Encompass vs. Farm Bureau Financial Services: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Farm Bureau Financial Services offers significantly cheaper prices than Encompass
• Encompass may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Farm Bureau Financial Services
• Farm Bureau Financial Services offers more affordable rates for policyholders who live in urban areas

Encompass or Farm Bureau Financial Services: 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 savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed it down to Encompass or Farm Bureau Financial Services as potential options, but between the two, which carrier has more affordable premiums for car insurance?

As you can see, Farm Bureau Financial Services has average rates that are around 65% a month less expensive than those from Encompass when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean Farm Bureau Financial Services will necessarily be cheaper than Encompass for every driver. Car insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like how old you are, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, where you live, and a variety of other factors. So, at the end of the day, prices from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Encompass or Farm Bureau Financial Services 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.

Encompass vs. Farm Bureau Financial Services: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Farm Bureau Financial Services compete against each other in five states, with Farm Bureau Financial Services offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Minnesota has the most noticable difference, where Farm Bureau Financial Services premiums are 1201 more affordable than insurance prices at Encompass.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance payment than just where you call home. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. Normally, that's because 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 teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Farm Bureau Financial Services for their insurance pay over 70% less than those who use Encompass.

However, both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Encompass policyholders lower about $500 and Farm Bureau Financial Services's prices drop around $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable rates you can find.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Encompass and Farm Bureau Financial Services? Farm Bureau Financial Services gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at about $127 a month compared to Encompass's $335.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance prices tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married drivers. This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something a lot of insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with Farm Bureau Financial Services rates coming in at around a third of Encompass's. The advantage for married couples with Farm Bureau Financial Services is also obvious, where drivers save more than 55% per month.

Encompass or Farm Bureau Financial Services: Average Rates by Gender

Women generally to pay less for car insurance than men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

On average, women see prices about 5% a month less with Encompass, but surprisingly, with Farm Bureau Financial Services, women usually pay around 3% more per month than men.

Looking at overall affordability, Farm Bureau Financial Services comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average rates 65% less for men and 62% cheaper for women.

Encompass vs. Farm Bureau Financial Services: 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.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

That being said, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers 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, Farm Bureau Financial Services has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $87. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Farm Bureau Financial Services again has the edge, with policies averaging about $253 a month to Encompass's $629.

Is Encompass or Farm Bureau Financial Services Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their 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 premiums to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Encompass for their auto insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Farm Bureau Financial Services policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 17%.

However, Farm Bureau Financial Services tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record, offering prices that are 47% and 49% less expensive, respectively, compared to Encompass Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Encompass drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates increase by over $100, while those who have insurance through Farm Bureau Financial Services will see around a $65 increase.

At the end of the day, Farm Bureau Financial Services offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average prices coming in at $187 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 speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. Encompass drivers usually see a 78% increase in their auto insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Farm Bureau Financial Services will usually raise rates by about 46%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Farm Bureau Financial Services tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $226 to Encompass's 1020.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Farm Bureau Financial Services Rates?

Did you know many insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Michigan and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for many policyholders.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so typically, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with more affordable rates.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, Farm Bureau Financial Services will generally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Farm Bureau Financial Services comes in nearly 63.71 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save about 65% with Farm Bureau Financial Services compared to average rates from Encompass.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Farm Bureau Financial Services typically offers lower prices than Encompass when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 66% per month less with Farm Bureau Financial Services compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about 61% per month.

Is Encompass or Farm Bureau Financial Services Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on your monthly rates. Generally, the more milage you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Farm Bureau Financial Services offers more affordable prices than Encompass. Encompass average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around $300 more expensive than Farm Bureau Financial Services. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay about $291 more with Encompass over Farm Bureau Financial Services.

Encompass or Farm Bureau Financial Services: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Usually, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Farm Bureau Financial Services tends to offer the lowest prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $155 monthly with Farm Bureau Financial Services compared to Encompass's $404. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly premium of about $159 with Farm Bureau Financial Services compared to $434 with Encompass. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Farm Bureau Financial Services's average premiums are around $196 while Encompass offers rates about $560.

Encompass vs. Farm Bureau Financial Services Discounts

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

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Encompass and Farm Bureau Financial Services offer their customers 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 blows Farm Bureau Financial Services away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 26 different discounts to Farm Bureau Financial Services's nine.

Both companies offer lots of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and discounts for being a good student -- but Encompass also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, distant student, and more.

On the other hand, Farm Bureau Financial Services has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like life policy discounts, safe young driver discounts, and seasoned account discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Farm Bureau Financial Services Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Encompass or Farm Bureau Financial Services the right company for you and your specific driver profile?

Farm Bureau Financial Services might be best for you if....

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in a collision in the last few years.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You are considering moving to another state -- Farm Bureau Financial Services only offers policies in eight states.
• You're looking for discounts -- Encompass has the most.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Encompass and Farm Bureau Financial Services. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just Encompass and Farm Bureau Financial Services. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Encompass vs. Farm Bureau Financial Services FAQs

Is Encompass or Farm Bureau Financial Services cheaper?

Farm Bureau Financial Services is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $170 a month with Farm Bureau Financial Services and $466 for Encompass. Even so, that doesn't mean Farm Bureau Financial Services will be the cheapest company for each policyholder, since there are many different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Encompass or Farm Bureau Financial Services?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Encompass and Farm Bureau Financial Services offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use several different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Factors like your driving record, age, gender, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Encompass and Farm Bureau Financial Services use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

How do I know if Encompass or Farm Bureau Financial Services is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Encompass or Farm Bureau Financial Services 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.