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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Western National offers significantly cheaper premiums than MetLife
• MetLife offers more discounts than Western National Insurance Company
• Western National offers more affordable rates for couples purchasing insurance together

MetLife vs. Western National: 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 big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might be considering MetLife or Western National for your next policy, but which carrier will offer you less expensive prices?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Western National is quite a bit cheaper than MetLife, with rates averaging $154 per month compared to $340 with MetLife.

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

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

MetLife or Western National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

MetLife and Western National only compete against each other in two states, with Western National offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. Wisconsin has the most noticable difference, where Western National premiums are over 70% cheaper than auto insurance prices at MetLife.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance payment than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. Usually, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance premiums. As you can see above, teens who use Western National save more than $500 a month compared to those who use MetLife.

Even so, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for MetLife policyholders lower over 70% and Western National's prices decrease nearly 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable rates out there.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between MetLife and Western National? Western National gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older more than 45% more affordable than the national average for MetLife.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly less expensive car insurance rates than single policyholders. That's because policies for married drivers generally cover more than one car, which quite a few carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Western National is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums about $259 per month more affordable than MetLife, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - Western National has the edge when it comes to average rates.

MetLife vs. Western National: Average Rates by Gender

Men normally pay more for auto insurance than women. This is because women are less likely to get into collisions and get tickets, which lowers the chances of an insurance claim.

Women typically pay almost 10% a month less than men with MetLife, and nearly 10% less with Western National when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at overall affordability, Western National comes out as the lowest option for both genders, with average prices 55% less for men and 55% cheaper for women.

MetLife or Western National: 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 car insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Western National generally offers significantly cheaper premiums of $60 compared to MetLife's $215. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Western National again has the edge, with policies around $200 per month less expensive than MetLife, on average.

Is MetLife or Western National 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.

Accidents and tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is MetLife or Western National cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Western National insurance policies don't report seeing their rates increase after getting a ticket, but MetLife policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by about a quarter.

However, Western National has more affordable prices for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are $66 and $125 less expensive, respectively, compared to MetLife.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

MetLife policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their prices rise by over 40%, while those who have insurance through Western National will see around a 0% increase.

Overall, Western National offers the most affordable rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $154 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 prices by over $250 a month -- that's over a 55% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Western National tends to be the much cheaper option with average rates of $154 monthly compared to $494 from MetLife.

How does Credit Score Impact MetLife and Western National Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating prices? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for several drivers.

Car insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable rates.

So, which company offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Western National. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 70% compared to MetLife, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $160 or 58% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Western National typically offers lower prices than MetLife when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $185 per month less with Western National compared to MetLife, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about $252 a month.

Is MetLife or Western National 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 considerable impact on your monthly rates? Normally, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure, Western National offers more affordable premiums than MetLife. MetLife's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 55% more expensive than Western National. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay about 54% more with MetLife over Western National.

MetLife vs. Western National: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a large impact as well. Typically, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Western National boasts the most affordable average premiums for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Western National's average prices are around $177 a month compared to MetLife's $389. People in suburban areas pay a monthly price of about $127 with Western National compared to $333 with MetLife. Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $158 per month with Western National and $299 with MetLife.

MetLife vs. Western National 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 with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by MetLife and Western National so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

MetLife knocks Western National out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 36 different discounts to Western National's 12.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like distant student discounts, employee discounts, and multi-policy discounts. MetLife also offers AAA discounts, ABS discounts, academic discounts, and more that Western National does not.

On the flip side, Western National has a couple unique discounts of its own -- corporate discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, discounts for getting driver training, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is MetLife or Western National Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors auto insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which company is the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

Western National might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's auto insurance policy.

MetLife might be best for you if...

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- Western National Insurance Company is only available in four states.
• You care about discounts (MetLife offers the most).

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare MetLife and Western National and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car 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 a handful of carriers, not just MetLife and Western National. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. 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. Western National FAQs

Is MetLife or Western National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Western National is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $154 per month compared to $340 for MetLife. That being said, Western National won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for each policyholder, since there are multiple different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, MetLife or Western National?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do MetLife and Western National offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Things such as age, your driving record, gender, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both MetLife and Western National calculate rates differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance company 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 auto insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be MetLife or Western National 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.