Nationwide vs. Mercury: Which offers the cheapest auto insurance rates?

Nationwide vs. Mercury: Which one is the cheapest?

Nationwide costs an average of $532, while Mercury has average rates for state minimum coverage of $607.

For full coverage with 100/300/100 in liability coverage and $500 deductibles for comprehensive and collision insurance, Nationwide costs an average of $1,548. Mercury costs more at an average of $2,314.

It's always a good idea to shop around for quotes, however, because prices and coverage vary from state to state and depend on your individual situation.

Company	Average annual rate for full coverage	Average annual rate for state minimum coverage	Average annual premium for liability-only (50/100/50) car insurance
Nationwide	$1,548	$532	$651
Mercury	$2,314	$607	$975

Nationwide vs. Mercury: Rates by age group

For teens—one of the most expensive age groups to insure–Nationwide offers the lowest rates at $5,285 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 $1,533 with Nationwide, while Mercury costs $2,369 for an adult, on average.

Age group	Nationwide	Mercury
Teens	$5,285	$7,475
Young adults	$2,556	$3,989
Adults	$1,533	$2,369
Seniors	$1,456	$2,344

Nationwide vs. Mercury: Rates for high-risk drivers

Mercury has the best rates for high-risk drivers. A high-risk driver is someone who has multiple speeding tickets, accidents or a serious offense like a DUI on their record. This can make it a challenge to find affordable auto insurance.

For the drivers with DUI, Mercury is cheaper, with average rates of $3,463.

Take a look at the table below for Nationwide rates compared to Mercury rates.

Type of violation	Nationwide	Mercury
1 At-fault property damage accident over $2K	$2,537	$4,292
1 At-fault property damage accident under $2K	$2,481	$4,280
At-fault bodily injury accident	$2,673	$4,176
Careless driving	$2,203	$3,558
DUI	$3,627	$3,463
Reckless driving	$3,221	$3,938
Speeding	$2,347	$3,240

Nationwide vs. Mercury: Rates in your state

Insurance rates vary by state. Companies use your ZIP code's weather, crime, and traffic data to assess risk. The table below shows where Nationwide and Mercury have the lowest rates. Always compare quotes, as your price also depends on your location, driving history, and personal details.

State	Nationwide	Mercury
Alabama	$1,345	N/A
Arizona	$1,726	N/A
Arkansas	$1,503	N/A
California	$2,799	$2,031
Connecticut	$1,766	N/A
Delaware	$1,498	N/A
Florida	$2,150	$3,358
Georgia	N/A	$2,219
Idaho	$1,505	N/A
Indiana	$1,309	N/A
Kansas	$1,316	N/A
Maryland	$1,363	N/A
Minnesota	$1,363	N/A
Mississippi	$1,331	N/A
Missouri	$1,361	N/A
Montana	$1,394	N/A
Nebraska	$1,216	N/A
Nevada	N/A	$2,156
New Hampshire	$1,145	N/A
New Mexico	$1,806	N/A
North Carolina	$1,513	N/A
North Dakota	$1,152	N/A
Oklahoma	N/A	$2,237
Oregon	$1,411	N/A
Pennsylvania	$1,196	N/A
Rhode Island	$1,911	N/A
South Dakota	$1,526	N/A
Tennessee	$1,632	N/A
Texas	$1,502	N/A
Utah	$1,135	N/A
Vermont	$935	N/A
Washington	$1,658	N/A
Washington, D.C.	$2,558	N/A
West Virginia	$1,215	N/A
Wisconsin	$1,287	N/A

Nationwide vs. Mercury: 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 Nationwide and Mercury give to their customers.

Discounts	Nationwide	Mercury
Payment type	9%	13%
Lower annual mileage	12%	9%
Telematics	8%	N/A
Loyalty	4%	8%
Multi policy	7%	10%
Homeowner	5%	7%
Marital status	7%	12%
Days advanced purchase	7%	5%
Profession	N/A	6%
Electronic funds transfer	3%	5%
Paperless/electornic documents	4%	2%
Electronic signature	N/A	3%
Safety devices	3%	1%
Air bags	2%	N/A
Anti-theft device	1%	1%

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

Nationwide vs. Mercury: The bottom line

Both Nationwide and Mercury are solid insurance companies, but if rates are what matter most to you, Nationwide 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: