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

Quick Facts

• In general, Farmers Union offers significantly less expensive premiums than Encompass
• Encompass offers more discounts than Farmers Union Insurance
• Farmers Union tends to be a much cheaper option for couples purchasing insurance together

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

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

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Encompass or Farmers Union as potential options, but between the two, which company will offer you more affordable rates?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Farmers Union has average rates that are about 60% per month cheaper than those from Encompass.

However, Farmers Union may not be the cheapest or best option for each driver out there. Car insurance carriers vary their prices depending on things like how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, where you live, how old you are, and a ton of other factors, so premiums will vary quite a bit from person to person.

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

Encompass or Farmers Union: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just where you live. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

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

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Farmers Union save more than $500 a month compared to those who use Encompass.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Encompass policyholders lower over $500 and Farmers Union's premiums drop around $200 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? Farmers Union gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $148 per month compared to Encompass's $335.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance rates are generally more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married drivers? That's because policies for married policyholders normally cover more than one car, which quite a few carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Farmers Union is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums around $356 per month cheaper than Encompass, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - Farmers Union has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Encompass vs. Farmers Union: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but auto insurance is typically more expensive for men than for women. This is because men are more likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, which raises the chances of an insurance claim.

Generally, women see premiums about 5% a month less with Encompass, and around 6% less with Farmers Union.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Farmers Union comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates $282 less for men and $270 cheaper for women.

Encompass or Farmers Union: 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, insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are multiple different coverages that account for lots of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Farmers Union normally offers significantly more affordable premiums of $107 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Farmers Union again has the edge, with policies about $350 per month less expensive than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or Farmers Union Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto 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 cheapest rates 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 Farmers Union generally raises rates around $50 per month, on average.

Even so, Farmers Union tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering prices that are 39% and 35% cheaper, respectively, compared to Encompass Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Encompass increasing by over $100. Farmers Union has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay just under $70 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the less expensive prices come from Farmers Union, with monthly premiums averaging $207 compared to Encompass Insurance's $328.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even an accident. Encompass drivers usually see a 78% raise in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Farmers Union will usually climb prices by about 39%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Farmers Union tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $225 monthly compared to 1020 from Encompass.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Farmers Union Rates?

Did you know that many insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for many drivers.

Car insurance carriers 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 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 Farmers Union. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 60% compared to Encompass, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $232 or 59% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Farmers Union typically offers lower premiums than Encompass when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $280 a month less with Farmers Union compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around $386 a month.

Is Encompass or Farmers Union 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 rates. Generally, 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 Farmers Union charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Encompass, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car annually paying about $2 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Farmers Union is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where your home is can play a big role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Normally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Farmers Union usually comes out as the cheapest option 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 rates from both carriers, but Farmers Union comes out on top with average prices around $170 monthly. Farmers Union also has more affordable average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $334 and $262 per month respective difference when compared to Encompass drivers in similar areas.

Encompass vs. Farmers Union Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Encompass and Farmers Union offer their customers so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Encompass blows Farmers Union away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 15 more discounts than Farmers Union.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Encompass also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that Farmers Union does not.

On the flip side, Farmers Union has a couple unique discounts of its own -- farm discounts, minor child discounts, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Farmers Union Best for You?

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

Farmers Union might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your prices.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles each year.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national auto insurance company.
• You're looking for discounts -- Encompass has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Encompass and Farmers Union and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to 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 several carriers, not just Encompass and Farmers Union. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Encompass vs. Farmers Union FAQs

Is Encompass or Farmers Union cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Farmers Union is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $189 a month compared to $466 for Encompass. But Farmers Union won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are a bunch of different variables that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Encompass or Farmers Union?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Encompass and Farmers Union offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at a lot of different factors when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Things like your driving record, age, where you park your vehicle, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Encompass and Farmers Union calculate premiums using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto 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, 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 car insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Encompass or Farmers Union 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.