MetLife is one of the most well-established insurance companies in the game, with a wide network of agents and a solid array of offerings as well as some unique features, longer-than-standard policy lengths, that help it stand out from the pack.
As a major carrier, MetLife Auto & Home offers similar coverage options and rates as its competitors. And if you repair your vehicle through one of MetLife’s preferred service providers, MetLife promises “quality repairs,” which often means original manufacturer parts for your car.
As with most of the big insurance carriers, MetLife is accessible to almost all drivers, but you likely won’t get the level of personalized service while filing a claim that you might with a smaller, more specialized auto insurance carrier, which may account for some of the dissatisfaction when it comes to claims.
Founded: 1868
Market Share: 1.04%
A.M. Best rating: A+
Better Business Bureau rating: C-
Consumer Reports rating: 86
J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction rating: 854
MetLife auto insurance is available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, indicated in the map and chart below.
State | Availability | State | Availability |
---|---|---|---|
Alabama | X | Montana | X |
Alaska | X | Nebraska | X |
Arizona | X | Nevada | X |
Arkansas | X | New Hampshire | X |
California | X | New Jersey | X |
Colorado | X | New Mexico | X |
Connecticut | X | New York | X |
Delaware | X | North Carolina | X |
Florida | X | North Dakota | X |
Georgia | X | Ohio | X |
Hawaii | X | Oklahoma | X |
Idaho | X | Oregon | X |
Illinois | X | Pennsylvania | X |
Indiana | X | Rhode Island | X |
Iowa | X | South Carolina | X |
Kansas | X | South Dakota | X |
Kentucky | X | Tennessee | X |
Louisiana | X | Texas | X |
Maine | X | Utah | X |
Massachusetts | X | Vermont | X |
Maryland | X | Virginia | X |
Michigan | X | Washington | X |
Minnesota | X | Washington D.C. | X |
Mississippi | X | West Virginia | X |
Missouri | X | Wisconsin | X |
Wyoming | X |
As a major carrier, MetLife offers all the standard coverages you’ll find from comparable providers, plus some additional coverages that not every insurer offers. MetLife also offers 12-month auto policies, as opposed to the industry standard six-month policy. An annual auto insurance policy means that your rate is locked in for a whole year instead of up for renewal every six months, which can be a big perk if you don’t want to deal with the possibility of a premium increase.
Liability protection - Protects you from being on the hook financially if you cause damage or injuries to someone else, their vehicle or other property
Personal injury protection - This covers medical expenses for you and your passengers after an accident
Collision coverage - Covers damage to your car after an accident, no matter who was at fault
Comprehensive coverage - Covers damage to your car that isn’t a collision (like extreme weather, vandalism, fire or theft)
Uninsured and underinsured motorists coverage - Covers the costs of an accident caused by an uninsured driver or a hit and run, or pays for the costs that exceed the coverage amount of an uninsured driver
Rental car coverage - Covers charges from the rental agency if you have an accident in a rental car
Major parts replacement - Pays to replace parts like tires, brakes and batteries after an accident, even if those parts had depreciated in value
Glass repairs without a deductible - If your windshield is damaged, you can get it repaired without having to reach your deductible
Legal defense coverage - Pays legal fees if you’re sued
Custom sound system coverage - Coverage for a custom or aftermarket sound system that you’ve added to your vehicle
The cost of auto insurance varies widely and is determined by a number of factors, including your address, the type of car you have, your driving record, your age, your credit score and how frequently you drive. No matter who you are, MetLife will likely be able to write you a competitive policy.
Below is a sample policy for a year-old Mazda SUV, written for a policyholder who lives in a suburb in a coastal state. The annual premium for the policy is $1,260, slightly below that state’s average annual car insurance expenditure. The MetLife quote was also about $600 less than an auto quote the policyholder received from competitor Plymouth Rock.
Basic Coverages | Policy Limits | |
---|---|---|
Bodily injury liability | $100,000 each person, $300,000 each accident | |
Property damage liability | $100,000 each accident | |
Personal injury protection | $50,000 | |
Uninsured motorists bodily injury | $100,000 each person, $300,000 each accident | |
Uninsured motorists property damage | $50,000 each accident | |
Comprehensive | N/A | |
Collision | N/A | |
Substitute transportation (rental car) | $40 each day, $1,200 maximum payout | |
Towing/roadside assistance | $100 each occurrence |
Total annual premium = $1,260
MetLife’s group coverage offers discounted rates to employees of MetLife affiliates and, in many cases, insurance payments can be taken directly out of your paycheck. Group coverage is available to employees of a number of Fortune-500 companies, top airlines, the NBA, and several large unions.
MetLife auto offers an online application process for car insurance, and it’s pretty straightforward. You’ll need to input information like your name, address, job and the type of car you drive in order to get a quote, and you’ll get a quote estimate based on that.
After you get your quote, you can complete your application online, which is a plus for convenience, but the website can be a little finicky, and froze for us in the middle of the quote process, so you might wind up just calling an agent anyways.
MetLife allows you to submit claims online or through its mobile app, and the mobile app will also help you record info you need after an accident, like photos and details of the incident.
On the J.D. Power 2018 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, MetLife scored 854, slightly below the industry average of 861 but higher than competitors like 21st Century, Esurance and Progressive. Customers who complained about the claims process tended to mention long wait times or lack of communication from claims adjusters.
A smart way to save money on your auto insurance from MetLife is by bundling it with another type of insurance the company offers, so if you have another property or vehicle to insure, consider combining.
Website: www.metlife.com
Phone: 1-800-638-5433
Headquarters: 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166
The review on this page is only for the company’s auto insurance products.
50 West 23rd Street, Floor 9
New York, NY 10010
Monday-Thursday | 9am-11pm ET
Friday | 9am-8pm ET
Saturday | 9am-9pm ET
Sunday | 10am-9pm ET
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Yes, we have to include some legalese down here. Read it larger on our legal page. Policygenius Inc. (“Policygenius”) is a licensed independent insurance broker. Policygenius does not underwrite any insurance policy described on this website. The information provided on this site has been developed by Policygenius for general informational and educational purposes. We do our best efforts to ensure that this information is up-to-date and accurate. Any insurance policy premium quotes or ranges displayed are non-binding. The final insurance policy premium for any policy is determined by the underwriting insurance company following application. Savings are estimated by comparing the highest and lowest price for a shopper in a given health class. For example: for a 30-year old non-smoker male in South Carolina with excellent health and a preferred plus health class, comparing quotes for a $500,000, 20-year term life policy, the price difference between the lowest and highest quotes is 60%. For that same shopper in New York, the price difference is 40%. Rates are subject to change and are valid as of 2/17/17.
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