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

Quick Facts

• In general, Root offers significantly more affordable premiums than Mercury
• Mercury offers more discounts than Root Insurance
• Root offers less expensive average prices for residents of rural areas

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

So, you're considering 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 Root as your top options, but which one will save you the most?

As you can see, Mercury has average rates that are about 80% per month more expensive than those from Root when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

But that doesn't mean Root will necessarily be cheaper than Mercury for every driver. Car insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how old you are, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, where you live, and a ton of other factors, so premiums could vary drastically from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Mercury or Root is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each company broken down by a range of different rate factors.

Mercury or Root: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Mercury and Root only compete against each other in Arizona, where Root offers the cheaper average rates. For Arizona residents, Root offers insurance for $65 monthly on average. Mercury's average prices come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $159 a month.

But there's more to car insurance than just your home state. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance carriers calculate your premiums. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance prices of any group out there on the road. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Root for their auto insurance pay more than $500 less than those who use Mercury. It's worth noting that Mercury offers insurance in 11 different states compared to Root's one, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices once you turn 25. Root offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Mercury's average rates reduce nearly 70% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the lowest car insurance premiums you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually lowers their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Mercury and Root? Root gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older almost 75% less expensive than the national average for Mercury.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance rates tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers. That's because policies for married policyholders typically cover multiple cars, which lots of carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Root is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices around $283 a month more affordable than Mercury, on average. The advantage for married couples with Root is also obvious, where drivers save over $150 per month.

Mercury vs. Root: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but insurance is generally cheaper for women than it is for men. This is because men are more likely to get into collisions and get tickets, which raises the chances of an insurance claim.

Women typically pay about 5% a month less than men with Mercury, and around 3% less with Root.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Root comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $236 per month and women save about $224 with Root compared to the average Mercury policyholder.

Mercury or Root: 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

Even so, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which generally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Root usually offers significantly less expensive rates of $46 compared to Mercury's $184. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Root again has the edge, with policies around $300 a month more affordable than Mercury, on average.

Is Mercury or Root 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with collisions and tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Mercury policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $57 per month if they get a ticket, while Root normally raises rates about $10 a month, on average.

That being said, Root tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket, offering premiums that are 76% and 77% cheaper, respectively, compared to Mercury Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Mercury drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices climb by over 30%, while those who have insurance through Root will see around a 30% increase.

Overall, the less expensive premiums come from Root, with monthly prices averaging $79 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 -- usually a lot more than an accident or ticket. Mercury drivers usually see a 22% increase in their auto insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Root will normally climb prices by about 0%.

Root has the overall cheapest premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $57 per month, but it's worth noting that Mercury's average rates come from 11 states compared to just one for Root, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Mercury and Root Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating rates? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for quite a few policyholders.

Insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which decreases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which carrier offers the best prices for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Root. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 75% compared to Mercury, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $206 or 77% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Root typically offers lower rates than Mercury when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $236 per month less with Root compared to Mercury, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $327 monthly.

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

How much you drive can have a big impact on your monthly car insurance bill. Typically, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Mercury or Root report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, Root 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 $65 a month for both.

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

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

Root tends to offer the cheapest prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable rates from both companies, but Root comes out on top with average premiums about $58 per month. Root also has cheaper average prices for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $324 and $215 per month respective difference when compared to Mercury drivers in similar areas.

Mercury vs. Root Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem hard to find all the of the ones you're eligible for.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Mercury and Root offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Mercury blows Root away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 27 different discounts to Root's five.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Mercury also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that Root does not.

On the flip side, Root has a couple unique discounts of its own -- auto-steer discounts and paperless discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Mercury or Root Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the best carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Root might be best for you if....

• You like the personalized touch of a small, local company.
• Your credit score is high.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

Mercury might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national insurance carrier.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Mercury and Root and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto 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 a handful of companies, not just Mercury and Root. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Mercury vs. Root FAQs

Is Mercury or Root cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Root is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $65 a month compared to $295 for Mercury. Even so, Root won't necessarily be the lowest company for each driver, since there are multiple different variables that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, Mercury or Root?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Mercury and Root offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at many different factors when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Variables such as where you park your car, where you call home, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Mercury and Root calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple 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 information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Mercury or Root 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.