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

Quick Facts

• In general, Mercury offers significantly less expensive rates than Utica National
• Mercury offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who may not have much of a commute
• Utica National offers more affordable rates for residents in New York

Mercury vs. Utica National: 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 huge discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Mercury or Utica National for your next policy, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

As you can see, Mercury has average rates that are about 25% per month cheaper than those from Utica National when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Mercury will be the more affordable option for every single driver. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, your age, your credit score, or even where you call home (among other things). So, at the end of the day, premiums from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Mercury or Utica National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Mercury and Utica National only compete against each other in New York, where Utica National offers the cheaper average premiums. For New York residents, Utica National offers car insurance for $394 per month on average. Mercury's average rates come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $964 monthly.

But there's more to insurance than just where you live. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance carriers calculate your prices. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance rates of any other group of drivers. That's generally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

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 Utica National save nearly $40 a month compared to those who use Mercury. It's worth noting that Mercury offers auto insurance in 11 different states compared to Utica National's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for Mercury policyholders lower almost 70% and Utica National's premiums drop more than 45% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the most affordable insurance rates out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for car insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Mercury and Utica National? Mercury gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older nearly 30% cheaper than the national average for Utica National.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance premiums tend to be more affordable for married policyholders than they are for single drivers. This usually boils down to married drivers having more than one car on their policy -- something lots of car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Mercury is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $76 per month less expensive than Utica National, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - Mercury has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Mercury vs. Utica National: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women typically pay less for auto insurance than men? This is because men are more likely to get into collisions and get tickets, which increases the chances of an insurance claim.

With Mercury, men normally pay almost $15 a month more than women, while with Utica National, the difference is closer to $30 per month.

Looking at overall affordability, Mercury comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices 26% less for men and 24% cheaper for women.

Mercury or Utica National: 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 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.

However, most 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 an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Mercury generally offers slightly cheaper premiums of $184 compared to Utica National's $197. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Mercury again has the edge, with policies about $200 a month more affordable than Utica National, on average.

Is Mercury or Utica National 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 rates, but is Mercury or Utica National less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Mercury policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $57 per month if they get a ticket, while Utica National normally raises premiums around $58 a month, on average.

But Mercury has cheaper prices for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save about $67 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $68 a month with Mercury Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Mercury climbing by over $100. Utica National has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay just under $60 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, Mercury offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly prices averaging $346 compared to Utica National's $362.

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 auto insurance bill -- usually a lot more than a collision or ticket. Utica National drivers usually see a 45% increase in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Mercury will typically raise premiums by about 22%.

Mercury has the overall cheapest prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $303 a month, but it's worth noting that Mercury's average rates come from 11 states compared to just one for Utica National, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Mercury and Utica National Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for a lot of drivers.

Insurance companies argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with less expensive premiums.

Looking at Mercury and Utica National specifically, which one has the most affordable rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Mercury. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 45% compared to Utica National, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $128 or 32% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best premiums. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $92 less with Mercury than Utica National, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around $12 per month with Utica National.

Is Mercury or Utica National 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 your monthly prices? That's because the more miles you drive, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Mercury or Utica National report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Mercury comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average rates of $295 a month for both.

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

Where you park your vehicle can have a substantial impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. Generally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Mercury usually comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 37% with Mercury compared to Utica National. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 13% less with Mercury compared to Utica National. In urban areas, Mercury Insurance's average prices are about 25% less than Utica National.

Mercury vs. Utica National Discounts

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

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

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

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

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, DRL discounts, discounts for being a good student, and multi-policy discounts. Mercury also offers advance quote discounts, continuous insurance discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more that Utica National does not.

On the flip side, Utica National has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for getting driver training, EFT discounts, ESC discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Mercury or Utica National Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the best one for you and your specific needs?

Mercury might be best for you if....

• You already have plans to move to another state -- Utica National only offers policies to New York residents.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You live in a rural area.

Utica National might be best for you if...

• You live in one of the following states: New York.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Mercury and Utica National and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best 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 Utica National. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Mercury vs. Utica National FAQs

Is Mercury or Utica National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Mercury is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $295 per month compared to $394 for Utica National. That being said, Mercury won't necessarily be the lowest company for everyone, since there are a bunch of different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Mercury or Utica National?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Mercury offers less expensive prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record, while Utica National is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Mercury and Utica National offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at many different factors when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Variables like where you call home, where you live, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Mercury and Utica National calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier 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 make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Mercury or Utica National 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.