How does Mercury’s extended warranty compare to other options?
- What We Think About Mercury Protection Plans
- About Mercury Insurance
- Mercury Extended Warranty Plan Eligibility
- Coverage Options
- Getting A Quote And Filing A Claim
- Mercury Mechanical Protection Reviews
- Mercury Mechanical Protection Cost
- Is It Worth Getting Mechanical Breakdown Insurance?
- Our Verdict: Mercury Extended Warranties
- Top Picks For Extended Coverage
- Insurance Providers And Extended Warranties
Advertiser Disclosure
No, we’re not talking about the discontinued car brand – we’re talking about the Mercury extended warranty offered by Mercury Insurance. The company offers extended car warranties in 11 states and is most popular in California, with drivers in the Golden State accounting for 80 percent of Mercury Insurance customers.
The Mercury Insurance extended warranty is also called mechanical breakdown protection, and the company only sells it through independent agents.
We’ve reviewed a number of the most popular third-party warranty companies including Mercury Insurance, and we think a few other providers should be at the top of your list. Our recommendations for the best extended car warranty providers are based on high scores in coverage options, trustworthiness, cost, customer service, convenience, and perks. Compare quotes from our top picks below.
In This Article:
What We Think About Mercury Protection Plans
Mercury is a reputable company that offers a number of extended warranty options. Plans also come with a few perks like roadside assistance and trip interruption benefits. However, Mercury’s maximum coverage periods are somewhat limited when comparing them with other plans on the market.
About Mercury Insurance
The Mercury Insurance Group was founded in 1961 and has grown to become the fourth largest private auto insurer in California. In addition to California, Mercury Insurance provides insurance services and extended warranties through 8,000 agents in the following states:
- Arizona
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Virginia
Mechanical breakdown protection plans are underwritten by subsidiary American Mercury Insurance, which has an A- (Excellent) financial rating from AM Best. Since these warranties aren’t offered by the original automaker, they are also called vehicle service contracts (VSC).
Mercury Extended Warranty Plan Eligibility
Mercury’s mechanical protection plan is available for up to 7 years or 100,000 miles and is applicable to cars still within the factory warranty period. We also found older documentation that said Mercury plans were available for used cars if the driver buys the plan within 10 days of purchasing the car. However, the company’s current website doesn’t suggest this as an option.
Coverage Options
There are four Mercury extended warranty plans, ranging from full-coverage Platinum to Bronze powertrain protection.
Mercury also offers a few extras with its protection plans:
- Roadside assistance: Includes towing, lockout services, and more
- Rental vehicle coverage: Pays an allowance you choose toward a rental car if your car is in the shop because of a covered repair
- Tire protection: Repairs or replaces tires damaged during normal use, up to certain limits
- Trip interruption: Reimburses food and lodging costs if you are stranded because of a breakdown over 100 miles from home
- Insurance deductible reimbursement: Reimburses up to $500 toward your deductible if you file a claim with your auto insurance company (only available for Platinum plans)
Getting A Quote And Filing A Claim
Since Mercury only sells extended warranties through independent agents, you’ll have to connect with an agent to get a quote. That means you can’t just go online and purchase a plan today.
Exactly how you can get a quote can vary by agency. For example, one agency we found lets you fill in a form with details about your car online. You can submit the information to receive a quote either to your email or phone number. Other agencies might not have that online form, so you’d have to call in and talk with an agent about your car.
Before you request a quote, make sure to have the following information about your vehicle available:
- Make, model, and exact mileage
- Vehicle identification number (VIN)
- The month and year when you purchased the vehicle
- Information on advanced tech/video components
- Information on any upgraded trim package like 4WD or turbo
- Information on any customized parts
When you get a quote, the agent will want to know if the car has any issues at this time. Third-party extended warranties won’t cover existing conditions at the time of purchase (this is common with aftermarket warranties).
When you have a breakdown or repair, you can take your car to any licensed auto repair shop in the United States. Just give them Mercury’s claims phone number, and the repair shop will get in touch with Mercury. Or, you can call the Mercury warranty phone number for customer service.
During your Mercury extended warranty, you can make an unlimited number of claims up to the value of your car. Be aware that claims may take a few days to process – the repair shop needs authorization from Mercury before doing any work. Reviews on the company’s website say that claims are handled quickly and professionally.
