MetLife Auto Insurance

The MetLife auto insurance company is among the largest insurance providers in the world, having over 90 million customers and operating in 60 countries. The company is headquartered in New York, and it was founded all the way back in 1868. It is ranked 43rd in the 2018 Fortune 500 list, making it one of the best-ranked insurance companies.

MetLife is perhaps most familiar to the general public for its “Get Met, it pays” commercials with Snoopy, but the company has switched to a more professional tone since 2016. There are many MetLife insurance reviews available online, and we checked them all, along with our data and the ratings of the industry experts. For these reasons, this review brings the most comprehensive and thorough information to help you decide if MetLife is a good choice for you.

Product Overview and Features

MetLife operates in every US state, and it offers wide-ranging insurance coverage options that include homeowners, life, and auto. The prices that MetLife offers are fair, while discounts are not as numerous as those provided by the competition. However, MetLife provides a discount to the members and employees of the many brands and organizations associated with them, which can bring down the premium significantly, sometimes as much as 50%. The company also offers good perks for those with a relatively new car.

MetLife’s customer service isn’t rated highly, with many reviews giving it average or below average scores. The company offers Metlife e-service in some states, allowing you to buy and manage insurance entirely online, including filing claims. There is also an app for those using mobile devices. However, customer impressions of their online tools are not great. Overall, MetLife can be a solid option for those who can get the employee discounts, or for those who have recently bought a new car.

Financial Strength

Being one of the largest insurance companies in the world, MetLife insurance has excellent financial strength. The company is rated very high in the 2021 Fortune 500 list, and it has an A (Excellent) financial strength rating, the second-best possible rating awarded by A. M. Best, the corporation that rates insurance providers based on financial stability. This information indicates that an average customer doesn’t have to worry that MetLife will not be able to pay claim expenses in case of an accident.

Types of Insurance

MetLife offers coverage that’s standard for the industry, such as collision, comprehensive, property damage liability, bodily injury liability, medical expenses, personal injury protection, and underinsured/uninsured motorist protection. They also offer some noteworthy additional coverages, although MetLife auto insurance reviews stress that there are companies that offer more options in this department.

Towing and Roadside Assistance

This is an optional coverage that’s charged as an extra. It also offers towing, roadside repairs, and locksmith services in case your car breaks down. Check AAA auto insurance if you would like this option to be automatically included.

Rental Car Reimbursement

While you are waiting for your car to be repaired, MetLife will pay the expenses of the car you are renting to get around. Many insurance companies in the US offer this coverage. As confirmed in other MetLife insurance reviews, the particular limits that MetLife offers are $25 daily and $750 total.

New Car Replacement

This is a great option offered by MetLife for those who recently got a new car. If the vehicle is less than one year old and it did not cover more than 15,000 miles, MetLife will pay you the full price of the new model, if the car suffers total damage. This does not apply to leased vehicles.

Custom Sound Equipment Coverage

Audiophiles who invested heavily in their sound system will be happy to hear that MetLife auto insurance offers optional coverage for aftermarket car audio that protects their precious gear. On the other hand, companies like Progressive are willing to cover even more custom vehicle parts.

Protection Against Identity Theft

This option covers expenses in case someone steals or misuses your identity. MetLife is among the rare insurance providers to offer this kind of coverage, and the great news is that it comes free with MetLife home and auto policies.

Gap Coverage

This is another option that most US insurance companies offer. In case your car is totaled, gap insurance pays the difference between the value of your vehicle and the amount left on your loan or lease.

Legal Defense Coverage

MetLife also offers to cover legal defense expenses and compensation of up to $200 in lost wages in case you get sued as a result of a car accident.

Replacement Cost Coverage for Some Parts

Instead of paying you the actual cash value, like most of the competition, MetLife car insurance will pay you the full replacement cost of some significant car parts such as tires, batteries, and brakes.

Rideshare Insurance

This is offered only to Lyft drivers in the states of California, Colorado, Washington, Texas, and Illinois. This coverage protects you while you are waiting for a match, are on the way to pick someone up, or you are already driving a passenger.

Customer Service

The MetLife insurance company rating is average or below average when it comes to customer service. J.D. Power, an authority that conducted comprehensive research in the aspects of claims processing and insurance shopping satisfaction, gives their customer service an average score of 3 out of 5 stars in both categories.

The Better Business Bureau analyzes how fairly disputes are handled, and whether or not the company behaves ethically, presenting all of its practices to a customer clearly. MetLife insurance reviews and ratings with the BBB show a high rating (A+). However, there’s a substantial number of strikingly negative customer reviews on BBB’s website.

