Metlife vs. Union Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Union Mutual offers significantly cheaper prices than Metlife
• Metlife offers more discounts than Union Mutual
• Union Mutual offers more affordable rates for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years

Metlife vs. Union Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might have narrowed it down to Metlife or Union Mutual for your next policy, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Union Mutual has average rates that are about 60% per month more affordable than those from Metlife.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean Union Mutual will be the less expensive option for each driver. Insurance companies 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, at the end of the day, rates from each carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Metlife and Union Mutual by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Metlife or Union Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Metlife and Union Mutual only compete against each other in Vermont, where Union Mutual offers the cheaper average rates. For Vermont residents, Union Mutual offers auto insurance for $132 per month on average. Metlife's average premiums come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $228 a month.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance payment than just where you live. Keep reading 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 insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance rates. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Union Mutual for their car insurance pay more than $500 less than those who use Metlife. It's worth noting that Metlife offers insurance in 44 different states compared to Union Mutual's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your prices decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. Union Mutual offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Metlife's average premiums drop over 70% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the most affordable auto insurance prices you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for car insurance.

When looking at Metlife and Union Mutual specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Union Mutual gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $108 more affordable than the national average for Metlife.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance premiums tend to be less expensive for married couples than they are for single policyholders. That's usually because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Union Mutual is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates around $274 a month cheaper than Metlife, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Union Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save more than $100 per month.

Metlife vs. Union Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into an accident. That means when it comes to insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

Women typically pay nearly $30 a month less than men with Metlife, and about $15 cheaper with Union Mutual when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, Union Mutual comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, women save about $201 per month and men save around $215 with Union Mutual compared to the average Metlife policyholder.

Metlife or Union 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, car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. 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 (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Union Mutual typically offers significantly less expensive prices of $48 compared to Metlife's $215. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Union Mutual again has the edge, with policies about $250 a month more affordable than Metlife, on average.

Is Metlife or Union Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance companies offering great rates 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 at-fault accidents and tickets lead to higher prices, but which company -- Metlife or Union Mutual -- has the lowest premiums 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 Union Mutual generally raises premiums around $4 a month, on average.

Even so, Union Mutual tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering prices that are $132 and $187 cheaper, respectively, compared to MetLife.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Metlife increasing by just under $150. Union Mutual has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay $15 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, drivers who use Union Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $103 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 premiums by over $250 per month -- that's over a 55% increase.

Union Mutual has the overall most affordable rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $244 monthly, but it's worth noting that Metlife's average rates come from 44 states compared to just one for Union Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Metlife and Union Mutual Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for quite a few drivers.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that policyholders 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 normally be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the best rates for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Union Mutual. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 55% compared to Metlife, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $167 or 61% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Union Mutual typically offers lower prices than Metlife when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $212 a month less with Union Mutual compared to Metlife, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about $336 per month.

Is Metlife or Union Mutual 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 how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, 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 Union Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Metlife, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles annually paying around $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, Union Mutual is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Metlife vs. Union Mutual: 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 sizable impact as well. Normally, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders because of the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Union Mutual tends to offer the most affordable rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Union Mutual's average premiums are about 67% less than MetLife. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 59% less with Union Mutual compared to Metlife. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 56% with Union Mutual compared to Metlife.

Metlife vs. Union Mutual Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car 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're eligible for or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Metlife and Union Mutual 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 Union Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 36 different discounts to Union Mutual's 10.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and multi-policy discounts -- but Metlife also offers AAA discounts, academic discounts, agency transfer discounts, and more that Union Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Union Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- company car discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and hybrid vehicle discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Metlife or Union Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance prices. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the right one for you and your specific driver profile?

Union Mutual might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
• Your credit score is high.
• You're buying auto insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Metlife might be best for you if...

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- Union Mutual only offers policies in VT.
• 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 Union Mutual 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 car insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just Metlife and Union Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Metlife vs. Union Mutual FAQs

Is Metlife or Union Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Union Mutual is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $132 per month compared to $340 for Metlife. That being said, Union Mutual won't necessarily be the lowest company for each driver, since there are several different variables that come into play when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, Metlife or Union Mutual?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Metlife and Union Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Variables such as where you live, gender, age, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Metlife and Union Mutual calculate prices using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

How do I know if Metlife or Union Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple 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 area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Metlife or Union 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.