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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, National General offers more affordable rates than Mercury
• Mercury offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods
• National General offers less expensive average prices for policyholders who drive fewer than 12,000 miles yearly

Mercury or National General: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering sizable savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering Mercury or National General for your next policy, but between the two, which one has cheaper rates for auto insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, National General has average rates that are around 16% a month less expensive than those from Mercury.

That being said, National General may not be the cheapest or best option for each driver out there. After all, insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, your age, your credit score, or even where you call home (among other things). So, at the end of the day, premiums from each carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Mercury or National General is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Mercury vs. National General: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Mercury and National General only compete against each other in Texas, where Mercury offers the cheaper average rates. Mercury drivers tend to pay about $63 per month less on average compared to drivers who use National General for their car insurance.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance cost than just where you call home. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for auto insurance than any group out there on the road. It's normally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 20% less a month by choosing National General over Mercury. It's worth noting that Mercury offers auto insurance in 11 different states compared to National General's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your prices reduce significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Mercury policyholders decrease nearly 70% and National General's rates lower over 65% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the lowest insurance premiums you'll ever see. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for car insurance.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Mercury and National General? National General gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $40 cheaper than the national average for Mercury.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance premiums than married policyholders. That's usually because married drivers tend to own and insure multiple vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with National General premiums coming in at about 15% less than Mercury's. The advantage for married couples with National General is also obvious, where drivers save around $25 per month.

Mercury or National General: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but insurance is generally more expensive for men than for women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

On average, men see rates about $15 a month higher with Mercury, and around $16 more with National General.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, National General comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average prices $45 less for men and $47 cheaper for women.

Mercury vs. National General: 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.

For most people, car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

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

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, National General has the edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $151. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, National General again has the edge, with policies averaging about $348 per month to Mercury's $406.

Is Mercury or National General Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

Collisions and speeding tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is Mercury or National General more affordable for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Mercury for their car insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up around 19% after getting a speeding ticket. National General policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 11%.

Even so, National General has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 32% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 38% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Mercury drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates climb by over $100, while those who have insurance through National General will see around a $300 increase.

At the end of the day, Mercury offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average prices coming in at $346 compared to National General Insurance's $472.

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 ticket or even a collision. On average, Mercury will climb your rates about 22% after a DUI, while National General's average prices increase by more than 10%.

National General has the overall lowest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $183 monthly, but it's worth noting that Mercury's average rates come from 11 states compared to just one for National General, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Mercury and National General Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it will come into play for quite a few policyholders.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so normally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive premiums.

So, which company 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, National General will usually reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, National General comes in nearly NaN cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save around 16% with National General compared to average rates from Mercury.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

National General typically offers lower premiums than Mercury when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 13% a month less with National General compared to Mercury, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around 24% a month.

Is Mercury or National General 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 pretty big impact on your monthly prices? That's because the more milage you put on your car each year, the more likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Mercury or National General report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, National General comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle annually, with average premiums of $249 per month for both.

Mercury or National General: 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 big impact as well. Normally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers due to the number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

Looking at these companies side-by-side, National General boasts the cheapest average premiums in urban and suburban areas, while Mercury wins in rural areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about 14% with Mercury compared to National General. People who live in suburban areas pay around 12% less with National General compared to Mercury. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, National General Insurance's average rates are about 35% less than Mercury Insurance.

Mercury vs. National General Discounts

No matter 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 you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Mercury and National General so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Mercury blows National General away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 19 more discounts than National General.

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and passive restraint discounts -- but Mercury also offers discounts for ABS, continuous insurance, COVID-19 relief, and more.

On the other hand, National General has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like driver training discounts, low mileage discounts, and vehicle brand discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Mercury or National General Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance company is the right company for you and your specific profile and needs?

National General might be best for you if....

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your prices rise.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You want to save money while purchasing car insurance for a teenager.

Mercury might be best for you if...

• You want to save money on your auto insurance after a collision.
• You care about discounts (Mercury offers the most).
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Mercury and National General and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just Mercury and National General. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Mercury vs. National General FAQs

Is Mercury or National General cheaper?

National General is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $249 a month with National General and $295 for Mercury. However, that doesn't mean National General will be the lowest carrier for every policyholder, since there are a variety of different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Mercury or National General?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, National General is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Mercury offers more affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record.

Why do Mercury and National General offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use many different variables when determining the premiums they charge. Factors such as age, gender, your driving record, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Mercury and National General use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Mercury or National General at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.