Mercury vs. Southern County Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Southern County Mutual offers significantly cheaper rates than Mercury
• Mercury may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Southern County Mutual Insurance Company
• Southern County Mutual offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods

Mercury or Southern County Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Mercury or Southern County Mutual, but which company will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Southern County Mutual has average rates that are around 40% a month more affordable than those from Mercury.

But that doesn't mean Southern County Mutual will necessarily be less expensive than Mercury for every driver. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your age, your credit score, or even your driving record (among other things), so rates could differ drastically from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Mercury or Southern County Mutual 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 vs. Southern County Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Mercury and Southern County Mutual only compete against each other in Texas, where Southern County Mutual offers the cheaper average premiums. Southern County Mutual drivers tend to pay about $7 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Mercury for their car insurance.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your insurance cost than just where you live. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for car insurance than 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.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Southern County Mutual save over 50% a month compared to those who use Mercury. It's worth noting that Mercury offers auto insurance in 11 different states compared to Southern County Mutual's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, with both companies, you'll see your rates reduce significantly once you turn 25. Southern County Mutual offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half 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 insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest rates you'll ever find.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Mercury and Southern County Mutual? Southern County Mutual gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $129 monthly compared to Mercury's $219.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance rates tend to be cheaper for married couples than they are for single drivers. That's because policies for married drivers usually cover more than one vehicle, which many carriers will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Southern County Mutual rates coming in at around half of Mercury's. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Southern County Mutual offers the most affordable average premiums.

Mercury or Southern County Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but men normally pay more for car insurance than women do. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into a collision, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

Usually, men see premiums about $15 per month higher with Mercury, and around $18 more with Southern County Mutual.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, Southern County Mutual comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average prices 38% less for men and 41% cheaper for women.

Mercury vs. Southern County Mutual: 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 pretty complicated. There are a bunch of different coverages that account for multiple different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Southern County Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $105. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Southern County Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging about $254 a month to Mercury's $406.

Is Mercury or Southern County Mutual 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with speeding tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest rates to drivers with less-than-ideal driving 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 around 19% after getting a speeding ticket. Southern County Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 6%.

That being said, Southern County Mutual has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 30% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 40% 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 rates climb by over 30%, while those who have insurance through Southern County Mutual will see around a 2% increase.

At the end of the day, the more affordable premiums come from Southern County Mutual, with average prices coming in at $169 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 -- typically a lot more than a collision or ticket. On average, Mercury will climb your rates about 22% after a DUI, while Southern County Mutual's average prices rise by nearly 20%.

Southern County Mutual has the overall most affordable premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $207 a month, but it's worth noting that Mercury's average rates come from 11 states compared to just one for Southern County Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Mercury and Southern County Mutual Rates?

Did you know many car insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Hawaii and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for several policyholders.

Auto 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.

Looking at Mercury and Southern County Mutual specifically, which one has the best premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, Southern County Mutual will usually reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Southern County Mutual comes in just under 32.74 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save around 39% with Southern County Mutual compared to average prices from Mercury.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Southern County Mutual typically offers lower rates than Mercury when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 36% per month less with Southern County Mutual compared to Mercury, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around 48% per month.

Is Mercury or Southern County Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a large impact on your monthly insurance bill. Normally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper prices since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Mercury or Southern County Mutual report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Southern County Mutual 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 prices of $179 a month for both.

Mercury or Southern County Mutual: 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, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

Southern County Mutual boasts the lowest average rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about 24% with Southern County Mutual compared to Mercury. People who live in suburban areas pay around 36% less with Southern County Mutual compared to Mercury. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Southern County Mutual Insurance Company's average prices are about 50% less than Mercury Insurance.

Mercury vs. Southern County Mutual Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Mercury and Southern County Mutual so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Mercury blows Southern County Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 27 different discounts to Southern County Mutual's nine.

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

On the other hand, Southern County Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own like corporate discounts and umbrella policy discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Mercury or Southern County Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is Mercury or Southern County Mutual the best one for you and your specific driver profile?

Southern County Mutual might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the auto insurance policy.
• You're looking for the best prices on liability only coverage.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's insurance policy.

Mercury might be best for you if...

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

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Mercury and Southern County Mutual. 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 auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Mercury and Southern County Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Mercury vs. Southern County Mutual FAQs

Is Mercury or Southern County Mutual cheaper?

Southern County Mutual is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $179 per month with Southern County Mutual and $295 for Mercury. Even so, that doesn't mean Southern County Mutual will be the most affordable carrier for every driver, since there are a variety of different factors that come into play when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, Mercury or Southern County Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Mercury and Southern County Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use lots of different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Factors such as your driving record, age, gender, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Mercury and Southern County Mutual calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

How do I know if Mercury or Southern County Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Mercury or Southern County Mutual 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.