Mercury vs. Progressive: Which one is the cheapest?

Progressive costs an average of $549, while Mercury has average rates for state minimum coverage of $607.

For full coverage with 100/300/100 in liability and $500 deductibles for comprehensive and collision, Progressive costs an average of $1,998 annually. Mercury is more expensive, with an average cost of $2,314.

It's always smart to compare quotes because prices and required coverage can change depending on your state and individual situation.

CompanyAverage annual rate for full coverageAverage annual rate for state minimum coverageAverage annual premium for liability-only (50/100/50) car insurance
Mercury$2,314$607$975
Progressive$1,998$549$709

Mercury vs. Progressive: Rates by age group

For teens—one of the most expensive age groups to insure–Progressive offers the lowest rates at $7,174 per year. Mercury is more expensive, with an average cost of $7,475 for a teen driver.

Age affects insurance rates greatly. Companies consider factors like speeding, accidents, and distracted driving. They see teen drivers as high-risk, making them one of the most expensive groups to insure. Rates usually drop as you get older.

For example, adults pay an average of $2,009 with Progressive, while Mercury costs $2,369 for an adult, on average.

Age groupMercuryProgressive
Teens$7,475$7,174
Young adults$3,989$3,242
Adults$2,369$2,009
Seniors$2,344$2,000

Mercury vs. Progressive: Rates for high-risk drivers

Progressive offers the lowest rates for high-risk drivers. A high-risk driver has multiple speeding tickets, accidents, or a serious offense like a DUI, making affordable car insurance harder to get.

For drivers with a DUI, Progressive offers more affordable rates, averaging $2,707.

Check the table below to compare Mercury and Progressive rates.

Type of violationMercuryProgressive
1 At-fault property damage accident over $2K$4,292$3,119
1 At-fault property damage accident under $2K$4,280$3,103
At-fault bodily injury accident$4,176$3,126
Careless driving$3,558$2,936
DUI$3,463$2,707
Reckless driving$3,938$2,982
Speeding$3,240$2,650

Mercury vs. Progressive: Rates in your state

Insurance rates vary from state to state. Companies use information from your ZIP code, like weather, crime and traffic patterns, to calculate the risk. The table below shows where you'll find the cheapest rates for Mercury and Progressive. Remember, always shop around for multiple quotes as prices will ultimately be determined by your personal situation and driving record in addition to your location.

StateProgressiveMercury
Alabama$2,402N/A
Alaska$1,742N/A
Arizona$1,903N/A
Arkansas$2,431N/A
California$2,179$2,031
Colorado$2,796N/A
Connecticut$1,708N/A
Delaware$1,999N/A
Florida$2,902$3,358
Georgia$1,656$2,219
Hawaii$1,279N/A
Illinois$1,412N/A
Indiana$1,480N/A
Iowa$1,589N/A
Kansas$1,937N/A
Kentucky$2,714N/A
Louisiana$3,065N/A
Maine$1,106N/A
Maryland$1,895N/A
Massachusetts$2,016N/A
Michigan$2,069N/A
Mississippi$2,131N/A
Missouri$1,960N/A
Montana$2,414N/A
Nebraska$1,964N/A
Nevada$2,482$2,156
New Hampshire$1,343N/A
New Jersey$2,187N/A
New Mexico$1,557N/A
New York$1,020N/A
North Carolina$2,028N/A
North Dakota$1,403N/A
Ohio$1,626N/A
Oklahoma$1,194$2,237
Oregon$1,765N/A
Pennsylvania$2,193N/A
Rhode Island$1,841N/A
South Carolina$1,816N/A
South Dakota$3,163N/A
Tennessee$1,550N/A
Texas$3,032N/A
Utah$1,845N/A
Vermont$926N/A
Virginia$2,120N/A
Washington$2,554N/A
Washington, D.C.$1,488N/A
West Virginia$1,825N/A
Wisconsin$2,128N/A

Mercury vs. Progressive: Which offers better discounts?

Discounts are important to insurance customers and can help you save a lot on your yearly insurance costs. Below are some of the discounts Mercury and Progressive give to their customers.

DiscountsProgressiveMercury
Multi policy9%10%
Lower annual mileage5%9%
Loyalty3%8%
Homeowner4%7%
Profession14%6%
Days advanced purchase4%5%
Electronic funds transfer3%5%
Education4%N/A
Safety devices3%1%
Electronic signature10%3%
Paperless/electornic documents1%2%
Payment type11%13%
Marital status12%12%
Telematics10%N/A
Air bags1%N/A
Anti-theft device0%1%

Always remember to ask about discounts when comparing insurance options to find out what you might qualify for.

Mercury vs. Progressive: The bottom line

Both Mercury and Progressive are solid insurance companies, but if rates are what matter most to you, Progressive may be the choice for you. However, we always recommend considering more than just rates to find the best car insurance for your needs and comparing quotes from multiple companies.

Methodology

National and state average rates are based on three coverage levels: state minimum, 50/100/50 liability-only, and full coverage with 100/300/100 liability and $500 deductibles.

Unless otherwise indicated, averages are based on our full coverage data set. This data set is based on:

  • Bodily injury liability of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident
  • Property damage liability of $100,000 per incident
  • Comprehensive and collision deductibles of $500
  • 40-year-old driver
  • Honda Accord LX
  • Good credit
  • A clean driving record
  • 12-mile commute, 10,000 annual mileage

Additional rate data is drawn based on:

  • Ages ranging from 16 to 75
  • Excellent, fair and poor credit
  • All available traffic violations
  • One or more at-fault accidents
  • All available year, make and model data

Rates were fielded by Quadrant Information Services, with more than 220 companies and 34,588 ZIP codes surveyed.