On the other hand, MetLife’s rating from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners is 0.69, which is below average for a company of its size (the lower, the better).

Many reviews highlight that customers report issues with its online tools. Specifically, they complained that MetLife MyDirect, the quote tool, is sluggish and difficult to use. Also, the mobile app has a 1.3 star rating on the iOS platform and 2.3 stars on the Android platform, which is really bad.

Like all big insurance companies, MetLife has many one-star reviews on websites like Yelp and USInsuranceAgents, which is typical for a business of its size. Simply put, customers are more likely to take the time to leave a negative review about the MetLife online tools or customer service, etc., than a positive one.

Discounts

MetLife does not offer as many discounts as the competition; however, some unique favorites  can really bring your premium down. It should be noted that not all discounts are available in all US states, and some discounts do not stack.

MetLife offers a discount to customers who belong to an employer or group associated with the company, which can reduce your premium by an incredible 50%. MetLife car insurance reviews agree that this is the best discount MetLife offers. Even if you don’t get the maximum discount, the reduction is sure to be significant. There are numerous different organizations, employees, and credit and labor unions that associate themselves with MetLife. Which means the chances are good that you will be eligible for the discount. Other discounts offered include the following:

Automatic Payment

If you set up automatic payments, MetLife will eliminate service fee expenses.

Bundle Discount

If you bundle your insurance with homeowners, MetLife auto insurance will give you a discount of up to 10%, and if you bundle with life insurance, the discount is up to 5%.

Defensive Driver Discount

If you complete a defensive driving course, or if you have completed one in the last three years, you can get a discount of up to 7%.

Superior Driver Discount

If you have driven without a violation for the last five years, you can get up to a 12% discount. And if you also haven’t filed a claim in the same period, the discount can reach 20%.

Good Student Discount

If you are a young driver with good grades, you can save up to 15% on your premium.

Deductible Savings Discount

If you don’t make any Metlife claims for a year, your deductible will decrease by $50 per year, up to a maximum $250.

Mature Driver Discount

Drivers aged 50–65 years old can also receive a discount, with the amount varying from state to state.

Auto Safety Equipment

If your car is equipped with safety devices such as airbags or anti-theft devices, a discount is available.

The MyJourney Discount

Though it’s not an uncommon program, most Metlife insurance reviews agree that this discount is generous. When you enroll, you will get an automatic 10% discount. Then, depending on the state you live in, MetLife will track your driving habits either using a mobile app or a device installed in your car, and if you drive safe and if you score well, you can get up to a 30% discount at renewal.

Windshield Repair Discount

If your windshield gets cracked and can be repaired instead of completely replaced, MetLife will waive the deductible. Erie insurance also offers this same discount.

Insurance Rates

A MetLife auto insurance rate comparison shows that the company’s coverage offers fall in the middle of the price spectrum. Geico and Progressive tend to be cheaper in all categories. While State Farm and Allstate are more expensive in all categories. Travelers tends to cost less for older drivers, while MetLife is better for drivers in their 30s.

Our analysis also confirms that the prices MetLife offers are in the average range. In the MetLife quote we got, the monthly premium for a 40-year-old driver was $261. Our quote included full coverage limits and options. The total average for all the companies we tested for that category was slightly less, being about $235. However, if you work in a company or belong to a group associated with MetLife, you can receive a terrific discount of up to 50% and get the best possible prices in the market.

MetLife Auto Insurance Compared with Top Competitors

Best Alternatives

If the MetLife customer service ratings aren’t your cup of tea, Erie and Amica Mutual might be more to your liking. Erie offers excellent rates, but it is only available in some states. Geico offers competitive prices and is available nationwide. For those looking for several discount options, they should still try and check out American Family.

Perhaps the best course of action is to get a MetLife auto insurance quote and compare it with the prices that the competitors offer. Only this way will you be sure that you got the best deal possible.

Other Expert’s Thoughts

MetLife gets 3 out of 5 stars in both claims and shopping satisfaction according to J.D. Power, which are relatively average scores. NerdWallet, a website that ranks most US insurance agencies, puts MetLife at 18th place out of 23 total, giving it 3.5 out of 5 stars. ValuePenguin gives it a slightly better score of 4 stars out of 5, calling it “a solid if not stellar choice for most.”

We found that the majority of the best auto insurance reviews criticized the online tools that MetLife offers while praising the discounts given to those working in companies associated with MetLife.

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