Metromile vs. Safe Auto: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Metromile offers significantly less expensive premiums than Safe Auto
• Metromile tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers with a DUI
• Safe Auto may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Metromile

Metromile or Safe Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to 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 might have narrowed your search down to Metromile or Safe Auto for your next policy, but between the two, which company will offer you cheaper prices?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Safe Auto has average rates that are around 35% a month more expensive than those from Metromile.

But that doesn't mean Metromile will necessarily be more affordable than Safe Auto for every single driver. Car insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like where you live, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, how old you are, and a variety of other factors, so prices could differ drastically from person to person.

Wanting to know if Metromile or Safe Auto is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Metromile vs. Safe Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Metromile and Safe Auto only compete against each other in Arizona, where Metromile offers the cheaper average prices. Metromile drivers tend to pay about $22 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Safe Auto for their insurance.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance payment than just where you live. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance rates of any group out there on the road. 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.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 25% less a month by choosing Metromile over Safe Auto. It's worth noting that Safe Auto offers car insurance in 13 different states compared to Metromile's one, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower prices once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Metromile policyholders reduce almost 65% and Safe Auto's prices lower more than 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Metromile and Safe Auto? Metromile gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older nearly 30% cheaper than the national average for Safe Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with Metromile prices coming in at a third less than Safe Auto's. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - Metromile has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Metromile or Safe Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for insurance than men? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

Surprisingly, with Metromile, women normallypay about 3% more per month than men, and around 7% less with Safe Auto.

When it comes to the most affordable premiums for each gender, Metromile comes out as the lowest option for both genders, with average rates $83 less for men and $62 cheaper for women.

Metromile vs. Safe Auto: 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, auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are multiple different coverages that account for lots of 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.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Metromile has the edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $99. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Metromile again has the edge, with policies averaging about $201 a month to Safe Auto's $320.

Is Metromile or Safe Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their car 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 collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable prices to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Metromile for their auto insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up around 22% after getting a speeding ticket. Safe Auto policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 18%.

That being said, Metromile has cheaper rates for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 36% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 33% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Metromile drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums rise by over $55, while those who have insurance through Safe Auto will see around a $65 increase.

At the end of the day, Metromile offers the lowest prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average rates coming in at $171 compared to Safe Auto's $246.

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. Safe Auto drivers usually see a 27% climb in their car insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Metromile will typically raise rates by about 31%.

Metromile has the overall cheapest premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $167 monthly, but it's worth noting that Safe Auto's average rates come from 13 states compared to just one for Metromile, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Metromile and Safe Auto Rates?

Did you know many insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Massachusetts and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

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.

Looking specifically at Metromile and Safe Auto, which one has the lowest rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Metromile will normally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Metromile comes in more than 36.9 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save around 38% with Metromile compared to average premiums from Safe Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Metromile typically offers lower rates than Safe Auto when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 32% per month less with Metromile compared to Safe Auto, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around 25% per month.

Is Metromile or Safe Auto Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on how much insurance carriers 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.

In this case, neither Metromile or Safe Auto report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Metromile comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle yearly, with average prices of $150 a month for both.

Metromile or Safe Auto: 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 big impact as well. Typically, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers since there are a lot fewer cars on the road where they live, which reduces the chances of an accident.

Metromile tends to offer the most affordable rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $120 a month with Metromile and $197 with Safe Auto. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly rate of around $121 with Metromile compared to $200 with Safe Auto. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Metromile's average prices are about $209 while Safe Auto offers premiums around $271.

Metromile vs. Safe Auto Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto 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 can take advantage of.

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

Safe Auto blows Metromile away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 10 more discounts than Metromile.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like. Safe Auto also offers discounts for agency transfer, anti-theft, claim free, and more.

On the other hand, Metromile has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like good driving discounts, multi-policy discounts, online quote discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Metromile or Safe Auto Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Metromile might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

Safe Auto might be best for you if...

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- Metromile only offers policies to Arizona residents.
• You care about discounts (Safe Auto offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Metromile and Safe Auto. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about 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 carriers, not just Metromile and Safe Auto. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Metromile vs. Safe Auto FAQs

Is Metromile or Safe Auto cheaper?

Metromile is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $150 per month with Metromile and $223 for Safe Auto. However, that doesn't mean Metromile will be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are a variety of different variables that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, Metromile or Safe Auto?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

Why do Metromile and Safe Auto offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use lots of different factors when calculating the rates they charge. Things such as gender, age, where you call home, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Metromile and Safe Auto calculate premiums using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

How do I know if Metromile or Safe Auto is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies 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 quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Metromile or Safe Auto 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.