Country Financial vs. Mercury: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Country Financial offers significantly less expensive premiums than Mercury
• Country Financial has more affordable prices for policyholders who live in suburban areas
• Mercury offers more discounts than COUNTRY Financial

Country Financial vs. Mercury: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Country Financial or Mercury as potential options, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Mercury is quite a bit more expensive than Country Financial, with premiums averaging $295 per month compared to just $138 with Country Financial.

That being said, Country Financial may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Auto insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, how old you are, where you live, and all sorts of other factors, so prices could differ drastically from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Country Financial or Mercury is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each carrier broken down by a bunch of different rate factors.

Country Financial or Mercury: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Country Financial and Mercury compete against each other in four states, with Country Financial offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. Nevada has the most noticable difference, where Country Financial rates are over 70% less expensive than car insurance premiums at Mercury.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your insurance cost than just where you call home. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance prices. As you can see above, teens who use Country Financial save more than $450 a month compared to those who use Mercury.

Even so, both companies will lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. Mercury offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Country Financial still has the most affordable prices at $139 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll normally enjoy the cheapest insurance premiums out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for auto insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Country Financial and Mercury? Country Financial gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $114 more affordable than the national average for Mercury.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance rates are generally cheaper for married policyholders than they are for single policyholders? That's because policies for married couples usually cover more than one car, which many carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Country Financial is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices about $199 per month less expensive than Mercury, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Country Financial is also obvious, where drivers save around $100 a month.

Country Financial vs. Mercury: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but insurance is generally more expensive for men than for women. This is because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which raises the chances of an insurance claim.

On average, men see premiums about 2% per month higher with Country Financial, and around 5% with Mercury.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Country Financial offers the most affordable average rates for both men and women, with average prices $162 less for men and $151 cheaper for women.

Country Financial or Mercury: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different terms and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

But most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Country Financial normally offers significantly more affordable premiums of $82 compared to Mercury's $184. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Country Financial again has the edge, with policies about $200 a month cheaper than Mercury, on average.

Is Country Financial or Mercury Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance companies offering great rates for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

At-fault accidents and tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is Country Financial or Mercury less expensive for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Country Financial policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $31 per month if they get a ticket, while Mercury typically raises rates around $57 a month, on average.

However, Country Financial has more affordable prices for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are $132 and $158 cheaper, respectively, compared to Mercury Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Country Financial drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums climb by just under 30%, while those who have insurance through Mercury will see about a 30% increase.

Overall, the less expensive rates come from Country Financial, with monthly premiums averaging $147 compared to Mercury Insurance's $346.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even an accident. For example, Mercury increases average prices by over $65 per month -- that's over a 20% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Country Financial tends to be the much cheaper option with average rates of $165 a month compared to $303 from Mercury.

How does Credit Score Impact Country Financial and Mercury Rates?

Did you know that many insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect lots of policyholders out there.

Auto insurance companies argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable premiums.

So, which carrier offers the best prices for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Country Financial. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 50% compared to Mercury, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $145 or 55% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Country Financial typically offers lower rates than Mercury when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $175 a month less with Country Financial compared to Mercury, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around $218 per month.

Is Country Financial or Mercury Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a substantial impact on how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage? That's because the fewer miles you put on your vehicle, the less likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Mercury charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Country Financial, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car yearly paying about $2 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, Country Financial is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Country Financial vs. Mercury: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a sizable impact as well. Normally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Country Financial tends to offer the cheapest prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable premiums from both companies, but Country Financial comes out on top with average rates around $109 monthly. Country Financial also has less expensive average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 56% and 52% per month respective difference when compared to Mercury policyholders in similar areas.

Country Financial vs. Mercury Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you can take advantage of.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Country Financial and Mercury so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Mercury knocks Country Financial out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 27 different discounts to Country Financial's 27.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, group discounts, and multi-policy discounts. Mercury also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, continuous insurance discounts, and more that Country Financial does not.

On the flip side, Country Financial has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for getting driver training, simply drive discounts, and telematics discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Country Financial or Mercury Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the best carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Country Financial might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" insurance.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

Mercury might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- COUNTRY Financial only offers policies in seven states.
• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Country Financial and Mercury. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on car insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple carriers, not just Country Financial and Mercury. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Country Financial vs. Mercury FAQs

Is Country Financial or Mercury cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Country Financial is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $138 a month compared to $295 for Mercury. That being said, Country Financial won't necessarily be the lowest company for every driver, since there are multiple different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Country Financial or Mercury?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Country Financial and Mercury offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at a lot of different factors when determining the prices they charge drivers. Variables like where you live, gender, where you call home, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Country Financial and Mercury calculate premiums using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

How do I know if Country Financial or Mercury is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Country Financial or Mercury at all!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.