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Mercury Homeowners Insurance Review 2024
Lead Writer | Home insurance, renters insurance, pet insurance
Sarah Schlichter is a NerdWallet authority on homeowners, renters and pet insurance. Prior to joining NerdWallet, she spent more than 15 years in digital media as a writer, editor and spokesperson. Sarah enjoys delving into complicated topics and helping readers understand the ins and outs of their insurance coverage. She lives in the Washington, D.C., metro area.
Assistant Assigning Editor | Home insurance, renters insurance, pet insurance
Caitlin Constantine is an assigning editor at NerdWallet, focusing on homeowners, renters and pet insurance. She has more than 15 years of experience in digital media, including as the deputy managing editor at The Penny Hoarder and as a digital producer for a 24/7 news station based in the Tampa Bay area. Caitlin enjoys exploring the ways technology can help people become better informed about the world. She currently lives outside Asheville, North Carolina.
Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
Mercury
4.0
Coverage optionsRatings are based on the number of coverage options a company offers in comparison to other insurers.
DiscountsRatings are based on the number of discounts a company offers in comparison to other insurers.
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Pros
- Many ways to save on your policy.
- Generous default coverage.
- Highly rated app to manage your policy.
Cons
- Not available in most states.
- More consumer complaints than expected.
- No online quotes.
Mercury
4.0
Coverage optionsRatings are based on the number of coverage options a company offers in comparison to other insurers.
DiscountsRatings are based on the number of discounts a company offers in comparison to other insurers.
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Pros
- Many ways to save on your policy.
- Generous default coverage.
- Highly rated app to manage your policy.
Cons
- Not available in most states.
- More consumer complaints than expected.
- No online quotes.
Why trust NerdWallet
Strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage to help you choose the financial products that work best for you. See our criteria for evaluating homeowners insurance.
More than 270 million rates analyzed by our team of specialists.
More than 50 insurance companies analyzed in all 50 states and Washington D.C. (See our top picks.)
Mercury home insurance review
4.0
NerdWallet ratingMercury homeowners insurance earned 4 stars out of 5 for overall performance.
Mercury is one of the biggest home insurers in California, but it also sells homeowners policies in several other states such as Texas, Virginia and New York. Its policies generally come with extra dwelling coverage in case your house costs more than expected to rebuild after a fire or other disaster. Mercury sells homeowners insurance through independent agents.
Where Mercury home insurance stands out
Coverage. Mercury’s default policies generally include an extra cushion for your dwelling coverage, plus replacement cost coverage for your personal belongings. These are both more generous types of coverage than many standard homeowners policies have.
Discounts. Mercury offers plenty of ways to save money on homeowners insurance.
Where Mercury home insurance falls short
Availability. Mercury’s homeowners insurance is available in only 10 states.
Consumer complaints. Mercury draws a higher volume of complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of its size.
Choose Mercury home insurance if...
State availability
Mercury sells homeowners policies in 10 states.
Mercury home insurance coverage
You can customize your homeowners policy with numerous add-ons, but below are the types of coverage that generally come standard:
Type of coverage | What it does |
|---|---|
Pays to repair or rebuild the structure of your home. | |
Covers damage to unattached structures such as sheds or fences. | |
Pays to repair or replace personal belongings such as furniture or clothing. | |
Pays for hotel stays, restaurant meals or other expenses if you have to live elsewhere while your home undergoes covered repairs. | |
Covers legal expenses and damages if you're responsible for injuries to other people or their property. | |
Covers injuries to guests in your home, regardless of fault. |
For more details, see What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
Mercury’s homeowners policies include all the standard types of coverage above. They may also include the following:
Extended replacement cost coverage, which pays up to 150% of your dwelling limit to rebuild your home after a covered claim.
Replacement cost coverage for personal property, which pays enough to buy brand-new replacements for damaged or destroyed belongings. Without this coverage your insurer would pay the items’ actual cash value, which reflects depreciation.
You may be able to add the following optional types of coverage to your policy:
Identity theft coverage, which pays costs related to recovering your identity, up to $25,000.
Equipment breakdown coverage for repairs to air conditioning systems, kitchen and laundry appliances, water heaters, electrical panels and more.
Service line coverage, which pays to repair or replace damaged service lines, such as sewer, water and gas pipes. Without this coverage, you would be on the hook for these repairs, even though they connect to city-owned or utility-owned lines. Coverage is available up to $10,000 per claim.
Additional coverage for valuables, such as jewelry or fine art.
