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

Quick Facts

• In general, Selective offers significantly more affordable premiums than Mercury
• Mercury offers more discounts than Selective Insurance
• Selective tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Mercury or Selective, but which one will offer you less expensive rates?

Looking at nationwide averages, Mercury has average rates that are about 40% per month more expensive than those from Selective.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Selective will be the cheaper option for every single driver. Auto insurance companies use a variety of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on where you live or how good your credit score is (among a 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 Selective is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each company broken down by lots of different rate factors.

Mercury or Selective: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Mercury and Selective only compete against each other in New Jersey, where Selective offers the cheaper average rates. For New Jersey residents, Selective offers insurance for $184 a month on average. Mercury's average prices come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $379 per month.

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance premiums of any other group of drivers. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $300 less a month by choosing Selective over Mercury. It's worth noting that Mercury offers auto insurance in 11 different states compared to Selective's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time you turn 25. Selective offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Mercury's average premiums lower almost 70% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest prices out there.

When looking at Mercury and Selective specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Selective gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $99 less expensive than the national average for Mercury.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance rates than married couples. That's because policies for married drivers normally cover more than one car, which several companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Selective is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $141 per month more affordable than Mercury, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Selective is also obvious, where drivers save about $70 a month.

Mercury vs. Selective: Average Rates by Gender

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

On average, men see premiums around 5% per month higher with Mercury, and about 5% more with Selective.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Selective offers the most affordable average rates for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $113 a month and women save around $109 with Selective compared to the average Mercury policyholder.

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

That being said, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Selective typically offers significantly less expensive premiums of $127 compared to Mercury's $184. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Selective again has the edge, with policies about $150 per month cheaper than Mercury, on average.

Is Mercury or Selective 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.

At-fault accidents and tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is Mercury or Selective more affordable for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Mercury policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $57 a month if they get a ticket, while Selective generally raises premiums around $76 per month, on average.

But Selective has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 41% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 26% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Mercury drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices climb by over $100, while those who have insurance through Selective will see about a $20 increase.

Overall, the less expensive premiums come from Selective, with monthly prices averaging $162 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 -- typically a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. For example, Selective increases average rates by over $75 a month -- that's over a 35% increase.

Selective has the overall cheapest premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $217 monthly, but it's worth noting that Mercury's average rates come from 11 states compared to just one for Selective, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Mercury and Selective Rates?

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

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper prices, while those with poor credit will normally be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good 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 Selective. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 20% compared to Mercury, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $86 or 32% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Selective typically offers lower prices than Mercury when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $119 per month less with Selective compared to Mercury, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $211 a month.

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

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on how much insurance carriers will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you put on your vehicle, the less likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Mercury or Selective report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, Selective comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car every year, with average prices of $184 a month for both.

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

Where you live can play a substantial role in how much you pay for car insurance. Usually, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads in those areas.

Selective boasts the most affordable average rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest premiums from both companies, but Selective comes out on top with average rates about $139 monthly. Selective also has cheaper average prices for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 48% and 26% per month respective difference when compared to Mercury drivers in similar areas.

Mercury vs. Selective Discounts

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

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to find all the ones you can take advantage of or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Mercury and Selective offer their customers so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Mercury blows Selective away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 27 different discounts to Selective's 13.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company. Mercury also offers ABS discounts, continuous insurance discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more that Selective does not.

On the flip side, Selective has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for getting driver training, occasional operator discounts, and prior insurance discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Mercury or Selective Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Mercury or Selective the best company for you and your specific profile and needs?

Selective might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing insurance by yourself.
• You have less-than-stellar credit.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your auto insurance.

Mercury might be best for you if...

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- Selective Insurance only offers policies to New Jersey residents.
• You care about discounts (Mercury offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Mercury and Selective. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to 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 carriers, not just Mercury and Selective. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Mercury vs. Selective FAQs

Is Mercury or Selective cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Selective is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $184 a month compared to $295 for Mercury. However, Selective won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for each driver, since there are a bunch of different factors that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Mercury or Selective?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Mercury and Selective offer me different rates?

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

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Mercury or Selective 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.