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13+ years writing insurance and personal finance content
Insurance, lending, and retirement expert
Jacqueline has contributed content, and her personal finance passion, to dozens of noteworthy financial brands, including Credit Karma, Bankrate, and MagnifyMoney.
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15+ years in content creation
7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
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7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
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If you’re searching for a new car insurance company, you may be considering Liberty Mutual or Mercury. Both are well-known in the insurance industry and offer home and auto insurance.
Though Mercury isn’t widely available in the U.S. (with coverage available in 11 states), it offers affordable prices. To determine which car insurer is right for you, keep reading for major insight into rates, discounts, coverage options, and the customer experience with both Liberty Mutual and Mercury.
Liberty Mutual is available in all 50 U.S. states.
Mercury is the most affordable option across all driver categories.
Mercury offers more discounts to help keep car insurance rates low.
Liberty Mutual vs. Mercury: The verdict
Mercury is the more affordable option for both full coverage and liability insurance. This auto insurer also offers more discounts. But finding the lowest rates isn’t all that matters. You want to consider the customer service experience, auto coverage types, and many other factors at a few different companies. One of the best ways to start your research is to read customer reviews — both negative and favorable.
Liberty Mutual stands out as the winner for availability. While Mercury is only available to drivers in 11 states, Liberty Mutual sells car insurance throughout the entire country. Both car insurance companies received similar Insurify Quality (IQ) Scores, which indicates a similar customer experience.
Here, you can see how these two insurers compare.
Factor | Liberty Mutual | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| IQ Score | 7.7 | 7.5 |
| Customer satisfaction score | 3.1 | 3.4 |
| Average quote: liability only | $161 | $95 |
| Number of discounts | 13 | 9 |
| Number of states where it operates | 50 | 11 |
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.
Liberty Mutual
Liberty Mutual is a popular car insurance company that services all 50 states and sells many more insurance products than just auto insurance. It also sells life, homeowners (including condo), renters, and business insurance.
| User Reviews | 3.5 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 7.7 /10 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $161/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $218/mo |
Drivers appreciate the ease of making payments and the company’s helpful customer service. But they dislike the frequent and unexplained rate increases, and some report difficulties in communication and claim handling.
Drivers appreciate the ease of making payments and the company’s helpful customer service. But they dislike the frequent and unexplained rate increases, and some report difficulties in communication and claim handling.
Liberty Mutual offers auto, homeowners, condo, renters, flood, life, and other insurance products. Auto policyholders can save with numerous discounts, including bundling, good student, military, student-away-at-school, claims-free, violation-free, and multi-car discounts. Liberty Mutual has an A rating for financial strength and credit from AM Best. The company often scores low for customer satisfaction and has more than three times the expected number of complaints from private auto policyholders, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Consumer Complaint Index.
Wide range of available discounts
Accident forgiveness available
Available in all 50 states and D.C.
Many negative reviews and customer complaints
Premiums are relatively high compared to industry average
Low customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power
Mercury
Mercury isn’t a nationwide car insurance company but offers fair prices, is known for a good customer experience, and offers a variety of car insurance discounts alongside homeowners insurance and renters insurance discounts.
| User Reviews | 4.0 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 7.5 /10 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $95/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $163/mo |
Drivers appreciate the attentive customer service and claim handling but dislike the consistent rate increases and lack of transparency in pricing. Some also found the company to be lacking in empathy and flexibility.
Drivers appreciate the attentive customer service and claim handling but dislike the consistent rate increases and lack of transparency in pricing. Some also found the company to be lacking in empathy and flexibility.
Mercury sells auto, home, condo, renters, and business insurance. In addition to standard car insurance coverages, Mercury also offers rental car reimbursement, roadside assistance, rideshare insurance, and more. Mercury customers can save with multiple discounts, including bundling auto with home or renters coverage. The company has an A rating from AM Best for financial stability. Mercury has nearly twice as many complaints as expected in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Complaint Index.
Numerous coverage options, discounts, and bundling opportunities
Competitive auto insurance rates
Offers gap, custom equipment, and rideshare coverage add-ons
Only available in 11 states (including California)
Low claims satisfaction score from J.D. Power
Bad 1.6/5 Trustpilot score
Liberty Mutual RightTrack vs. Mercury RealDrive
Both insurers offer a telematics-based discount program that can help you save if you practice safe driving habits.
Liberty Mutual RightTrack offers an immediate 10% discount upon enrollment and savings of up to 30% based on driving performance. But the program requires tracking driving habits, which some drivers find intrusive.
Mercury Insurance RealDrive provides savings of up to 20% based on annual mileage, making it appealing for low-mileage drivers. This program requires providing odometer readings.
RightTrack focuses on driving behavior and RealDrive emphasizes mileage, allowing flexibility for people who prefer less monitoring of their driving patterns.
Liberty Mutual vs. Mercury: Which is the cheapest?
Mercury offers lower average monthly premiums for auto insurance customers in all driver categories.
It’s important to note that factors like your credit history, a history of car accidents or having a DUI on your record, ZIP code, and more can all affect auto insurance rates.[1] Finding the best option for your unique car insurance needs can help you save some money each month.
