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

Quick Facts

• In general, Central Mutual offers significantly less expensive rates than Encompass
• Central Mutual tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have below-average credit
• Encompass may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Central Mutual Insurance

Central Mutual or Encompass: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Central Mutual or Encompass for your next policy, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

As you can see, Encompass has average rates that are around 25% a month more expensive than those from Central Mutual when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean Central Mutual will necessarily be cheaper than Encompass for every single driver. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your driving record, your age, or even your credit score (among other things), so premiums will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Central Mutual or Encompass is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each carrier broken down by a variety of different rate factors.

Central Mutual vs. Encompass: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Central Mutual and Encompass compete against each other in four states, with Encompass offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. New Mexico has the most noticable difference, where Central Mutual premiums are $364 more affordable than car insurance rates at Encompass.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just the state you live in. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance prices. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Central Mutual for their insurance pay over 50% less than those who use Encompass.

That being said, both companies will lower premiums once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Central Mutual policyholders reduce about $250 and Encompass's prices drop more than $500 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Central Mutual and Encompass? Central Mutual gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older almost 20% cheaper than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly less expensive car insurance prices than single drivers. That's because policies for married couples normally cover several vehicles, which lots of carriers will give you a discount for.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Central Mutual premiums coming in at a third less than Encompass's. It's not quite so glaring for married policyholders, where drivers who use Central Mutual save nearly 10% per month.

Central Mutual or Encompass: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women usually pay less for auto insurance than men? That's because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which increases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

With Central Mutual, women typically pay around $15 a month less than men, but with Encompass, the difference is closer to $23 per month.

Looking at overall affordability, Central Mutual comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $130 a month and women save about $121 with Central Mutual compared to the average Encompass policyholder.

Central Mutual 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.

For most people, insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

However, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Central Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $174. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Central Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging around $506 per month to Encompass's $629.

Is Central Mutual or Encompass Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Central Mutual for their car insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 26% after getting a speeding ticket. Encompass policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 21%.

Even so, Encompass has more affordable premiums for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are $15 and $38 less expensive, respectively, compared to Central Mutual Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Encompass climbing by about 31%. Central Mutual has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay more than 20% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, Central Mutual offers the cheapest prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average rates coming in at $311 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 auto insurance bill -- usually a lot more than an accident or ticket. Encompass drivers usually see a 78% climb in their insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Central Mutual will normally increase prices by around 50%.

How does Credit Score Impact Central Mutual and Encompass Rates?

Did you know many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining rates? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it might come into play for several drivers.

Auto insurance carriers argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking at Central Mutual and Encompass specifically, which company has the best prices 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 Central Mutual 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 sizable impact on your monthly premiums? That's because the fewer miles you put on your car, the less likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Central Mutual offers cheaper prices than Encompass. Encompass's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about 28% more expensive than Central Mutual. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay around 26% more with Encompass over Central Mutual.

Central Mutual or 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 insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a substantial impact as well. Typically, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Central Mutual tends to offer the most affordable premiums for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Central Mutual's average prices are about $529 a month compared to Encompass's $560. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly rate of around $263 with Central Mutual compared to $434 with Encompass. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $228 per month with Central Mutual and $404 with Encompass.

Central Mutual vs. Encompass Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Central Mutual 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 Central Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 26 different discounts to Central Mutual's 26.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Encompass also offers discounts for advance quote, EFT, employee discount, and more.

On the other hand, Central Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like book transfer policy discounts, renewal discounts, teensmart discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Central Mutual or Encompass Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Central Mutual might be best for you if....

• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your premiums.
• You live in a rural area.
• 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 in.
• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Central Mutual and Encompass and that it aids in making a more informed 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 auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Central Mutual 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 insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Central Mutual vs. Encompass FAQs

Is Central Mutual or Encompass cheaper?

Central Mutual is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $340 per month with Central Mutual and $466 for Encompass. However, that doesn't mean Central Mutual will be the lowest carrier for each policyholder, since there are many different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Central Mutual or Encompass?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Central Mutual and Encompass offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use a lot of different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Things such as your driving record, where you live, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Central Mutual and Encompass calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if Central Mutual 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 companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Central Mutual 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.