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

Quick Facts

• In general, Shelter offers significantly less expensive premiums than MetLife
• MetLife may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Shelter Insurance
• Shelter has cheaper rates for single people who will be the only person on the car insurance policy

MetLife or Shelter: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to MetLife or Shelter, but which company has more affordable prices for insurance?

As you can see, Shelter has average rates that are around 40% a month less expensive than those from MetLife when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

Even so, Shelter may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. Insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like how old you are, where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, and a ton of other factors, so rates could vary drastically from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both MetLife and Shelter by lots of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

MetLife vs. Shelter: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

MetLife and Shelter compete against each other in seven states, with Shelter offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Arkansas has the most noticable difference, where Shelter prices are $277 more affordable than auto insurance rates at MetLife.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance cost than just where you call home. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance premiums of any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's typically because teen 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 prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Shelter save over 55% per month compared to those who use MetLife.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for MetLife policyholders drop about $500 and Shelter's rates lower around $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable premiums out there.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Shelter gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at about $141 per month compared to MetLife's $205.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance prices tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers. This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something many insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with Shelter rates coming in at around half of MetLife's. The advantage for married couples with Shelter is also obvious, where drivers save more than 25% a month.

MetLife or Shelter: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men tend to pay more for auto insurance than women? That's because women are less likely to get into accidents and get tickets, which decreases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

On average, women see premiums almost $30 per month cheaper with MetLife, and about $25 less with Shelter.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Shelter comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums $133 less for men and $130 cheaper for women.

MetLife vs. Shelter: 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, car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are several different coverages that account for a variety of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

That being said, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Shelter has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $129. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Shelter again has the edge, with policies averaging around $288 a month to MetLife's $466.

Is MetLife or Shelter Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

You'll probably end up paying more with collisions and speeding 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?

Policyholders who use MetLife for their auto insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Shelter policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 22%.

However, Shelter is usually the more affordable option for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record. With Shelter Insurance, drivers with a clean record can save about $78 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $98 a month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with MetLife increasing by about 40%. Shelter has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay nearly 40% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, the less expensive prices come from Shelter, with average premiums coming in at $234 compared to MetLife's $368.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even a collision. MetLife drivers usually see a 55% increase in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Shelter will generally climb prices by around 49%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Shelter tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $277 to MetLife's $494.

How does Credit Score Impact MetLife and Shelter Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when carriers determine your monthly bill. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it might come into play for quite a few drivers.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper rates, while those with poor credit will usually be forced to pay more.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Shelter will normally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Shelter comes in more than 26.13 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save around 32% with Shelter compared to average premiums from MetLife.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Shelter typically offers lower rates than MetLife when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 35% per month less with Shelter compared to MetLife, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around 51% monthly.

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

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on your monthly prices. Typically, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable premiums since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Shelter offers cheaper prices than MetLife. MetLife's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over 40% more expensive than Shelter. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay more than 35% more with MetLife over Shelter.

MetLife or Shelter: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Shelter usually comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about 32% with Shelter compared to MetLife. People who live in suburban areas pay around 44% less with Shelter compared to MetLife. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Shelter Insurance's average premiums are about 40% less than MetLife.

MetLife vs. Shelter Discounts

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

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by MetLife and Shelter so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

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

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good student, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company. MetLife also offers discounts for AAA, ABS, academic, and more.

On the other hand, Shelter has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, driver training discounts, and paid in full discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is MetLife or Shelter Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables car insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the best carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Shelter might be best for you if....

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on your record.
• You're looking for the best rates on liability only coverage.
• You want to save money while purchasing auto insurance for a teenager.

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).

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between MetLife and Shelter. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just MetLife and Shelter. 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. Shelter FAQs

Is MetLife or Shelter cheaper?

Shelter is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $208 a month with Shelter and $340 for MetLife. Even so, that doesn't mean Shelter will be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are a range of different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, MetLife or Shelter?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for every policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do MetLife and Shelter offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use several different variables when determining the rates they charge. Factors such as gender, your driving record, where you park your car, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both MetLife and Shelter calculate premiums using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

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

The only way to find the car 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 make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't MetLife or Shelter at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.