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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Buckeye offers significantly less expensive prices than Encompass
• Buckeye tends to be a much more affordable option for couples purchasing insurance together
• Encompass offers more discounts than Buckeye Insurance Group

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering sizable discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Buckeye or Encompass for your next policy, but which carrier will offer you cheaper rates?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Encompass has average rates that are about 70% per month more expensive than those from Buckeye.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Buckeye will be the more affordable option for every single driver. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your driving record, your age, or even your credit score (among other things). So, at the end of the day, prices from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Buckeye and Encompass by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Buckeye or Encompass: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Buckeye and Encompass only compete against each other in two states, with Buckeye offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Buckeye rates are over 40% cheaper than car insurance premiums at Encompass.

But there's more to insurance than just the state you live in. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance companies calculate your prices. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance rates of any other group of drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Buckeye save more than $500 a month compared to those who use Encompass.

However, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Buckeye policyholders lower nearly 60% and Encompass's prices decrease over 65% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll normally enjoy the most affordable insurance premiums out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for auto insurance.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Buckeye and Encompass? Buckeye gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older almost 70% less expensive than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance rates tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers. That's because policies for married policyholders typically cover more than one car, which a lot of companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Buckeye is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums around $422 per month cheaper than Encompass, on average. The advantage for married couples with Buckeye is also obvious, where drivers save more than $200 a month.

Buckeye vs. Encompass: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, which means they'll generally end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

On average, women see prices about $15 per month more affordable with Buckeye, and nearly $25 with Encompass.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Buckeye comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $337 a month and women save around $329 with Buckeye compared to the average Encompass policyholder.

Buckeye 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.

Insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different terms and coverages 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 (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Buckeye usually offers significantly cheaper prices of $73 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Buckeye again has the edge, with policies about $450 per month more affordable than Encompass, on average.

Is Buckeye or Encompass Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance carriers 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 accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Buckeye policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $6 a month if they get a ticket, while Encompass generally raises rates around $61 per month, on average.

But Buckeye has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are 64% and 70% cheaper, respectively, compared to Encompass Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Encompass raising by over $100. Buckeye has a less extreme rise, but you can still expect to pay more than $15 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, Buckeye offers the most affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $98 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. On average, Encompass will climb your rates about 78% after a DUI, while Buckeye's average premiums climb by just under 70%.

How does Credit Score Impact Buckeye and Encompass Rates?

Did you know that many insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for lots of drivers.

Car insurance carriers argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

Looking specifically at Buckeye and Encompass, which one has the best rates 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 Buckeye or Encompass Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in your monthly auto insurance bill. That's because the fewer miles you put on your vehicle each year, the less likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

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

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

Where you park your vehicle can have a substantial impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Normally, 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 companies side-by-side, Buckeye usually comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the lowest rates from both carriers, but Buckeye comes out on top with average premiums about $107 per month. Buckeye also has less expensive average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $429 and $275 a month respective difference when compared to Encompass policyholders in similar areas.

Buckeye vs. Encompass Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? 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 challenging to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you're eligible for.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Buckeye 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 blows Buckeye away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 19 more discounts than Buckeye.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Encompass also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, driver training discounts, and more that Buckeye does not.

On the flip side, Buckeye has a unique discount of its own -- a renewal discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Buckeye or Encompass Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the variables insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. But, at the end of the day, which company is the best company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Buckeye might be best for you if....

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You live in an suburban area.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national car insurance carrier.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Buckeye 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.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple companies, not just Buckeye and Encompass. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Buckeye vs. Encompass FAQs

Is Buckeye or Encompass cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Buckeye is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $132 per month compared to $466 for Encompass. That being said, Buckeye won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for each policyholder, since there are a range of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Buckeye or Encompass?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Buckeye and Encompass offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at several different variables when determining the prices they charge drivers. Things such as age, where you live, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Buckeye and Encompass calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Buckeye 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.