MetLife vs. West Bend Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, West Bend Mutual offers significantly less expensive rates than MetLife
• MetLife may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than West Bend Mutual Insurance
• West Bend Mutual offers more affordable prices for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse

MetLife or West Bend Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering hefty savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to MetLife or West Bend Mutual as your top options, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, MetLife has average rates that are around 60% a month more expensive than those from West Bend Mutual.

But that doesn't necessarily mean West Bend Mutual will be the cheaper option for every single driver. After all, car insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, where you call home, your age, or even your credit score (among other things). So, at the end of the day, rates from each company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if MetLife or West Bend Mutual is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

MetLife vs. West Bend Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

MetLife and West Bend Mutual only compete against each other in two states, with West Bend Mutual offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Wisconsin has the most noticable difference, where West Bend Mutual prices are $250 cheaper than auto insurance premiums at MetLife.

But there's more to insurance than just the state you live in. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance companies determine your prices. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. Typically, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance premiums. As you can see above, teens who use West Bend Mutual save over 65% per month compared to those who use MetLife. It's worth noting that MetLife offers insurance in 44 different states compared to West Bend Mutual's three, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both carriers will lower premiums by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for MetLife policyholders decrease about $500 and West Bend Mutual's rates drop more than $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance prices you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually reduces their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise premiums.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between MetLife and West Bend Mutual? West Bend Mutual gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older over 55% less expensive than the national average for MetLife.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance rates tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married policyholders. This usually boils down to married drivers having several vehicles on their policy -- something quite a few car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with West Bend Mutual prices coming in at around a third of MetLife's. The advantage for married couples with West Bend Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save almost 60% a month.

MetLife or West Bend Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into collisions and get tickets, they are less likely to file a claim with insurance. So, insurance companies will tend to offer women more affordable rates.

On average, men see premiums about $30 per month higher with MetLife, and around $15 with West Bend Mutual.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, West Bend Mutual comes out as the lowest option for both genders, with average rates $215 less for men and $203 cheaper for women.

MetLife vs. West Bend 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, insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits 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 (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, West Bend Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $77. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, West Bend Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging about $186 a month to MetLife's $466.

Is MetLife or West Bend 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 accidents on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the most affordable premiums to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use MetLife for their auto insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up around 21% after getting a speeding ticket. West Bend Mutual policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 23%.

That being said, West Bend Mutual has more affordable rates for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are $136 and $170 cheaper, 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 prices climb by just under $150, while those who have insurance through West Bend Mutual will see around a $80 increase.

At the end of the day, the more affordable premiums come from West Bend Mutual, with average prices coming in at $163 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 car insurance bill -- normally a lot more than a collision or ticket. MetLife drivers usually see a 55% climb in their auto insurance rates after a DUI charge, while West Bend Mutual will usually raise prices by about 50%.

West Bend Mutual has the overall lowest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $169 a month, but it's worth noting that MetLife's average rates come from 44 states compared to just three for West Bend Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact MetLife and West Bend Mutual Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly insurance premiums. This isn't true for everyone (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it will come into play for a lot of policyholders.

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, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the most affordable rates for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, West Bend Mutual will generally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, West Bend Mutual comes in more than 56.31 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save around 58% with West Bend Mutual compared to average prices from MetLife.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

West Bend Mutual typically offers lower premiums than MetLife when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 61% per month less with West Bend Mutual compared to MetLife, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around 66% monthly.

Is MetLife or West Bend Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on your monthly prices. That's because the more milage you put on your car, the more likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much West Bend Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for MetLife, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles yearly paying about $3 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, for drivers in both categories, West Bend Mutual is the more affordable company.

MetLife or West Bend Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a large role in how much you pay for insurance. Generally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

West Bend Mutual boasts the most affordable average prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, West Bend Mutual Insurance's average rates are around 59% less than MetLife. People who live in suburban areas pay about 63% less with West Bend Mutual compared to MetLife. Those in rural areas can expect to save around 62% with West Bend Mutual compared to MetLife.

MetLife vs. West Bend Mutual Discounts

No matter 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 you can. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

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.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both MetLife and West Bend Mutual so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

MetLife knocks West Bend Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 36 different discounts to West Bend Mutual's 16.

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

On the other hand, West Bend Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advanced safety feature discounts, excess vehicle discounts, marital status discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is MetLife or West Bend Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

West Bend Mutual might be best for you if....

• You have a clean record.
• You live in an suburban area.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles each year.

MetLife might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- West Bend Mutual Insurance only offers policies in three states.
• You care about discounts (MetLife offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare MetLife and West Bend Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just MetLife and West Bend Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

MetLife vs. West Bend Mutual FAQs

Is MetLife or West Bend Mutual cheaper?

West Bend Mutual is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $131 a month with West Bend Mutual and $340 for MetLife. But that doesn't mean West Bend Mutual will be the cheapest company for every policyholder, since there are many different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, MetLife or West Bend Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do MetLife and West Bend Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use several different variables when determining the rates they charge. Things such as where you call home, age, where you park your vehicle, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both MetLife and West Bend Mutual calculate prices using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

How do I know if MetLife or West Bend Mutual 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 does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't MetLife or West Bend 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.