Mercury Mechanical Protection Reviews
Mercury Insurance has almost 4,000 reviews on its own website, where the average rating is 4.6 stars. It also has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Mercury Select Management Company, the subsidiary that sells warranty plans, has an A- rating from the BBB. However, most reviews on the BBB are negative. Here a couple of examples:
“…I asked to speak to his supervisor. He said ‘No.’ I asked him why he was so rude. He stated, ‘How am I so rude?’ Then he told me he is hanging up the phone. Phone disconnected… I never got any answer about my policy. Very disappointed with his people skills. I am wondering, what is their mission statement about customer service?”
–Jorge V. via BBB
“Mercury Insurance has been completely unprofessional when dealing with my case. They have been lazy, given misinformation, and I have received attitude when trying to address my problems to the managers. The company has treated me poorly as if my situation doesn’t affect their lives and that I am not important to their business…”
-via BBB
Mercury Mechanical Protection Cost
Mercury claims to be a low-cost provider, but since it only offers plans through agents, you’ll have to contact one to get a concrete price. Auto warranty companies typically give drivers 12, 24, or 36 months to pay for a plan. Mercury mechanical protection plans require one deductible per visit, and choosing different deductible amounts might affect the overall cost.
For comparison, we found that the extended car warranty cost from leading warranty providers can be between $109 and $186 per month. Those are prices for a 2014 Ford Fusion with 75,000 miles. Prices for newer cars with fewer miles are usually cheaper.
Is It Worth Getting Mechanical Breakdown Insurance?
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide if mechanical breakdown insurance is worth it. From a monetary standpoint, it’s useful for cars that have a history of breaking down and those past their factory warranties. But you also have to factor in the peace of mind that can come with a warranty.
Many people appreciate knowing that a number of repairs are covered under a car warranty. Plus, an extended warranty can help spread out repair costs over time. Having one decreases the likelihood that you’ll have to pay $1,000 or $2,000 for a single repair all at once.
Our Verdict: Mercury Extended Warranties
Overall, Mercury extended warranty plans are standard fare and comparable to many other companies. However, most plans only cover up to 7 years or 100,000 miles, which is pretty short for an extended auto warranty. Also, the plans are somewhat limited in that you can only get them in a few states and through independent agents.
Top Picks For Extended Coverage
As with any service, it’s always a good idea to get multiple quotes. Endurance and CARCHEX are two of our top choices for an extended warranty. Out of all the extended warranty companies, Endurance is our #1 pick. Endurance offers coverage for high-mileage vehicles, six different tiers of plans, and have additional perks as a new member through the Endurance Elite membership.
CARCHEX is one of our top choices for many reasons. It covers cars with up to 250,000 miles, has five different plans for various cars, and has a reputation for customer service. We also like that CARCHEX lets drivers add protection plans at almost any point in time – even long after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired.
We recommend getting extended warranty quotes from several companies and comparing them to find the best deal.
Insurance Providers And Extended Warranties
Mercury isn’t the only insurance company that provides extended warranties along with car insurance. Many shoppers look into two top auto insurance companies: USAA and AAA.
Does USAA offer extended auto warranties?
USAA used to offer extended auto warranties through the end of 2017. At the beginning of 2018, the company stopped selling its vehicle protection plans, so you can’t get a USAA extended warranty today. USAA will honor and continue to service any plans that it sold prior to 2018, though.
Does AAA offer car warranties?
Yes, AAA does offer extended warranties. However, what’s specifically available to you depends on your geographic area and the AAA club you would belong to (there are dozens of them).
For example, AAA Carolinas offers plans that include one-time battery replacements and customizable term lengths in 1 year/1,000-mile increments. You might find different warranty options from other AAA clubs.
Methodology
In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of extended auto warranty companies to formulate rankings of the best providers. Companies receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.
- Industry Standing: Warranty providers with a history of strong business practices and endorsements from experts receive the highest scores in this category.
- Coverage: This rating is based on types of extended warranty plans available, coverage terms, and added benefits like roadside assistance.
- Cost: Our research team reviews sample quotes for a variety of plans and vehicles. Companies with lower prices per year of coverage receive the best scores.
- Transparency: This score takes into account contract transparency and the availability of a money-back guarantee.
- Customer Service: We comb through customer reviews and perform our own shopper analysis to get a sense of the responsiveness and helpfulness of each warranty company.
Read our other articles on warranties:
Keyword: Our Review Of Mercury Extended Warranty Plans (2022)