MetLife vs. Virginia Farm Bureau: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Virginia Farm Bureau offers significantly more affordable rates than MetLife
• MetLife offers more discounts than Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance
• Virginia Farm Bureau offers cheaper average premiums for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

MetLife vs. Virginia Farm Bureau: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed it down to MetLife or Virginia Farm Bureau as your top options, but which one will offer you more affordable prices?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Virginia Farm Bureau is quite a bit cheaper than MetLife, with premiums averaging $101 per month compared to $340 with MetLife.

But that doesn't mean Virginia Farm Bureau will necessarily be cheaper than MetLife for every single driver. Car insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how good your credit score is or how clean your driving record is (among a multitude of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both MetLife and Virginia Farm Bureau by lots of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

MetLife or Virginia Farm Bureau: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

MetLife and Virginia Farm Bureau only compete against each other in Virginia, where Virginia Farm Bureau offers the cheaper average rates. For Virginia residents, Virginia Farm Bureau offers insurance for $101 monthly on average. MetLife's average prices come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $315 per month.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just where you call home. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

Even so, 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 Virginia Farm Bureau 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 Virginia Farm Bureau'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 prices lower significantly once you turn 25. Virginia Farm Bureau offers the steepest reduction, 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 typically enjoy the lowest car insurance rates you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for auto insurance.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between MetLife and Virginia Farm Bureau? Virginia Farm Bureau gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $114 less expensive than the national average for MetLife.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance prices tend to be cheaper for married policyholders than they are for single policyholders. That's because policies for married couples generally cover more than one car, which several carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Virginia Farm Bureau is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums about $319 a month more affordable than MetLife, on average. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - Virginia Farm Bureau has the edge when it comes to average rates.

MetLife vs. Virginia Farm Bureau: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women usually pay less for auto insurance than men? This is because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which increases the chances of an insurance claim.

Generally, men see premiums nearly $30 per month higher with MetLife, and around $4 with Virginia Farm Bureau.

Looking at overall affordability, Virginia Farm Bureau comes out as the most affordable option for both genders. On average, women save about $227 a month and men save about $251 with Virginia Farm Bureau compared to the average MetLife policyholder.

MetLife or Virginia Farm Bureau: 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.

Car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

However, most 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 two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Virginia Farm Bureau generally offers significantly less expensive rates of $66 compared to MetLife's $215. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Virginia Farm Bureau again has the edge, with policies around $350 per month more affordable than MetLife, on average.

Is MetLife or Virginia Farm Bureau 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.

Tickets and accidents will most likely raise your prices, but is MetLife or Virginia Farm Bureau cheaper for drivers with spotty 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 Virginia Farm Bureau usually raises premiums about $25 per month, on average.

Even so, Virginia Farm Bureau tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save around $138 a month and drivers with a ticket can save about $172 per month with Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance.

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 Virginia Farm Bureau for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $23 (or 22%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance carrier.

Overall, drivers who use Virginia Farm Bureau end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $105 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 auto insurance bill -- normally a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. MetLife drivers usually see a 55% climb in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Virginia Farm Bureau will typically raise prices by about 26%.

Virginia Farm Bureau has the overall lowest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $111 a month, but it's worth noting that MetLife's average rates come from 44 states compared to just one for Virginia Farm Bureau, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact MetLife and Virginia Farm Bureau Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for a lot of drivers.

Car insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which reduces the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which company offers the cheapest premiums for policyholders 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 Virginia Farm Bureau. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 70% compared to MetLife, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $186 or 68% less expensive every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Virginia Farm Bureau typically offers lower prices than MetLife when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $230 a month less with Virginia Farm Bureau compared to MetLife, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $388 monthly.

Is MetLife or Virginia Farm Bureau Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a big impact on how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you put on your vehicle, the less likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

Virginia Farm Bureau tends to be the cheaper option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles each year, as well as those who average twice that figure. MetLife's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in more than 70% more expensive than Virginia Farm Bureau. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay just under 70% more with MetLife over Virginia Farm Bureau.

MetLife vs. Virginia Farm Bureau: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for insurance. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because there are a lot fewer cars on the roads in those areas.

Virginia Farm Bureau tends to offer the cheapest prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Virginia Farm Bureau offers premiums about $109 a month compared to MetLife's $389. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $116 per month for Virginia Farm Bureau and $333 for MetLife. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable rates from both carriers, with average monthly premiums coming in at $78 and $299 for Virginia Farm Bureau and MetLife respectively.

MetLife vs. Virginia Farm Bureau 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 insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts MetLife and Virginia Farm Bureau offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

MetLife knocks Virginia Farm Bureau out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 36 different discounts to Virginia Farm Bureau's eight.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like ABS discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and discounts for being a good student. MetLife also offers AAA discounts, academic discounts, agency transfer discounts, and more that Virginia Farm Bureau does not.

On the flip side, Virginia Farm Bureau has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for getting driver training and umbrella policy discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is MetLife or Virginia Farm Bureau 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 carrier is the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Virginia Farm Bureau might be best for you if....

• You live in one of the following states: Virginia.
• You have above-average credit.
• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

MetLife might be best for you if...

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance only offers policies in VA.
• You care about discounts (MetLife offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between MetLife and Virginia Farm Bureau and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire 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 Virginia Farm Bureau. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

MetLife vs. Virginia Farm Bureau FAQs

Is MetLife or Virginia Farm Bureau cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Virginia Farm Bureau is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $101 a month compared to $340 for MetLife. However, Virginia Farm Bureau won't necessarily be the lowest company for every policyholder, since there are a variety of different variables that are considered when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, MetLife or Virginia Farm Bureau?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do MetLife and Virginia Farm Bureau offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when determining the prices they charge policyholders. Things like age, gender, where you call home, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both MetLife and Virginia Farm Bureau calculate premiums using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

How do I know if MetLife or Virginia Farm Bureau is right for me?

The only way to find the 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be MetLife or Virginia Farm Bureau 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.