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Mercury Insurance Reviews

Our reviews team rates Mercury Insurance 3.7 out of 5.0 stars for its overall low rates and mediocre customer review ratings of its services.

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12/23/2023 10:07 PM

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Mercury Insurance reviews mention that the company offers exceptional rates by sometimes reducing its customer service standards. It’s tough to tell whether Mercury Insurance is the right provider for you without comparing it to the competition, so we’ll see how it stacks up in this review.

Our review team discovered the best car insurance companies across the nation by looking at average costs, coverage plans, reliability, and service standards. We compiled our research to find out where Mercury Insurance reviews and ratings place the company compared to the country’s leading providers.

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Mercury Insurance Review

Through our review of Mercury Insurance, we give it an overall score of 3.7 out of 5.0 stars due to its competitive rates but relatively lackluster customer service. According to Mercury Insurance reviews, drivers receive adequate service from the company but shouldn’t expect the industry’s best.

Cost3.5
Coverage3.5
Reliability3.5
Service3.0
Overall Rating3.5

Pros

  • Relatively cheap insurance rates
  • Highly rated mobile app
  • Strong financial health

Cons

  • Lower customer satisfaction
  • Limited availability

About Mercury Insurance

Founded: 1962
States available: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia
AM Best financial strength rating: A
Insurance types: Auto, home, condo, renters, umbrella, landlord, and business insurance

Founded in 1961 and headquartered in Los Angeles, Mercury Insurance offers a variety of policies for cars, homes, renters, business insurance, and more. It operates through its network of more than 9,400 agents and they pride itself on their personalized service. Their coverage is only available in 11 states and their car insurance rideshare program is only available in 9 states.

Mercury Insurance Customer Reviews and Ratings

Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating: A-
BBB complaints in last three years: 205
Trustpilot rating: 2.1 out of 5.0

Mercury Insurance reviews aren’t exactly leading the industry, as seen by the company’s ranking as the third-worst midsize provider in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study℠. Mercury Insurance also holds a lowly 1.2-star rating from reviewers on the BBB, though customers harshly rank many insurance providers.

According to data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), Mercury Insurance received .71 on the complaint index, which is below the industry average.

The positive and negative Mercury Insurance reviews talk of dramatically different experiences during the same processes. This hints that Mercury Insurance service standards may vary widely depending on the location.

Positive Mercury Insurance Reviews

Excellent Mercury Insurance reviews often speak of the provider’s quality service and sometimes tell stories of complete claims satisfaction.

“I had a claim and the adjuster we had was professional and knew what he was talking about. We have been with Mercury almost 10 years and had no problems. Mercury Insurance is a good company.”

– Anna via BBB

“I have to give credit to Mercury Insurance for giving us excellent service. They always treated us fairly, and customer service is superb. There’s no hassle and headaches.”

– Victoria via Trustpilot

Mercury Insurance Complaints

Plenty of Mercury Insurance reviews can be found that complain about dealings with the company. Many drivers mention nonexistent customer service along with a tedious and largely frustrating insurance claims process.

“Worst possible customer service you could ask for. I’ve been dealing with an existing claim from an auto accident for over a month now with little to no contact from my adjuster. Tried calling multiple times during her office hours and was sent straight to voicemail.”

– Robert via BBB

“They are the cheapest around for a reason. They don’t care about their customers at all. Their customer representatives will leave you on hold for over an hour. It’s worth paying a little more not to work with this company. It will save you time and frustration.”

– Sepehr via BBB

Mercury Auto Insurance Price

The average cost of full-coverage car insurance from Mercury is $2,112 per year ($176 per month). This is more expensive than the national rate for full-coverage car insurance, which is $1,730. For a minimum coverage policy from Mercury, drivers may pay $902 per year ($75 per month) on average.

To better show how much drivers can expect to spend for Mercury Insurance, we’ve listed the average rates for California, Florida, and Georgia below. See how they compare to the state averages. These price estimates are for a 35-year-old motorist with good credit and a completely clean driving record. We still recommend getting a personalized car insurance quote to know the best possible price.