Personal cyber coverage, which reimburses you if you’re the victim of an online attack such as online fraud or extortion. Coverage up to $50,000 is available.
Water backup coverage to pay for damage from backed-up drains or failed sump pumps.
For California homeowners who have fire coverage through the state’s FAIR Plan, Mercury offers difference in conditions insurance to cover scenarios the FAIR Plan won’t, such as theft, personal liability and water damage from broken pipes.
What's not covered
Like most homeowners insurance companies, Mercury doesn’t cover damage from flooding or earthquakes with its standard policies. If your home is at risk, you’ll want to look into adding extra coverage. Learn more about flood insurance and earthquake insurance.
Discounts
Depending on where you live, you may be able to save by:
Owning a newer home.
Having fire-resistant construction materials in your home.
Living in a gated community.
Having multiple policies with Mercury (also known as bundling).
Installing protective devices such as smoke alarms, deadbolts or water leak detectors.
Not filing any claims for at least three years.
Signing up for electronic billing.
Protecting your home against wind damage.
Getting a quote in advance of when you need coverage to start.
Being a recent homebuyer.
Taking steps to prevent wildfires or living in a community recognized by the National Fire Protection Association as a Firewise USA site (California only).
» MORE: The cheapest home insurance
It can be tough to find affordable homeowners insurance coverage in some parts of the country, especially places like California that are at risk of wildfires. One way to lower your rate is to choose a higher deductible, which is the amount subtracted from your payout if you ever have to file a claim. Make sure you choose an amount you’d feel comfortable paying out of pocket.
Consumer complaints
Mercury had more than the expected number of complaints to state regulators relative to its size for home insurance, according to three years' worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Consumer experience
Website: On Mercury’s website, you can pay bills, view policy details, request changes and file claims. However, you’ll need to contact an agent to get a homeowners quote.
App: You can use Mercury’s app to see policy information, pay bills and contact customer service.
Claims: Mercury offers 24/7 claims filing online or at 800-503-3724. Once you’ve submitted your claim, you can check its status through your online account. Learn more about how to file a home insurance claim.
Customer service: For support, contact your agent, call 800-503-3724, send an email through the website or chat live with a representative.
Other home insurance companies to consider
See how Mercury stacks up against other popular homeowners insurance companies.
Insurer | NerdWallet star rating | Policy highlight |
|---|---|---|
4.0 NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates discounts, coverage options, website transparency, financial strength, complaint data and more. | Sold through independent agents in California and select other states. | |
4.5 NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates discounts, coverage options, website transparency, financial strength, complaint data and more. | Widely available, with lots of coverage options and discounts. | |
4.0 NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates discounts, coverage options, website transparency, financial strength, complaint data and more. | Big national brand with plenty of ways to save. | |
4.5 NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates discounts, coverage options, website transparency, financial strength, complaint data and more. | Policies may include coverage to bring your home up to current building codes after a claim. | |
4.5 NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates discounts, coverage options, website transparency, financial strength, complaint data and more. | Extended dwelling coverage included with standard policies. |
How we rate homeowners insurance
NerdWallet’s star ratings reward companies for consumer-first features and practices. We evaluate factors such as financial strength, consumer complaints, coverage, discounts and customer experience.
In our research, we analyzed:
More than 270 million homeowners insurance rates.
More than 50 insurance companies.
Nearly 200 homeowner profiles.
View our complete homeowners insurance rating methodology.
Mercury offers solid coverage and many ways to save on your policy, but it draws more consumer complaints than expected. Overall, the company’s homeowners insurance earned 4 stars out of 5 from NerdWallet.
Mercury General Corporation is a public company that owns more than a dozen insurance subsidiaries, including Mercury Insurance Company and Mercury Casualty Company.
Mercury sells a variety of other products, including auto, condo, renters and umbrella insurance. Read our Mercury auto insurance review to learn more.
Mercury offers solid coverage and many ways to save on your policy, but it draws more consumer complaints than expected. Overall, the company’s homeowners insurance earned
4
stars out of 5 from NerdWallet.
Mercury General Corporation is a public company that owns more than a dozen insurance subsidiaries, including Mercury Insurance Company and Mercury Casualty Company.
Mercury sells a variety of other products, including auto, condo, renters and umbrella insurance. Read our
Mercury auto insurance review
to learn more.
Methodology
Homeowners insurance star ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s homeowners insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints, coverage, discounts and online experience. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our full ratings methodology for home insurance.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2021-2023. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
In This Review . . .