Mercury is a California insurer first and a multi-state one second. That shapes almost everything about it, including where its complaint record is strong. This review uses Mercury General’s own 2025 annual report and complaint data from the California and Texas insurance departments to answer the questions that matter: how big it is, how it treats customers by the regulators’ count, and who it suits.
This review is for educational purposes only and is not personalized insurance advice. We are not licensed insurance agents. Coverage, pricing and availability vary by state; your policy controls.
The Verdict
Mercury has one of the cleaner complaint records among large California and Texas insurers, backed by A ratings from AM Best. It is a strong candidate to quote if you live in California or one of its other ten states and buy through an independent agent. It is less of a fit if you want a national carrier, a direct-to-consumer app experience, or coverage outside its footprint.
| Parent | Mercury General Corporation (founded 1961) |
| Personal auto | 11 states, principally California |
| Homeowners | 10 states |
| AM Best rating | A, for each of its 12 insurance companies (per its 2025 annual report) |
| How it sells | Mostly independent agents (about 88% of 2025 premiums, excluding its own agencies) |
| California auto complaints, 2025 | 1.2 per 100,000 exposures (Mercury Insurance Company), 9th of 50 |
| California homeowners complaints, 2025 | 0.9 per 100,000 (California Automobile Insurance Company), 5th of 50 |
| Texas auto complaint index, 2025 | 0.90 (Mercury County Mutual; 1.00 is average) |
Who Mercury Is
Mercury General’s annual report describes it as an insurance holding company and “the parent of Mercury Casualty Company, a California automobile insurer founded in 1961 by George Joseph, the Company’s Chairman of the Board of Directors.” It writes personal auto “through 12 insurance subsidiaries … in 11 states, principally California,” and also writes homeowners, commercial auto, commercial property, mechanical protection and umbrella insurance.
The report lists each insurer’s primary states: California, Arizona, Nevada, New York and Virginia (Mercury Casualty); Illinois and New Jersey; Georgia; Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia (American Mercury); Texas; and Florida and New Jersey. It offers “standard, non-standard, and preferred private passenger automobile insurance in 11 states,” homeowners in 10 and commercial auto in 4.
Share of 2025 direct premiums written
How concentrated is it? California accounted for 82.1% of Mercury’s $5.98 billion of 2025 direct premiums written; Texas for 6.7%; the other nine states together for 11.2%. Personal auto was 60.0% of premiums and homeowners 27.3%.
Complaint Record
Mercury’s insurers appear in both of the state complaint datasets we analyze, and in every case they are at or better than the market.
| Legal company | State and line | 2025 result | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury Insurance Company | California auto | 1.2 justified complaints per 100,000 (19 complaints, about 1.54 million exposures) | 9th of 50; median 3.15. Down from 1.7 (2024) and 2.2 (2023) |
| California Automobile Insurance Company | California auto | 1.5 (2 complaints) | 13th of 50 |
| California Automobile Insurance Company | California homeowners | 0.9 (7 complaints, about 743,000 exposures) | 5th of 50; median 2.4. Down from 2.8 and 5.2 |
| Mercury County Mutual Insurance Company | Texas auto | Index 0.90 (7 complaints, 47,087 policies) | 1.00 is average; 0.40 in 2024 |
| Mercury Insurance Company of Texas | Texas homeowners | Index 1.14 (12 complaints, 82,780 policies) | 1.43 in 2024 |
Sources: California Department of Insurance 2026 auto and homeowners complaint studies; Texas Department of Insurance complaint indexes and policy counts, 2025. All five companies are listed as Mercury General subsidiaries in its 2025 annual report.
Two caveats. Mercury’s Texas auto index rose from 0.40 to 0.90, though on only 7 complaints. And its Texas homeowners company is the one Mercury entity above the average, at 1.14. For where these sit in each market, see our California car insurance complaint ratios, California homeowners complaint ratios and Texas car insurance complaint index.
Financial Strength and Underwriting
Mercury General’s annual report lists an A rating from AM Best for each of its insurance companies. Its 2025 statutory combined ratio was 96.5% company-wide, and 89.5% for private passenger auto alone. A combined ratio under 100% means premiums covered losses and expenses.
Mercury vs. the industry (below 100% = underwriting profit)
The report also gives a sense of what 2025 cost: catastrophe losses net of reinsurance of about $508 million, mostly from the Palisades and Eaton wildfires in California and severe storms in Texas, Oklahoma and California. That figure was already reduced by about $586 million of subrogation recorded on the two wildfires.
How Mercury Sells and Handles Claims
- Agents. Mercury says its policies “are mostly sold through independent agents,” which, excluding its own agencies AIS and PoliSeek, accounted for about 88% of 2025 direct premiums written. Policies bought through its online portals are assigned to and serviced by agents.
- Claims. The annual report says Mercury “conducts the majority of claims processing without the assistance of outside adjusters.”
- Retention. Its California private passenger auto renewal rate, meaning the share of renewal offers accepted, averaged about 99% in 2025 and 2024.
- Drivers. About 85% of its California voluntary auto policies in force at the end of 2025 were “good drivers” as defined by the California Insurance Code.
Who Mercury Suits
- California households who want an established, A-rated insurer with a below-median complaint ratio for both auto and home.
- Shoppers who prefer an agent. Mercury is built around independent agents, so an agent can quote it alongside other carriers.
- Drivers in its other ten states, with the caveat that outside California and Texas we have not analyzed its complaint data.
It is a weaker fit if you need a carrier in a state Mercury does not serve, or prefer a direct, app-first experience. For national alternatives scored on price, claims satisfaction, coverage and digital tools, see our best car insurance ranking. To understand how bundling auto and home can change the math, see our guide to bundling home and auto insurance.
FAQ
Is Mercury a good insurance company?
On regulator complaint data, Mercury is one of the better large insurers in its two biggest states. Mercury Insurance Company had 1.2 justified complaints per 100,000 exposures in California’s 2026 auto study, ninth best of 50, and Mercury’s California Automobile Insurance Company ranked fifth of 50 for homeowners. Its insurance companies are rated A by AM Best, according to Mercury General’s 2025 annual report.
What states does Mercury Insurance cover?
Mercury General’s 2025 annual report says it offers private passenger auto insurance in 11 states and homeowners insurance in 10, principally California. The report lists its insurers’ primary states as California, Arizona, Nevada, New York, Virginia, Illinois, New Jersey, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas and Florida.
Who owns Mercury Insurance?
Mercury Insurance is the brand of Mercury General Corporation, a publicly traded insurance holding company. Its annual report says Mercury General is the parent of Mercury Casualty Company, a California auto insurer founded in 1961 by George Joseph, who is chairman of the board.
Does Mercury use independent agents?
Yes. Mercury General says its policies are mostly sold through independent agents, which, excluding its own agencies AIS and PoliSeek, accounted for about 88% of direct premiums written in 2025.