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Pros

  • Better-than-average customer complaint level.
  • Usage-based insurance (MercuryGo) with safe-driving discounts available.
  • Rideshare insurance available.

Cons

  • No accident forgiveness, new car replacement or vanishing deductible.
  • Higher than average rates for most drivers.
  • Only available in 11 states.

Why trust our car insurance experts

Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of insurance products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.

  • 260 companies analyzed.
  • 347 rates reviewed.
  • 5 levels of fact-checking.

Is Mercury car insurance good?

Mercury has above-average rates for most driver types. If you’re looking for the cheapest car insurance, get quotes from Auto-Owners and USAA (if you qualify for membership) instead.

To balance its higher rates, however, Mercury has a level of consumer complaints that is below the national average for car insurance, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). This can indicate a higher level of customer satisfaction compared to insurers with higher complaint levels.

Mercury also offers its policyholders a streamlined vehicle repair experience with designated Mercury-authorized auto shops. Repairs at these shops are guaranteed for as long as a policyholder owns the vehicle.

Mercury compared to other car insurance companies

CAR INSURANCE COMPANYAVERAGE ANNUAL RATE FOR GOOD DRIVERSCUSTOMER COMPLAINT LEVELOUR RATINGLEARN MORE
$1,436Low
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CAR INSURANCE COMPANY
AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE FOR GOOD DRIVERS$1,436
CUSTOMER COMPLAINT LEVELLow
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$1,521Low
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CAR INSURANCE COMPANY
AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE FOR GOOD DRIVERS$1,521
CUSTOMER COMPLAINT LEVELLow
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$1,364Low
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CAR INSURANCE COMPANY
AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE FOR GOOD DRIVERS$1,364
CUSTOMER COMPLAINT LEVELLow
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$1,642Low
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CAR INSURANCE COMPANY
AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE FOR GOOD DRIVERS$1,642
CUSTOMER COMPLAINT LEVELLow
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$1,597Low
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CAR INSURANCE COMPANY
AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE FOR GOOD DRIVERS$1,597
CUSTOMER COMPLAINT LEVELLow
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$1,826Low
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CAR INSURANCE COMPANY
AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE FOR GOOD DRIVERS$1,826
CUSTOMER COMPLAINT LEVELLow
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$1,855Very Low
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CAR INSURANCE COMPANY
AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE FOR GOOD DRIVERS$1,855
CUSTOMER COMPLAINT LEVELVery Low
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$1,984Very Low
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CAR INSURANCE COMPANY
AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE FOR GOOD DRIVERS$1,984
CUSTOMER COMPLAINT LEVELVery Low
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$2,025Low
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AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE FOR GOOD DRIVERS$2,025
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$2,896Low
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CAR INSURANCE COMPANY
AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE FOR GOOD DRIVERS$2,896
CUSTOMER COMPLAINT LEVELLow
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$3,093Low
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CAR INSURANCE COMPANY
AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE FOR GOOD DRIVERS$3,093
CUSTOMER COMPLAINT LEVELLow
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Types of car insurance coverage offered by Mercury

Mercury provides a number of common car insurance coverage options so you can create a policy that’s tailor-made for your individual needs. 

  • Collision insurance: This type of optional car insurance coverage pays to repair or replace your car if you hit something, such as a guardrail or another vehicle, regardless of who is at fault for the accident. 
  • Comprehensive coverage: Typically sold with collision coverage, comprehensive insurance pays to repair your vehicle if it is stolen, vandalized or damaged by falling objects, an animal, flood or fire. If you financed your car or have a lease, you’ll probably be required to have both collision and comprehensive insurance. 
  • Liability protection: Liability car insurance pays for damages and injuries that others have suffered if you’re at fault for a covered loss. It can also pay for your legal defense if you’re sued after an accident. 
  • Medical payments coverage (MedPay): Additional coverage that can supplement your auto insurance policy, MedPay helps pay for your and your passengers’ medical expenses resulting from a covered accident, regardless of fault.
  • Personal injury protection (PIP): PIP pays medical costs and other expenses for you and your passengers following a car accident, regardless of who was at fault. Unlike medical payments coverage, PIP also covers lost wages and child care costs incurred after a covered accident.
  • Rental car reimbursement: This optional coverage pays for rental car costs while you’re without your everyday vehicle because of a covered loss.
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance: This type of auto insurance pays for medical expenses if you and other passengers (or other drivers of your insured vehicle) are injured in an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver.

Mercury also offers roadside assistance, an optional 24/7 coverage that you can add to an auto policy. The company will dispatch roadside service professionals in the event you have a flat tire, dead battery or other issues that leave you stranded.

