Selecting a car insurance company is difficult: rates can vary by driving history, age, and location, and companies offer an array of perks. USAA and Mercury are two of America's most popular insurance companies, providing affordable coverage in most regions.
To help simplify the process of comparing insurance companies, we pulled average policy rates from Mercury and USAA. The below rates cover an array of pricing components, including credit history, driving infractions, and age. Compare rates and find your next car insurance policy today.
Seeking more information? Read our reviews of USAA and Mercury.
If you have very poor credit, Mercury could be the best option for you. Typically, Mercury offers lower rates than USAA for drivers with credit scores of 579 or less. Insurance shoppers with extraordinary credit — a score of 800 or higher — should lean toward USAA, which typically beats Mercury by $275 per year. Check out typical insurance rates by credit tier for Mercury and USAA:
| Credit score | USAA avg. annual premium | Mercury avg. annual premium |
| Very Poor (300-579) | $2,682 | $1,115 |
| Fair (580-669) | $1,247 | $1,115 |
| Good (670-739) | $1,057 | $1,290 |
| Very Good (740-799) | $910 | $1,115 |
| Exceptional (800-850) | $840 | $1,115 |
If you've got an at-fault accident, speeding ticket, reckless driving violation, or DUI on your driving record, USAA could be a better choice than Mercury. Every insurance company has different post-violation pricing structures, so don't be afraid to shop around to find out which insurance company suits you.
| Citation | 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 |
Insurers use age to estimate risk, assigning rates accordingly. An auto insurance policy is often priciest for teen drivers — due to their inexperience — and more affordable for older drivers. Because every car insurance company prices age tiers differently, it's a smart move to shop around.
As a general rule, teen drivers should choose USAA before Mercury: USAA offers average yearly savings of $553 versusMercury.
| Age bracket | 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 carry pros and cons, including discount programs, customer satisfaction ratings, add-ons, and financial stability. Dive into the data before making your decision.
| Discount Comparison | USAA | MetLife |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | USAA | MetLife |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Strength | Superior | Superior |
| JD Power Rankings | ||
| User Satisfaction | A++ | A+ |
| Other Products | USAA | MetLife |
|---|---|---|
| Boat Insurance | ||
| Condo Insurance | ||
| Life Insurance | ||
| Homeowners Insurance | ||
| Travel Trailer Insurance | ||
| Renters Insurance | ||
| RV Insurance | ||
| Motorcycle Insurance | ||
| Mobile Home Insurance |
| Other Features | USAA | MetLife |
|---|---|---|
| About | USAA is known for their award-winning service, distinguished products and making their customers' needs a priority. | Protect yourself and your family with custom-fit car insurance from MetLife Auto & Home®. Be covered in case of an accident or theft and save big by combining auto and home insurance. Get a quote. |
| 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. | MetLife offers optional Towing & Labor Coverage to help reimburse you for towing and other roadside-assistance expenses. |
| Additional Discounts | USAA offers additional discounts for vehicles with daytime running lights and vehicles in storage, as well as a legacy discount for members under 25 years old whose parents have had USAA auto insurance. | MetLife offers additional savings through a Deductible Savings Benefit (available in select states), which enables you to earn $50 every year you don't make a claim, up to a maximum of $250 that may be used toward your deductible, if you have a covered loss. |
| Recent Questions | Our son-in-law is a USAA member (Navy). Can we join also? Parents are not eligible for USAA. I believe USAA eligibility flows "downstream" — so descendants, i.e. Can my brother use his insurance for damage he caused to my vehicle?Unfortunately, car insurance follows the vehicle, not the driver. In this case, he cannot use his own insurance to cover the damage he caused to your vehicle. Agree to be paid out of pocket with driver with no licenseTo sum, having her pay out of pocket might be your best option. Let me explain. Can I get USAA insurance from son in lawAlthough I am not a licensed agent for USAA, it is my understanding that you need to be a child or spouse of an established members to get a policy. Meaning, you wouldn't be eligible to get your own policy away from your son-in-law. See More Questions | Whose insurance pays for an accident after running a stop sign? Unfortunately stop signs in parking lots are not the same as stop signs on the street when it comes to determining fault. Parking lot accidents are often difficult to assign fault for insurance companies so they may ultimately decide to cover only their own customer's damage by saying the that fault was 50/50 between the drivers. Who is at fault if I opened my car door and it was hit by another driver?In situations where a car door is opened and subsequently hit, fault is generally with the person who opened the door. There are scenarios where both drivers may share liability and each situation is different, so it's difficult to say with any certainty where fault lies. Will a paraphernalia charge impact my auto insurance rate?Tickets that impact your auto insurance rate are generally moving violations, so you probably don't have to worry about this showing up on your driving report. The exception would be if your drivers license was suspended because of the ticket, but the suspension is what would impact your rate and not the ticket itself. If I'm involved in an accident driving my grandmother's car, will the damage be covered?Luckily, most insurance policies allow for permissive use drivers, so the damage you caused should be covered under your grandmother's policy as long as you aren't a full-time driver. Unfortunately, your grandmother's insurance rate is likely to increase after the claim since it will be considered an At Fault accident. See More Questions |
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