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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Foremost offers slightly cheaper prices than Mercury
• Foremost offers more affordable premiums for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Mercury tends to be a much less expensive option for policyholders who live in suburban areas

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

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

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Foremost or Mercury as potential options, but between the two, which company will offer you more affordable rates?

Looking at nationwide averages, Foremost is about $25 per month cheaper than Mercury.

However, that doesn't mean Foremost will necessarily be less expensive than Mercury for every driver. Auto insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on where you live or how good your credit score is (among quite a few other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Foremost and Mercury by lots of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Foremost or Mercury: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Foremost and Mercury only compete against each other in two states, with Mercury offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Texas has the most noticable difference, where Mercury rates are over 20% less expensive than car insurance premiums at Foremost.

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance prices of any other group of drivers. The reason is that 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 still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Foremost for their insurance pay more than $150 less than those who use Mercury.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for Foremost policyholders reduce nearly $350 and Mercury's prices lower around $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 cheapest premiums you'll ever see.

So, which carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? Foremost gets the slight edge here, with average prices coming in at about $219 per month compared to Mercury's $219. But the difference is only around 5%, so other factors (such as your credit score or where you live) will likely come into play when determining which company has the most affordable premiums for you.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance rates tend to be more affordable for married drivers than they are for single drivers. This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple cars on their policy -- something a lot of auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Foremost is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices about $44 a month cheaper than Mercury, on average. But for married couples, that advantage is much less clear - Mercury has the edge when it comes to average rates , but the difference is only a dollar.

Foremost vs. Mercury: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and file an insurance claim, which means they'll generally end up paying more for insurance than women.

Generally, women see prices around 1% per month less with Foremost, while with Mercury, the difference is closer to 5% a month.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Foremost offers the most affordable average rates for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $30 per month and women save about $20 with Foremost compared to the average Mercury policyholder.

Foremost 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 so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

That being said, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Foremost normally offers slightly more affordable premiums of $173 compared to Mercury's $184. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Foremost again has the edge, with policies around $40 a month less expensive than Mercury, on average.

Is Foremost 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.

At-fault collisions and tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is Foremost or Mercury cheaper for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Foremost policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $56 per month if they get a ticket, while Mercury usually raises rates about $57 a month, on average.

Even so, Foremost tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket -- their rates are around 15% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 12% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Foremost drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices increase by just under $200, while those who have insurance through Mercury will see around a $100 increase.

Overall, the less expensive rates come from Mercury, with monthly prices averaging $346 compared to Foremost Insurance Group's $381.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, Mercury increases average premiums by over $65 per month -- that's over a 20% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Foremost and Mercury Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly insurance rates. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for several policyholders.

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper prices, while those with poor credit will typically be forced to pay more.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Foremost 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 cost. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Foremost or Mercury report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Foremost comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car yearly, with average prices of $270 a month for both.

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

Where you live can have a large impact on your monthly insurance payment. Generally, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders because there are a lot more vehicles on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Foremost normally comes out as the more affordable option for drivers in rural and urban areas, while Mercury wins in suburban areas.

In urban areas, Foremost Insurance Group's average premiums are about $83 less than Mercury Insurance. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $12 less with Mercury compared to Foremost. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about $4 with Foremost compared to Mercury.

Foremost vs. Mercury Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Foremost and Mercury so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Mercury knocks Foremost out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 15 more discounts than Foremost.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Mercury also offers ABS discounts, continuous insurance discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more that Foremost does not.

On the flip side, Foremost has a couple unique discounts of its own -- EFT discounts, multi-car/single driver discounts, and paperless discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Foremost or Mercury Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors car insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. But, at the end of the day, is Foremost or Mercury the right carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Foremost might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• Your credit is below-average.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

Mercury might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- undefined is only available in.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.
• You are purchasing your insurance with a spouse.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Foremost and Mercury and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Foremost and Mercury. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply 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.

Foremost vs. Mercury FAQs

Is Foremost or Mercury cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Foremost is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $270 per month compared to $295 for Mercury. But Foremost won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are multiple different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, Foremost or Mercury?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for each driver -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Foremost offers less expensive rates for drivers with a recent DUI, while Mercury is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Foremost and Mercury offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different factors when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Variables like where you park your car, where your home is, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Foremost and Mercury use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 car insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Foremost 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.