Rideshare insurance is also available to drivers who work for Uber, Lyft or other rideshare companies. This additional insurance covers your vehicle during the times your ride-hailing app is activated but you haven’t accepted a customer yet, or when you’re driving to pick up a customer.

Featured partner offers

Other insurance products offered by Mercury

In addition to auto insurance, Mercury offers several insurance products to help you financially protect your personal assets, house and business. 

  • Business auto insurance.
  • Business owners insurance.
  • Condo insurance.
  • Homeowners insurance.
  • Landlord insurance.
  • Mechanical protection.
  • Renters insurance.
  • Umbrella insurance.

Auto insurance discounts offered by Mercury

Mercury offers several discounts to help policyholders pay less for their car insurance coverage. 

  • Anti-theft.
  • Auto pay.
  • E-signature.
  • Good driver.
  • Good student.
  • Multi-policy.
  • Multi-vehicle.
  • Pay in full.

Mercury car insurance reviews

Mercury has a low consumer complaint level, based on data collected by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The number of customer complaints to state auto insurance departments about Mercury is below the national average. NAIC complaints can reflect claims processing issues, such as delays or unsatisfactory settlements, as well as premiums and surcharges. 

However, Mercury gets a C on the 2023 CRASH Network report card. The CRASH Network surveys collision repair professionals on their experience while working with car insurance companies. Factors that may contribute to a high grade include using high-quality repair parts, quick and satisfactory customer claims and encouraging repair procedures recommended by car manufacturers. 

Methodology

Our insurance experts evaluated top car insurance companies in the nation to determine which offer claims the best-rated auto insurance based on average rates, coverage features, collision claims process and consumer complaints.

Each car insurance company was eligible for up to 100 points, based on its performance in the following key categories:

Cost: 50 points. We analyzed rates from Quadrant Information Services based on seven driver profiles for a policy with 100/300/100 in liability coverage, uninsured motorist coverage and comprehensive and collision coverage.

We awarded up to 50 points based on insurers’ average rates for:

  • Drivers in various age groups.
  • Drivers with bad credit.
  • Good drivers.
  • Drivers with infractions, such as speeding tickets, an accident or a DUI on their record.

Up to 10 bonus points were available for insurers that had low rates for teen and senior drivers, two demographics that typically have higher car insurance rates.

Consumer complaints: 20 points. We collected complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which shows the volume of car insurance consumer complaints against each company. When a consumer lodges a complaint to their state’s department of insurance — often about an insurance company’s claims process, delays, denials or settlements — these complaints are logged and tracked.

Car insurance coverage options and features: 20 points. Car insurance policy features can help make coverage more affordable both before and after an accident or covered incident. We evaluated car insurance policies offered by each insurer and awarded points to insurers that offered these valuable options and features:

  • Accident forgiveness (5 points).
  • New car replacement (5 points).
  • Vanishing deductible (5 points).
  • Usage-based car insurance program (5 points).

Collision repairs score: 10 points. Every year the CRASH Network releases an “Insurer Report Card” survey. This annual survey asks repair professionals how well a car insurance company handles claims, specifically when it comes to payment practices, repair quality and customer service.

Each car insurance company receives a grade ranging from A+ to F, based on the survey results. Companies were awarded up to 10 points based on their CRASH Network score, with higher grades receiving the most points.

Mercury car insurance reviews FAQs

Mercury car insurance is only available in 11 states:

Yes, generally, Mercury is a reliable car insurance company. J.D. Power rated Mercury 848 out of a possible 1,000 points in overall customer satisfaction in its most recent U.S. Auto Insurance Study. It also has a low number of complaints to state insurance departments and an average collision repairs grade from the CRASH Network.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Joe Dyton

BLUEPRINT

Joe has been a professional writer since 1999, covering sports as well as the insurance, real estate and personal finance industries. Joe was an in-house marketing copywriter for Geico for 10 years and has had his work featured in Connected Real Estate Magazine, Credit Karma, Student Loan Planner, White Coat Investor and U.S. News & World Report.

Reina is a freelance writer and editor with over a decade of experience in SEO content, marketing copy, and editorial strategy. Before becoming a USA TODAY Blueprint insurance contributor, her work was featured on Forbes Advisor. She was also the managing editor and life insurance expert at Policygenius, overseeing life and disability insurance content. Before Policygenius, Reina was the senior editor at DoctorOz.com, where she created and edited health and wellness content.

Heidi Gollub

BLUEPRINT

Heidi Gollub is the USA TODAY Blueprint managing editor of insurance. She was previously lead editor of insurance at Forbes Advisor and led the insurance team at U.S. News & World Report as assistant managing editor of 360 Reviews. Heidi has an MBA from Emporia State University and is a licensed property and casualty insurance expert.