MetLife insurance reviews and ratings
- Overall customer satisfaction is about average.
- Has close to the expected number of customer complaints relative to its size for auto insurance, and fewer than expected for home insurance.
- Identity theft protection is included in home, auto and renters policies.
Editor’s note: On April 7, 2021, MetLife’s auto and home insurance business was officially acquired by Farmers Insurance. Other than being rebranded, policies will remain the same for existing MetLife policyholders.
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 share a single deductible.
MetLife pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Fewer than the expected number of complaints for home insurance | Below average customer satisfaction for auto insurance shopping |
| Offers combination policies with a single deductible if you buy home and auto insurance in most states |
MetLife auto insurance
MetLife auto insurance earned 3.5 stars out of 5 for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account pricing and discounts, ease of filing a claim, website transparency, financial strength, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and more.
Common types of car insurance coverage
When you’re shopping for car insurance, it’s important to understand what car insurance coverage you want and what you’re required to buy. Most states require car insurance to drive a vehicle, although minimum coverage requirements vary from state to state. This generally includes liability insurance and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
If you want extra protection, you may be interested in full coverage insurance. Full coverage isn’t a specific policy you can buy, but rather a combination of coverage types like liability, collision and comprehensive insurance.
Check out the most common types of car insurance coverage below to see how they work:
| Coverage type | What it pays for | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury and property damage liability | Costs for injuries, deaths or property damage from an accident you caused. | Typically required. |
| Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage | Medical and property damage costs after an accident with a driver who has insufficient insurance or none at all. | Often required. |
| Collision coverage | Repair expenses from traffic-related accidents, regardless of who's at fault. | A car loan or lease may require it. |
| Comprehensive coverage | Repair costs from events outside your control — including weather events, hitting an animal while driving, theft and vandalism. | A car loan or lease may require it. |
In addition to the standard car insurance 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.
MetLife’s auto insurance discounts include:
- Discount for taking an approved defensive driving course.
- Multi-policy discount.
- Good student discount.
- Discount if all drivers in your household have outstanding driving records or if you remain claim- and violation-free for five consecutive years.
» MORE: Compare car insurance rates
Auto insurance buying guide
Before you compare car insurance companies, you’ll need to collect basic information, such as the driving history of everyone on the policy and facts about your car, including safety features and annual mileage driven. You’ll also want to understand which types of coverage you need. For example, do you want only the bare minimum insurance that your state requires, or do you need more extensive coverage, such as gap insurance or rideshare coverage? Check that each company you’re considering has the options you want.
When comparing rates among insurers, make sure each is offering the same coverage limits and deductibles. You may not want to decide based on price alone. Look at how many consumer complaints each company has, as high numbers can be a red flag about the quality of service you might receive.
Depending on which company you choose, you may be able to buy insurance online, over the phone or through an agent. For more guidance, see how to get car insurance.
MetLife homeowners insurance
Homeowners insurance policies from MetLife include the standard coverages along with free identity theft protection. Customers can also opt for:
Replacement cost coverage, which pays what’s necessary to rebuild a destroyed home, even if it costs more than the house was insured for.
Contents replacement coverage, which pays to replace personal property without reducing the payout for depreciation (not available in all states).
For buyers who bundle home and auto coverage, MetLife offers combination policies with a single deductible in most states.
Home insurance discounts include:
- Membership in certain groups or employment with certain employers. Ask if your group or employer makes you eligible.
- Fire or theft prevention systems, such as smoke detectors and deadbolt locks. Discount varies by state.
- Bundling auto and home insurance from MetLife.
MetLife life insurance
Life insurance from MetLife is available only through a 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 complaints and customer satisfaction
MetLife had close to 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. It had fewer than the expected number of complaints relative to its size for home insurance.
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 |
| Home Insurance | Above average |
| Property Insurance Claims | Below average |
More about MetLife
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 get auto insurance quotes online.
MetLife’s main mobile phone 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 with a phone.
The MetLife Infinity app lets you upload photos, videos and documents to share with loved ones now or later.
| Other types of insurance from MetLife | |
|---|---|
| Dental insurance. | RV and motorcycle insurance. |
| Condo insurance. | Boat insurance |
| Renters insurance. | Landlord insurance. |
| Insurance available through a workplace: Life, dental, disability, vision, accident and pet insurance. | |
