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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, State Auto offers significantly less expensive rates than MetLife
• MetLife may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than State Auto Insurance
• State Auto has cheaper prices for drivers who have below-average credit

MetLife or State Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering huge savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to MetLife or State Auto as potential options, but between the two, which one will offer you more affordable rates?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, MetLife is around $81 more a month than State Auto.

However, that doesn't mean State Auto will necessarily be less expensive than MetLife for every driver. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your credit score, your driving record, or even your age (among other things), so premiums could change drastically from person to person.

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

MetLife vs. State Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

MetLife and State Auto compete against each other in nine states, with MetLife offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Illinois or Maryland, MetLife is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at the overall average rates. State Auto is the more affordable option in North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go 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?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance prices. As you can see above, teens who use State Auto save almost 25% per month compared to those who use MetLife.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for MetLife policyholders decrease over 70% and State Auto's rates drop nearly 75% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the lowest auto insurance prices you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically reduces their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise premiums.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between MetLife and State Auto? State Auto gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $38 cheaper than the national average for MetLife.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly less expensive insurance prices than single policyholders. That's because policies for married drivers normally cover more than one vehicle, which lots of carriers will give you a discount for.

For single drivers, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with State Auto prices coming in at a quarter less than MetLife's. The advantage for married couples with State Auto is also obvious, where drivers save more than 20% a month.

MetLife or State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Men typically pay more for auto insurance than women. That's because women are less likely to get tickets and get into collisions, which decreases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Typically, women see rates about $30 per month cheaper with MetLife, and almost $25 with State Auto.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, State Auto offers the cheapest average premiums for both men and women, with average prices $83 less for men and $79 cheaper for women.

MetLife vs. State 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.

Car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different limits and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

That being said, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which generally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, State Auto has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $149. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, State Auto again has the edge, with policies averaging around $369 a month to MetLife's $466.

Is MetLife or State Auto 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.

Accidents and speeding tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is MetLife or State Auto more affordable for drivers with less-than-perfect 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. State Auto policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 22%.

However, State Auto has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 23% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 22% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

MetLife drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums climb by over 40%, while those who have insurance through State Auto will see about a 35% increase.

At the end of the day, State Auto offers the most affordable rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average premiums coming in at $269 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. On average, MetLife will raise your rates around 55% after a DUI, while State Auto's average prices increase by more than 55%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, State Auto tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $380 to MetLife's $494.

How does Credit Score Impact MetLife and State Auto Rates?

Did you know many insurance carriers take your credit score into account when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it will come into play for several policyholders.

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

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, State Auto will typically reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, State Auto comes in nearly 12.61 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save around 17% with State Auto compared to average rates from MetLife.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

State Auto typically offers lower prices than MetLife when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 23% per month less with State Auto compared to MetLife, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around 33% a month.

Is MetLife or State Auto 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 premiums. Normally, those who drive less will end up with less expensive prices since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much State Auto charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for MetLife, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, State Auto is the cheaper carrier.

MetLife or State Auto: 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 substantial impact as well. Generally, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers due to the small number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

State Auto tends to offer the most affordable premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $225 monthly with State Auto compared to MetLife's $299. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly price of about $236 with State Auto compared to $333 with MetLife. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, State Auto's average rates are around $317 while MetLife offers premiums about $389.

MetLife vs. State Auto Discounts

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

The difficult part is finding all of the discounts you qualify for, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts MetLife and State Auto offer their customers so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

MetLife blows State Auto away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 36 different discounts to State Auto's 18.

Both carriers offer many of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, employee discounts, and mature driver discounts -- but MetLife also offers discounts for AAA, academic, agency transfer, and more.

On the other hand, State Auto has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, advantage program discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more.

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

You've seen the role certain variables have on your car 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 best fit for you?

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

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You live in an urban area.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

MetLife might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between MetLife and State Auto. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your auto 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple carriers, not just MetLife and State Auto. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

MetLife vs. State Auto FAQs

Is MetLife or State Auto cheaper?

State Auto is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $259 a month with State Auto and $340 for MetLife. Even so, that doesn't mean State Auto will be the cheapest company for every driver, since there are several different factors that are considered when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, MetLife or State Auto?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

Why do MetLife and State Auto offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use many different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Factors like your driving record, where your home is, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both MetLife and State Auto calculate prices using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

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

The only way to find the 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 area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't MetLife or State Auto 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.