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

Quick Facts

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

MetLife or Wolverine 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 Wolverine Mutual for your next policy, but between the two, which company will offer you less expensive rates?

As you can see, MetLife has average rates that are around 35% a month more expensive than those from Wolverine Mutual when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean Wolverine Mutual will necessarily be cheaper than MetLife for each driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like how good your credit score is, where you live, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, and all sorts of other factors, so prices will change quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both MetLife and Wolverine Mutual by a variety of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

MetLife vs. Wolverine Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

MetLife and Wolverine Mutual only compete against each other in Michigan, where Wolverine Mutual offers the cheaper average rates. Wolverine Mutual drivers tend to pay about $9 per month less on average compared to drivers who use MetLife for their car insurance.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance payment than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

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

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Wolverine Mutual save over 55% a month compared to those who use MetLife. It's worth noting that MetLife offers auto insurance in 44 different states compared to Wolverine Mutual's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for MetLife policyholders decrease about $500 and Wolverine Mutual's prices drop around $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the lowest insurance premiums out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally lowers their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise rates.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Wolverine Mutual gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $119 per month compared to MetLife's $205.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance rates are usually more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples? This usually boils down to married drivers having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something quite a few insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Wolverine Mutual premiums coming in at around half of MetLife's. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Wolverine Mutual offers the cheapest average prices.

MetLife or Wolverine Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men tend to pay more for auto insurance than women. That's because men are more likely to get into accidents and get tickets, which increases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Women generally pay almost $30 per month less than men with MetLife; women and men end up paying same monthly rates with Wolverine Mutual.

When it comes to the most affordable premiums for each gender, Wolverine Mutual comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average rates 37% less for men and 31% cheaper for women.

MetLife vs. Wolverine 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, car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are a range of different coverages that account for several different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

However, most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) 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 insurance, Wolverine Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $114. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Wolverine Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging about $335 a month to MetLife's $466.

Is MetLife or Wolverine 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 at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest prices 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. Wolverine Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 17%.

But Wolverine Mutual is normally the more affordable option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket -- their rates are around 34% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 37% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

MetLife drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums increase by just under $150, while those who have insurance through Wolverine Mutual will see around a $40 increase.

At the end of the day, the cheaper prices come from Wolverine Mutual, with average rates coming in at $188 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 -- typically a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. For example, MetLife increases average premiums by more than $250 per month -- that's more than a 55% increase.

Wolverine Mutual has the overall most affordable rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $389 a month, but it's worth noting that MetLife's average rates come from 44 states compared to just one for Wolverine Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact MetLife and Wolverine Mutual Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it might come into play for many policyholders.

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

Looking specifically at MetLife and Wolverine Mutual, which one has the cheapest premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Michigan is one of a small number of states that restricts auto insurance companies from using credit scores to calculate rates. And since Wolverine Mutual is only available in Michigan, there is no data available on how credit score impacts prices because it's not a factor at all. This may be a good thing, since MetLife and other carriers tend to increase rates quite a bit in other states if you don't have excellent credit.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have a below average credit score and live in Michigan, the good news is it won't cost you extra when it comes to insurance. As you can see, poor credit can really cost MetLife drivers in other states, but no need to worry if you live in Michigan.

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

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the more milage you drive, the more likely you are to be in a collision 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 Wolverine 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 about $3 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, Wolverine Mutual is the cheaper company.

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

Where you park your car can have a sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. Generally, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

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

Those in rural areas can expect to save around 54% with Wolverine Mutual compared to MetLife. People who live in suburban areas pay about 42% less with Wolverine Mutual compared to MetLife. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Wolverine Mutual's average prices are around 12% less than MetLife.

MetLife vs. Wolverine Mutual Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be difficult to find all the ones you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both MetLife and Wolverine Mutual so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

MetLife blows Wolverine Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 36 different discounts to Wolverine Mutual's nine.

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

On the other hand, Wolverine Mutual has a proprietary discount of their own -- a seat belt discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is MetLife or Wolverine Mutual Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which carrier is the right fit for you?

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

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your premiums rise.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• You and your spouse are buying insurance together.

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 good idea of the differences between MetLife and Wolverine 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 sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just MetLife and Wolverine Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

MetLife vs. Wolverine Mutual FAQs

Is MetLife or Wolverine Mutual cheaper?

Wolverine Mutual is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $224 a month with Wolverine Mutual and $340 for MetLife. Even so, that doesn't mean Wolverine Mutual will be the lowest carrier for each driver, since there are a bunch of different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, MetLife or Wolverine Mutual?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile.

Why do MetLife and Wolverine Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use lots of different variables when determining the prices they charge. Things such as your driving record, age, where your home is, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both MetLife and Wolverine Mutual calculate rates using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

How do I know if MetLife or Wolverine Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't MetLife or Wolverine 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.