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

Quick Facts

• In general, Atlantic States offers significantly less expensive rates than Encompass
• Atlantic States tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit
• Encompass offers more discounts than Atlantic States Insurance Company

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering substantial discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Atlantic States or Encompass as your top options, but which company will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Atlantic States is quite a bit cheaper than Encompass, with premiums averaging $160 per month compared to $466 with Encompass.

But that doesn't mean Atlantic States will necessarily be cheaper than Encompass for every driver. Insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how good your credit score is, where you live, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, and all sorts of other factors, so prices could change drastically from person to person.

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

Atlantic States or Encompass: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Atlantic States and Encompass only compete against each other in three states, with Atlantic States offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Delaware has the most noticable difference, where Atlantic States premiums are over 70% cheaper than auto insurance rates at Encompass.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance payment than just where you call home. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. It's usually because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Atlantic States for their insurance pay more than $500 less than those who use Encompass.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your prices drop significantly once you 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, Atlantic States still has the cheapest rates at $159 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Atlantic States and Encompass specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Atlantic States gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $119 per month compared to Encompass's $335.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance prices tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married policyholders. That's usually because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Atlantic States is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates around $386 a month more affordable than Encompass, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - Atlantic States has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Atlantic States vs. Encompass: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

Men generally pay nearly $15 per month more than women with Atlantic States, and about $23 more with Encompass.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Atlantic States comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 65% less for men and 66% cheaper for women.

Atlantic States 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.

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

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which typically refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Atlantic States usually offers significantly cheaper prices of $85 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Atlantic States again has the edge, with policies around $400 a month more affordable than Encompass, on average.

Is Atlantic States or Encompass Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

It's no secret secret that tickets and collisions lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Atlantic States or Encompass -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Atlantic States policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $6 per month if they get a ticket, while Encompass normally raises prices about $61 a month, on average.

Even so, Atlantic States has less expensive premiums for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around $111 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $166 a month with Atlantic States Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Atlantic States drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates increase by just under 25%, while those who have insurance through Encompass will see around a 30% increase.

Overall, the cheaper prices come from Atlantic States, with monthly premiums averaging $153 compared to Encompass Insurance's $328.

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 a collision or ticket. For example, Encompass increases average rates by over $500 per month -- that's just under a 80% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Atlantic States and Encompass Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect lots of policyholders out there.

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper prices, while those with poor credit will generally be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Atlantic States and Encompass, which one has the lowest premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Atlantic States 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 considerable impact on your monthly prices? That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure, Atlantic States tends to be the more affordable option. Encompass's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in more than $300 more expensive than Atlantic States. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay just under $300 more with Encompass over Atlantic States.

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

Where your home is can play a big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because of the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Atlantic States normally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the lowest prices from both companies, but Atlantic States comes out on top with average premiums about $133 monthly. Atlantic States also has less expensive average rates for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $355 and $291 a month respective difference when compared to Encompass policyholders in similar areas.

Atlantic States 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 utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem hard to find all the of the ones you qualify for.

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Atlantic States and Encompass 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 Atlantic States out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering seven more discounts than Atlantic States.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Encompass also offers distant student discounts, DRL discounts, EFT discounts, and more that Atlantic States does not.

On the flip side, Atlantic States has a couple unique discounts of its own -- family discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, marital status discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Atlantic States or Encompass Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which carrier is the right carrier for you and your specific needs?

Atlantic States might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" auto insurance.
• You have a short commute.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- undefined only offers policies to residents.
• You care about discounts (Encompass offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Atlantic States and Encompass. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car insurance.

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

Atlantic States vs. Encompass FAQs

Is Atlantic States or Encompass cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Atlantic States is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $160 per month compared to $466 for Encompass. That being said, Atlantic States won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each driver, since there are a range of different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Atlantic States or Encompass?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Atlantic States and Encompass offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at several different factors when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Variables like where you live, age, gender, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Atlantic States and Encompass use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Atlantic States 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.