Mercury doesn’t have the affordability or customer service quality to be one of the best car insurance companies for most people.
By
Andrew HurstAndrew HurstSenior Editor & Licensed Auto Insurance ExpertAndrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.
Edited by
Anna SwartzAnna SwartzSenior Managing Editor & Auto Insurance ExpertAnna Swartz is a senior managing editor and auto insurance expert at Policygenius, where she oversees our car insurance coverage. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic.com, as well as an associate writer at The Dodo.
Our proprietary ratings methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the “Ratings methodology” section for more details.
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AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
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Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
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The bottom line
Mercury’s higher-than-average rates and mixed customer service ratings mean that it’s not one of our top car insurance companies, though it does offer a range of discounts, including savings for low-mileage drivers who report their annual mileage.
But Mercury’s poor claims satisfaction ratings make it tough to justify the cost, unless you already have home insurance and can bundle coverages for extra savings.
Pros
Low-mileage discount saves you money for driving less
Offers rideshare coverage
Cons
No gap insurance or new car replacement coverage
Low customer service ratings
Higher-than-average rates
Basic coverages offered
Mercury has all of the types of car insurance most drivers will need. Car insurance requirements vary depending on where you live, but may include any (or all of) the following:
Bodily injury liability: Covers the cost of the other driver’s injuries if you hurt them in an at-fault accident.
Property damage liability: Covers the cost of property damage that you cause in an at-fault accident.
Collision coverage: Covers damage to your own car after a collision with another driver or object, whether or not you were at fault.
Comprehensive coverage: Covers damage to your own car not caused by a collision, like damage caused by falling tree branches, hailstorms, and flooding.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist: Covers accidents caused by someone without car insurance or without enough insurance to pay for the damage.
Personal injury protection: Also called no-fault insurance, PIP covers injuries to you and your passengers after an accident, along with things like lost income or childcare costs.
Medical payments: Covers the cost of injuries to you and your passengers after an accident, though the limits are usually lower than PIP.
Additional coverages offered
Mercury doesn’t offer drivers many ways to upgrade their policy with more forms of coverage, but it does have a couple of useful add-ons. Drivers can add the following extra types of coverage to their Mercury policy:
Rideshare insurance: Also called Transportation Network Coverage, this add-on ensures that rideshare drivers are fully protected while on the clock for services like Uber or Lyft.
Rental reimbursement: Covers $30 to $100 per day for up to 30 days for replacement transportation while your car is in the shop after a covered accident.
Roadside assistance: Covers fuel delivery, towing, locksmith, battery change, and flat-tire service if your vehicle breaks down.
Ratings methodology
Price
2.5/5
We compared Mercury’s costs with other insurance companies by analyzing rates from every state and the District of Columbia. Our sample driver was 30 years old, with a clean driving record, average credit, and a 2017 Toyota Camry. We found that the car insurance from Mercury is more expensive than the national average, but it might be cheaper depending on your state.
Customer experience
3.2/5
Mercury scored 830 on the 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, which measures how policyholders feel about their insurer’s claims process, including service and eventual settlement. This is lower than the industry average of 880.
Mercury also earned a below-average score of 695 on the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Insurance Digital Experience Study, which looks at how satisfied customers are with a company’s digital offerings. But when it comes to complaints filed with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Mercury has fewer far complaints than average.
Coverage options
2.8/5
We compared Mercury’s coverage options to competitors to see how it stacked up. We counted up Mercury’s total offerings, then indexed its score relative to competitors. We found that Mercury offers drivers fewer coverage add-ons than most competitors.
Financial strength
3.1/5
We compared Mercury’s financial strength — its overall stability and ability to pay claims — to other companies using ratings from trusted third-parties like A.M. Best and Moody's. Mercury received ratings of A from A.M. Best and A2 from Moody’s. It was not rated by S&P.
Cost of Mercury car insurance
The average cost of car insurance from Mercury is $215 per month, or $2,577 a year. That’s $79 more expensive per month than the national average. That said, Mercury may be more affordable depending on where you live.
Coverage amount
Average annual rate for Mercury
Required state minimum
$1,081
Full coverage ($50,000/$100,000)
$2,577
Full coverage ($100,000/$300,000)
$2,771
Drivers may find it easier to get cheaper car insurance (and better customer service) from companies like State Farm, GEICO, Travelers, or Nationwide.
Car insurance discounts from Mercury
Although Mercury car insurance is expensive, drivers can lower their premiums by qualifying for discounts like:
Anti-theft discount: Mercury offers this discount to drivers who have installed an anti-theft device in their vehicle, like a GPS tracker or a steering wheel lock.
E-signature discount: Receive this discount by signing up for automatic, electronic payments.
Good driver discount: Drivers who have avoided accidents for three years qualify for cheaper rates.
Good student discount: Drivers who are in school and maintain at least ”B” grade point average may be eligible for this discount.
Multiple policy discount: If you already have a home, condo, or renters policy with Mercury you can bundle it with your car insurance and lower your rates.
Multiple vehicles discount: Drivers who insure more than one vehicle on the same Mercury policy get a discount on their car insurance premiums.
Pay-in-full discount: Pay for your entire car insurance policy at once and get a discount.
Mercury per-mile car insurance: RealDrive
Mercury has a per-mile car insurance discount called RealDrive that sets your rates based mostly on how much you drive, not other factors. That means people who drive less stand to save a lot on car insurance.
You get a 5% discount right away when you enroll in RealDrive. Then, when you have logged your miles and reported them to your Mercury agent, your rates will change depending on how much you drove.
You aren’t tracked in real time, but you’ll report your mileage just before your policy is up for renewal, and drivers who drive less stand to save more.
What to expect with Mercury insurance
How to get a quote: You can get online quotes from Mercury on the company’s website or you can call (866) 875-2920. You can also reach out to an independent agent or marketplace like Policygenius for a quote.
Customer service options: Drivers can contact Mercury by using the company’s app, website, or over the phone.
How to file a claim: Drivers can file a claim by calling Mercury at (800) 503-3724 or using the online claims portal.
How to cancel your policy: Mercury customers can cancel their car insurance policy over the phone by calling the number on the back of their insurance card.
We rated Mercury lower than some competitors, including State Farm, GEICO, Travelers, and more. That said, depending on where you live, your accident history, age, and other personal details, Mercury could be a good car insurance company for you.
Is Mercury good at paying claims?
Mercury has a lower claims satisfaction rating among its policyholders than average, according to J.D. Power. That means that Mercury customers were less satisfied with their claims experience than most people.
What does insurance cost at Mercury?
On average, Mercury car insurance costs $2,577 per year. That’s more expensive than the national average, but Mercury could be an affordable option depending on where you live.
Who can get Mercury car insurance?
Mercury offers car insurance in 11 states, including California, Florida, New York, and Texas. Anyone can apply for coverage, but, like with most car insurance companies, not everyone will be offered a quote.
Andrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.
Anna Swartz is a senior managing editor and auto insurance expert at Policygenius, where she oversees our car insurance coverage. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic.com, as well as an associate writer at The Dodo.
