Deciding on an auto insurance company is sometimes difficult: rates can fluctuate by location, age, and driving history, and every company provides a different set of discounts. Mercury and Safe Auto are two of the most popular car insurance companies, providing affordable policies in most American states.
To take the sting out of shopping for car insurance, we've gathered average insurance rates from Safe Auto and Mercury. The below cover a variety of rating factors, chief among which are credit rating, driving history, and age. Examine these rates and find an affordable policy today.
Find out more: Read our comprehensive reviews of Mercury and Safe Auto.
If you have extremely bad credit, Mercury could be a better option for you. On average, Mercury offers more affordable premiums than Safe Auto for prospective clients with credit scores of 579 or less. Those with exceptional credit — a score of 800 or higher — should lean toward Mercury, which typically beats Safe Auto by $806 per year. Check out typical insurance rates by credit tier for Safe Auto and Mercury:
| Credit score | Mercury avg. annual premium | Safe Auto avg. annual premium |
| Very Poor (300-579) | $1,115 | $3,799 |
| Fair (580-669) | $1,115 | $2,483 |
| Good (670-739) | $1,290 | $3,358 |
| Very Good (740-799) | $1,115 | $1,937 |
| Exceptional (800-850) | $1,115 | $1,921 |
If you've got an at-fault accident, speeding violation, reckless driving violation, or DUI on your driving record, Mercury could be a better choice than Safe Auto. Each insurer prices its policies differently, so don't hesitate to shop around to figure out which insurance company suits you.
| Citation | Mercury avg. annual premium | Safe Auto avg. annual premium |
| At-fault accident (damage < $1,000) | $1,822 | $2,867 |
| At-fault accident (damage > $1,000) | $1,125 | $2,837 |
| DUI/DWI | $1,882 | $2,867 |
| Reckless driving | $1,882 | $2,867 |
| Speeding ticket | $1,457 | $2,738 |
Insurance companies use age to estimate risk, assigning rates on a sliding scale. Car insurance is commonly priciest for young drivers — due to their increased odds of being involved in an accident — and relatively affordable for older drivers. Because every insurance company prices age tiers differently, it's wise to compare rates and find great coverage.
As a general rule, teen drivers should choose Mercury over Safe Auto: Mercury offers average yearly savings of $4,845, compared to Safe Auto.
| Age | Mercury avg. annual premium | Safe Auto avg. annual premium |
| Teens | $3,417 | $8,262 |
| 20s | $1,554 | $2,764 |
| 30s | $1,131 | $2,764 |
| 40s | $1,115 | $2,053 |
| 50s | $1,086 | $1,862 |
| 60s | $1,034 | $1,707 |
Affordability aside, Mercury and Safe Auto each have pros and cons, including their discount programs, add-ons, customer satisfaction ratings, and financial stability. Be sure to weigh these elements before deciding.
| Discount Comparison | Mercury | Safe Auto |
|---|---|---|
| Good Student | ||
| Multiple Policies | ||
| Multiple Vehicles | ||
| Anti-Theft Device(s) | ||
| Anti-Lock Brake System | ||
| Air Bags | ||
| Good Driver | ||
| Defensive Driver | ||
| Student Away at School | ||
| Driver Training | ||
| Green Vehicles | ||
| Affinity Membership Alum | ||
| Advanced Purchase | ||
| Pay in Full | ||
| Home Owner | ||
| eSign or ePay | ||
| Telematics | ||
| New Vehicle | ||
| Annual Mileage | ||
| Military |
| Ratings Comparison | Mercury | Safe Auto |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Strength | Superior | N/A |
| JD Power Rankings | N/A | N/A |
| User Satisfaction | N/A | N/A |
| Other Products | Mercury | Safe Auto |
|---|---|---|
| Boat Insurance | ||
| Condo Insurance | ||
| Life Insurance | ||
| Homeowners Insurance | ||
| Travel Trailer Insurance | ||
| Renters Insurance | ||
| RV Insurance | ||
| Motorcycle Insurance | ||
| Mobile Home Insurance |
| Other Features | Mercury | Safe Auto |
|---|---|---|
| About | Rated A+ by AM Best, Mercury Insurance has been saving customers money on home and auto insurance since 1962. | Safe Auto strives to provide affordable insurance to every driver, no matter the situation. |
| Roadside Assistance | Mercury offers roadside assistance as an optional addition to your policy which provides coverage 24/7 for things like reimbursement for locking keys in your car, a flat tire change, and even a tow up to the limit on your policy. | Safe Auto's roadside assistance coverage pays for towing services and certain repair costs required to make your car operable. |
| Additional Discounts | Mercury insurance offers additional accommodations to military service members like accepting out of state licenses, physical damage only coverage, and more! | Safe Auto specializes in providing minimum, state required coverage and full coverage to drivers who have had some trouble getting affordable rates due to tickets, accidents, and license issues. |
| Recent Questions |
Can I use my roadside assistance if I'm in my friends car?
When you have roadside assistance through your insurance company, the service is only available on the vehicle that the coverage is listed. There are other roadside companies that will allow you to use the roadside no matter whose vehicle you are in.
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Should I get full coverage from a less well-known insurer?
Whether or not the company is a "mainstream" provider doesn't mean that you would have a bad claims experience. There are several companies out there that have been around for several years and just don't advertise like other companies.
Do I pay a deductible for a liability claim?
You are not responsible for a deductible unless you have comprehensive and collision coverage. Since you only have liability, the damages to your car will not be covered which means there is no deductible.
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