Mercury vs Safeco: Which is Better for You?

Choosing an auto insurance company can be tricky: companies' rates may vary based on your driving record, location, and age, and companies offer an array of perks. Mercury and Safeco are among the top insurance companies, providing competitively priced policies in many states.

In an effort to make shopping for car insurance easier, we gathered average rates from Safeco and Mercury. These cover a number of rating factors, including credit, driving behavior, and demographics. Examine these figures and find your next car insurance policy today.

Want to find out more? Read our comprehensive reviews of Mercury and Safeco.

Mercury vs. Safeco: by credit level

If you have very bad credit, Mercury could be preferable to Mercury. Typically, Mercury offers cheaper rates than Safeco for drivers with credit scores of 579 or less. Insurance shoppers with exceptional credit — a score of 800 or higher — should opt for Mercury, which typically beats Safeco by $540 per year. Check out typical insurance rates by credit level for Safeco and Mercury below.

INSURER RATES BY CREDIT SCORE: SAFECO VS. MERCURY

Credit level	Mercury avg. annual premium	Safeco avg. annual premium
Very Poor (300-579)	$1,115	$5,308
Fair (580-669)	$1,115	$2,716
Good (670-739)	$1,290	$1,967
Very Good (740-799)	$1,115	$1,871
Exceptional (800-850)	$1,115	$1,655

Mercury vs. Safeco: by citation

If you are saddled with an at-fault accident, speeding violation, reckless driving citation, or DWI on your driving résumé, Mercury could be a better choice than Safeco. Every car insurance company enacts rate penalties differently, so don't hesitate to shop around to figure out which insurance company suits you.

INSURER RATES BY VIOLATION: SAFECO VS. MERCURY

Violation	Mercury avg. annual premium	Safeco avg. annual premium
At-fault accident (damage < $1,000)	$1,822	$2,546
At-fault accident (damage > $1,000)	$1,125	$1,969
DUI/DWI	$1,882	$2,796
Reckless driving	$1,882	$2,853
Speeding ticket	$1,457	$2,512

Mercury vs. Safeco: by age

Car insurance companies rely on age to indicate risk, pricing policies accordingly. Car insurance is commonly priciest for teens — because of their inexperience — and most affordable for older drivers. Because every car insurance company rates age brackets differently, it's a smart move to shop around.

As a general rule, teen drivers should choose Mercury instead of Safeco: Mercury offers average yearly savings of $4,348 versus Safeco.

INSURER RATES BY AGE: SAFECO VS. MERCURY

Age tier	Mercury avg. annual premium	Safeco avg. annual premium
Teens	$3,417	$7,765
20s	$1,554	$2,566
30s	$1,131	$2,566
40s	$1,115	$2,128
50s	$1,086	$1,745
60s	$1,034	$1,687

Affordability aside, there are myriad pros and cons of both Mercury and Safeco, including discount programs, customer satisfaction ratings, add-ons, and financial stability. Be sure to weigh these elements before deciding.