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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Southern County Mutual offers significantly cheaper prices than MetLife
• MetLife offers more discounts than Southern County Mutual Insurance Company
• Southern County Mutual has more affordable premiums for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit

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

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

You might be considering MetLife or Southern County Mutual for your next policy, but which one has less expensive rates for insurance?

As you can see, MetLife has average rates that are about 45% per month more expensive than those from Southern County Mutual when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

But that doesn't mean Southern County Mutual will necessarily be cheaper than MetLife for every single driver. Auto insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, how old you are, where you live, and a variety of other factors. So, at the end of the day, premiums from each company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

MetLife or Southern County Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

MetLife and Southern County Mutual only compete against each other in Texas, where Southern County Mutual offers the cheaper average premiums. For Texas residents, Southern County Mutual offers car insurance for $179 per month on average. MetLife's average rates come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $361 monthly.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance cost than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance prices of any group on the road. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

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 Southern County Mutual for their insurance pay more than $500 less than those who use MetLife. It's worth noting that MetLife offers car insurance in 44 different states compared to Southern County Mutual's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both carriers will lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. Southern County Mutual offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. MetLife's average rates decrease over 70% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the lowest auto insurance premiums out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally reduces their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? Southern County Mutual gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older more than 35% less expensive than the national average for MetLife.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance prices than 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, Southern County Mutual is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates around $230 a month more affordable than MetLife, on average. The advantage for married couples with Southern County Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save over 30% per month.

MetLife vs. Southern County Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Women usually to pay less for car insurance than men. This is because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, which raises the chances of an insurance claim.

Normally, men see premiums nearly 10% a month higher with MetLife, while with Southern County Mutual, the difference is closer to 10% per month.

Looking at overall affordability, Southern County Mutual comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $166 a month and women save about $156 with Southern County Mutual compared to the average MetLife policyholder.

MetLife or Southern County 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.

For most people, insurance can be pretty complicated. There are a variety of different coverages that account for lots 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.

Even so, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries 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 liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Southern County Mutual normally offers significantly cheaper prices of $105 compared to MetLife's $215. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Southern County Mutual again has the edge, with policies around $200 per month less expensive than MetLife, on average.

Is MetLife or Southern County Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

Tickets and collisions will most likely raise your premiums, but is MetLife or Southern County Mutual more affordable for drivers with less-than-perfect 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 Southern County Mutual usually raises prices about $10 per month, on average.

That being said, Southern County Mutual has less expensive premiums for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around $54 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $103 per month with Southern County Mutual Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with MetLife raising by just under $150. Southern County Mutual has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay $3 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, Southern County Mutual offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $169 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 an accident. For example, MetLife increases average prices by over $250 a month -- that's over a 55% increase.

Southern County Mutual has the overall lowest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $207 a month, but it's worth noting that MetLife's average rates come from 44 states compared to just one for Southern County Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact MetLife and Southern County Mutual Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for lots of drivers.

Car insurance companies argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable premiums.

Looking specifically at MetLife and Southern County Mutual, which company has the cheapest prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Southern County Mutual. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save more than 30% compared to MetLife, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $111 or 41% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Southern County Mutual typically offers lower rates than MetLife when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $145 per month less with Southern County Mutual compared to MetLife, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around $319 per month.

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

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a considerable impact on your monthly prices? Normally, the more miles you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Southern County Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for MetLife, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle yearly paying about $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, Southern County Mutual is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where your home is can have a large impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because there are a lot more cars on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Southern County Mutual normally comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Southern County Mutual offers prices around $202 monthly compared to MetLife's $389. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $177 a month for Southern County Mutual and $333 for MetLife. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest premiums from both companies, with average monthly prices coming in at $159 and $299 for Southern County Mutual and MetLife respectively.

MetLife vs. Southern County Mutual Discounts

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

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

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts MetLife and Southern County Mutual offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

MetLife blows Southern County Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 27 more discounts than Southern County Mutual.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but MetLife also offers AAA discounts, ABS discounts, academic discounts, and more that Southern County Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Southern County Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- corporate discounts, paid in full discounts, and umbrella policy discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is MetLife or Southern County Mutual Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Southern County Mutual might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's auto insurance policy.

MetLife might be best for you if...

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- Southern County Mutual Insurance Company is only available to Texas residents.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between MetLife and Southern County Mutual and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on car insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple carriers, not just MetLife and Southern County Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com does 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. Southern County Mutual FAQs

Is MetLife or Southern County Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Southern County Mutual is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $179 per month compared to $340 for MetLife. But Southern County Mutual won't necessarily be the most affordable company for each policyholder, since there are several different variables that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, MetLife or Southern County Mutual?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do MetLife and Southern County Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at several different factors when calculating the rates they charge drivers. Variables like gender, where you park your vehicle, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both MetLife and Southern County Mutual calculate prices using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once 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 most affordable price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be MetLife or Southern County 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.