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Mercury Auto Insurance Review: Affordable Coverage That Comes at a Price

Review Updated
Christy Bieber
By: Christy Bieber

Our Insurance Expert

Ashley Maready
Check IconFact Checked Ashley Maready
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Mercury Auto Insurance offers very affordable premiums, but they come at the expense of poor customer service. This Mercury Auto Insurance review provides more insight to help consumers decide if this company is right for their coverage.

Logo for Mercury Auto Insurance
Drivers who want to save moneyMercury Auto Insurance
Rating image, 3.00 out of 5 stars.
3.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor

Bottom Line

Mercury's premiums are much more affordable than average for most driver demographics, including young drivers, those with a clean record, and motorists with an accident history or a DUI. Unfortunately, the insurer receives significantly more customer complaints than average and has poor customer reviews.

Pros

  • Premiums are extremely affordable
  • Many discounts are available
  • Thousands of in-person agents

Cons

  • Available in a limited number of states
  • Below-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction ranking
  • Above-average number of complaints with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners

Full Mercury Auto Insurance review

Monthly premium costs

Mercury is much less expensive than competitors for almost all drivers. Premiums are hundreds of dollars cheaper for most motorists, and thousands cheaper than average for some, including young drivers and those with a DUI history.

35y, female, clean record 35y, male, clean record 35y, female, one accident 18y, male, clean record
$1,521 $1,521 $2,650 $3,084
Data source: The Ascent's analysis of standardized personas.

Cost comparison

The table below shows Mercury's low costs relative to the national average rate.

Mercury Auto Insurance Average Rate National Average Rate
Clean Driving Record $1,521 $2,389
Accident on Record $2,650 $3,037
Speeding Ticket on Record $2,022 $3,023
DUI on Record $2,528 $4,380
18 Years OId - New Driver $3,084 $6,291
65 Years Old - Senior $1,416 $2,140
Military Service $1,521 $2,375
Minimum Coverage (Liability Only) $540 $787
Data source: The Ascent's analysis of standardized personas.

Discounts

Mercury offers a number of discounts standard within the auto insurance industry including for anti-theft features and multi-policy bundling. It also offers some unique savings opportunities, including reduced premiums for e-signing paperwork.

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

Coverage

Mercury's coverage is comprehensive. Many types of policies are available.

Policy types

  • Auto Insurance
  • Business Auto
  • Mechanical Protection

Mercury offers certain types of policies some competitors don't, such as mechanical breakdown protection. This pays some of the bills when a covered vehicle breaks down.

Coverage types

  • Collision
  • Comprehensive
  • Liability
  • Medical payments
  • Personal injury protection (PIP)
  • Rental car
  • Ride-hailing insurance
  • Roadside assistance
  • Uninsured/Underinsured

Mercury offers the standard types of coverage most insurers provide, including liability and collision coverage as well as roadside assistance and more. It also provides coverage for rideshare drivers. Its "Ride-Hailing Insurance," as the company calls it, provides necessary protection for this kind of commercial use for as little as $0.90 per day in premium costs.

Customer service and ratings

Mercury received below-average rankings on J.D. Power's 2023 Overall Customer Satisfaction Index. The average number of complaints received by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners was also significantly above average for Mercury.

A D rating with the Better Business Bureau and a score of 1.1 out of a possible 5 stars from over 100 consumer reviews on the BBB site also suggests serious customer service issues.

Other insurance available

  • Business insurance
  • Condo
  • Home
  • Landlord
  • Renters
  • Umbrella

Mercury offers many other insurance products, providing ample opportunity for bundling coverage.

Alternatives to consider

Award Icon 2024 Award Winner
Logo for State Farm
Best for bundling coverageState Farm
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Get a Quote

Award Icon 2024 Award Winner
Logo for Progressive
Best for coverage options and discountsProgressive
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Get a Quote

When looking for an auto insurer that offers better customer service: State Farm is known for top-notch customer support. However, premiums may be higher with State Farm for many drivers.

When looking for an auto insurer that offers coverage in more states: Progressive offers coverage to people in more places than Mercury Auto Insurance. But keep in mind, policies may be more expensive, especially for younger drivers.

Mercury Auto Insurance summary

Mercury Auto Insurance might be best suited for people who:

  • Prioritize low price
  • Are OK with substandard customer service
  • Live in one of the states where Mercury is available

Mercury is undoubtedly a very inexpensive option for price-conscious drivers, but the high number of consumer complaints and poor reviews suggest the insurer may make managing a policy and resolving claims a stressful process.

Our auto insurance rating methodology

At The Motley Fool Ascent, insurers are rated on a scale of one to five stars. We primarily focus on pricing, coverage options, and customer satisfaction; however, we also take into account features like unique discounts, online and app-based experiences, and branch access. Our highest-rated auto insurances generally include low costs, solid coverage, and high customer satisfaction.

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