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

Quick Facts

• In general, Vermont Mutual offers significantly cheaper premiums than Metlife
• Metlife may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Vermont Mutual
• Vermont Mutual offers more affordable average rates for policyholders who live in urban areas

Metlife or Vermont Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Metlife or Vermont Mutual as your top options, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

As you can see, Vermont Mutual is quite a bit cheaper than Metlife, with prices averaging $173 a month compared to $340 with Metlife when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

That being said, that doesn't mean Vermont Mutual will necessarily be less expensive than Metlife for every driver. Insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how old you are, where you live, how good your credit score is, and a ton of other factors, so prices will vary quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Metlife or Vermont Mutual is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each company broken down by many different rate factors.

Metlife vs. Vermont Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Metlife and Vermont Mutual compete against each other in four states, with Metlife offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Massachusetts or Maine, Metlife is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at the overall average rates. Vermont Mutual is the more affordable option in New Hampshire and Vermont.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just the state you live in. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance prices of any other group of drivers. That's normally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance premiums. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Vermont Mutual for their car insurance pay over 65% less than those who use Metlife.

However, both carriers will decrease rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Metlife policyholders reduce around $500 and Vermont Mutual's prices drop about $200 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 cheapest rates you'll ever find.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Vermont Mutual gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $131 per month compared to Metlife's $205.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance rates are typically cheaper for married drivers than they are for single policyholders? This usually boils down to married couples having several vehicles on their policy -- something lots of car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with Vermont Mutual prices coming in at about half of Metlife's. The advantage for married policyholders with Vermont Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save more than $75 per month.

Metlife or Vermont Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, they have a decreased chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, women tend to pay less for insurance than men.

On average, women see rates almost 10% a month less with Metlife, and nearly 10% less with Vermont Mutual when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, Vermont Mutual comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $160 per month and men save around $174 with Vermont Mutual compared to the average Metlife policyholder.

Metlife vs. Vermont 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.

It's no secret that auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

Even so, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Vermont Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $85. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Vermont Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging about $261 a month to Metlife's $466.

Is Metlife or Vermont Mutual 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with speeding tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable rates to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Metlife for their auto insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up around 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Vermont Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 6%.

That being said, Vermont Mutual is generally the less expensive option for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket, offering prices that are $103 and $155 more affordable, 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 premiums increase by just under $150, while those who have insurance through Vermont Mutual will see around a $25 increase.

At the end of the day, Vermont Mutual offers the cheapest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average premiums coming in at $144 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 -- typically a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. Metlife drivers usually see a 55% climb in their car insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Vermont Mutual will usually increase rates by about 62%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Vermont Mutual tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $307 to Metlife's $494.

How does Credit Score Impact Metlife and Vermont Mutual Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly auto insurance premiums. This isn't true for everyone (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an auto insurance factor) but it might come into play for quite a few policyholders.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so normally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper rates.

Looking specifically at Metlife and Vermont Mutual, which carrier has the lowest prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Vermont Mutual will generally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Vermont Mutual comes in nearly 53.15 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save about 56% with Vermont Mutual compared to average premiums from Metlife.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Vermont Mutual typically offers lower prices than Metlife when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 52% per month less with Vermont Mutual compared to Metlife, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about 45% monthly.

Is Metlife or Vermont Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly insurance payment. Normally, those who drive less will end up with cheaper rates 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 Vermont Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Metlife, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle annually paying around $3 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, Vermont Mutual is the less expensive company.

Metlife or Vermont Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can have a big impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Usually, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Vermont Mutual generally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Vermont Mutual's average rates are about $199 a month compared to Metlife's $389. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly rate of around $169 with Vermont Mutual compared to $333 with Metlife. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $152 a month with Vermont Mutual compared to Metlife's $299.

Metlife vs. Vermont Mutual Discounts

No matter 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 you can, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as possible.

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible 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 Vermont Mutual offer their customers so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Metlife knocks Vermont Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 22 more discounts than Vermont Mutual.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Metlife also offers discounts for AAA, academic, agency transfer, and more.

On the other hand, Vermont Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, driver training discounts, experienced operator discounts, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance prices. 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?

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

• You have a clean record.
• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your premiums.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower rates.

Metlife might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national auto insurance company.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Metlife and Vermont Mutual. 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 best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Metlife and Vermont Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Metlife vs. Vermont Mutual FAQs

Is Metlife or Vermont Mutual cheaper?

Vermont Mutual is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $173 per month with Vermont Mutual and $340 for Metlife. Even so, that doesn't mean Vermont Mutual will be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are multiple different variables that are considered when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Metlife or Vermont Mutual?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Metlife and Vermont Mutual offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use many different factors when determining the prices they charge. Things such as your driving record, age, gender, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Metlife and Vermont Mutual calculate rates using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers 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 information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Metlife or Vermont Mutual 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.