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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, State National offers significantly more affordable premiums than MetLife
• MetLife has less expensive prices for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit
• State National offers cheaper average rates for people who are single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering substantial discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering MetLife or State National as your top options, but between the two, which company has less expensive prices for insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, State National is quite a bit cheaper than MetLife, with premiums averaging $159 per month compared to $340 with MetLife.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean State National will be the cheaper option for every single driver. Car insurance carriers vary their prices depending on things like how old you are, how good your credit score is, where you live, how clean your driving record is, and tons of other factors, so premiums will vary quite a bit from person to person.

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

MetLife or State National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

MetLife and State National only compete against each other in California, where State National offers the cheaper average premiums. For California residents, State National offers insurance for $159 per month on average. MetLife's average prices come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $362 monthly.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance cost than just where you call home. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance rates of any group on the road. Typically, that's because young, inexperienced 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. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $500 less a month by choosing State National over MetLife. It's worth noting that MetLife offers car insurance in 44 different states compared to State National's one, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your premiums lower significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for MetLife policyholders drop over $500 and State National's rates reduce about $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the most affordable auto insurance premiums you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally reduces their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? State National gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older more than 40% more affordable than the national average for MetLife.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly cheaper insurance premiums than single drivers. 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, State National is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices around $253 per month more affordable than MetLife, on average. The advantage for married drivers with State National is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 40% a month.

MetLife vs. State National: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into an accident, which means they'll typically end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

With MetLife, women usually pay almost $30 per month less than men; men and women get the same monthly rates with State National.

Looking at overall affordability, State National comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average prices 55% less for men and 51% cheaper for women.

MetLife or State National: 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 limits and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, State National normally offers significantly less expensive rates of $79 compared to MetLife's $215. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, State National again has the edge, with policies about $250 a month more affordable than MetLife, on average.

Is MetLife or State National Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

Collisions and tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is MetLife or State National cheaper 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 per month if they get a ticket, while State National generally raises premiums around $40 a month, on average.

But State National has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are 54% and 49% 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 rates rise by just under $150, while those who have insurance through State National will see about a $40 increase.

Overall, drivers who use State National end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $142 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 insurance bill -- normally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. On average, MetLife will increase your rates around 55% after a DUI, while State National's average prices increase by just under 60%.

State National has the overall lowest premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $252 a month, but it's worth noting that MetLife's average rates come from 44 states compared to just one for State National, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact MetLife and State National Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating prices? 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 policyholders.

The reasoning 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 rates, while those with poor credit will typically be forced to pay more.

Looking at MetLife and State National specifically, which one has the cheapest premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

You'll often be rewarded if you have excellent credit. Improving your "good" credit score to an "excellent" one will usually save MetLife customers about 20%. On the other hand, State National doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means they most likely don't use credit to calculate your rates.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit, it can cost you with MetLife. If your credit score is in the "poor" range, at MetLife, you may pay around $200 more per month compared to those with "fair" scores (and even more compared to drivers with good or excellent scores). State National, on the other hand, doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means drivers with bad credit may find better rates with State National over MetLife.

Is MetLife or State National 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 premiums? That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure, State National offers less expensive prices than MetLife. State National average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in just under $200 more affordable than MetLife. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay over $150 less with State National over MetLife.

MetLife vs. State National: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a large impact as well. Generally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

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

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, State National offers prices about $173 monthly compared to MetLife's $389. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $163 a month for State National 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 $143 and $299 for State National and MetLife respectively.

MetLife vs. State National Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both MetLife and State National so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

MetLife knocks State National out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 26 more discounts than State National.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good driver, group discounts, and passive restraint discounts. MetLife also offers AAA discounts, ABS discounts, academic discounts, and more that State National does not.

On the flip side, State National has a unique discount of its own -- a auto-pilot discounts.

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

You've seen the role certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the best one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

MetLife might be best for you if...

• You have below-average credit.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between MetLife and State National and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just MetLife and State National. 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 carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

MetLife vs. State National FAQs

Is MetLife or State National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, State National is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $159 per month compared to $340 for MetLife. However, State National won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are multiple different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, MetLife or State National?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, State National offers cheaper rates for drivers with a recent DUI, while MetLife is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do MetLife and State National offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at several different factors when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Things such as gender, age, your driving record, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both MetLife and State National calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

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

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