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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Trustgard Auto offers significantly more affordable rates than Mercury
• Mercury may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Trustgard Auto Insurance
• Trustgard Auto offers more affordable premiums for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision

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

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering huge savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Mercury or Trustgard Auto for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier has less expensive prices for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Mercury has average rates that are around 55% a month more expensive than those from Trustgard Auto.

That being said, Trustgard Auto may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. Car insurance carriers use a ton of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how good your credit score is or how clean your driving record is (among numerous other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Mercury and Trustgard Auto by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

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

Mercury and Trustgard Auto only compete against each other in one states, with Mercury offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. Illinois has the most noticable difference, where Mercury prices are $6 more affordable than insurance premiums at Trustgard Auto.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance rates than just the state you live in. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for car insurance than any group out there on the road. The reason is that 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.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 50% less per month by choosing Trustgard Auto over Mercury. It's worth noting that Mercury offers insurance in 11 different states compared to Trustgard Auto's three, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, with both companies, you'll see your prices decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Mercury policyholders lower almost 70% and Trustgard Auto's rates reduce nearly 70% over that time.

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 Trustgard Auto specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Trustgard Auto gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older more than 55% less expensive than the national average for Mercury.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance rates are normally more expensive for single drivers than they are for married couples? That's because policies for married policyholders typically cover multiple vehicles, 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 Trustgard Auto premiums coming in at about half of Mercury's. The advantage for married drivers with Trustgard Auto is also obvious, where drivers save over 55% a month.

Mercury or Trustgard Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women generally pay less for insurance than men? That's because women are less likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, which lowers the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Usually, women see rates around 5% per month less with Mercury, and about 6% less with Trustgard Auto.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Trustgard Auto offers the most affordable average prices for both men and women, with average rates $160 less for men and $155 cheaper for women.

Mercury vs. Trustgard 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing 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 property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Trustgard Auto has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $79. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Trustgard Auto again has the edge, with policies averaging around $196 a month to Mercury's $406.

Is Mercury or Trustgard Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance carriers offering great prices for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

It's no secret secret that collisions and speeding tickets lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Mercury or Trustgard Auto -- has the lowest rates for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Mercury for their insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 19% after getting a speeding ticket. Trustgard Auto policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 34%.

But Trustgard Auto tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 59% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 50% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Mercury can expect to see about an $109 -- or around 32% -- rise in their insurance prices. Drivers who use Trustgard Auto for their car insurance will see a monthly bill about $35 (or 26%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance company.

At the end of the day, Trustgard Auto offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with average prices coming in at $133 compared to Mercury Insurance's $346.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. Trustgard Auto drivers usually see a 43% raise in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Mercury will usually increase prices by around 22%.

Trustgard Auto has the overall cheapest premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $171 a month, but it's worth noting that Mercury's average rates come from 11 states compared to just three for Trustgard Auto, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Mercury and Trustgard Auto Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (for example, Hawaii and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect quite a few drivers out there.

Auto insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time every month, which decreases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

Looking at Mercury and Trustgard Auto specifically, which company has the lowest rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Trustgard Auto will normally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Trustgard Auto comes in nearly 49.78 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save about 52% with Trustgard Auto compared to average premiums from Mercury.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Trustgard Auto typically offers lower rates than Mercury when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 54% per month less with Trustgard Auto compared to Mercury, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about 58% per month.

Is Mercury or Trustgard Auto 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 prices. Normally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper premiums since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Mercury or Trustgard Auto report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Trustgard Auto comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car each year, with average rates of $137 a month for both.

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

Where you call home can play a considerable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Generally, 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.

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

In urban areas, Trustgard Auto's average premiums are around $147 per month compared to Mercury's $401. People in suburban areas pay a monthly premium of about $132 with Trustgard Auto compared to $275 with Mercury. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $134 monthly with Trustgard Auto compared to Mercury's $209.

Mercury vs. Trustgard Auto Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones 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 Trustgard Auto so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Mercury knocks Trustgard Auto out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 27 different discounts to Trustgard Auto's 16.

Both companies offer several of the same discounts -- like COVID-19 relief discount, discounts for being a defensive driver, and group discounts -- but Mercury also offers discounts for ABS, continuous insurance, DRL, and more.

On the other hand, Trustgard Auto has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advanced safety feature discounts, company car discounts, education discounts, and more.

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

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Mercury or Trustgard Auto the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• You will be the only person on the car insurance policy.
• You have above-average credit.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Mercury might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national auto insurance carrier.
• You care about discounts (Mercury offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Mercury and Trustgard Auto. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about 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 companies, not just Mercury and Trustgard Auto. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Mercury vs. Trustgard Auto FAQs

Is Mercury or Trustgard Auto cheaper?

Trustgard Auto is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $137 a month with Trustgard Auto and $295 for Mercury. However, that doesn't mean Trustgard Auto will be the most affordable company for every driver, since there are a bunch of different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Mercury or Trustgard Auto?

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

Why do Mercury and Trustgard Auto offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use several different factors when determining the prices they charge. Variables such as age, your driving record, where you park your vehicle, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Mercury and Trustgard Auto calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers 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 ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Mercury or Trustgard 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.