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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Safeway offers significantly more affordable premiums than MetLife
• MetLife offers more discounts than Safeway Insurance
• Safeway tends to be a much less expensive option for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering MetLife or Safeway, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, MetLife is quite a bit more expensive than Safeway, with rates averaging $340 per month compared to just $194 with Safeway.

However, Safeway may not be the most affordable or best option for every single driver out there. Auto insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how good your credit score is or where you live (among a wide array of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Wanting to know if MetLife or Safeway is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

MetLife or Safeway: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

MetLife and Safeway compete against each other in five states, with Safeway offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Mississippi has the most noticable difference, where Safeway prices are over 70% less expensive than insurance rates at MetLife.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance payment than just where you call home. 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. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance premiums. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $500 less a month by choosing Safeway over MetLife.

But both companies will decrease prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for MetLife policyholders lower over 70% and Safeway's prices drop more than 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the cheapest insurance premiums you'll ever 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 rates.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between MetLife and Safeway? Safeway gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older nearly 35% more affordable than the national average for MetLife.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance rates than married couples. That's because policies for married policyholders usually cover more than one car, which a lot of carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Safeway is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices about $199 per month cheaper than MetLife, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Safeway is also obvious, where drivers save over 35% a month.

MetLife vs. Safeway: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men tend to pay more for insurance than women? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

Men normally pay almost $30 per month more than women with MetLife, and around $18 more with Safeway.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Safeway comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $151 a month and women save about $141 with Safeway compared to the average MetLife policyholder.

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

That being said, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Safeway typically offers significantly less expensive rates of $130 compared to MetLife's $215. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Safeway again has the edge, with policies around $200 per month more affordable than MetLife, on average.

Is MetLife or Safeway Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance companies offering great premiums 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 prices, but which company -- MetLife or Safeway -- has the most affordable rates for drivers with less-than-perfect 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 Safeway generally raises rates about $7 per month, on average.

Even so, Safeway tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering prices that are $57 and $109 cheaper, 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 premiums rise by just under $150, while those who have insurance through Safeway will see around a $60 increase.

Overall, Safeway offers the cheapest prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with monthly rates averaging $223 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 car insurance bill. On average, MetLife will raise your prices about 55% after a DUI, while Safeway's average premiums increase by over 25%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Safeway tends to be the much less expensive option with average premiums of $220 a month compared to $494 from MetLife.

How does Credit Score Impact MetLife and Safeway Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (for example, California and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for quite a few policyholders.

The reasoning car insurance companies use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so typically, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with more affordable prices.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Safeway. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 15% compared to MetLife, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $80 or 29% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Safeway typically offers lower prices than MetLife when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $145 a month less with Safeway compared to MetLife, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $336 monthly.

Is MetLife or Safeway 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 your monthly rates. Normally, those who drive less will end up with more affordable 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 Safeway charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices 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, Safeway is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

MetLife vs. Safeway: 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 insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a pretty big impact as well. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because there are a lot more vehicles on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

Safeway tends to offer the lowest prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Safeway offers premiums around $234 per month compared to MetLife's $389. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $201 per month for Safeway and $333 for MetLife. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the cheapest rates from both carriers, with average monthly prices coming in at $146 and $299 for Safeway and MetLife respectively.

MetLife vs. Safeway 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 nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you qualify for.

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by MetLife and Safeway so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

MetLife blows Safeway away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 36 different discounts to Safeway's 11.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a homeowner, and military discounts. MetLife also offers AAA discounts, ABS discounts, academic discounts, and more that Safeway does not.

On the flip side, Safeway has a couple unique discounts of its own -- full coverage discounts, paid in full discounts, punitive damage exclusion discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is MetLife or Safeway Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance company is the right company for you and your specific needs?

Safeway might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You have less-than-stellar credit.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

MetLife might be best for you if...

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- Safeway Insurance only offers policies in five states.
• You care about discounts (MetLife offers the most).

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare MetLife and Safeway. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to 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 carriers, not just MetLife and Safeway. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

MetLife vs. Safeway FAQs

Is MetLife or Safeway cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Safeway is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $194 a month compared to $340 for MetLife. However, Safeway won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for every driver, since there are several different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, MetLife or Safeway?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

Why do MetLife and Safeway offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at several different factors when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Variables like your driving record, age, gender, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both MetLife and Safeway calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies 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 area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be MetLife or Safeway 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.