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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Safe Auto offers significantly more affordable prices than MetLife
• MetLife offers more discounts than Safe Auto
• Safe Auto offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who have a clean record

MetLife vs. Safe Auto: 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 hefty discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to MetLife or Safe Auto for your next policy, but which carrier will offer you less expensive prices?

Looking at nationwide averages, Safe Auto is quite a bit cheaper than MetLife, with rates averaging $223 per month compared to $340 with MetLife.

Even so, that doesn't mean Safe Auto will necessarily be cheaper than MetLife for every single driver. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your driving record, your age, or even your credit score (among other things), so prices could differ drastically from person to person.

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

MetLife or Safe Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

MetLife and Safe Auto compete against each other in 12 states, with Safe Auto offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in, undefined is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at the overall average rates, but Safe Auto is the cheaper option in most of the others.

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 insurance companies calculate your premiums. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's typically because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $500 less a month by choosing Safe Auto over MetLife.

But both carriers will drop premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for MetLife policyholders decrease over 70% and Safe Auto's rates lower more than 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the most affordable insurance premiums out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for car insurance.

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Safe Auto gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $179 per month compared to MetLife's $205.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance rates are generally more affordable for married couples than they are for single drivers? That's normally 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, Safe Auto is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums around $175 per month cheaper than MetLife, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Safe Auto is also obvious, where drivers save over $40 a month.

MetLife vs. Safe Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to car insurance men will generally end up paying a little more.

Men usually pay nearly 10% more per month than women with MetLife, while with Safe Auto, the difference is closer to 7% a month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Safe Auto comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates $123 less for men and $112 cheaper for women.

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

However, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Safe Auto typically offers significantly more affordable premiums of $126 compared to MetLife's $215. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Safe Auto again has the edge, with policies about $150 per month less expensive than MetLife, on average.

Is MetLife or Safe Auto 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with at-fault accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest rates 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 Safe Auto generally raises prices around $40 per month, on average.

That being said, Safe Auto tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket, offering premiums that are 18% and 21% 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 Safe Auto will see about a 25% increase.

Overall, Safe Auto offers the lowest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $246 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 -- typically a lot more than a collision or ticket. For example, MetLife increases average prices by over $250 a month -- that's over a 55% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Safe Auto tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $245 a month compared to $494 from MetLife.

How does Credit Score Impact MetLife and Safe Auto Rates?

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

Insurance carriers argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time every month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

Looking specifically at Safe Auto and MetLife, which one has the cheapest premiums for drivers 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 Safe Auto. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save more than 15% compared to MetLife, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $52 or 19% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Safe Auto typically offers lower rates than MetLife when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $109 per month less with Safe Auto compared to MetLife, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $278 monthly.

Is MetLife or Safe Auto Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a large impact on your monthly premiums. Usually, those who drive less will end up with more affordable prices since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident 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 Safe Auto charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums 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, Safe Auto is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you live can have a considerable impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because of the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Safe Auto boasts the lowest average prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Safe Auto offers rates around $271 per month compared to MetLife's $389. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $200 a month for Safe Auto and $333 for MetLife. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable premiums from both companies, with average monthly prices coming in at $197 and $299 for Safe Auto and MetLife respectively.

MetLife vs. Safe Auto Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car 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 qualify for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by MetLife and Safe Auto so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

MetLife knocks Safe Auto out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 36 different discounts to Safe Auto's 14.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a homeowner, and passive restraint discounts -- but MetLife also offers AAA discounts, ABS discounts, academic discounts, and more that Safe Auto does not.

On the flip side, Safe Auto has a couple unique discounts of its own -- claim free discounts, discounts for getting driver training, non-owner discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is MetLife or Safe Auto Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance company is the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Safe Auto might be best for you if....

• You want to save money on your auto insurance after a collision.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

MetLife might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- MetLife has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between MetLife and Safe Auto and that you can now make a more informed 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 car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just MetLife and Safe Auto. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

MetLife vs. Safe Auto FAQs

Is MetLife or Safe Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Safe Auto is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $223 per month compared to $340 for MetLife. Even so, Safe Auto won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for every driver, since there are many different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, MetLife or Safe Auto?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for each driver -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do MetLife and Safe Auto offer me different rates?

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

How do I know if MetLife or Safe Auto 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 information once 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 rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be MetLife or Safe Auto 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.