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 car insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | $1,548 | $532 | $651 |
| Mercury | $2,314 | $607 | $975 |
Nationwide vs. Mercury: Rates by age group
For a teen – one of the most expensive age groups to insure – Nationwide has the cheapest rates, coming in at $5,285 per year. Mercury costs an average of $7,475 for a teen driver.
Age is a major factor in calculating insurance rates. Companies look at speeding and accident trends as well as distracted driving statistics. Teen drivers are one of the riskiest – and therefore most expensive – age groups to insure. Rates drop as you get older.
For example, adults pay an average of $1,533 at Nationwide, while at Mercury the average rate for an adult is $2,369.
| 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’s rates compared to Mercury’s 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 from state to state. Carriers factor in data from your region and ZIP code, including weather, crime and traffic trends to calculate risk. The table below shows where you’ll find the cheapest rates for Nationwide and Mercury. 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.
| 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 |
N/A represents data is not available.
Nationwide vs. Mercury: Which offers better discounts?
Discounts are a big draw for customers and can offer significant savings on your annual premiums. Below are some of the discounts Nationwide and Mercury offer to their customers.
| Discounts | Mercury | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Annual Mileage | 9% | 12% |
| Payment Type | 13% | 9% |
| Loyalty - Years Renewal With Company | 8% | 4% |
| Telematics | N/A | 8% |
| Primary Use | N/A | 8% |
| Days Advanced Purchase | 5% | 7% |
| Marital Status | 12% | 7% |
| Multi Policy | 10% | 7% |
| Homeowner | 7% | 5% |
| Profession | 6% | N/A |
| Electronic Funds Transfer | 5% | 3% |
| Years Licensed | 40% | 22% |
| Paperless/Electornic Documents | 2% | 4% |
| Safety Devices | 1% | 3% |
| Electronic Signature | 3% | N/A |
| Air Bags | N/A | 2% |
| Years Insured | 17% | 15% |
| Anti-Theft Device | 1% | 1% |
N/A represents data is not available.
Always be sure to ask about available discounts when you’re shopping around for insurance to see what you may 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
Insurance.com commissioned car insurance rates from Quadrant Data Services for state minimum coverage and full coverage with liability limits of 100/300/100 with $500 deductibles. Base sample rates are based on a 40-year-old male driver with a clean record and good credit driving a 2023 Honda Accord LX. Rates were also fielded for multiple age groups and driver profiles compared with the base sample rate.
Company ratings were gathered from third-party sources including J.D. Power, AM Best and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). We also gathered data from the Insure.com annual survey of car insurance customers.
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