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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Donegal Mutual offers significantly less expensive rates than Encompass
• Donegal Mutual has more affordable prices for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Encompass offers more discounts than Donegal Mutual Insurance Company

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Donegal Mutual or Encompass as your top options, but between the two, which carrier has cheaper premiums for insurance?

As you can see, Encompass is quite a bit more expensive than Donegal Mutual, with rates averaging $466 per month compared to just $290 with Donegal Mutual when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

But that doesn't mean Donegal Mutual will necessarily be less expensive than Encompass for every single driver. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your credit score, your age, or even your driving record (among other things), so prices will vary quite a bit from person to person.

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

Donegal Mutual or Encompass: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Donegal Mutual and Encompass compete against each other in four states, with Donegal Mutual offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Delaware has the most noticable difference, where Donegal Mutual prices are over 70% more affordable than insurance premiums at Encompass.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance cost than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for auto insurance than any group on the road. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Donegal Mutual save more than $500 a month compared to those who use Encompass.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your rates decrease significantly by the time 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, Donegal Mutual still has the most affordable prices at $251 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Donegal Mutual gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $123 less expensive than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples. That's because policies for married drivers generally cover more than one car, which many companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Donegal Mutual is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices about $228 per month more affordable than Encompass, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Donegal Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save over $100 a month.

Donegal Mutual vs. Encompass: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get tickets and get into accidents, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to pay more for car insurance than women.

Men usually pay around 6% more per month than women with Donegal Mutual, and about 5% more with Encompass.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Donegal Mutual comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $173 a month and men save around $178 with Donegal Mutual compared to the average Encompass policyholder.

Donegal Mutual 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different terms and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

Even so, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- 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 coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Donegal Mutual normally offers significantly cheaper rates of $170 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Donegal Mutual again has the edge, with policies about $200 per month more affordable than Encompass, on average.

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

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance carriers offering great prices 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 at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable rates to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Donegal Mutual policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $47 a month if they get a ticket, while Encompass generally raises premiums around $61 per month, on average.

However, Donegal Mutual tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering prices that are $30 and $44 cheaper, respectively, compared to Encompass Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Donegal Mutual drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums increase by just under 20%, while those who have insurance through Encompass will see about a 30% increase.

Overall, the less expensive rates come from Donegal Mutual, with monthly prices averaging $245 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 accident or ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. Encompass drivers usually see a 78% increase in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Donegal Mutual will typically climb premiums by around 58%.

How does Credit Score Impact Donegal Mutual and Encompass Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (for example, California and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for several policyholders.

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

Looking specifically at Encompass and Donegal Mutual, which company has the best 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 Donegal Mutual or Encompass Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a large impact on how much insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable rates since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure, Donegal Mutual offers cheaper premiums than Encompass. Donegal Mutual's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about 42% less expensive than Encompass. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay around 34% less with Donegal Mutual over Encompass.

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

Where you live can play a big role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Generally, 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.

Donegal Mutual tends to offer the lowest premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable rates from both companies, but Donegal Mutual comes out on top with average prices about $184 a month. Donegal Mutual also has cheaper average rates for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 21% and 45% a month respective difference when compared to Encompass drivers in similar areas.

Donegal Mutual 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 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 qualify for.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Donegal Mutual and Encompass so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Encompass blows Donegal Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering six more discounts than Donegal Mutual.

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

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

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

You've seen the role certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- undefined only offers policies to residents.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Donegal Mutual and Encompass and that it aids in making a more informed decision about 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 car insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple carriers, not just Donegal Mutual and Encompass. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Donegal Mutual vs. Encompass FAQs

Is Donegal Mutual or Encompass cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Donegal Mutual is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $290 per month compared to $466 for Encompass. That being said, Donegal Mutual won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for each driver, since there are a bunch of different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Donegal Mutual or Encompass?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Donegal Mutual and Encompass offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at a lot of different factors when determining the prices they charge policyholders. Things such as age, gender, your driving record, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Donegal Mutual and Encompass use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

How do I know if Donegal 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, sites like Compare.com do 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. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Donegal Mutual 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.