Mercury vs. Virginia Farm Bureau: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Virginia Farm Bureau offers significantly less expensive premiums than Mercury
• Mercury offers more discounts than Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance
• Virginia Farm Bureau tends to be a much cheaper option for people who are single and purchasing insurance by yourself

Mercury vs. Virginia Farm Bureau: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Mercury or Virginia Farm Bureau, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Mercury has average rates that are about 65% per month more expensive than those from Virginia Farm Bureau.

However, Virginia Farm Bureau may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, your driving record, where you call home, or even your age (among other things), so prices could change drastically from person to person.

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

Mercury or Virginia Farm Bureau: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Mercury and Virginia Farm Bureau only compete against each other in Virginia, where Virginia Farm Bureau offers the cheaper average prices. For Virginia residents, Virginia Farm Bureau offers car insurance for $101 per month on average. Mercury's average rates come out to be over 30% more expensive, at $140 monthly.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance payment than just your home state. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's normally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Virginia Farm Bureau save more than $500 a month compared to those who use Mercury. It's worth noting that Mercury offers insurance in 11 different states compared to Virginia Farm Bureau's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time you turn 25. Virginia Farm Bureau offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Mercury's average rates lower nearly 70% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the most affordable car insurance premiums you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally reduces their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

When looking at Mercury and Virginia Farm Bureau specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Virginia Farm Bureau gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $91 a month compared to Mercury's $219.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly more affordable auto insurance prices than single policyholders. That's because policies for married policyholders normally cover more than one car, which several companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Virginia Farm Bureau is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums about $244 per month cheaper than Mercury, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Virginia Farm Bureau is also obvious, where drivers save over 60% a month.

Mercury vs. Virginia Farm Bureau: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which means they'll usually end up paying more for car insurance than women.

Normally, women see rates around 5% per month less with Mercury, while with Virginia Farm Bureau, the difference is closer to 4% a month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Virginia Farm Bureau offers the cheapest average premiums for both men and women, with average rates $199 less for men and $189 cheaper for women.

Mercury or Virginia Farm Bureau: 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 can be a complicated subject for most people. There are several different coverages that account for a bunch 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 end up falling into two different types of coverage -- 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 -- alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Virginia Farm Bureau typically offers significantly less expensive prices of $66 compared to Mercury's $184. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Virginia Farm Bureau again has the edge, with policies about $250 per month more affordable than Mercury, on average.

Is Mercury or Virginia Farm Bureau Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance carriers offering great premiums 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 tickets and collisions lead to higher prices, but which company -- Mercury or Virginia Farm Bureau -- has the most affordable rates 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 a month if they get a ticket, while Virginia Farm Bureau generally raises premiums around $25 per month, on average.

Even so, Virginia Farm Bureau has cheaper rates for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are 65% and 64% more affordable, respectively, compared to Mercury Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Mercury can expect to see about an $109 -- or around 32% -- increase in their auto insurance prices. Drivers who use Virginia Farm Bureau for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $23 (or 22%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance carrier.

Overall, the less expensive rates come from Virginia Farm Bureau, with monthly prices averaging $105 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 accident or speeding ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. On average, Mercury will increase your rates around 22% after a DUI, while Virginia Farm Bureau's average premiums climb by over 25%.

Virginia Farm Bureau has the overall lowest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $111 per month, but it's worth noting that Mercury's average rates come from 11 states compared to just one for Virginia Farm Bureau, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Mercury and Virginia Farm Bureau Rates?

Did you know that many insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect many drivers out there.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so usually, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper premiums.

So, which company offers the best rates for drivers 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 Virginia Farm Bureau. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save more than 70% compared to Mercury, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $178 or 67% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Virginia Farm Bureau typically offers lower premiums than Mercury when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $193 a month less with Virginia Farm Bureau compared to Mercury, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about $264 a month.

Is Mercury or Virginia Farm Bureau Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a big impact on your monthly prices. Normally, the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Mercury charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Virginia Farm Bureau, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles yearly paying around $4 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, Virginia Farm Bureau is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Mercury vs. Virginia Farm Bureau: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can have a considerable impact on your monthly insurance cost. Typically, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Virginia Farm Bureau tends to offer the cheapest premiums for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the lowest prices from both companies, but Virginia Farm Bureau comes out on top with average premiums about $78 monthly. Virginia Farm Bureau also has more affordable average prices for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 73% and 58% per month respective difference when compared to Mercury drivers in similar areas.

Mercury vs. Virginia Farm Bureau Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

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

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Mercury and Virginia Farm Bureau 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 Virginia Farm Bureau out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 19 more discounts than Virginia Farm Bureau.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like ABS discounts, distant student discounts, and multi-policy discounts. Mercury also offers advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, continuous insurance discounts, and more that Virginia Farm Bureau does not.

On the flip side, Virginia Farm Bureau has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for getting driver training, new business discounts, and umbrella policy discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Mercury or Virginia Farm Bureau Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the right fit for you?

Virginia Farm Bureau might be best for you if....

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You have above-average credit.
• You're buying auto insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Mercury might be best for you if...

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

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Mercury and Virginia Farm Bureau. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Mercury and Virginia Farm Bureau. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes 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. Virginia Farm Bureau FAQs

Is Mercury or Virginia Farm Bureau cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Virginia Farm Bureau is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $101 a month compared to $295 for Mercury. But Virginia Farm Bureau won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for each policyholder, since there are a variety of different factors that come into play when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, Mercury or Virginia Farm Bureau?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Mercury and Virginia Farm Bureau offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at quite a few different variables when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Factors such as your driving record, age, where you live, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Mercury and Virginia Farm Bureau calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

How do I know if Mercury or Virginia Farm Bureau 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, Compare.com makes 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. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Mercury or Virginia Farm Bureau 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.