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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Dairyland offers significantly cheaper premiums than Encompass
• Dairyland offers less expensive average prices for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Encompass offers more discounts than Dairyland

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

Are you considering a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Dairyland or Encompass for your next policy, but which one will offer you more affordable rates?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Dairyland has average rates that are about 45% per month cheaper than those from Encompass.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Dairyland will be the more affordable option for every single driver. Insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among many other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Dairyland or Encompass is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Dairyland or Encompass: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Dairyland and Encompass compete against each other in seven states, with Dairyland offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Texas, Encompass is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at the overall average rates. Dairyland is the less expensive option in Delaware, Kansas, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance prices than just where you live. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. It's typically because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Dairyland for their auto insurance pay more than $500 less than those who use Encompass.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Dairyland policyholders reduce nearly $300 and Encompass's premiums decrease over $500 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable rates you'll ever see.

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Dairyland gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $132 cheaper than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance premiums than married couples. That's because policies for married policyholders normally cover several cars, which many companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Dairyland is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $276 a month less expensive than Encompass, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Dairyland is also obvious, where drivers save about $100 per month.

Dairyland vs. Encompass: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, they raise the chances of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to pay more for auto insurance than women.

Women generally pay around $10 a month less than men with Dairyland, and about $23 less with Encompass.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Dairyland offers the lowest average rates for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $216 per month and women save around $203 with Dairyland compared to the average Encompass policyholder.

Dairyland 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, car insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages 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 property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Dairyland usually offers significantly cheaper prices of $142 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Dairyland again has the edge, with policies about $250 a month more affordable than Encompass, on average.

Is Dairyland 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 at-fault accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Dairyland policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $40 per month if they get a ticket, while Encompass typically raises premiums around $61 a month, on average.

But Dairyland has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 1% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 8% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Dairyland drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums increase by over $70, while those who have insurance through Encompass will see about a $100 increase.

Overall, Dairyland offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly prices averaging $297 compared to Encompass Insurance's $328.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. For example, Encompass increases average premiums by over $500 per month -- that's just under a 80% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Dairyland tends to be the much more affordable option with average prices of $236 monthly compared to 1020 from Encompass.

How does Credit Score Impact Dairyland and Encompass Rates?

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

The reasoning auto insurance carriers 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 cheaper rates.

So, which company offers the best prices for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Dairyland. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 35% compared to Encompass, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $152 or 38% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Dairyland typically offers lower premiums than Encompass when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $210 a month less with Dairyland compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $348 a month.

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

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on your monthly prices. Typically, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

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

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

Where your home is can play a considerable role in how much you pay for insurance. Generally, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers due to the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Dairyland boasts the most affordable average prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Dairyland offers rates around $314 per month compared to Encompass's $560. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $251 per month for Dairyland and $434 for Encompass. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest premiums from both companies, with average monthly rates coming in at $203 and $404 for Dairyland and Encompass respectively.

Dairyland 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.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Dairyland and Encompass so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Encompass knocks Dairyland out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 15 more discounts than Dairyland.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good student, and passive restraint discounts. Encompass also offers ABS discounts, distant student discounts, driver training discounts, and more that Dairyland does not.

On the flip side, Dairyland has a couple unique discounts of its own -- agency transfer discounts, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and prior insurance discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Dairyland or Encompass Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors auto insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance company is the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Dairyland might be best for you if....

• You have a clean record.
• You have less-than-stellar credit.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- Dairyland only offers policies in nine states.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Dairyland and Encompass. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your 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 car insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just Dairyland and Encompass. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Dairyland vs. Encompass FAQs

Is Dairyland or Encompass cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Dairyland is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $256 a month compared to $466 for Encompass. However, Dairyland won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for each driver, since there are several different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, Dairyland or Encompass?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

Why do Dairyland and Encompass offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when calculating the rates they charge drivers. Things like gender, age, your driving record, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Dairyland and Encompass calculate prices using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

How do I know if Dairyland 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Dairyland 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.