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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, The General offers cheaper premiums than Mercury
• Mercury offers more discounts than The General
• The General offers more affordable rates for policyholders who live in the suburbs

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering hefty discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Mercury or The General as your top options, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Mercury is about $54 more per month than The General.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean The General will be the more affordable option for every single driver. After all, car insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, where you call home, your driving record, or even your age (among other things), so premiums will vary quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Mercury or The General is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each carrier broken down by lots of different rate factors.

Mercury or The General: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Mercury and The General only compete against each other in one states, with Mercury offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. Arizona has the most noticable difference, where Mercury prices are over 40% cheaper than insurance premiums at The General.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto 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?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance rates. As you can see above, teens who use The General save nearly $300 a month compared to those who use Mercury. It's worth noting that Mercury offers car insurance in 11 different states compared to The General's three, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both companies will lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. The General offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Mercury still has the most affordable premiums at $230 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the cheapest auto insurance prices you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Mercury and The General? The General gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older more than 10% more affordable than the national average for Mercury.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance rates tend to be more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married policyholders. That's because policies for married drivers generally cover more than one car, which many carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, The General is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $80 per month less expensive than Mercury, on average. It's not quite so glaring for married couples, where drivers who use The General save almost $20 a month.

Mercury vs. The General: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but auto insurance is normally more expensive for men than for women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into an accident, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher rates.

Women typically pay about $15 per month less than men with Mercury, while with The General, the difference is closer to $32 a month.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, The General offers the cheapest average prices for both men and women, with average rates $45 less for men and $63 cheaper for women.

Mercury or The General: 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.

Insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a range of different coverages that account for a variety of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, The General normally offers more affordable premiums of $154 compared to Mercury's $184. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, The General again has the edge, with policies around $75 per month cheaper than Mercury, on average.

Is Mercury or The General 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.

Tickets and at-fault accidents will most likely raise your prices, but is Mercury or The General less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect 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 The General generally raises premiums about $48 per month, on average.

That being said, The General has cheaper prices for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are $45 and $54 more affordable, respectively, compared to Mercury Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Mercury drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates climb by over 30%, while those who have insurance through The General will see around a 30% increase.

Overall, The General offers the lowest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $279 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 speeding ticket or even an accident. Mercury drivers usually see a 22% climb in their auto insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while The General will usually raise prices by about 24%.

The General has the overall most affordable rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $254 a month, but it's worth noting that Mercury's average rates come from 11 states compared to just three for The General, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Mercury and The General Rates?

Did you know that many insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect lots of policyholders out there.

Auto insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with The General. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 20% compared to Mercury, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $49 or 18% less expensive every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

The General typically offers lower premiums than Mercury when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $56 a month less with The General compared to Mercury, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $81 monthly.

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

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on your monthly prices. Usually, those who drive less will end up with cheaper rates since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Mercury or The General report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, The General comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle yearly, with average premiums of $241 per month for both.

Mercury vs. The General: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a large impact as well. Typically, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

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

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest premiums from both carriers, but The General comes out on top with average prices about $189 a month. The General also has more affordable average premiums for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $91 and $50 a month respective difference when compared to Mercury policyholders in similar areas.

Mercury vs. The General Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many car 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 section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Mercury and The General offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Mercury knocks The General out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 21 more discounts than The General.

Both companies offer a lot of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a homeowner, and paid in full discounts -- but Mercury also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that The General does not.

On the flip side, The General has a couple unique discounts of its own -- liability only discounts and star level discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Mercury or The General Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance prices. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the right one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

The General might be best for you if....

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Mercury might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- The General only offers policies in three states.
• You care about discounts (Mercury offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Mercury and The General. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto 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 car insurance -- comparing quotes from several carriers, not just Mercury and The General. 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 auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Mercury vs. The General FAQs

Is Mercury or The General cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, The General is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $241 per month compared to $295 for Mercury. However, The General won't necessarily be the lowest company for each policyholder, since there are several different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Mercury or The General?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

Why do Mercury and The General offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at a lot of different variables when determining the prices they charge drivers. Things such as your driving record, age, gender, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Mercury and The General calculate premiums differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier 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 auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Mercury or The General 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.