USAA or Mercury: Which Company is Best for You?
Deciding on a car insurance company can be complicated: rates can fluctuate based on your location, age, and driving history, and companies offer an array of discounts. USAA and Mercury are two of the most popular auto insurance companies, offering competitively priced insurance policies in most states across the US.
In an effort to simplify the process of comparing insurance companies, we collected average insurance premiums from Mercury and USAA. The below cover an array of rating factors, including credit quality, driving infractions, and age. Compare rates and find the perfect policy for you.
USAA vs. Mercury: insurance rate comparison
USAA vs. Mercury: pricing by credit score
If you have extremely bad credit, Mercury could be the way to go. On average, Mercury offers more affordable rates than USAA for drivers with credit scores of less than 580. Insurance shoppers with excellent credit — a score of 800 or better — should opt for USAA, which typically beats Mercury by $527 per year. Check out typical insurance rates by credit tier for Mercury and USAA below.
As Mercury is focused on selling auto insurance in California, the company's rates don't vary much on the basis of credit score. California is one of the several US states that does not allow insurance companies to rely on credit as a rating factor.
RATES BY CREDIT LEVEL: MERCURY VS. USAA
| Credit level | USAA avg. annual premium | Mercury avg. annual premium |
| Very Poor (300-579) | $2,682 | $1,367 |
| Fair (580-669) | $1,247 | $1,367 |
| Good (670-739) | $1,057 | $1,367 |
| Very Good (740-799) | $910 | $1,367 |
| Exceptional (800-850) | $840 | $1,367 |
USAA vs. Mercury: rates for high-risk drivers
If you have an at-fault crash, speeding ticket, reckless driving citation, or DWI on your driving record, USAA could be a better choice than Mercury. Every auto insurance company has different post-violation pricing structures, so it's worth comparing quotes to find out which insurance company suits you.
COMPARING AUTO INSURANCE RATES FOR BAD DRIVERS: MERCURY VS. USAA
| Violation | USAA avg. annual premium | Mercury avg. annual premium |
| At-fault accident (damage < $1,000) | $1,304 | $1,822 |
| At-fault accident (damage > $1,000) | $947 | $1,125 |
| DUI/DWI | $1,952 | $1,882 |
| Reckless driving | $1,472 | $1,882 |
| Speeding ticket | $1,124 | $1,457 |
USAA vs. Mercury: rates by age
Insurers use a driver's age to indicate risk, pricing premiums accordingly. A car insurance policy is often more expensive for teen drivers — thanks to their inexperience — and most affordable for older drivers. Because every car insurance company prices age tiers in a different way, it's wise to compare rates and find a suitable policy.
As a general rule, teen drivers should choose USAA over Mercury: USAA offers average yearly savings of $553, compared to Mercury.
RATES BY AGE BRACKET: MERCURY VS. USAA
| Age | USAA avg. annual premium | Mercury avg. annual premium |
| Teens | $2,864 | $3,417 |
| 20s | $1,261 | $1,554 |
| 30s | $963 | $1,554 |
| 40s | $957 | $1,115 |
| 50s | $889 | $1,086 |
| 60s | $845 | $1,034 |
Aside from finances, USAA and Mercury each have pros and cons, including their customer satisfaction ratings, discount programs, add-ons, and financial stability. Be sure to shop around before settling on an option.
| Discount Comparison | USAA | Mercury |
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| Good Student |
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| Multiple Policies |
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| Multiple Vehicles |
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| Student Away at School |
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| Driver Training |
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| Affinity Membership Alum |
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| Ratings Comparison | USAA | Mercury |
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| Financial Strength | Superior | Superior |
| JD Power Rankings | Excellent | N/A |
| User Satisfaction | 4.6/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Other Products | USAA | Mercury |
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| Other Features | USAA | Mercury |
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| About | USAA is known for their award-winning service, distinguished products and making their customers' needs a priority. | Rated A+ by AM Best, Mercury Insurance has been saving customers money on home and auto insurance since 1962. |
| Roadside Assistance | 24-hour roadside assistance is included in all of USAA's Extended Vehicle Protection programs. Pricing varies depending on which plan you select. Roadside assistance will pay up to $100 per occurrence of the following: towing service, flat tire change, emergency gas delivery, battery jump, and locksmith services. Substitute Transportation is available up to $250 per occurrence. Travel/Lodging Reimbursement is available up to $300 per occurrence. | 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 | USAA offers discounts for vehicles with daytime running lights and vehicles in storage, as well as a legacy discount for drivers under 25 years old whose parents have had USAA auto insurance. | Mercury insurance offers additional accommodations to military service members like accepting out of state licenses, physical damage only coverage, and more! |
| Recent Questions |
Our son-in-law is a USAA member (Navy). Can we join also?
Parents are not eligible for USAA. USAA eligibility flows "downstream" — so descendants, i.e.
Can I get USAA insurance from son in law
Although I am not a licensed agent for USAA, it is my understanding that you need to be a child or spouse of an established member to get a policy. Meaning, you aren't eligible to get your own policy away from your son-in-law.
Does USAA membership extend to grandchildren
From my knowledge, your parent's would also have to be members in order for you to qualify. But, as I'm not an agent for USAA, I would call them and speak to an insurance agent directly.
Does my son-in-law's status as a Marine qualify me as USAA member?
USAA membership extends to spouses, children, and possibly parents. Assuming your child (who is married to your son-in-law) is on the membership as well, you may be able to qualify.
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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.
See More Questions
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