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

Quick Facts

• In general, Erie offers significantly cheaper premiums than Encompass
• Encompass offers more discounts than Erie Insurance
• Erie offers more affordable rates for policyholders who may not have much of a commute

Encompass vs. Erie: 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 huge discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Encompass or Erie, but which one has less expensive premiums for car insurance?

As you can see, Encompass is quite a bit more expensive than Erie, with rates averaging $466 per month compared to just $153 with Erie when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

That being said, that doesn't mean Erie will necessarily be more affordable than Encompass for each driver. Car insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like where you live, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, and all sorts of other factors. So, at the end of the day, rates from each company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Encompass or Erie: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Erie compete against each other in nine states, with Erie offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Pennsylvania has the most noticable difference, where Erie rates are over 70% more affordable than insurance prices at Encompass.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance cost than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance premiums of any group out there on the road. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Erie for their car insurance pay more than $500 less than those who use Encompass.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Encompass policyholders reduce over $500 and Erie's prices drop about $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Encompass and Erie specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Erie gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $116 per month compared to Encompass's $335.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers. That's usually because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Erie is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates about $396 a month cheaper than Encompass, on average. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Erie offers the lowest average prices.

Encompass vs. Erie: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which means they'll generally end up paying more for insurance than women.

Usually, men see premiums nearly $25 per month higher with Encompass, and more than $10 with Erie.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Erie offers the most affordable average rates for both men and women. On average, women save about $307 a month and men save around $319 with Erie compared to the average Encompass policyholder.

Encompass or Erie: 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. There are many different coverages that account for multiple different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

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 comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Erie typically offers significantly more affordable prices of $91 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Erie again has the edge, with policies about $400 per month cheaper than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or Erie Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car 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 companies offers the lowest premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Encompass policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $61 a month if they get a ticket, while Erie normally raises premiums around $18 per month, on average.

But Erie is generally the less expensive option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save about $108 a month and drivers with a ticket can save around $151 per month with Erie Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Encompass can expect to see about an $101 -- or around 31% -- increase in their car insurance rates. Drivers who use Erie for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $38 (or 24%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance company.

Overall, Erie offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $157 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 -- typically a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. Encompass drivers usually see a 78% increase in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Erie will normally climb rates by around 40%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Erie tends to be the much cheaper option with average premiums of $198 monthly compared to 1020 from Encompass.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Erie Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly car insurance rates. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect many drivers out there.

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, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the lowest prices for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Erie. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 75% compared to Encompass, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $285 or 72% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Erie typically offers lower premiums than Encompass when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $320 a month less with Erie compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about $389 a month.

Is Encompass or Erie 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 payment. Generally, those who drive less will end up with less expensive prices since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision 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, Erie tends to be the cheaper option. Encompass's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over $300 more expensive than Erie. Those who drive 12,000 miles each year can expect to pay more than $300 more with Encompass over Erie.

Encompass vs. Erie: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a substantial impact as well. Usually, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Erie boasts the cheapest average rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable premiums from both carriers, but Erie comes out on top with average rates around $115 per month. Erie also has less expensive average prices for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $366 and $289 per month respective difference when compared to Encompass drivers in similar areas.

Encompass vs. Erie Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing 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're eligible for.

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Encompass and Erie so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Overall, Encompass comes out ahead with 26 discounts to Erie's 21.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Encompass also offers EFT discounts, employee discounts, fire/fisher discounts, and more that Erie does not.

On the flip side, Erie has a couple unique discounts of its own -- COVID-19 relief discount, farm discounts, mature driver discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Erie Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the right company for you and your specific driver profile?

Erie might be best for you if....

• You have a clean record.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You live in a rural area.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (Encompass offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Encompass and Erie and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your 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 several carriers, not just Encompass and Erie. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Encompass vs. Erie FAQs

Is Encompass or Erie cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Erie is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $153 a month compared to $466 for Encompass. Even so, Erie won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every policyholder, since there are a range of different factors that are considered when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Encompass or Erie?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for each driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Encompass and Erie offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at quite a few different variables when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Things such as your driving record, where you park your car, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Encompass and Erie use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if Encompass or Erie 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 companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto 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 Encompass or Erie 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.