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

Quick Facts

• In general, Rurual Mutual offers significantly less expensive premiums than MetLife
• MetLife offers more discounts than Rurual Mutual Insurance
• Rurual Mutual offers more affordable rates for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering large discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to MetLife or Rurual Mutual, but which company will offer you cheaper premiums?

As you can see, Rurual Mutual is quite a bit cheaper than MetLife, with prices averaging $167 per month compared to $340 with MetLife when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

That being said, that doesn't mean Rurual Mutual will necessarily be more affordable than MetLife for each driver. Car insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how good your credit score is, where you live, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, and tons of other factors, so premiums could change drastically from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of MetLife or Rurual Mutual is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each company broken down by lots of different rate factors.

MetLife or Rurual Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

MetLife and Rurual Mutual only compete against each other in Wisconsin, where Rurual Mutual offers the cheaper average rates. For Wisconsin residents, Rurual Mutual offers auto insurance for $167 a month on average. MetLife's average premiums come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $371 monthly.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance prices of any group on the road. It's typically because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $500 less a month by choosing Rurual Mutual over MetLife. It's worth noting that MetLife offers auto insurance in 44 different states compared to Rurual Mutual's one, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

But both carriers will reduce premiums once you turn 25. For example, average rates for MetLife policyholders decrease over $500 and Rurual Mutual's prices lower nearly $200 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 most affordable premiums you'll ever see.

When looking at MetLife and Rurual Mutual specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Rurual Mutual gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $70 cheaper than the national average for MetLife.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance rates tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married drivers. This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple cars on their policy -- something a lot of auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Rurual Mutual is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices about $245 per month more affordable than MetLife, on average. The advantage for married couples with Rurual Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save more than 35% a month.

MetLife vs. Rurual Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

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

Women generally pay almost 10% per month less than men with MetLife, while with Rurual Mutual, the difference is closer to 6% a month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Rurual Mutual comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 51% less for men and 50% cheaper for women.

MetLife or Rurual 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.

Auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

Even so, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) 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 liability insurance, Rurual Mutual normally offers significantly less expensive premiums of $67 compared to MetLife's $215. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Rurual Mutual again has the edge, with policies around $200 per month cheaper than MetLife, on average.

Is MetLife or Rurual Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance carriers offering great rates 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 at-fault collisions lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- MetLife or Rurual Mutual -- 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 rates to go up an average of $59 a month if they get a ticket, while Rurual Mutual typically raises prices about $10 per month, on average.

But Rurual Mutual tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering premiums that are $103 and $152 less expensive, respectively, compared to MetLife.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

MetLife drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates increase by over 40%, while those who have insurance through Rurual Mutual will see around a 15% increase.

Overall, Rurual Mutual offers the lowest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $136 compared to MetLife's $368.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly car insurance bill -- usually a lot more than an accident or ticket. On average, MetLife will raise your rates about 55% after a DUI, while Rurual Mutual's average premiums rise by just under 60%.

Rurual Mutual has the overall most affordable prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $288 per month, but it's worth noting that MetLife's average rates come from 44 states compared to just one for Rurual Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact MetLife and Rurual Mutual Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly insurance rates. This isn't always the case (for example, Michigan and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect many policyholders out there.

Auto insurance companies argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which decreases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad 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 great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Rurual Mutual. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save nearly 45% compared to MetLife, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $134 or 49% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Rurual Mutual typically offers lower premiums than MetLife when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $161 a month less with Rurual Mutual compared to MetLife, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $303 monthly.

Is MetLife or Rurual Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a large impact on how much insurance carriers will charge for coverage. That's because the more miles you drive, 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 Rurual Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for MetLife, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Rurual Mutual is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you call home can play a substantial role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Normally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Rurual Mutual boasts the most affordable average rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $158 per month with Rurual Mutual and $299 with MetLife. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly rate of about $132 with Rurual Mutual compared to $333 with MetLife. In urban areas, Rurual Mutual's average premiums are around $211 while MetLife offers prices about $389.

MetLife vs. Rurual Mutual 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 difficult to find all the ones you qualify for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts MetLife and Rurual Mutual offer their customers so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

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

Both companies offer many of the same discounts -- like distant student discounts, group discounts, and multi-policy discounts -- but MetLife also offers AAA discounts, ABS discounts, academic discounts, and more that Rurual Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Rurual Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- claim free discounts and paid in full discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is MetLife or Rurual Mutual Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the variables insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the right carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Rurual Mutual might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your auto insurance.

MetLife might be best for you if...

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

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare MetLife and Rurual Mutual and that it aids in making a more informed decision about 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 companies, not just MetLife and Rurual Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. 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. Rurual Mutual FAQs

Is MetLife or Rurual Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Rurual Mutual is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $167 per month compared to $340 for MetLife. That being said, Rurual Mutual won't necessarily be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are several different factors that are considered when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, MetLife or Rurual Mutual?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do MetLife and Rurual Mutual offer me different rates?

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

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

The only way to find the 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 makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be MetLife or Rurual Mutual 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.