Progressive vs Mercury: Which is Better for You?
Compare rates from the top car insurance companies in your area.
Progressive or Mercury: Which company is best for you?
Deciding on an auto insurer is sometimes difficult: companies' rates may vary based on your driving history, age, and location, and every company provides a different set of discounts. Progressive and Mercury are two of the most popular insurers, providing competitively priced policies in most states across the US.
To help simplify the insurance-shopping process, we gathered average insurance rates from Mercury and Progressive. The below cover a number of rating factors, including credit rating, driving behavior, and age. Examine these rates and find the right policy for you.
Find out more: Read full-length reviews of Progressive and Mercury.
Progressive vs. Mercury: by credit level
If you have very poor credit, Mercury could be a better option for you. On average, Mercury offers more affordable premiums than Progressive for prospective clients with credit scores of lower than 580. Drivers with exceptional credit — a score of 800 or higher — should favor Check out average insurance rates by credit tier for Mercury and Progressive:
INSURER RATES BY CREDIT SCORE: MERCURY VS. PROGRESSIVE
| Credit level | Progressive avg. annual premium | Mercury avg. annual premium |
| Very Poor (300-579) | $3,602 | $1,115 |
| Fair (580-669) | $2,127 | $1,115 |
| Good (670-739) | $1,708 | $1,290 |
| Very Good (740-799) | $1,453 | $1,115 |
| Exceptional (800-850) | $1,320 | $1,115 |
Progressive vs. Mercury: by citation
If you're dealing with an at-fault accident, ticket, reckless driving violation, or DUI in your rear view mirror, Mercury could be a better choice than Progressive. Each insurer enacts rate penalties differently, so don't be afraid to shop around to figure out which insurer suits you.
INSURER RATES BY VIOLATION: MERCURY VS. PROGRESSIVE
| Violation | Progressive avg. annual premium | Mercury avg. annual premium |
| At-fault accident (damage < $1,000) | $2,720 | $1,822 |
| At-fault accident (damage > $1,000) | $2,245 | $1,125 |
| DUI/DWI | $2,201 | $1,882 |
| Reckless driving | $2,457 | $1,882 |
| Speeding ticket | $2,091 | $1,457 |
Progressive vs. Mercury: by age
Auto insurance companies use a driver's age to outline potential risk, pricing policies accordingly. Car insurance is usually priciest for drivers younger than 25 — due to their increased odds of being involved in an accident — and relatively affordable for middle-aged drivers. Since each insurance company rates ages uniquely, it's worth shopping around and finding the best rate for you.
As a general rule, teen drivers should choose Mercury before Progressive: the former's average annual rates are $4,831 less than the latter's..
INSURER RATES BY AGE: MERCURY VS. PROGRESSIVE
| Age tier | Progressive avg. annual premium | Mercury avg. annual premium |
| Teens | $8,248 | $3,417 |
| 20s | $2,287 | $1,554 |
| 30s | $1,646 | $1,554 |
| 40s | $1,644 | $1,115 |
| 50s | $1,542 | $1,086 |
| 60s | $1,403 | $1,034 |
Cost aside, Progressive and Mercury both have pros and cons, including their discount programs, add-ons, customer satisfaction ratings, and financial stability. Dive into the data before making your decision.
| Discount Comparison | Progressive | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Good Student |
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| Multiple Policies |
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| Multiple Vehicles |
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| Anti-Theft Device(s) |
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| Anti-Lock Brake System |
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| Air Bags |
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| Good Driver |
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| Defensive Driver |
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| Student Away at School |
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| Driver Training |
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| Green Vehicles | ||
| Affinity Membership Alum |
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| Advanced Purchase |
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| Pay in Full |
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| Home Owner |
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| eSign or ePay | ||
| Telematics |
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| New Vehicle | ||
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| Military |
| Ratings Comparison | Progressive | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Strength | Superior | Superior |
| JD Power Rankings | Below average | N/A |
| User Satisfaction | 4.3/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Other Products | Progressive | Mercury |
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| Condo Insurance |
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| Life Insurance |
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| Homeowners Insurance |
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| Travel Trailer Insurance |
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| Renters Insurance |
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| RV Insurance |
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| Motorcycle Insurance |
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| Mobile Home Insurance |
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| Other Features | Progressive | Mercury |
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| About | Since 1938, Progressive has made it easy to understand, buy, and use car insurance. In fact, as one of the largest insurance companies out there and the number one personal auto insurer by written premium among independent agents, you can choose the coverage options that make the most sense to you. | Rated A+ by AM Best, Mercury Insurance has been saving customers money on home and auto insurance since 1962. |
| Roadside Assistance | Progressive's Roadside Assistance offers towing service, winching service, flat tire change, battery jump-start, battery charge for electric cars, locksmith service, on-scene labor, and emergency gasoline delivery, and depending on your policy, these may come with no out-of-pocket fee. In most states, you'll need to have Comprehensive and Collision coverage on the vehicle to add Progressive's 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. |
| Additional Discounts | Progressive offers additional savings through a loyalty rewards program which includes perks like priority call service, renewal guarantees, and accident forgiveness, based on the amount of time you’ve been with the company. | Mercury insurance offers additional accommodations to military service members like accepting out of state licenses, physical damage only coverage, and more! |
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