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

Quick Facts

• In general, Penn National offers significantly more affordable premiums than Mercury
• Mercury may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Penn National Insurance
• Penn National tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record

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

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

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Mercury or Penn National for your next policy, but which one will offer you less expensive prices?

As you can see, Penn National is quite a bit cheaper than Mercury, with rates averaging $218 a month compared to $295 with Mercury when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean Penn National will necessarily be cheaper than Mercury for every driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their prices depending on things like how good your credit score is, how old you are, where you live, how clean your driving record is, and tons of other factors, so premiums will vary quite a bit from person to person.

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

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

Mercury and Penn National only compete against each other in two states, with Penn National offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Virginia, Mercury is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at the overall average premiums. Penn National is the cheaper option in New Jersey.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance bill than just where you call home. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance rates of any group on the road. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Penn National for their insurance pay over 35% less than those who use Mercury.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your prices decrease significantly once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Mercury policyholders lower around $500 and Penn National's rates reduce almost $300 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 lowest prices you can find.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Mercury and Penn National? Penn National gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $163 per month compared to Mercury's $219.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are typically more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples? This usually boils down to married drivers having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something lots of auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with Penn National premiums coming in at a third less than Mercury's. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Penn National has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Mercury or Penn National: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get tickets and get into accidents, they have a decreased chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, women normally pay less for insurance than men.

On average, men see rates around 5% per month higher with Mercury, but with Penn National, the difference is closer to 2% a month.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, Penn National comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums $82 less for men and $73 cheaper for women.

Mercury vs. Penn National: 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.

It's no secret that car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are a bunch of different coverages that account for lots of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Penn National has the edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $144. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Penn National again has the edge, with policies averaging about $292 per month to Mercury's $406.

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

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

You'll probably end up paying more with at-fault collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable premiums to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Mercury for their auto insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up around 19% after getting a speeding ticket. Penn National policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 22%.

That being said, Penn National is generally the more affordable option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket, offering rates that are $98 and $115 less expensive, respectively, compared to Mercury Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Mercury raising by around 32%. Penn National has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay nearly 35% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, the cheaper rates come from Penn National, with average premiums coming in at $206 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 car insurance bill -- normally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. For example, Penn National increases average prices by more than $200 a month -- that's just under a 60% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Mercury tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $303 to Penn National's $346.

How does Credit Score Impact Mercury and Penn National Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Massachusetts and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for quite a few drivers.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so typically, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with more affordable prices.

Looking at Mercury and Penn National specifically, which company has the best rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Penn National will generally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Penn National comes in nearly 27.8 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save around 32% with Penn National compared to average prices from Mercury.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Penn National typically offers lower premiums than Mercury when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 31% per month less with Penn National compared to Mercury, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around 21% a month.

Is Mercury or Penn National Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a big impact on how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the more milage you drive, the more likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Mercury or Penn National report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Penn National comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle annually, with average prices of $218 a month for both.

Mercury or Penn National: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

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

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Penn National usually comes out as the lowest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about 21% with Penn National compared to Mercury. People who live in suburban areas pay around 23% less with Penn National compared to Mercury. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Penn National Insurance's average premiums are about 31% less than Mercury Insurance.

Mercury vs. Penn National Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can. That's where car insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be difficult to find all the ones you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Mercury and Penn National offer their customers so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Mercury knocks Penn National out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 11 more discounts than Penn National.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Mercury also offers discounts for continuous insurance, COVID-19 relief, e-signature, and more.

On the other hand, Penn National has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like added pip option discounts, driver training discounts, pennid discounts, and more.

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

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors auto insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• You have below-average credit.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• You are purchasing your insurance with a spouse.

Mercury might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national car insurance carrier.
• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You're looking for discounts -- Mercury has the most.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Mercury and Penn National and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Mercury and Penn National. 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 car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Mercury vs. Penn National FAQs

Is Mercury or Penn National cheaper?

Penn National is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $218 per month with Penn National and $295 for Mercury. However, that doesn't mean Penn National will be the most affordable company for every driver, since there are several different variables that are considered when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, Mercury or Penn National?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Penn National is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit, while Mercury offers cheaper premiums for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Mercury and Penn National offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use a lot of different factors when calculating the rates they charge. Variables like your driving record, where your home is, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Mercury and Penn National calculate prices differently, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier 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 makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Mercury or Penn National 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.