Metlife vs. The General: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, The General offers significantly more affordable prices than Metlife
• Metlife offers more discounts than The General
• The General offers more affordable rates for residents in Arizona, Missouri, and Utah

Metlife vs. The General: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering substantial discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Metlife or The General for your next policy, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, The General has average rates that are about 30% per month less expensive than those from Metlife.

However, The General may not be the most affordable or best option for every driver out there. Car insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how old you are or how clean your driving record is (among a variety of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Metlife and The General by many different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Metlife or The General: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Metlife and The General only compete against each other in three states, with The General offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Missouri, Metlife is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at the overall average prices. The General is the more affordable option in Arizona and Utah.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance payment than just your home state. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for insurance than any group out there on the road. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $500 less a month by choosing The General over Metlife. It's worth noting that Metlife offers insurance in 44 different states compared to The General's three, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

But with both companies, you'll see your premiums drop significantly by the time drivers turn 25. The General offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Metlife's average rates reduce over 70% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the lowest car insurance prices you'll ever see. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for auto insurance.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? The General gets the slight edge here, with average rates coming in at around $195 a month compared to Metlife's $205. Even so, the difference is only about 5%, so other factors (such as your driving record is or your credit score) will likely come into play when determining which carrier has the cheapest prices for you.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly cheaper insurance premiums than those who are single. That's usually because married couples tend to own and insure multiple cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, The General is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates around $155 per month less expensive than Metlife, on average. The advantage for married drivers with The General is also obvious, where drivers save more than 10% a month.

Metlife vs. The General: Average Rates by Gender

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

Usually, women see premiums nearly 10% per month less with Metlife, and about 12% less with The General.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, The General offers the lowest average prices for both men and women, with average rates 27% less for men and 31% cheaper for women.

Metlife or The General: 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, auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different limits and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

But most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which generally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, The General usually offers significantly cheaper prices of $154 compared to Metlife's $215. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, The General again has the edge, with policies around $150 a month more affordable than Metlife, on average.

Is Metlife or The General Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance carriers 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 accidents lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- Metlife or The General -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving 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 The General normally raises premiums about $48 a month, on average.

However, The General has cheaper rates for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are $28 and $39 more affordable, respectively, compared to MetLife.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Metlife can expect to see around an $148 -- or about 40% -- increase in their auto insurance prices. Drivers who use The General for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $87 (or 31%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their car insurance company.

Overall, drivers who use The General end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $279 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 speeding ticket or even a collision. For example, Metlife increases average prices by over $250 per month -- that's over a 55% increase.

The General has the overall cheapest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $254 monthly, but it's worth noting that Metlife's average rates come from 44 states compared to just three for The General, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Metlife and The General Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly auto insurance premiums. This isn't always the case (for example, California and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect many drivers out there.

Car insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking at Metlife and The General specifically, which company has the most affordable prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with The General. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save more than 20% compared to Metlife, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $57 or 21% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

The General typically offers lower rates than Metlife when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $93 a month less with The General compared to Metlife, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about $205 per month.

Is Metlife or The General 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. Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable rates since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident 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 The General charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Metlife, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying around $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, The General is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Metlife vs. The General: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a considerable role in how much you pay for insurance. Typically, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders because there are a lot more vehicles on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, The General generally comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable prices from both companies, but The General comes out on top with average rates about $189 a month. The General also has cheaper average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 20% and 32% per month respective difference when compared to Metlife drivers in similar areas.

Metlife vs. The General Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto 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 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.

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

Metlife blows The General away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 30 more discounts than The General.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, group discounts, and discounts for being a homeowner. Metlife also offers AAA discounts, ABS discounts, academic discounts, and more that The General does not.

On the flip side, The General has a couple unique discounts of its own -- liability only discounts, paid in full discounts, and star level discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Metlife or The General Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Metlife or The General the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

The General might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

Metlife might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- The General is only available in three states.
• You're looking for discounts -- Metlife has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Metlife and The General. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from several carriers, not just Metlife and The General. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code 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. The General FAQs

Is Metlife or The General cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, The General is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $241 a month compared to $340 for Metlife. Even so, The General won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every policyholder, since there are several different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, Metlife or The General?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Metlife and The General offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at several different factors when calculating the premiums they charge policyholders. Things like age, your driving record, gender, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Metlife and The General calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

How do I know if Metlife or The General is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto 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 The General 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.