Metlife vs. Western Reserve Group: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Western Reserve Group offers significantly less expensive prices than Metlife
• Metlife offers more discounts than Western Reserve Group
• Western Reserve Group tends to be a much more affordable option for policyholders who may not have much of a commute

Metlife vs. Western Reserve Group: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Metlife or Western Reserve Group for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Metlife is quite a bit more expensive than Western Reserve Group, with premiums averaging $340 per month compared to just $137 with Western Reserve Group.

But that doesn't mean Western Reserve Group will necessarily be cheaper than Metlife for every driver. Insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how old you are, where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, and a variety of other factors. So, at the end of the day, premiums from each carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Metlife and Western Reserve Group by a variety of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Metlife or Western Reserve Group: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Metlife and Western Reserve Group only compete against each other in two states, with Western Reserve Group offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Indiana has the most noticable difference, where Western Reserve Group premiums are over 70% less expensive than car insurance prices at Metlife.

But there's more to auto insurance than just where you call home. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance carriers calculate your premiums. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. It's usually 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 still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Western Reserve Group for their insurance pay more than $500 less than those who use Metlife. It's worth noting that Metlife offers auto insurance in 44 different states compared to Western Reserve Group's two, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, with both companies, you'll see your prices drop significantly once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Metlife policyholders decrease over $500 and Western Reserve Group's rates lower nearly $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Metlife and Western Reserve Group specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Western Reserve Group gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at about $107 per month compared to Metlife's $205.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

When it comes to relationship status, Western Reserve Group is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $277 a month cheaper than Metlife, on average. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Western Reserve Group has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Metlife vs. Western Reserve Group: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and file an insurance claim, which means they'll usually end up paying more for car insurance than women.

Men generally pay almost 10% more per month than women with Metlife, but surprisingly, with Western Reserve Group, men normally pay about 1% a month less than women.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, Western Reserve Group offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women, with average prices $218 less for men and $188 cheaper for women.

Metlife or Western Reserve Group: 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.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are many different coverages that account for lots of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

However, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which typically refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Western Reserve Group normally offers significantly more affordable premiums of $94 compared to Metlife's $215. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Western Reserve Group again has the edge, with policies around $300 per month less expensive than Metlife, on average.

Is Metlife or Western Reserve Group Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their 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 at-fault collisions will most likely raise your prices, but is Metlife or Western Reserve Group more affordable 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 Western Reserve Group typically raises premiums about $34 per month, on average.

That being said, Western Reserve Group 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 $132 a month and drivers with a ticket can save about $157 per month with Western Reserve Group.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Metlife drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates rise by just under $150, while those who have insurance through Western Reserve Group will see around a $30 increase.

Overall, the less expensive prices come from Western Reserve Group, with monthly rates averaging $120 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 speeding ticket or even a collision. Metlife drivers usually see a 55% raise in their auto insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Western Reserve Group will generally increase prices by about 60%.

Western Reserve Group has the overall lowest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $218 a month, but it's worth noting that Metlife's average rates come from 44 states compared to just two for Western Reserve Group, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Metlife and Western Reserve Group Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when carriers determine your monthly bill. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for a lot of policyholders.

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, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper prices.

Looking at Metlife and Western Reserve Group specifically, which company has the best premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

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 Reserve Group. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 55% compared to Metlife, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $157 or 57% less expensive every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Western Reserve Group typically offers lower rates than Metlife when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $200 a month less with Western Reserve Group compared to Metlife, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around $341 monthly.

Is Metlife or Western Reserve Group Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a big impact on your monthly premiums. Generally, the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Western Reserve Group charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Metlife, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Western Reserve Group is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Metlife vs. Western Reserve Group: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a considerable role in how much you pay for insurance. Typically, 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.

Western Reserve Group boasts the cheapest average premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the lowest prices from both companies, but Western Reserve Group comes out on top with average premiums around $125 per month. Western Reserve Group also has cheaper average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $242 and $194 per month respective difference when compared to Metlife policyholders in similar areas.

Metlife vs. Western Reserve Group 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 taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you qualify for.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Metlife and Western Reserve Group offer their customers so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Metlife blows Western Reserve Group away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 25 more discounts than Western Reserve Group.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Metlife also offers AAA discounts, ABS discounts, academic discounts, and more that Western Reserve Group does not.

On the flip side, Western Reserve Group has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts and company car discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Metlife or Western Reserve Group Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which company is the best one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Western Reserve Group might be best for you if....

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your rates climb.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Metlife might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national auto insurance carrier.
• You're looking for discounts -- Metlife has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Metlife and Western Reserve Group. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on car insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Metlife and Western Reserve Group. 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 auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Metlife vs. Western Reserve Group FAQs

Is Metlife or Western Reserve Group cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Western Reserve Group is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $137 a month compared to $340 for Metlife. However, Western Reserve Group won't necessarily be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are several different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Metlife or Western Reserve Group?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Metlife and Western Reserve Group offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at many different factors when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Variables like your driving record, gender, where your home is, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Metlife and Western Reserve Group calculate rates using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

How do I know if Metlife or Western Reserve Group is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Metlife or Western Reserve Group 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.