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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Country Financial offers significantly cheaper prices than Encompass
• Country Financial offers less expensive average premiums for residents of urban areas
• Encompass offers more discounts than COUNTRY Financial

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

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

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Country Financial or Encompass as potential options, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

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

But that doesn't necessarily mean Country Financial will be the more affordable option for every single driver. Insurance carriers use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among a multitude of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

Country Financial or Encompass: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Country Financial and Encompass compete against each other in six states, with Country Financial offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Minnesota has the most noticable difference, where Country Financial prices are over 70% more affordable than auto insurance rates at Encompass.

There's a lot more that goes 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?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers. Typically, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance prices. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $500 less a month by choosing Country Financial over Encompass.

However, both companies will lower premiums by the time you turn 25. Encompass offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Country Financial still has the most affordable rates at $139 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the cheapest car insurance prices you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for auto insurance.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Country Financial and Encompass? Country Financial gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $230 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 policyholders than they are for married couples. That's usually because married policyholders tend to own and insure multiple cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Country Financial is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $412 per month more affordable than Encompass, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Country Financial is also obvious, where drivers save over $200 a month.

Country Financial vs. Encompass: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but men normally pay more for insurance than women do. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

On average, men see rates about 2% per month higher with Country Financial, and around 5% with Encompass.

Looking at overall affordability, Country Financial comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, women save about $317 a month and men save about $337 with Country Financial compared to the average Encompass policyholder.

Country Financial 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.

For most people, auto insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different coverages and terms that it can be hard 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 includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Country Financial usually offers significantly less expensive prices of $82 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Country Financial again has the edge, with policies around $450 per month cheaper than Encompass, on average.

Is Country Financial 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest rates to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Country Financial policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $31 a month if they get a ticket, while Encompass generally raises premiums about $61 per month, on average.

Even so, Country Financial has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around $122 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $152 per month with COUNTRY Financial.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Country Financial can expect to see around an $42 -- or about 29% -- increase in their insurance premiums. Drivers who use Encompass for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill around $101 (or 31%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their car insurance company.

Overall, the cheaper prices come from Country Financial, with monthly premiums averaging $147 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 ticket or even a collision. Encompass drivers usually see a 78% climb in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Country Financial will typically raise rates by about 36%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Country Financial tends to be the much more affordable option with average rates of $165 a month compared to 1020 from Encompass.

How does Credit Score Impact Country Financial and Encompass Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for several drivers.

The reasoning insurance companies use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so usually, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper premiums.

Looking specifically at Country Financial and Encompass, which company has the most affordable rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Country Financial. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 65% compared to Encompass, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $275 or 69% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Country Financial typically offers lower prices than Encompass when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $343 a month less with Country Financial compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $459 per month.

Is Country Financial 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 cost. Generally, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure, Country Financial offers more affordable premiums than Encompass. Encompass's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in more than 70% more expensive than Country Financial. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay over 70% more with Encompass over Country Financial.

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

Where your home is can play a large role in how much you pay for insurance. Typically, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders because there are a lot fewer cars on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Country Financial usually comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the lowest prices from both companies, but Country Financial comes out on top with average premiums about $109 a month. Country Financial also has cheaper average prices for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $385 and $303 per month respective difference when compared to Encompass drivers in similar areas.

Country Financial vs. Encompass Discounts

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

The challenging 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.

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Country Financial and Encompass so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Encompass knocks Country Financial out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 16 more discounts than Country Financial.

Both carriers offer many of the same discounts -- like discounts for getting driver training, discounts for being a good student, and passive restraint discounts -- but Encompass also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, distant student discounts, and more that Country Financial does not.

On the flip side, Country Financial has a couple unique discounts of its own -- occupation discounts and simply drive discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Country Financial 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 carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance company is the right carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Country Financial might be best for you if....

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your prices increase.
• You live in an suburban area.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- COUNTRY Financial only offers policies in seven states.
• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Country Financial and Encompass. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple carriers, not just Country Financial and Encompass. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. 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.

Country Financial vs. Encompass FAQs

Is Country Financial or Encompass cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Country Financial is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $138 a month compared to $466 for Encompass. But Country Financial won't necessarily be the most affordable company for every policyholder, since there are lots of different variables that come into play when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Country Financial or Encompass?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Country Financial and Encompass offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at quite a few different factors when calculating the rates they charge policyholders. Variables such as gender, age, your driving record, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Country Financial and Encompass calculate prices using different factors, 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 Country Financial 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 several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Country Financial 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.