Mercury Insurance vs Progressive

Verdict

Progressive and Mercury both sell through independent agents, and both are publicly traded, but they differ in scale and focus. Progressive is the second-largest U.S. auto insurer, with $69.01 billion of private passenger auto premium in 2025 (18.57%) in all 50 states and D.C. It sells direct online and by phone as well as through agents. Mercury, based in Brea, California, wrote $3.56 billion (0.96%). It sells in 11 states: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia. It calls itself California's leading independent-agency auto and home writer, with about 8,500 agents, and drivers can also start a quote online.

Progressive holds the higher AM Best rating, A+ (Superior), affirmed May 2026. Mercury's A (Excellent) was affirmed in February 2026 with its outlook raised to stable after the 2025 California wildfires. In California, Mercury's main market, Progressive scored 645 in the J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, above the 633 regional average. Mercury scored 596 (10th of 16). Claims scores favor Mercury: 701 (12th of 20) in the 2025 study, against Progressive's 673 (18th).

California rates for both must be approved under Proposition 103, which limits pricing factors, so the gap between quotes can be smaller or larger than you'd expect. Get quotes from both.

Choose Mercury if

• You live in California and want a local independent agent from a company built around the state.
• You drive little in California and can use Mercury RealDrive, a mileage-based discount of up to 20% from odometer readings.
• Claims handling matters. Mercury scored above Progressive in J.D. Power's 2025 claims study.
• You want a lifetime guarantee on repairs at Mercury-authorized shops.
• You can use payment-history, e-signature or mature-driver discounts.

Choose Progressive if

• You live outside Mercury's 11 states, or may move.
• You want to buy entirely online, or compare direct and agent prices.
• You want a behavior-based telematics program where your state allows it; Mercury doesn't list one.
• You have tickets or a lapse. Progressive writes nonstandard drivers.
• You want the higher AM Best rating and built-in small-claim accident forgiveness.

Key differences

Mercury's heavy California concentration exposes it to that state's catastrophe and regulatory conditions, which AM Best has flagged. Compare the same limits and deductibles on the car insurance quote comparison worksheet, and ask an agent who represents both to run them side by side.