21st Century vs. Mercury: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, 21st Century offers significantly more affordable prices than Mercury
• 21st Century has less expensive premiums for policyholders who haven't received any speeding tickets or been in a collision in the last few years
• Mercury may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than 21st Century Insurance

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21st Century or Mercury: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering large savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to 21st Century or Mercury as potential options, but which one has cheaper prices for car insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, 21st Century has average rates that are around 50% a month more affordable than those from Mercury.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean 21st Century will be the less expensive option for each driver. Insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like how old you are, where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, and a variety of other factors, so premiums will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both 21st Century and Mercury by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

21st Century vs. Mercury: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

21st Century and Mercury only compete against each other in one states, with Mercury offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. California has the most noticable difference, where Mercury prices are $81 more affordable than auto insurance premiums at 21st Century.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance payment than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

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Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for auto insurance than any other group of drivers. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance prices. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 70% less per month by choosing 21st Century over Mercury.

Even so, with both companies, you'll see your rates reduce significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for 21st Century policyholders decrease nearly 40% and Mercury's premiums lower almost 70% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable rates you can find.

When looking at 21st Century and Mercury specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? 21st Century gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $97 cheaper than the national average for Mercury.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance prices tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married couples. That's typically because married drivers tend to own and insure multiple vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with 21st Century premiums coming in at about half of Mercury's. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - 21st Century offers the lowest average prices.

21st Century or Mercury: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women normally pay less for insurance than men? That's because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, which raises the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Everyone gets the same monthly rates regardless of gender with 21st Century, but with Mercury, the difference is closer to 5% a month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, 21st Century comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $156 per month and women save around $142 with 21st Century compared to the average Mercury policyholder.

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21st Century vs. Mercury: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

It's no secret that car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

But most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which generally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, 21st Century has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $79. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, 21st Century again has the edge, with policies averaging about $212 a month to Mercury's $406.

Is 21st Century or Mercury Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their auto insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

You'll probably end up paying more with at-fault collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest rates to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use 21st Century for their car insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Mercury policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 19%.

However, 21st Century is generally the less expensive option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket, offering prices that are 61% and 60% more affordable, respectively, compared to Mercury Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through 21st Century can expect to see around an $80 -- or about 46% -- rise in their auto insurance premiums. Drivers who use Mercury for their car insurance will see a monthly bill around $109 (or 32%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, drivers who use 21st Century end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $173 compared to Mercury Insurance's $346.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly auto insurance bill -- usually a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. 21st Century drivers usually see a 54% climb in their car insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Mercury will typically raise premiums by about 22%.

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How does Credit Score Impact 21st Century and Mercury Rates?

Did you know many insurance carriers take your credit score into account when determining rates? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it does affect a lot of drivers out there.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper prices, while those with poor credit will normally be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Mercury and 21st Century, which company has the most affordable rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

You'll often be rewarded if you have excellent credit. With Mercury Insurance, improving your score from "good" to "excellent" will typically save you around $45. On the other hand, because undefined doesn't have data available for credit scores, they most likely don't use credit to calculate your prices.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Having bad credit can cost you with Mercury Insurance. For drivers with less-than-stellar credit, at Mercury Insurance, you may pay about 25% per month more if you have "poor" credit compared to those with "fair" scores. It's an even larger difference when compared to drivers with "good" or "excellent" scores. Because undefined doesn't have data available for credit scores, they might have better premiums for drivers with bad credit over Mercury Insurance.

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Is 21st Century or Mercury Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the more milage you drive, the more likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Mercury charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for 21st Century, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying around $14 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, 21st Century is the cheaper company.

21st Century or Mercury: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Generally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, 21st Century usually comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, 21st Century Insurance's average premiums are about 62% less than Mercury Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay around 47% less with 21st Century compared to Mercury. Those in rural areas can expect to save about 33% with 21st Century compared to Mercury.

21st Century vs. Mercury Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both 21st Century and Mercury so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Mercury knocks 21st Century out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 14 more discounts than 21st Century.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Mercury also offers discounts for continuous insurance, COVID-19 relief, distant student, and more.

On the other hand, 21st Century has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like deluxe discounts, paperless discounts, and seat belt discounts.

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Final Thoughts: Is 21st Century or Mercury Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is 21st Century or Mercury the right company for you and your specific profile and needs?

21st Century might be best for you if....

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years.
• You're looking for the best prices on liability only coverage.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower premiums.

Mercury might be best for you if...

• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your prices.
• You have above-average credit.
• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between 21st Century and Mercury and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just 21st Century and Mercury. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

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21st Century vs. Mercury FAQs

Is 21st Century or Mercury cheaper?

21st Century is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $146 a month with 21st Century and $295 for Mercury. Even so, that doesn't mean 21st Century will be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are a bunch of different factors that are considered when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, 21st Century or Mercury?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Mercury is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while 21st Century offers cheaper premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record.

Why do 21st Century and Mercury offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use many different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Factors like gender, age, where your home is, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both 21st Century and Mercury calculate premiums using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

How do I know if 21st Century or Mercury is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't 21st Century or Mercury at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.