Mercury vs. USAA: Which Is Best? (2025)
USAA’s low rates and discount options make it the better choice for active and retired military members.
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Mercury and USAA are two insurance companies that offer quality coverage at competitive rates. Mercury is a regional insurance company that sells coverage to drivers in 11 states, while USAA offers auto and home insurance in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Choosing the right insurance policy is essential to maximizing protection for your vehicle without paying more than you need to. When shopping for an insurer, it’s a good idea to compare average rates, customer service ratings, discounts, add-ons, and policy options from multiple auto insurers.
Here’s what you need to know about coverage offerings from Mercury and USAA.
Quick Facts
USAA is the only major auto insurance company that sells coverage exclusively to active-duty military members, veterans, and their families.
Mercury and USAA both have telematics programs you can use to save money on coverage.
The average cost of liability insurance is $95 per month from Mercury and $52 from USAA.
Mercury vs. USAA: The verdict
Overall, USAA is a better match for active and retired military members and their families. Mercury doesn’t offer military discounts, has higher rates on average, and sells coverage in only 11 states. USAA has coverage offerings in all 50 states.
Civilian drivers who live in one of the 11 states where Mercury offers protection may benefit from Mercury’s relatively low car insurance rates and wide range of discount options. Though Mercury doesn’t sell coverage nationwide, it’s a large company recognized for excellence in customer satisfaction and employment.
Factor  | Mercury | USAA |
|---|---|---|
| IQ Score | 7.5 | 9.1 |
| Customer satisfaction score | 3.5 | 4.2 |
| Average quote: liability only | $95 | $52 |
| Number of discounts | 8 | 10 |
| Number of states where it operates | 11 | 50 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
- Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
- Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 55,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
- Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
- Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
- Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
Mercury
Mercury Insurance has 0.89% of the private passenger auto insurance market share, making it the 16th-largest U.S. auto insurer.[?] It has an AM Best Financial Strength rating of A (Excellent) and the Digital Experience Study Award from J.D. Power.
USAA
USAA is a member-owned company that’s been selling insurance for more than 100 years. USAA is the fifth-largest personal auto insurer, with 6.27% of the market share, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
MercuryGO vs. USAA SafePilot
Both USAA and Mercury offer safe driving programs that can help you save money.
You can earn an immediate 5% participation discount by signing up for MercuryGO. Teen drivers can earn up to 10% off upon enrollment. You can also qualify for up to 40% more off your premium, depending on your driving habits. MercuryGO uses a mobile app to monitor driving behaviors and habits. It also gives real-time feedback with tips for better driving habits.[?]
USAA SafePilot has an enrollment discount of 10%, but you can save up to 30% for safe driving habits. You’ll need to install the USAA SafePilot App and allow it to monitor your driving habits and behaviors. You don’t need to open the app; it runs in the background automatically. When your renewal date hits, USAA will show your discount and reset your driving score.[?]
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Mercury vs. USAA: Which is the cheapest?
Overall, USAA auto insurance has cheaper rates for all driver categories. Though USAA is clearly the cheaper car insurance company, you should consider numerous factors when looking for your best option, including whether the company sells coverage in your state. It’s a good idea to also consider discount availability, coverage options, and insurance requirements in your state.
USAA: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record
If your driving history doesn’t include a past car accident or speeding ticket, you’ll pay the lowest rates by driving record. USAA has slightly cheaper liability insurance rates for people with a clean driving record.
Driver Type | Mercury | USAA |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $95 | $52 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
USAA: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket
Having a past speeding ticket on your record indicates a higher level of risk to your insurance company. You’ll likely pay higher rates if you have one or more tickets on your record. Between the two companies, USAA has the cheaper rates for liability insurance for drivers with a past ticket.
Driver Type | Mercury | USAA |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers with a speeding ticket | $146 | $67 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
USAA: Cheapest for teen drivers
Teenagers face high rates due to their lack of driving experience and a higher likelihood of having an accident. Young drivers can find lower rates for liability insurance with USAA.
Driver Type | Mercury | USAA |
|---|---|---|
| 18-year-old | $181 | $97 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
USAA: Cheapest for senior drivers
Senior drivers can find cheaper liability insurance policies from USAA than Mercury. Compare average quotes from both companies below.
Driver Type | Mercury | USAA |
|---|---|---|
| Senior drivers | $72 | $40 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
USAA: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit
USAA offers lower rates than Mercury for drivers with bad credit. Generally, auto insurance companies charge higher rates for drivers with poor credit.
Driver Type | Mercury | USAA |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers with bad credit | $119 | $62 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Compare coverages: Mercury vs. USAA
Mercury and USAA both offer all the standard coverage options, including property damage and bodily injury liability, personal injury protection, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, collision coverage, and comprehensive coverage.
The primary difference between the companies’ coverage offerings is who qualifies for coverage with the company. While USAA offers insurance products in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., only members of the military community qualify for coverage. Mercury doesn’t limit its customer base to military personnel, but it only sells coverage in 11 states.
The companies have insurance add-ons that vary slightly. For example, Mercury has gap insurance, and USAA sells car replacement assistance coverage. Add-on availability may vary by state. Compare several offerings below.
Coverage | Mercury | USAA |
|---|---|---|
| Gap insurance | Yes | No |
| Rental car reimbursement | Yes | Yes |
| Medical payments | Yes | Yes |
| Rideshare insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Roadside assistance | Yes | Yes |
| New car replacement assistance | No | Yes |
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Compare discounts: Mercury vs. USAA
USAA and Mercury both offer a fair number of discount options, including a good student discount and savings for bundling multiple insurance policies, like auto with homeowners or renters insurance.
Military members are likely to save more on coverage with USAA, as Mercury offers no military discount. But Mercury does provide some unique discounts, including discounts for using e-documents and a discount for paying your premium in full twice per year instead of in monthly installments.
Here are several discount offerings from Mercury and USAA.
Discount | Mercury | USAA |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | Yes | Yes |
| Defensive driving course | No | Yes |
| Multi-policy | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-car | Yes | Yes |
| Low mileage | No | Yes |
| Telematics (safe driving app) | Yes | Yes |
| Anti-theft device | Yes | Yes |
| New car | No | Yes |
| Military/affiliation | No | Yes |
| Good student | Yes | Yes |
| Loyalty | No | Yes |
| Auto pay | Yes | Yes |
| Pay in full | Yes | No |
| Student away at school | No | No |
| Homeowner | Yes | No |
| Alternative fuel | No | No |
Mercury vs. USAA FAQs
To decide on the right insurer for your needs, you should consider your budget, the cost of coverage, your driving record, and more. Learn more about coverage from Mercury and USAA below.
Who is USAA’s biggest competitor?
USAA competes with some of the biggest names in the insurance industry, including State Farm, Progressive, GEICO, and Allstate. USAA is the only major insurance company that exclusively serves military members and their families, so any meaningful competitor will need to offer a military discount.
Is USAA really the cheapest insurance?
USAA offers affordable rates and may offer the lowest rates for customers who qualify for coverage, including active-duty military members, veterans, and their families. But comparing rates, coverage options, and discounts between multiple companies is important for finding the best policy for your needs.
Is Mercury Insurance good at paying claims?
Yes. Mercury has an AM Best financial strength rating of A (Excellent). This indicates that the company has good credit and assets available to pay claims. But Mercury has received some negative customer reviews regarding claims on its Better Business Bureau profile.
What insurance is better than Mercury?
The best insurance for you is the coverage that meets your needs and budget. The best way to find the right fit is to compare average premiums, auto insurance policy options, and discounts from different companies, including Mercury and USAA. This will help you identify which company best matches your needs.
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