personal Service will necessarily be more affordable than MetLife for every driver. Car insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how old you are, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, where you live, and a ton of other factors, so rates will vary quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both MetLife and Personal Service by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

MetLife or Personal Service: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

MetLife and Personal Service only compete against each other in New Jersey, where Personal Service offers the cheaper average prices. For New Jersey residents, Personal Service offers insurance for $325 per month on average. MetLife's average premiums come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $602 a month.

But there's more to auto insurance than just where you live. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance carriers calculate your prices. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for auto insurance than any other group of drivers. Usually, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Personal Service for their insurance pay nearly $350 less than those who use MetLife. It's worth noting that MetLife offers auto insurance in 44 different states compared to Personal Service's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

But with both companies, you'll see your rates reduce significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for MetLife policyholders decrease more than $500 and Personal Service's rates lower around $300 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest premiums you'll ever find.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? MetLife gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at about $205 monthly compared to Personal Service's $231.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly less expensive insurance premiums than single policyholders. This usually boils down to married couples having multiple cars on their policy -- something several car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Personal Service is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices around $64 a month more affordable than MetLife, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with MetLife is also obvious, where drivers save almost 20% per month.

MetLife vs. Personal Service: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get tickets and get into collisions, they run a larger risk of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to get higher rates than women.

Generally, men see premiums nearly $30 a month higher with MetLife, and about $46 more with Personal Service.

When it comes to the most affordable prices for each gender, Personal Service offers the lowest average rates for both men and women, with average premiums $6 less for men and $24 cheaper for women.

MetLife or Personal Service: 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.

For most people, auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are lots of different coverages that account for a bunch of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

In this case, MetLife offers the most affordable average rates for state minimum liability insurance, while Personal Service has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $15 with MetLife, while full coverage comes out to be around $45 less expensive with Personal Service Insurance Company.

Is MetLife or Personal Service Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance companies offering great prices 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 tickets and accidents lead to higher rates, but which company -- MetLife or Personal Service -- has the cheapest prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

MetLife policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $59 per month if they get a ticket, while Personal Service normally raises rates about $35 a month, on average.

However, MetLife tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 15% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 5% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through MetLife can expect to see around an $148 -- or about 40% -- increase in their auto insurance premiums. Drivers who use Personal Service for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $90 (or 26%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance carrier.

Overall, the cheaper prices come from Personal Service, with monthly premiums averaging $348 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 collision or ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. MetLife drivers usually see a 55% increase in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Personal Service will typically raise prices by about 36%.

Personal Service has the overall most affordable rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $400 a month, but it's worth noting that MetLife's average rates come from 44 states compared to just one for Personal Service, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact MetLife and Personal Service Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly insurance premiums. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

Car insurance companies 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.

So, which company offers the cheapest prices for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with MetLife. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 15% compared to Personal Service, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $38 or 12% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best rates. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $6 less with MetLife than Personal Service, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around $150 per month with Personal Service.

Is MetLife or Personal Service Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. Generally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper premiums 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 Personal Service charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for MetLife, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car annually paying about $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, Personal Service is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where your home is can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Usually, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, MetLife boasts the lowest average premiums in urban and suburban areas, while Personal Service wins in rural areas.

In urban areas, MetLife's average prices are around 3% less than Personal Service Insurance Company. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about 6% less with MetLife compared to Personal Service. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around 27% with Personal Service compared to MetLife.

MetLife vs. Personal Service Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both MetLife and Personal Service so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

MetLife blows Personal Service away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 36 different discounts to Personal Service's 10.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but MetLife also offers AAA discounts, ABS discounts, academic discounts, and more that Personal Service does not.

On the flip side, Personal Service has a couple unique discounts of its own -- cellphone safety discounts, good payer discounts, multi-car/single driver discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is MetLife or Personal Service Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the right one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

MetLife might be best for you if....

• You have a clean record.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You live in an suburban area.

Personal Service might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the best rates in NJ.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" car insurance.
• You're buying auto insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between MetLife and Personal Service and that it aids in making a more informed decision about 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 several companies, not just MetLife and Personal Service. 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 insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

MetLife vs. Personal Service FAQs

Is MetLife or Personal Service cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Personal Service is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $325 a month compared to $340 for MetLife. That being said, Personal Service won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are a variety of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, MetLife or Personal Service?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, Personal Service offers cheaper prices for drivers with a recent DUI, while MetLife is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do MetLife and Personal Service offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at lots of different variables when calculating the rates they charge drivers. Things like gender, your driving record, where you call home, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both MetLife and Personal Service calculate premiums differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be MetLife or Personal Service 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.