MetLife Insurance Review

Editor’s note: On April 7, 2021, MetLife’s auto and home insurance business was officially acquired by Farmers Insurance. As such, this article may contain outdated information. Other than being rebranded, policies will remain the same for existing MetLife policyholders.
Kayda Norman
By Kayda Norman 

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Our Take

The bottom line:

MetLife's auto and home policies are now sold under Farmers Insurance, one of the largest insurers in the nation.

MetLife Auto Insurance
NAIC complaints
No data
Ease of use
No data
Discounts
No data

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Offers combination policies with a single deductible if you buy home and auto insurance in most states.

Cons

  • Below-average customer satisfaction for auto insurance shopping.

Full Review

MetLife may be best known for selling insurance policies through workplaces, but the company also offers auto, home, dental and other types of insurance to individuals. Policies are sold by a network of agents across the nation.

For home and auto, MetLife offers several coverage options that will pay the full cost of replacing damaged property. Policies can also share a single deductible.

Why you can trust NerdWallet: Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage so you can choose the insurance policy that works best for you. These carrier ratings are specific to auto insurance — a company's rating for other products may be different on our site. See our criteria for evaluating auto insurance companies.

In our auto insurance reviews, our editorial team considers both the customer and the insurer. These are some of the factors we take into account:

Financial strength. We use A.M. Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims. NerdWallet does not recommend companies with a rating lower than a B. 

Complaints. These ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The best auto insurance companies have fewer than the expected number of complaints.

Ease of use. This category looks at how easily consumers can interact with an insurer through its mobile app and website. This includes how much coverage information is offered online, whether a user can start and track a claim online and get a quote and mobile app scores based on the Apple and Google Play store ratings.

Discounts. We look at both the kind of discounts a company offers and the total number of discounts available.

MetLife auto insurance coverage

When you're shopping for car insurance coverage, it's important to understand what car insurance coverage you want and what you’re required to buy. For instance, most states require a minimum amount of car insurance to drive a vehicle. Alternatively, if you want extra protection, you may be interested in full coverage insurance. Read about the most common types of car insurance coverage to see how they work.

In addition to standard car insurance coverage options, MetLife offers:

New car replacement. This option repairs or replaces your car with a new one if you total your car within the first 15,000 miles or within one year of purchasing it (whichever comes first).

Major parts replacement. If you’re in an accident, this option will pay to replace major parts like tires and brakes, regardless of their level of wear and tear. It’s not available in all states.

Gap insurance. If your car is totaled in a wreck and you owe more on the loan or lease than the vehicle is worth, this coverage pays the difference.

Deductible-free glass repair. This coverage waives your deductible for repairs if your windshield is cracked or chipped.

Deductible savings benefit. You can earn $50 each year you don’t make a claim, up to $250, to use toward lowering the deductible if you do make a claim. It’s not available in all states, and drivers in New York must first pay a required minimum deductible.

Usage-based insurance. The My Journey program, available in 20 states, tracks and scores your driving through a tracking app. You get an initial discount of up to 25% for enrolling. At renewal time you can earn a discount of up to 30% for safe driving.

Auto insurance discounts

You may be able to save on auto insurance with MetLife by:

  • Taking an approved defensive driving course.

  • Having multiple policies with MetLife.

  • Meeting MetLife's requirements for being a good student.

  • All drivers in your household having what MetLife considers "outstanding" driving records.

  • Remaining claim- and violation-free for five consecutive years.

🤓Nerdy Tip

First time shopping for auto insurance? Unsure where to start? Check out our guide on how to shop for car insurance.

Complaints and customer satisfaction

MetLife had fewer than the expected number of complaints to state regulators relative to its size for auto insurance, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

MetLife receives mixed ratings for customer satisfaction.

2020 J.D. Power study

MetLife rank

Auto Insurance Shopping

Below average

Auto Insurance Claims Satisfaction

Above average

More about MetLife insurance 

Website: MetLife’s website features question-and-answer sections about its insurance products and general how-to articles on insurance, wellness and money matters. You can also get auto insurance quotes online.

Apps: MetLife has multiple apps for customers to utilize.

  • MetLife’s main mobile app lets you submit car accident claims, view auto and home insurance policy summaries, pay auto and home insurance bills, and more.

  • The My Journey app tracks driving for MetLife’s usage-based car insurance program. The app provides driving scores for each trip, considering factors such as mileage, speeding, hard braking and distracted driving.

  • The MetLife Infinity app lets you upload photos, videos and documents to share with loved ones now or later.

Home, renters, life and pet insurance from MetLife

Homeowners and renters insurance policies are now officially sold through Farmers insurance. To learn more, read our MetLife home insurance review and our MetLife renters insurance review.

Life insurance from MetLife is available only through the workplace.

In 2017, MetLife spun off its U.S. individual life insurance and annuity business to a separate company, Brighthouse Financial, which offers permanent and term life insurance and annuities.

MetLife also sells pet insurance to individuals and as an employee benefit. Learn more with our MetLife pet insurance review.

Other insurance from MetLife

  • Dental insurance.

  • RV and motorcycle insurance.

  • Condo insurance.

  • Boat insurance

  • Pet insurance.

  • Landlord insurance.

Insurance available through a workplace: Life, dental, disability, vision, accident and pet insurance.

Methodology

Insurer complaints methodology

NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2018-2020. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.

Auto insurance ratings methodology

NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.