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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Farmers offers significantly less expensive rates than Encompass
• Farmers offers more affordable prices for policyholders who may not have much of a commute
• Farmers has more affordable premiums for policyholders who haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Encompass or Farmers for your next policy, but which carrier has cheaper rates for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Farmers has average rates that are about 55% per month more affordable than those from Encompass.

But that doesn't mean Farmers will necessarily be less expensive than Encompass for each driver. Auto insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how good your credit score is or how clean your driving record is (among many other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

Encompass or Farmers: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Farmers compete against each other in 14 states, with Farmers offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in, undefined is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at the overall average premiums, but Farmers is the cheaper option in most of the others.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just where you live. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance rates of any group out there on the road. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

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

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average prices for Encompass policyholders reduce over 65% and Farmers's premiums decrease more than 70% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the lowest car insurance rates you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? Farmers gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $143 per month compared to Encompass's $335.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance prices are normally less expensive for married couples than they are for those who are single? This usually boils down to married drivers having more than one car on their policy -- something several auto insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Farmers is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums about $327 a month more affordable than Encompass, on average. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Farmers offers the cheapest average rates.

Encompass vs. Farmers: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and file an insurance claim, which means they'll usually end up paying more for car insurance than women.

With Encompass, men generally pay around 5% more per month than women., and about 3% more with Farmers.

When it comes to the most affordable premiums for each gender, Farmers offers the lowest average prices for both men and women. On average, women save about $254 a month and men save around $270 with Farmers compared to the average Encompass policyholder.

Encompass or Farmers: 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.

It's no secret that insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

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 a collision) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Farmers normally offers significantly cheaper premiums of $126 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Farmers again has the edge, with policies about $350 per month less expensive than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or Farmers Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance companies 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 tickets and at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest prices to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Encompass policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $61 a month if they get a ticket, while Farmers typically raises rates around $44 per month, on average.

Even so, Farmers tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket -- their rates are around 29% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 28% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Encompass drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices increase by over $100, while those who have insurance through Farmers will see about a $60 increase.

Overall, the less expensive rates come from Farmers, with monthly premiums averaging $224 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. For example, Encompass increases average prices by over $500 a month -- that's just under a 80% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Farmers Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (for example, Massachusetts and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for quite a few policyholders.

Insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable premiums.

Looking specifically at Farmers and Encompass, which one has the best rates 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 Encompass or Farmers 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 car insurance cost. Normally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper prices since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

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

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

Where your home is can play a big role in how much you pay for insurance. Generally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads in those areas.

Farmers boasts the lowest average prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest premiums from both companies, but Farmers comes out on top with average rates about $170 a month. Farmers also has more affordable average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $309 and $245 per month respective difference when compared to Encompass policyholders in similar areas.

Encompass vs. Farmers Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and 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 nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you qualify for.

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

Overall, Farmers comes out ahead with 28 discounts to Encompass's 26.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, distant student discounts, and discounts for being a good driver -- but Farmers also offers alternative fuel discounts, ESC discounts, life policy discounts, and more that Encompass does not.

On the flip side, Encompass has a couple unique discounts of its own -- DRL discounts, employee discounts, fire/fisher discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Farmers Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which company is the right company for you and your specific needs?

Farmers might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• You have below-average credit.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Encompass and Farmers. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Encompass and Farmers. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Encompass vs. Farmers FAQs

Is Encompass or Farmers cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Farmers is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $203 a month compared to $466 for Encompass. However, Farmers won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for each driver, since there are a bunch of different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Encompass or Farmers?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Encompass and Farmers offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at many different factors when calculating the prices they charge drivers. Variables like gender, where you live, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Encompass and Farmers calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

How do I know if Encompass or Farmers is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers 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 companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Encompass or Farmers 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.