StateMercury Insurance Annual Rate EstimateState Average Annual Rate Estimate
California$1,625$2,089
Florida$2,990$2,947
Georgia$1,720$1,617

As seen, Mercury Insurance reviews are correct in saying the company tends to undercut the competition on pricing. No matter which state you’re in, expect a relatively competitive rate from Mercury Insurance.

Factors That Affect The Cost Of Car Insurance

You’ll find that several factors nearly always affect how much car insurance is in your state. Below, we’ve listed some key details that help determine your premiums:

  • Location: You’ll pay higher rates if you live in an urban area or in a state with high minimum coverage standards, a large number of uninsured motorists, or higher rates of car theft.
  • Age and gender: Younger men typically face higher auto insurance rates, though costs usually begin to decrease as drivers hit their mid-20s.
  • Marital status: Married motorists tend to pay lower rates than single drivers.
  • Credit score: Those with low credit scores often pay high auto insurance premiums.
  • Driving history: If your record includes car accidents or DUIs, expect to receive steep car insurance rates.
  • Vehicle type: Newer vehicles, models targeted by thieves, and cars with worse-than-average safety ratings have higher insurance costs.

Mercury Insurance: Cost By Age

Car insurance companies typically charge higher rates for drivers that have had less experience behind the wheel, such as those under 25. But Mercury Insurance manages even higher rates.

Full-coverage car insurance for 16-year-olds is $13,887 per year from Mercury Insurance, which is two times more expensive than the national average ($6,912 per year). Below shows Mercury’s average annual cost estimates for full-coverage car insurance by age group.

AgeAnnual Cost Estimate
16$13,887
17$10,618
18$9,231
19$5,588
21$4,145
25$2,552
30$2,297
40$2,106
45$2,106
50$1,934
55$1,841
65$1,935
75$2,434

Mercury Insurance Costs: High-Risk Drivers

Drivers that have speeding tickets, DUIs and more on their records will see higher rates from Mercury Insurance. Below are some annual estimates for drivers that have different traffic violations on their records.

Traffic ViolationAnnual Estimate For High-Risk Drivers
Speeding Tickets$3,092
Recent Accidents$3,461
DUI Convictions$4,727

*Speeding tickets are for 16 to 20 mph over the speed limit. Recent accidents are for a single vehicle ($2,500 worth of damage).

Mercury Auto Insurance Discounts

Multiple Mercury Insurance reviews online mention saving money through the company’s discount opportunities. Check out the following choices to learn whether you could save:

Anti-Theft Feature DiscountLowers prices for those whose cars have anti-theft features
Auto Pay DiscountCuts prices for those who sign up for automatic funds transfer or electronic recurring payments
E-Signature DiscountOffers savings to those willing to sign their policies online
Good Driver DiscountRewards safe driving without accidents, violations, or claims
Good Student DiscountLowers rates for students with strong academic performance
Multi-Car DiscountSaves money on plans with more than one insured car
Multi-Policy DiscountOffers a bundling discount for combining Mercury auto and homeowners insurance or renters insurance
Pay In Full DiscountHelps save money for those who pay their entire premiums up front

Mercury Auto Insurance Coverage

Mercury Insurance offers every standard type of car insurance but not many add-on insurance products beyond that. Below, you’ll find every type of coverage Mercury offers.

