Is Mercury legitimate?
Yes. Mercury Insurance Group is a legitimate company that’s been selling insurance since 1961. That said, the California Department of Insurance took legal action against Mercury for overcharging consumers in 2022.5
Mercury Insurance offers several auto insurance discounts and relatively low rates, but it has mixed customer reviews and only sells coverage in 11 U.S. states.1 If you live in a state where it operates, Mercury’s low-cost policies make it a good option to consider.
Here’s how Mercury compares to other auto insurers, the average costs of its policies, and its performance with customers and third-party rating companies.
Mercury has lower average rates than some competitors, though your specific premium will depend on your driving record, age, credit history, and more. Compare average full-coverage insurance premiums from Mercury and a few competitors below.
Your driving record and age affect how much you pay for auto insurance. Drivers with a clean record pay lower rates than people with a past driving incident. And teenage drivers typically pay much higher premiums than older drivers with more experience behind the wheel.2
Here’s how average monthly liability insurance rates from Mercury vary by driving incident and age.
Mercury offers competitive rates, but your car insurance costs will vary depending on the state you live in. For instance, policyholders in New Jersey pay higher rates on average than drivers in Illinois. Different states have different car insurance requirements, with some mandating more coverage and others mandating less. Your location, ZIP code, gender, age, and credit-based insurance score may also affect your rates.
Here’s how Mercury’s average monthly liability premiums compare with averages in the states where it operates.
Car insurance discounts can lower your insurance rates significantly, and Mercury offers a decent selection of discounts for its policyholders. While some insurers indicate how much a particular discount can reduce your premiums, Mercury doesn’t disclose this information.
Here’s a list of auto insurance discounts it offers:3
Anti-theft
Auto pay
Good student
Good driver
Multi-car
Multi-policy
Pay in full
Mercury has a strong rating from AM Best, which indicates financial stability. But the company has received mixed feedback from customers on popular review sites.
Mercury has a higher-than-average number of customer complaints filed with the NAIC for its private passenger auto policies, and it has below-average customer and claims satisfaction rankings from J.D. Power.
While some positive reviews praise Mercury’s customer service team, others mention issues with denied claims and unexpected policy lapses. Below, you can find real, verified user reviews.
Third-party companies provide some insight into Mercury’s stability, customer satisfaction ratings, and more. AM Best assesses the credit and financial soundness of insurance companies, J.D. Power conducts an annual study measuring customer satisfaction with insurance companies, and the NAIC logs complaint trends for different insurers.
See Mercury’s ratings below.
Mercury offers a range of car insurance coverage options, including standard state-minimum required car insurance coverage — property damage and bodily injury liability insurance. These coverages protect you if you cause an accident that damages someone else’s car or other property or injures another person.
Mercury has many available coverage options, similar to what competitors offer. Here are your options if you’re considering an auto insurance policy with this insurer:
If you’re interested in getting a multi-policy discount from Mercury, here are some other insurance products it offers besides car insurance policies:
Homeowners insurance: This coverage protects the structure of your home and your personal property if a covered peril damages your home. A standard home insurance policy also typically includes liability insurance.
Renters insurance: If a covered incident damages your personal items, renters insurance can cover them. This coverage also typically includes liability insurance.
Condo insurance: This type of policy includes liability insurance and protects your personal items following damage from a covered incident.
Business insurance: Insurance protection for your business covers your business property from damage due to a covered loss and helps shield your business from liability.
If you’re still determining whether Mercury Insurance is the best choice for your specific needs, the following information can answer your remaining questions.
Yes. Mercury Insurance Group is a legitimate company that’s been selling insurance since 1961. That said, the California Department of Insurance took legal action against Mercury for overcharging consumers in 2022.5
The average monthly cost for a full-coverage insurance policy from Mercury is $162, while a liability insurance policy costs $95 per month.
AM Best gives Mercury a financial strength rating of A (Excellent). This indicates the company is financially sound and able to pay out claims. But Mercury ranks lower than most insurance industry competitors in the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, suggesting that its claims process may need improvement.
Mercury doesn’t provide a way to cancel your insurance policy online or through its mobile app. Instead, it indicates that you should contact your insurance agent if you want to cancel or make significant changes to your policy.
Mercury’s rates, discount offerings, and financial strength ratings are similar to those of competitors, but it’s only available in 11 states. Several of its competitors offer policies in the majority of U.S. states.