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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, State Auto offers cheaper rates than Mercury
• Mercury has less expensive premiums for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods
• State Auto offers more affordable prices for single people who will be the only person on the insurance policy

Mercury or State Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Mercury or State Auto for your next policy, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, State Auto has average rates that are around 12% a month more affordable than those from Mercury.

But that doesn't necessarily mean State Auto will be the less expensive option for each driver. Auto insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among a multitude of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Mercury or State Auto is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Mercury vs. State Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Mercury and State Auto only compete against each other in two states, with Mercury offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Illinois has the most noticable difference, where Mercury premiums are $183 cheaper than car insurance rates at State Auto.

But there's more to auto insurance than just the state you live in. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance companies calculate your prices. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of 1% less per month by choosing Mercury over State Auto.

Even so, with both carriers, you'll see your rates decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Mercury policyholders drop almost 70% and State Auto's premiums reduce nearly 75% 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 most affordable prices you'll ever see.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Mercury and State Auto? State Auto gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $52 more affordable than the national average for Mercury.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly less expensive auto insurance premiums than those who are single. This usually boils down to married drivers having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something quite a few insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is not very significant, with State Auto prices coming in at about 10% less than Mercury's. But for married policyholders, the advantage is clear - State Auto has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Mercury or State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into accidents and get tickets, they have a lower chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, insurance companies will often charge women less than men.

With Mercury, women normally pay around 5% a month less than men, and about 9% less with State Auto.

Looking at overall affordability, State Auto comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums 10% less for men and 14% cheaper for women.

Mercury vs. State 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, auto insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different coverages and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, State Auto has the edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $149. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, State Auto again has the edge, with policies averaging around $369 per month to Mercury's $406.

Is Mercury or State Auto 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 at-fault collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest premiums to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Mercury for their car insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 19% after getting a speeding ticket. State Auto policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 22%.

That being said, State Auto tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record -- their rates are around 28% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 26% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Mercury raising by about 32%. State Auto has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay more than 35% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, drivers who use State Auto end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $269 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 an accident or speeding ticket. For example, State Auto increases average premiums by more than $200 a month -- that's over a 55% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Mercury tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $303 to State Auto's $380.

How does Credit Score Impact Mercury and State Auto Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when carriers determine your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for many drivers.

Car insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time every month, which raises the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, State Auto will generally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, State Auto comes in nearly 13 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save about 14% with State Auto compared to average prices from Mercury.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

State Auto typically offers lower rates than Mercury when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 13% per month less with State Auto compared to Mercury, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about 13% per month.

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

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a sizable impact on how much auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage? That's because the more milage you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Mercury or State Auto report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. State Auto comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car yearly, with average rates of $259 a month for both.

Mercury or State Auto: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

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

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, State Auto boasts the cheapest average prices in urban and suburban areas, while Mercury wins in rural areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $209 monthly with Mercury and $225 with State Auto. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $236 with State Auto compared to Mercury's $275 a month. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, State Auto's average premiums are around $317 per month compared to Mercury's $401.

Mercury vs. State Auto Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new car 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 utilizing as many insurance discounts as possible.

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.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Mercury and State Auto so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Mercury blows State Auto away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 27 different discounts to State Auto's 18.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, discounts for being a defensive driver, and discounts for being a good driver. Mercury also offers discounts for continuous insurance, DRL, e-signature, and more.

On the other hand, State Auto has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advantage program discounts, driver training discounts, gold plus discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the role certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, is Mercury or State Auto the right fit for you?

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

• You want to save money on your insurance after an accident.
• You're looking for the best rates on liability only coverage.
• You and your spouse are buying car insurance together.

Mercury might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (Mercury offers the most).
• You live in a rural area.
• You want to save money while purchasing insurance for a teenager.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Mercury and State Auto. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 several companies, not just Mercury and State Auto. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Mercury vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Mercury or State Auto cheaper?

State Auto is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $259 a month with State Auto and $295 for Mercury. However, that doesn't mean State Auto will be the most affordable carrier for everyone, 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 State Auto?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile. For example, State Auto is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit, while Mercury offers less expensive prices for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Mercury and State Auto offer me different rates?

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

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

The only way to find the insurance company 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 do all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information 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 best price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Mercury or State Auto 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.