LiabilityBodily injury (BI) liability insurance covers the medical expenses for other drivers and their passengers after an accident where you are at fault. Property damage (PD) liability insurance pays for damages to other drivers’ vehicles after an accident where you are at fault.
CollisionCollision insurance pays for damages that occur while your car is moving and crashes, either with another vehicle or a road hazard, or if you flip your vehicle.
ComprehensiveComprehensive insurance pays for damages to your vehicle that are caused by animals or natural disasters. It also pays to repair or replace your vehicle if it is stolen or vandalized.
Medical PaymentsMedical payments (MedPay) covers medical bills for you and your passengers after an accident.
Personal Injury ProtectionPersonal injury protection (PIP) pays medical bills for you and your passengers after an accident. PIP may also pay for other expenses, such as lost wages.
Underinsured/Uninsured MotoristUnderinsured/uninsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage pays for damages to your vehicle if you are hit by another driver who doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough insurance to fully pay for the cost of damages.
Roadside AssistanceRoadside assistance ensures you can get help such as towing or lockout assistance if your vehicle breaks down.
Rental Car ReimbursementRental car coverage pays for your transportation needs while your car is in the shop for repairs.
Ride-Hailing InsuranceRide-hailing insurance protects drivers who work for rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft.
Mechanical ProtectionMechanical protection, often known as mechanical breakdown insurance, covers faulty car parts similarly to an extended warranty.

Mercury Roadside Assistance

Mercury Roadside Assistance is an add-on program to your car insurance policy that covers towing services, jump starts, flat tire changes, emergency fuel or fluid delivery, and locksmith services. There are also specific rates for some of its services and below we will break down exactly what each service entails:

  • Towing: For 15 miles or less it is $75 as part of the basic plan, up to 100 miles is $500, and towing up to 200 miles is $1,000.
  • Locksmith: Service techs will come to get your key if it is locked in your car, but if the key is damaged and not working the cost for the new key isn’t covered.
  • Jump Starts: A service tech will come by if the battery can’t start your engine to get your car working again.
  • Flat Tire Changes: Your flat tire will be changed for no charge, but you need a spare tire for this to be true.
  • Emergency Fuel Delivery: Fuel will be delivered to you if your tank is dry, but while transport costs are paid you must pay for the gas itself.

Its Roadside Assistance does not cover the cost of repair parts, replacement keys, or mechanical adjustments like minor repairs for a vehicle’s engine or the car in general. Mercury’s roadside assistance program typically costs $10 a year for new vehicles and $20-$40 for older vehicles, but these rates may vary.

Mercury Rental Car Insurance Coverage

Mercury insurance coverage for your rental car is included within your personal auto insurance policy but is limited by the terms of your policy’s coverage. So this means coverage such as collision protection, liability coverage, and comprehensive coverage may carry over to your rental. However, it also has a rental car reimbursement program which costs around $2 to $15 on average and gives you $30 to $100 a day toward the cost of the rental for up to 30 days. However, to make sure you have coverage as part of your personal car insurance policy we recommend calling a Mercury agent at 800-503-3724.

Mercury Insurance: Additional Coverage Options

While Mercury insurance is generally known for its car insurance, it also offers various other policies for homeowners and renters insurance. Below we will break down the coverage details of each:

Mercury Home Insurance

Mercury home insurance includes six standard coverage types including liability, medical payments to others, dwelling, other structures, personal property, and loss of use. It also offers homeowners insurance policy add-ons which include:

  • Extended replacement cost
  • Service line protection
  • Home systems protection
  • Home cyber protection
  • Identity management services

There are also many discounts you can get for your home policy with Mercury. The discounts offered include new home discounts, multiple policies, fire protective devices, theft protection devices, water leak detection, and loss-free discounts.

Mercury Renters Insurance

Mercury also offers insurance to those who are renters and live in condos. Standard coverage options include guest medical protection, personal property protection, reimbursed living expenses, and renters liability coverage. Add-on coverage for renters insurance is not as expansive as its home policies and are as follows:

  • Earthquake Coverage
  • Identity Theft Protection
  • Valuable Items

Similar to homeowners policies, renters insurance discounts are offered for security devices like alarm systems, deadbolt locks on exterior doors, smoke detectors, and more.

Mercury Insurance Mobile App

Mercury Insurance reviews of the company’s app tend to be strong, with an average rating of 4.8 stars out of 5.0 on the App Store and 4.4 stars on Google Play. From the Mercury Insurance app, policyholders can access their digital ID cards, pay their bills, and get in touch with roadside assistance.