Mercury: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record
If you have a clean driving record, you’ll likely encounter favorable auto insurance premiums with any insurer you choose. When comparing Liberty Mutual vs. Mercury auto insurance, you’ll find a lower average rate than with Mercury. Here, you can see the average rates for liability coverage for both insurers below.
Driver Type | Liberty Mutual | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $161 | $95 |
Mercury: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket
If you have traffic violations like a speeding ticket on your driving record, you may end up paying a higher monthly premium than people with a clean driving record. On average, Mercury charges less than Liberty Mutual for drivers with a speeding ticket.
Driver Type | Liberty Mutual | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers with a speeding ticket | $204 | $146 |
Mercury: Cheapest for teen drivers
Young drivers experience notoriously high car insurance rates. To help keep auto insurance spending low, parents of teen drivers may want to request a quote for a Mercury policy, which offers lower rates for teens than Liberty Mutual.
Driver Type | Liberty Mutual | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| 18-year-old | $276 | $181 |
Mercury: Cheapest for senior drivers
Mercury is the winner in terms of offering the cheapest car insurance rates for senior drivers.
Driver Type | Liberty Mutual | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Senior drivers | $131 | $72 |
Mercury: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit
Having a bad credit history can hurt you when it comes to auto insurance rates. Mercury charges drivers with bad credit much less per month than Liberty Mutual.
Driver Type | Liberty Mutual | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers with bad credit | $186 | $119 |
Compare coverages: Liberty Mutual vs. Mercury
Liberty Mutual and Mercury both offer liability-only, collision, comprehensive, medical payments, personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured/underinsured motorist, and rental car coverage.[2] [3]
Some car insurance companies also offer more unique types of coverage in the form of add-ons that you can use to enhance your base auto policy. This is where Mercury and Liberty Mutual differ significantly, with the latter offering more add-ons.
Coverage | Liberty Mutual | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Roadside assistance | Yes | Yes |
| Rideshare insurance | No | Yes |
| Better car replacement | Yes | No |
| 24-hour roadside assistance | Yes | No |
| Original parts replacement | Yes | No |
| Gap insurance | Yes | No |
Compare discounts: Liberty Mutual vs. Mercury
In terms of potential insurance policy discounts, Liberty Mutual and Mercury’s offerings are pretty similar. Mercury has nine discounts, but Liberty Mutual comes in a bit stronger, with 13.
But some drivers may find that even though Liberty Mutual has fewer discounts available, the insurer may have the ones they need. For example, Mercury doesn’t offer a military discount, and Liberty Mutual does. To find the right discounts for you, don’t be afraid to ask an insurance agent for help.
Discount | Liberty Mutual | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | Yes | Yes |
| Defensive driving course | No | No |
| Multi-policy | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-car | Yes | Yes |
| Low mileage | No | No |
| Telematics (safe driving app) | Yes | Yes |
| Anti-theft device | No | Yes |
| New car | No | No |
| Military/affiliation | Yes | No |
| Good student | Yes | Yes |
| Loyalty | No | No |
| Auto-pay | Yes | Yes |
| Student away at school | Yes | No |
| Homeowner | Yes | No |
| Alternative fuel | No | No |
Liberty Mutual vs. Mercury FAQs
If you’re still on the fence about whether or not Liberty Mutual or Mercury is the right car insurance company for your needs, read on for a breakdown of some frequently asked questions about both insurers.
Who is Liberty Mutual’s biggest competitor?
Liberty Mutual has a few big competitors. Mercury, Allstate, GEICO, Safeco, and State Farm are all examples of major car insurance companies that offer similar insurance products to Liberty Mutual. You can request quotes from a few different auto insurance companies to see which can offer low rates for your specific car insurance needs.
Is Mercury Insurance good?
Mercury is a reliable auto insurance policy company and is well-respected in the insurance industry. Mercury received an AM Best financial strength rating of “A” (Excellent). AM Best ratings assess the financial strength and credit of insurance companies, indicating a company’s ability to meet ongoing insurance obligations — such as paying out future claims.
Why is Mercury Insurance so cheap?
Mercury offers nine different auto insurance discounts that policyholders may be able to qualify for, which helps keep its auto insurance premiums affordable.
What are the key differences between Liberty Mutual and Mercury Insurance?
The main differences between Liberty Mutual and Mercury are availability and market share. While Mercury insurance isn’t widely available, Liberty Mutual sells insurance in all 50 states. Both insurers also offer varying add-ons and discounts but sell the same standard types of car insurance.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
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Allstate Insurance Review: 7,574+ User Ratings
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
- Mercury Insurance. "Auto Insurance Coverage."
- Liberty Mutual. "Car insurance coverage types."
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During college, Jacqueline DeMarco interned at a retirement plan advisory firm and was tasked with creating a presentation on the importance of financial wellness. During her research into how money can affect our health, relationships and career, Jacqueline realized just how important financial education is. Jacqueline is a contributor for Insurify and has worked with more than a dozen financial brands, including LendingTree, Capital One, Credit Karma, Fundera, Chime, Bankrate, Student Loan Hero, ValuePenguin, SoFi, and Northwestern Mutual, providing thoughtful content to give readers insight into complex topics that they likely didn’t learn in school.
Jacqueline has been a contributor at Insurify since October 2022.
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15+ years in content creation
7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
Featured in
)
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
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