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

Quick Facts

• In general, Safe Auto offers significantly cheaper premiums than Mercury
• Mercury offers more discounts than Safe Auto
• Safe Auto offers more affordable rates for policyholders who drive fewer than 12,000 miles annually

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering large discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Mercury or Safe Auto for your next policy, but between the two, which company has less expensive prices for auto insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Safe Auto has average rates that are about 24% per month more affordable than those from Mercury.

However, that doesn't mean Safe Auto will necessarily be cheaper than Mercury for every single driver. After all, car insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your driving record, your credit score, or even your age (among other things), so premiums will change quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Mercury and Safe Auto by several different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Mercury or Safe Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just where you live. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

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 out there on the road. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Safe Auto save nearly $300 a month compared to those who use Mercury.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Mercury policyholders lower almost $500 and Safe Auto's prices decrease around $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? Safe Auto gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $179 per month compared to Mercury's $219.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance prices are generally more affordable for married policyholders than they are for single drivers? That's because policies for married drivers usually cover more than one car, which quite a few carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Safe Auto is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates around $100 per month cheaper than Mercury, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - Safe Auto has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Mercury vs. Safe Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men tend to pay more for auto insurance than women? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and file an insurance claim, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

Normally, men see rates nearly $15 a month higher with Mercury, and more than $15 with Safe Auto.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Safe Auto comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $71 per month and women save about $74 with Safe Auto compared to the average Mercury policyholder.

Mercury or Safe Auto: 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, insurance can be pretty complicated. There are lots of different coverages that account for a range of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

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

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Safe Auto normally offers significantly less expensive prices of $126 compared to Mercury's $184. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Safe Auto again has the edge, with policies around $85 a month more affordable than Mercury, on average.

Is Mercury or Safe Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car 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 accidents and tickets will most likely raise your rates, but is Mercury or Safe Auto less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect 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 Safe Auto usually raises rates about $40 a month, on average.

But Safe Auto tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket, offering premiums that are $57 and $74 cheaper, respectively, compared to Mercury Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Mercury raising by over $100. Safe Auto has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay more than $65 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the less expensive rates come from Safe Auto, with monthly premiums averaging $246 compared to Mercury Insurance's $346.

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 an accident. For example, Mercury increases average prices by over $65 per month -- that's over a 20% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Safe Auto tends to be the much more affordable option with average rates of $245 a month compared to $303 from Mercury.

How does Credit Score Impact Mercury and Safe Auto Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect lots of drivers out there.

The reasoning insurance companies 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 cheaper prices.

Looking at Mercury and Safe Auto specifically, which carrier has the best rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Safe Auto. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save more than 15% compared to Mercury, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $44 or 17% less expensive every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Safe Auto typically offers lower prices than Mercury when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $72 a month less with Safe Auto compared to Mercury, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $154 monthly.

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

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Usually, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither Mercury or Safe Auto report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Safe Auto comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle yearly, with average rates of $223 per month for both.

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

Where you park your car can play a considerable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Generally, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Safe Auto typically comes out as the cheapest option 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 premiums from both companies, but Safe Auto comes out on top with average prices about $197 a month. Safe Auto also has cheaper average rates for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $130 and $75 a month respective difference when compared to Mercury drivers in similar areas.

Mercury vs. Safe Auto 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 what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you're eligible for.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Mercury and Safe Auto offer their customers so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Mercury knocks Safe Auto out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 27 different discounts to Safe Auto's 14.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Mercury also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, continuous insurance discounts, and more that Safe Auto does not.

On the flip side, Safe Auto has a couple unique discounts of its own -- agency transfer discounts, claim free discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Mercury or Safe Auto Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, is Mercury or Safe Auto the best carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Safe Auto might be best for you if....

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on your record.
• You and your spouse are buying auto insurance together.

Mercury might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- Mercury has the most.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Mercury and Safe Auto and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car 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 several carriers, not just Mercury and Safe Auto. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Mercury vs. Safe Auto FAQs

Is Mercury or Safe Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Safe Auto is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $223 per month compared to $295 for Mercury. Even so, Safe Auto won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for each policyholder, since there are a variety of different factors that come into play when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Mercury or Safe Auto?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Mercury and Safe Auto offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at many different variables when calculating the rates they charge policyholders. Things such as age, your driving record, where your home is, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Mercury and Safe Auto use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies 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 car insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Mercury or Safe Auto 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.