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

Quick Facts

• In general, Metromile offers significantly cheaper prices than Safeway
• Metromile has less expensive rates for residents of suburban areas
• Safeway offers more discounts than Metromile

Metromile vs. Safeway: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Metromile or Safeway for your next policy, but between the two, which one will offer you more affordable premiums?

As you can see, Metromile has average rates that are about 23% per month cheaper than those from Safeway when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

But that doesn't mean Metromile will necessarily be more affordable than Safeway for each driver. Auto insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how good your credit score is or how old you are (among a wide array of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

Metromile or Safeway: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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There's a lot more that goes into your insurance payment than just your home state. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. Usually, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance prices. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Metromile for their auto insurance pay nearly $150 less than those who use Safeway.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums reduce significantly by the time you turn 25. Safeway offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Metromile still has the lowest rates at $121 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Metromile gets the slight edge here, with average rates coming in at around $129 per month compared to Safeway's $136.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance prices are generally less expensive for married policyholders than they are for those who are single? This usually boils down to married couples having several cars on their policy -- something lots of auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Metromile is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums about $61 a month cheaper than Safeway, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Metromile is also obvious, where drivers save more than 15% per month.

Metromile vs. Safeway: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for car insurance than men? This is because men are more likely to get tickets and get into accidents, which increases the chances of an insurance claim.

Surprisingly, men usually pay around $4 a month less than women with Metromile, while with Safeway, the difference is closer to $18 per month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Metromile comes out as the lowest option for both genders, with average rates $55 less for men and $33 cheaper for women.

Metromile or Safeway: 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.

It's no secret that auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are lots of different coverages that account for several 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.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Metromile typically offers less expensive prices of $99 compared to Safeway's $130. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Metromile again has the edge, with policies about $55 a month more affordable than Safeway, on average.

Is Metromile or Safeway 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with collisions and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest premiums to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Metromile policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $33 per month if they get a ticket, while Safeway normally raises premiums around $7 a month, on average.

That being said, Metromile is usually the cheaper option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save about $48 per month and drivers with a ticket can save around $22 a month with Metromile.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Metromile drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices rise by just under 35%, while those who have insurance through Safeway will see about a 25% increase.

Overall, the more affordable rates come from Metromile, with monthly prices averaging $171 compared to Safeway Insurance's $223.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. Safeway drivers usually see a 26% climb in their insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Metromile will generally raise rates by around 31%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Metromile tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $167 monthly compared to $220 from Safeway.

How does Credit Score Impact Metromile and Safeway Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly auto insurance premiums. This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for quite a few policyholders.

The reasoning car insurance companies use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper prices, while those with poor credit will normally be forced to pay more.

Looking at Metromile and Safeway specifically, which carrier has the most affordable rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Typically, the more miles you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

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

Metromile vs. Safeway: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for insurance. Generally, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders because of the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Metromile boasts the most affordable average rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Metromile offers premiums about $209 a month compared to Safeway's $234. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $121 a month for Metromile and $201 for Safeway. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest prices from both carriers, with average monthly rates coming in at $120 and $146 for Metromile and Safeway respectively.

Metromile vs. Safeway Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto 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 can take advantage of or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Metromile and Safeway offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Safeway knocks Metromile out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering seven more discounts than Metromile.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Safeway also offers agency transfer discounts, defensive driver discounts, full coverage discounts, and more that Metromile does not.

On the flip side, Metromile has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for being a good driver, multi-policy discounts, online quote discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Metromile or Safeway Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, is Metromile or Safeway the right fit for you?

Metromile might be best for you if....

• You have a clean record.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" car insurance.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

Safeway might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (Safeway offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Metromile and Safeway and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Metromile and Safeway. 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.

Metromile vs. Safeway FAQs

Is Metromile or Safeway cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Metromile is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $150 per month compared to $194 for Safeway. Even so, Metromile won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each driver, since there are multiple different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Metromile or Safeway?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Metromile and Safeway offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at many different factors when calculating the premiums they charge policyholders. Things such as gender, age, where you park your vehicle, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Metromile and Safeway calculate rates differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Metromile or Safeway 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.