American Family vs Mercury: Which is Better for You?

Selecting an auto insurance company can be tricky: rates may vary based on your driving record, location, and age, and companies offer an array of discounts. American Family and Mercury are two of the US' top insurance companies, providing competitively priced policies in most regions.

In an effort to make shopping for car insurance easier, we collected average rates from Mercury and American Family. These take into account myriad pricing components, including credit rating, driving history, and demographics. Examine these figures and find the perfect policy for you.

Looking for more information? Check out our comprehensive reviews of American Family and Mercury.

American Family vs. Mercury: by credit level

If you have extremely bad credit, Mercury could be a better option for you. Typically, Mercury offers cheaper rates than American Family for drivers with credit scores of 579 or less. Drivers with exceptional credit — a score of 800 or better — should lean toward American Family, which typically beats Mercury by $174 per year. Check out average insurance costs by credit tier for Mercury and American Family below.

INSURER RATES BY CREDIT SCORE: MERCURY VS. AMERICAN FAMILY

Credit level	American Family avg. annual premium	Mercury avg. annual premium
Very Poor (300-579)	$1,931	$1,115
Fair (580-669)	$1,294	$1,115
Good (670-739)	$1,220	$1,290
Very Good (740-799)	$1,009	$1,115
Exceptional (800-850)	$941	$1,115

American Family vs. Mercury: by citation

If you are carrying an at-fault collision, speeding ticket, reckless driving citation, or DUI in your rear view mirror, American Family could be a better choice than Mercury. Every insurer has different post-violation pricing structures, so don't be afraid to shop around to understand which insurance company suits you.

INSURER RATES BY VIOLATION: MERCURY VS. AMERICAN FAMILY

Violation	American Family avg. annual premium	Mercury avg. annual premium
At-fault accident (damage < $1,000)	$1,763	$1,822
At-fault accident (damage > $1,000)	$990	$1,125
DUI/DWI	$1,857	$1,882
Reckless driving	$1,857	$1,882
Speeding ticket	$1,270	$1,457

American Family vs. Mercury: by age

Insurers rely on age to indicate risk, pricing premiums accordingly. Car insurance is typically more expensive for young drivers — thanks to their inexperience — and most affordable for middle-aged drivers. Since every insurance company evaluates ages differently, it's worth shopping around and finding the best rate for you.

As a general rule, teen drivers should choose Mercury before American Family: the former's average annual rates are $393 less than the latter's..

INSURER RATES BY AGE: MERCURY VS. AMERICAN FAMILY

Age bracket	American Family avg. annual premium	Mercury avg. annual premium
Teens	$3,810	$3,417
20s	$1,685	$1,554
30s	$1,101	$1,554
40s	$1,089	$1,115
50s	$1,089	$1,086
60s	$986	$1,034

Costs aside, American Family and Mercury both have pros and cons, including their discounts, perks, customer satisfaction ratings, and financial stability. Be sure to shop around before settling on an option.