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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Mercury offers slightly more affordable prices than Personal Service
• Mercury offers more affordable rates for residents of urban areas
• Personal Service offers more affordable premiums for residents in New Jersey

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering hefty discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Mercury or Personal Service as your top options, but which carrier will offer you cheaper rates?

Looking at nationwide averages, Mercury is about $30 per month less expensive than Personal Service.

However, Mercury may not be the lowest or best option for every driver out there. Insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how good your credit score is or how old you are (among a whole range of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

Mercury or Personal Service: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Mercury and Personal Service only compete against each other in New Jersey, where Personal Service offers the cheaper average prices. For New Jersey residents, Personal Service offers auto insurance for $325 per month on average. Mercury's average rates come out to be over 15% more expensive, at $379 a month.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance bill than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance premiums of any group out there on the road. That's typically 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.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $100 less a month by choosing Personal Service over Mercury. It's worth noting that Mercury offers car insurance in 11 different states compared to Personal Service's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums lower significantly once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Mercury policyholders reduce nearly 70% and Personal Service's prices drop almost 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest premiums you'll ever find.

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Mercury gets the slight edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $12 more affordable than the national average for Personal Service.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly cheaper car insurance premiums than those who are single. That's generally because married couples tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, the two companies are comparable for single drivers, with rates only differing around $11 per month, on average. But for married policyholders, the advantage is clear - Mercury has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Mercury vs. Personal Service: Average Rates by Gender

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

Women usually pay about 5% a month less than men with Mercury, while with Personal Service, the difference is closer to 13% per month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Mercury offers the most affordable average rates for both men and women, with average premiums 13% less for men and 5% cheaper for women.

Mercury or Personal Service: 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 insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different limits and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

But most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Mercury normally offers less expensive prices of $184 compared to Personal Service's $228. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Mercury again has the edge, with policies around $15 a month more affordable than Personal Service, on average.

Is Mercury or Personal Service 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 tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Mercury or Personal Service -- has the lowest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Mercury policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $57 per month if they get a ticket, while Personal Service typically raises premiums about $35 a month, on average.

If you have a clean record, Mercury tends to offer the best rates at around 8% cheaper, while Personal Service has the edge for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Mercury drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices increase by over $100, while those who have insurance through Personal Service will see about a $90 increase.

Overall, drivers who use Mercury end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $346 compared to Personal Service Insurance Company's $348.

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, Personal Service increases average prices by just under $150 per month -- that's over a 35% increase.

Mercury has the overall cheapest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $303 monthly, but it's worth noting that Mercury's average rates come from 11 states compared to just one for Personal Service, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Mercury and Personal Service Rates?

Did you know that many insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (for example, Michigan and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect many policyholders out there.

Auto insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the most affordable rates for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Mercury. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 15% compared to Personal Service, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $46 or 15% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have a below average credit score, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best prices. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $43 less with Mercury than Personal Service, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around $26 a month with Personal Service.

Is Mercury or Personal Service 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 how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. That's because the more miles you put on your car each year, the more likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Mercury or Personal Service report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Mercury comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle annually, with average premiums of $295 per month for both.

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

Where you live can play a sizable role in how much you pay for insurance. Generally, 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, Mercury usually comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable prices from both carriers, but Mercury comes out on top with average rates about $209 a month. Mercury also has cheaper average premiums for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 0% and 23% a month respective difference when compared to Personal Service policyholders in similar areas.

Mercury vs. Personal Service Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where car insurance discounts comes into play.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Mercury and Personal Service so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Mercury knocks Personal Service out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 17 more discounts than Personal Service.

Both companies offer a lot of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a homeowner, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company -- but Mercury also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, continuous insurance discounts, and more that Personal Service does not.

On the flip side, Personal Service has a couple unique discounts of its own -- cellphone safety discounts, multi-car/single driver discounts, and prior insurance discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Mercury or Personal Service Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Mercury or Personal Service the best fit for you?

Mercury might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You have above-average credit.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles every year.

Personal Service might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the best rates in NJ.
• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Mercury and Personal Service. 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 sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Mercury and Personal Service. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Mercury vs. Personal Service FAQs

Is Mercury or Personal Service cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Mercury is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $295 per month compared to $325 for Personal Service. Even so, Mercury won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for each driver, since there are a variety of different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Mercury or Personal Service?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, Mercury offers less expensive premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record, while Personal Service is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Mercury and Personal Service offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different factors when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Variables like your driving record, age, gender, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Mercury and Personal Service calculate prices using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Mercury or Personal Service 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.