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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Alfa Alliance offers significantly less expensive prices than Encompass
• Alfa Alliance offers more affordable rates for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse
• Encompass may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Alfa Alliance Insurance

Alfa Alliance or Encompass: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering huge savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Alfa Alliance or Encompass for your next policy, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Alfa Alliance is quite a bit cheaper than Encompass, with premiums averaging $194 a month compared to $466 with Encompass.

But that doesn't mean Alfa Alliance will necessarily be more affordable than Encompass for every single driver. Auto insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on where you live or how old you are (among a multitude of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Alfa Alliance and Encompass by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Alfa Alliance vs. Encompass: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Alfa Alliance and Encompass only compete against each other in Virginia, where Alfa Alliance offers the cheaper average rates. Undefined drivers tend to pay about undefined per month less on average compared to drivers who use undefined for their car insurance.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance cost than just where you call home. Read on 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 auto insurance than any group on the road. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 80% less a month by choosing Alfa Alliance over Encompass.

That being said, both carriers will drop prices by the time drivers turn 25. Encompass offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Alfa Alliance still has the cheapest premiums at $218 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the most affordable insurance prices you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically reduces their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise rates.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Alfa Alliance and Encompass? Alfa Alliance gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $180 cheaper than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples. That's normally because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Alfa Alliance rates coming in at around a third of Encompass's. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Alfa Alliance has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Alfa Alliance or Encompass: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, they have a lower chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, women generally pay less for insurance than men.

Normally, women see prices about $1 per month less expensive with Alfa Alliance, but with Encompass, the difference is closer to $23 a month.

Looking at overall affordability, Alfa Alliance offers the lowest average premiums for both men and women, with average rates 59% less for men and 57% cheaper for women.

Alfa Alliance vs. 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.

It's no secret that car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

Even so, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Alfa Alliance has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $103. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Alfa Alliance again has the edge, with policies averaging around $286 per month to Encompass's $629.

Is Alfa Alliance or Encompass Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Alfa Alliance or Encompass -- has the most affordable rates for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Alfa Alliance for their car insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 18% after getting a speeding ticket. Encompass policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 21%.

However, Alfa Alliance tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record -- their rates are around 53% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 55% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Alfa Alliance drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices increase by $55, while those who have insurance through Encompass will see about a $100 increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Alfa Alliance end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $162 compared to Encompass Insurance's $328.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even a collision. Encompass drivers usually see a 78% raise in their auto insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Alfa Alliance will typically climb rates by around 72%.

How does Credit Score Impact Alfa Alliance and Encompass Rates?

Did you know many insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it does affect many policyholders out there.

The reasoning car insurance companies use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so normally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive prices.

So, which carrier offers the cheapest premiums for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a pretty big impact on how much auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage? Typically, those who drive less will end up with cheaper rates since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Alfa Alliance charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Encompass, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles yearly paying about $2 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, for drivers in both categories, Alfa Alliance is the more affordable company.

Alfa Alliance or Encompass: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can have a considerable impact on your monthly insurance bill. Normally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Alfa Alliance boasts the cheapest average rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $149 per month with Alfa Alliance and $404 with Encompass. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly price of about $234 with Alfa Alliance compared to $434 with Encompass. In urban areas, Alfa Alliance's average premiums are around $200 a month compared to Encompass's $560.

Alfa Alliance vs. Encompass Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Alfa Alliance and Encompass so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Encompass blows Alfa Alliance away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 16 more discounts than Alfa Alliance.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Encompass also offers discounts for ABS, anti-theft, defensive driver, and more.

On the other hand, Alfa Alliance has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like intra-agency transfer discounts, mature driver discounts, and renewal discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Alfa Alliance or Encompass Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Alfa Alliance or Encompass the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Alfa Alliance might be best for you if....

• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- undefined is only available in.
• You care about discounts (Encompass offers the most).

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

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just Alfa Alliance and Encompass. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Alfa Alliance vs. Encompass FAQs

Is Alfa Alliance or Encompass cheaper?

Alfa Alliance is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $194 per month with Alfa Alliance and $466 for Encompass. Even so, that doesn't mean Alfa Alliance will be the most affordable carrier for each policyholder, since there are lots of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Alfa Alliance or Encompass?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Alfa Alliance and Encompass offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use several different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Things like your driving record, gender, age, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Alfa Alliance and Encompass calculate premiums using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers 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 area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Alfa Alliance or Encompass at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.