Acuity vs. Encompass: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Acuity offers significantly cheaper prices than Encompass
• Acuity has more affordable premiums for people who are single and purchasing car insurance by yourself
• Encompass offers more affordable rates for policyholders who have a clean record

Acuity vs. Encompass: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Acuity or Encompass for your next policy, but which carrier will offer you less expensive premiums?

As you can see, Encompass is quite a bit more expensive than Acuity, with prices averaging $466 per month compared to just $313 with Acuity when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

Even so, Acuity may not be the most affordable or best option for each driver out there. Insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how old you are or how good your credit score is (among a wide array of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Acuity and Encompass by a variety of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Acuity or Encompass: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Acuity and Encompass only compete against each other in two states, with Acuity offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Colorado has the most noticable difference, where Acuity premiums are over 70% less expensive than car insurance prices at Encompass.

But there's more to auto insurance than just where you call home. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance carriers determine your premiums. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $150 less a month by choosing Acuity over Encompass.

But both companies will decrease rates by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Acuity policyholders reduce over $500 and Encompass's premiums lower about $500 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance rates you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically lowers their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

When looking at Acuity and Encompass specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Acuity gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $183 per month compared to Encompass's $335.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance rates tend to be cheaper for married policyholders than they are for single drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having multiple cars on their policy -- something several auto insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Acuity is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums about $169 per month less expensive than Encompass, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Acuity is also obvious, where drivers save more than 40% a month.

Acuity vs. Encompass: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but men normally pay more for car insurance than women do. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

On average, women see rates nearly $20 per month more affordable with Acuity, while with Encompass, the difference is closer to $23 a month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Acuity comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $154 per month and women save around $150 with Acuity compared to the average Encompass policyholder.

Acuity or Encompass: 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.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are a range of different coverages that account for multiple different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

However, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Acuity generally offers significantly cheaper premiums of $172 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Acuity again has the edge, with policies about $200 a month more affordable than Encompass, on average.

Is Acuity or Encompass Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance companies offering great rates for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Acuity policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $94 per month if they get a ticket, while Encompass usually raises prices around $61 a month, on average.

That being said, Encompass is normally the less expensive option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering premiums that are 1% and 11% cheaper, respectively, compared to Acuity Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Acuity increasing by over $100. Encompass has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay more than $100 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, Encompass offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly prices averaging $328 compared to Acuity Insurance's $344.

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 car insurance bill -- typically a lot more than an accident or ticket. Encompass drivers usually see a 78% raise in their auto insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Acuity will normally climb premiums by about 36%.

How does Credit Score Impact Acuity and Encompass Rates?

Did you know that many insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating prices? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating 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 rates, while those with poor credit will generally be forced to pay more.

Looking at Acuity and Encompass specifically, which one has the cheapest premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Acuity or Encompass Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly prices. That's because the more miles you drive, the more likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles each year, as well as those who average twice that figure, Acuity tends to be the more affordable option. Acuity's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over 35% less expensive than Encompass. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay just under 30% less with Acuity over Encompass.

Acuity vs. Encompass: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a large impact as well. Typically, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers due to the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Acuity boasts the most affordable average prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the lowest rates from both companies, but Acuity comes out on top with average prices around $253 a month. Acuity also has cheaper average premiums for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $186 and $121 per month respective difference when compared to Encompass policyholders in similar areas.

Acuity vs. Encompass Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you're eligible for.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Acuity and Encompass offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Encompass knocks Acuity out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 26 different discounts to Acuity's 26.

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and group discounts -- but Encompass also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that Acuity does not.

On the flip side, Acuity has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for graduating college, continuous insurance discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Acuity or Encompass Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the right fit for you?

Acuity might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You have a clean record.
• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You're looking for discounts -- Encompass has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Acuity and Encompass. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Acuity and Encompass. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Acuity vs. Encompass FAQs

Is Acuity or Encompass cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Acuity is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $313 a month compared to $466 for Encompass. However, Acuity won't necessarily be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are a bunch of different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Acuity or Encompass?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Encompass offers cheaper prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record, while Acuity is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Acuity and Encompass offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Things like your driving record, where you live, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Acuity and Encompass use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

How do I know if Acuity or Encompass is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Acuity or Encompass at all!

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.