MetLife Insurance Review
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
Insurance reviews
Auto insurance
Homeowners insurance
The bottom line:
MetLife's auto and home policies are now sold under Farmers Insurance, one of the largest insurers in the nation.
Pros
- Fewer than the expected number of complaints for home insurance.
- 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.
See what you could save on car insurance
Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.
Get started on Insure.com
Auto insurance review
4.5
/5 NerdWallet ratingMetLife 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 auto insurance coverage
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.
» MORE: Compare car insurance rates
Auto insurance discounts
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.
See what you could save on car insurance
Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.
Get started on Insure.com
Auto insurance buying guide
Before you compare car insurance companies, you’ll need to collect some basic information. This includes the driving history of everyone who will be on the policy, as well as facts about your car, such as safety features and annual mileage driven. You’ll also want to determine 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 make your decision based on price alone. Look at how many consumer complaints each company has, as a high number of complaints could be a red flag about the quality of service you'll 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.
Homeowners insurance review
2.5
/5 NerdWallet ratingMetLife home insurance coverage
Homeowners insurance policies from MetLife include the standard coverage 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
Being a member of certain groups or working for 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.
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 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 get auto insurance quotes online.
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.
Life insurance from MetLife
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.
Other 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.
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.
Home insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s homeowners 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, coverages, discounts, online experience and more. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. 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.
