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

Quick Facts

• In general, Safeway offers significantly less expensive rates than Mercury
• Mercury may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Safeway Insurance
• Safeway offers more affordable prices for single people who will be the only person on the car insurance policy

Mercury or Safeway: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might be considering Mercury or Safeway for your next policy, but which company will save you the most?

As you can see, Mercury is quite a bit more expensive than Safeway, with premiums averaging $295 a month compared to just $194 with Safeway when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

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

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

Mercury vs. Safeway: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Mercury and Safeway only compete against each other in two states, with Safeway offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Georgia has the most noticable difference, where Safeway rates are $46 cheaper than insurance premiums at Mercury.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just where you live. 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 prices of any group out there on the road. It's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

That being said, 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 Safeway for their car insurance pay over 40% less than those who use Mercury.

However, with both companies, you'll see your rates decrease significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Mercury policyholders reduce around $500 and Safeway's premiums lower almost $300 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 prices out there.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Safeway gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $83 more affordable than the national average for Mercury.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance premiums are typically more expensive for single drivers than they are for married policyholders? That's because policies for married couples normally cover several vehicles, which many carriers will give you a discount for.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Safeway prices coming in at a third less than Mercury's. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Safeway offers the most affordable average rates.

Mercury or Safeway: Average Rates by Gender

Women usually to pay less for car insurance than men. That's because women are less likely to get tickets and get into accidents, which decreases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Typically, women see prices about $15 per month less expensive with Mercury, and around $18 less with Safeway.

Looking at overall affordability, Safeway comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, women save about $103 a month and men save about $99 with Safeway compared to the average Mercury policyholder.

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

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Safeway has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $130. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Safeway again has the edge, with policies averaging around $258 per month to Mercury's $406.

Is Mercury or Safeway Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

Speeding tickets and at-fault collisions will most likely raise your rates, but is Mercury or Safeway cheaper for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Mercury for their car insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 19% after getting a speeding ticket. Safeway policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 4%.

But Safeway has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are $74 and $124 more affordable, respectively, compared to Mercury Insurance.

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 30%, while those who have insurance through Safeway will see about a 25% increase.

At the end of the day, the less expensive rates come from Safeway, with average premiums coming in at $223 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 a collision. On average, Mercury will increase your rates around 22% after a DUI, while Safeway's average prices climb by more than 25%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Safeway tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $220 to Mercury's $303.

How does Credit Score Impact Mercury and Safeway Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly auto insurance prices. This isn't true for everyone (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it will come into play for a lot of policyholders.

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

So, which company offers the best rates for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Mercury or Safeway 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 your monthly car insurance cost. Typically, those who drive less will end up with more affordable prices since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Mercury or Safeway report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Safeway 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 rates of $194 a month for both.

Mercury or Safeway: 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 pretty big impact as well. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because of the number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

Safeway tends to offer the lowest rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around 30% with Safeway compared to Mercury. People who live in suburban areas pay about 27% less with Safeway compared to Mercury. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Safeway Insurance's average premiums are around 42% less than Mercury Insurance.

Mercury vs. Safeway Discounts

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

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Mercury and Safeway offer their customers so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Mercury knocks Safeway out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 27 different discounts to Safeway's 11.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Mercury also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, anti-theft, and more.

On the other hand, Safeway has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like agency transfer discounts, full coverage discounts, military discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Mercury or Safeway Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the variables insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. But, when it comes down to it, is Mercury or Safeway the right company for you and your specific driver profile?

Safeway might be best for you if....

• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your premiums.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's auto insurance policy.

Mercury might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (Mercury offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Mercury and Safeway and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

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

Mercury vs. Safeway FAQs

Is Mercury or Safeway cheaper?

Safeway is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $194 per month with Safeway and $295 for Mercury. That being said, that doesn't mean Safeway will be the most affordable company for every policyholder, since there are multiple different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Mercury or Safeway?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

Why do Mercury and Safeway offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use lots of different variables when determining the rates they charge. Things such as age, your driving record, gender, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Mercury and Safeway 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 several different companies.

How do I know if Mercury or Safeway 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once 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 Safeway 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.