Mercury Insurance RealDrive

Mercury Insurance reviews often mention the RealDrive® pay-per-mile program as one of the best ways to save money with the provider. If you sign up for the program, your car insurance rate will be partially based on how many miles you drive. RealDrive is an excellent way for those who don’t spend much time on the road to save money.

MercuryGO

MercuryGO® is Mercury Insurance’s usage-based-insurance option. While pay-per-mile insurance checks how many miles you drive, MercuryGO uses additional factors, such as when you drive and how well you drive. Mercury Insurance reviews say both RealDrive and MercuryGO provide easy ways for drivers to find the cheapest car insurance.

The app for the MercuryGO telematics program receives poorer reviews. MercuryGO has an average of 3.0 stars on the App Store, while Google Play gives it 3.6 stars on average. Many drivers put up with the app to receive potential car insurance discounts of up to 40 percent.

Mercury Auto Insurance Reviews: Conclusion

Overall, our review team rates Mercury auto insurance 3.7 out of 5.0 stars for the affordable rates and mediocre service reputation. While the company has good rates overall for its car insurance, Mercury’s coverage and services are average when compared to other top providers. The company can be a good option, but we recommend searching around and comparing multiple provider quotes to get the best deal for your insurance needs.

Mercury Auto Insurance Competitors: Top Picks

It’s smart to get free insurance quotes from Mercury, but many providers offer higher-quality coverage with similar rates. Compare car insurance policies and rates from Geico and Progressive if you’re looking for top-tier auto insurance with competitive pricing.

Geico: Best For Discounts

We recommend Geico as another provider to check out for its outstanding coverage, some of the industry’s lowest premiums, and a stellar reputation. On top of the sixteen discounts Geico offers for auto insurance policyholders, the company also offers emergency road service, rental car reimbursement, and mechanical breakdown insurance. With these factors, it’s not surprising that Geico is the second-largest provider in the United States.

Progressive: Best Usage-Based Insurance

Progressive stands out in the industry as a more affordable provider for high-risk drivers with speeding tickets, accidents, DUIs or other traffic violations on their records. Another way policyholders can save money on premiums is through Progressive’s usage-based program Snapshot®. According to the company, drivers could get average annual savings of $156. In addition to Snapshot, Progressive offers the six standard types of insurance along with ridehsare coverage, custom parts and equipment value coverage, and loan/lease payoff coverage. It also offers a good driver discount, a good student discount, and more.

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Mercury Auto Insurance Review: FAQ

Is Mercury Insurance a reputable company?

Mercury Insurance is a reputable insurance provider, as seen by its A financial strength rating from AM Best and A- score from the BBB. The company provides auto insurance coverage for drivers in 11 states and holds a relatively strong industry reputation.

Is Mercury good at paying claims?

Mercury Insurance does not have a good record of paying out claims. In the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction StudySM, Mercury was the well below the industry average for customer satisfaction during the claims process, and scored the second-worst in the study.

What are the ratings for Mercury Insurance?

We give Mercury Insurance 3.7 out of 5.0 stars for its affordable rates but uninspiring customer service standards. While some auto insurance companies offer stronger coverage and claims processes, Mercury Insurance reviews say the provider is at least worth a look.

What states does Mercury Insurance write in?

Mercury Insurance writes insurance policies in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia.

How do I cancel Mercury Insurance?

The best ways to cancel a Mercury car insurance policy are by calling your local agent or meeting with an insurance agent in person. You cannot cancel a Mercury auto insurance policy online.

Where is Mercury Insurance’s headquarters?

Mercury Insurance is headquartered in Los Angeles.

How We Rate Insurers

Our review process aims to deliver consistent and unbiased assessments of car insurance providers. While there are multiple qualities that make a car insurance company successful, our review team focuses on those we believe are the most important for consumers:

  • Cost: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.
  • Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.
  • Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
  • Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the BBB to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer easy-to-use claims apps.

*Data accurate at time of publication.