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

Quick Facts

• In general, UAIC offers slightly less expensive rates than MetLife
• MetLife offers more discounts than UAIC
• UAIC offers more affordable average premiums for policyholders who may not have much of a commute

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to MetLife or UAIC as potential options, but between the two, which company has cheaper rates for insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, UAIC is about $3 per month less expensive than MetLife.

However, that doesn't mean UAIC will necessarily be cheaper than MetLife for every single driver. Car insurance carriers vary their prices depending on things like where you live, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, and tons of other factors, so rates could vary drastically from person to person.

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

MetLife or UAIC: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

MetLife and UAIC only compete against each other in Florida, where UAIC offers the cheaper average prices. For Florida residents, UAIC offers insurance for $337 monthly on average. MetLife's average premiums come out to be over 20% more expensive, at $416 per month.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance cost than just the state you live in. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That'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 that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance rates. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have UAIC for their auto insurance pay nearly $350 less than those who use MetLife. It's worth noting that MetLife offers insurance in 44 different states compared to UAIC's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average prices for MetLife policyholders lower more than $500 and UAIC's premiums reduce around $300 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 prices you'll ever find.

When looking at MetLife and UAIC specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? MetLife gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at about $205 a month compared to UAIC's $266.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly more affordable car insurance premiums than those who are single. This usually boils down to married couples having several cars on their policy -- something a lot of insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, UAIC is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices around $54 a month cheaper than MetLife, on average. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - MetLife offers the lowest average premiums.

MetLife vs. UAIC: 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 usually end up paying more for car insurance than women.

With MetLife, men generally pay almost 10% more per month than women., and about 1% with UAIC.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, UAIC is the cheapest company for men. Rates with UAIC are $15 less for men, while women can save around $9 with MetLife.

MetLife or UAIC: 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.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are many different coverages that account for a range of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

In this case, MetLife offers the most affordable average rates for state minimum liability limits, while UAIC has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $60 with MetLife, while full coverage comes out to be about $70 more affordable with UAIC.

Is MetLife or UAIC 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest prices to 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 a month if they get a ticket, while UAIC typically raises premiums around $70 per month, on average.

Even so, MetLife is normally the less expensive option for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 13% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 14% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through MetLife can expect to see about an $148 -- or around 40% -- increase in their insurance rates. Drivers who use UAIC for their car insurance will see a monthly bill about $72 (or 22%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their auto insurance carrier.

Overall, UAIC offers the lowest premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly prices averaging $326 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 -- usually a lot more than an accident or ticket. For example, MetLife increases average rates by over $250 a month -- that's over a 55% increase.

UAIC has the overall cheapest premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $446 monthly, but it's worth noting that MetLife's average rates come from 44 states compared to just one for UAIC, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact MetLife and UAIC Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for quite a few policyholders.

The reasoning auto 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 typically be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at MetLife and UAIC, which one has the lowest premiums for policyholders 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 MetLife. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 35% compared to UAIC, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $63 or 19% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

UAIC typically offers lower prices than MetLife when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $2 per month less with UAIC compared to MetLife, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $193 a month.

Is MetLife or UAIC 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 substantial impact on your monthly rates? That's because the more miles you put on your car, the more likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much UAIC 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 every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, UAIC is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

MetLife vs. UAIC: 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 pretty big impact as well. Usually, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers because there are a lot fewer cars on the road in those areas, which decreases the chances of an accident.

Looking at these carriers side-by-side, MetLife boasts the most affordable average rates in urban and suburban areas, while UAIC wins in rural areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around 26% with UAIC compared to MetLife. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about 15% less with MetLife compared to UAIC. In urban areas, MetLife's average prices are around 3% less than UAIC.

MetLife vs. UAIC Discounts

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

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

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both MetLife and UAIC so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

MetLife knocks UAIC out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 24 more discounts than UAIC.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but MetLife also offers AAA discounts, academic discounts, annual mileage discounts, and more that UAIC does not.

On the flip side, UAIC has a couple unique discounts of its own -- intra-agency transfer discounts and paid in full discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is MetLife or UAIC Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which carrier is the right fit for you?

MetLife might be best for you if....

• You're looking for the best rates in FL.
• Your credit is less-than-stellar.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

UAIC might be best for you if...

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- UAIC is only available in FL.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.

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

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just MetLife and UAIC. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

MetLife vs. UAIC FAQs

Is MetLife or UAIC cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, UAIC is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $337 a month compared to $340 for MetLife. But UAIC won't necessarily be the cheapest company for every driver, since there are a variety of different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, MetLife or UAIC?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile. For example, UAIC offers cheaper prices for drivers with a recent DUI, while MetLife is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do MetLife and UAIC offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at lots of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge policyholders. Factors such as your driving record, age, gender, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both MetLife and UAIC calculate rates using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information 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 premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be MetLife or UAIC 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.