First American Property & Casualty vs. Mercury: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, First American Property & Casualty offers significantly cheaper rates than Mercury
• First American Property & Casualty tends to be a much more affordable option for residents of urban areas
• Mercury offers more affordable prices for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit

First American Property & Casualty vs. Mercury: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering hefty discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering First American Property & Casualty or Mercury, but between the two, which carrier will offer you less expensive rates?

As you can see, Mercury is quite a bit more expensive than First American Property & Casualty, with premiums averaging $295 per month compared to just $167 with First American Property & Casualty when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

However, First American Property & Casualty may not be the cheapest or best option for each driver out there. Insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how old you are or where you live (among a variety of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both First American Property & Casualty and Mercury by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

First American Property & Casualty or Mercury: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

First American Property & Casualty and Mercury only compete against each other in California, where Mercury offers the cheaper average prices. For California residents, Mercury offers car insurance for $125 a month on average. First American Property & Casualty's average premiums come out to be over 30% more expensive, at $167 per month.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just where you call home. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance rates of any other group of drivers out there on the road. It's normally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $350 less a month by choosing First American Property & Casualty over Mercury.

Even so, with both carriers, you'll see your prices decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for First American Property & Casualty policyholders lower over $200 and Mercury's rates drop nearly $500 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable prices you'll ever see.

When looking at First American Property & Casualty and Mercury specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? First American Property & Casualty gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at about $121 monthly compared to Mercury's $219.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are generally more affordable for married couples than they are for those who are single? That's usually because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, First American Property & Casualty is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices around $166 per month cheaper than Mercury, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with First American Property & Casualty is also obvious, where drivers save about $80 a month.

First American Property & Casualty vs. Mercury: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which means they'll typically end up paying more for insurance than women.

With First American Property & Casualty, everyone ends up paying the same monthly premiums regardless of gender, and around $14 more with Mercury.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, First American Property & Casualty comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 45% less for men and 42% cheaper for women.

First American Property & Casualty 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.

Car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are a bunch of different coverages that account for lots of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, First American Property & Casualty normally offers significantly less expensive prices of $70 compared to Mercury's $184. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, First American Property & Casualty again has the edge, with policies about $150 per month more affordable than Mercury, on average.

Is First American Property & Casualty or Mercury Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

It's no secret secret that at-fault accidents and tickets lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- First American Property & Casualty or Mercury -- has the cheapest premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

First American Property & Casualty policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $26 a month if they get a ticket, while Mercury usually raises rates around $57 per month, on average.

That being said, First American Property & Casualty is typically the cheaper option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket, offering premiums that are 50% and 51% less expensive, respectively, compared to Mercury Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

First American Property & Casualty drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices rise by over $25, while those who have insurance through Mercury will see about a $100 increase.

Overall, drivers who use First American Property & Casualty end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $145 compared to Mercury Insurance's $346.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly insurance bill -- generally a lot more than an accident or ticket. For example, First American Property & Casualty increases average prices by just under $150 a month -- that's just under a 55% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact First American Property & Casualty and Mercury Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (for example, California and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for a lot of policyholders.

Auto insurance carriers 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 rates.

So, which company offers the lowest premiums for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have fantastic credit, Mercury Insurance will normally reward you. Improving your "good" credit score to an "excellent" one will generally save Mercury Insurance customers around 15%. undefined, on the other hand, doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means they most likely don't use credit to calculate your rates.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Having bad credit can cost you with Mercury Insurance. As you can see, Mercury Insurance customers with poor credit scores pay about $100 per month more than those with fair scores (and even more compared to drivers with good or excellent scores). On the other hand, undefined doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means drivers with bad credit may find better rates with undefined over Mercury Insurance.

Is First American Property & Casualty or Mercury Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in your monthly car insurance payment. Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper prices since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing 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 significant difference in monthly premiums for First American Property & Casualty, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car each year paying around $51 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, First American Property & Casualty is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

First American Property & Casualty vs. Mercury: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a large impact on your monthly insurance cost. Typically, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, First American Property & Casualty usually comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the lowest prices from both carriers, but First American Property & Casualty comes out on top with average rates about $140 per month. First American Property & Casualty also has cheaper average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 57% and 32% a month respective difference when compared to Mercury drivers in similar areas.

First American Property & Casualty vs. Mercury Discounts

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

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you qualify for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both First American Property & Casualty and Mercury so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Mercury knocks First American Property & Casualty out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 27 different discounts to First American Property & Casualty's 27.

Both companies offer many of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good driver, group discounts, and multi-policy discounts -- but Mercury also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, continuous insurance discounts, and more that First American Property & Casualty does not.

On the flip side, First American Property & Casualty has a unique discount of its own -- a renewal discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is First American Property & Casualty or Mercury Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the right one for you and your specific needs?

First American Property & Casualty might be best for you if....

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles yearly.

Mercury might be best for you if...

• Your credit is below-average.
• You have above-average credit.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between First American Property & Casualty and Mercury. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just First American Property & Casualty and Mercury. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

First American Property & Casualty vs. Mercury FAQs

Is First American Property & Casualty or Mercury cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, First American Property & Casualty is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $167 per month compared to $295 for Mercury. But First American Property & Casualty won't necessarily be the most affordable company for each driver, since there are a range of different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, First American Property & Casualty or Mercury?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, First American Property & Casualty offers less expensive premiums for policyholders with an at-fault accident on their record, while Mercury is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do First American Property & Casualty and Mercury offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different factors when calculating the rates they charge drivers. Variables like age, your driving record, gender, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both First American Property & Casualty and Mercury calculate prices using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

How do I know if First American Property & Casualty 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 several carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be First American Property & Casualty 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.