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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, First Chicago offers significantly less expensive rates than Encompass
• Encompass offers more discounts than First Chicago Insurance
• First Chicago tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

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

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

You might have narrowed your search down to Encompass or First Chicago as potential options, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Encompass is quite a bit more expensive than First Chicago, with premiums averaging $466 per month compared to just $156 with First Chicago.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean First Chicago will be the cheaper option 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 driving record, your credit score, or even your age (among other things). So, at the end of the day, rates from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Encompass or First Chicago is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Encompass or First Chicago: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and First Chicago only compete against each other in Illinois, where First Chicago offers the cheaper average premiums. For Illinois residents, First Chicago offers insurance for $156 monthly on average. Encompass's average prices come out to be over 30% more expensive, at $217 per month.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just the state you live in. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance premiums of any other group of drivers. That's typically because 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 that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance rates. As you can see above, teens who use First Chicago save more than $500 a month compared to those who use Encompass. It's worth noting that Encompass offers car insurance in 31 different states compared to First Chicago's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, both carriers will drop prices by the time drivers turn 25. First Chicago offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Encompass's average rates lower over 65% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the most affordable auto insurance prices out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for insurance.

When looking at Encompass and First Chicago specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? First Chicago gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older more than 65% more affordable than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly less expensive car insurance prices than single policyholders. This usually boils down to married drivers having multiple cars on their policy -- something many insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, First Chicago is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums about $389 per month cheaper than Encompass, on average. The advantage for married couples with First Chicago is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 65% a month.

Encompass vs. First Chicago: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but car insurance is generally cheaper for women than it is for men. This is because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, which lowers the chances of an insurance claim.

With Encompass, men normally pay almost $25 per month more than women, and over $10 with First Chicago.

Looking at overall affordability, First Chicago comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $315 a month and women save around $304 with First Chicago compared to the average Encompass policyholder.

Encompass or First Chicago: 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 insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, First Chicago usually offers significantly less expensive rates of $73 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, First Chicago again has the edge, with policies about $400 per month cheaper than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or First Chicago 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.

Tickets and accidents will most likely raise your prices, but is Encompass or First Chicago more affordable for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Encompass policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $61 a month if they get a ticket, while First Chicago generally raises premiums around $35 per month, on average.

But First Chicago has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 52% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 50% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Encompass can expect to see about an $101 -- or around 31% -- increase in their insurance premiums. Drivers who use First Chicago for their car insurance will see a monthly bill about $37 (or 25%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their auto insurance company.

Overall, First Chicago offers the cheapest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $146 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 speeding ticket or even an accident. On average, Encompass will climb your prices around 78% after a DUI, while First Chicago's average rates rise by over 50%.

First Chicago has the overall lowest prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $225 a month, but it's worth noting that Encompass's average rates come from 31 states compared to just one for First Chicago, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and First Chicago Rates?

Did you know that many insurance carriers take into account your credit score 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 will come into play for a lot of drivers.

Auto insurance companies 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, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with less expensive premiums.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with First Chicago. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save more than 60% compared to Encompass, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $257 or 65% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

First Chicago typically offers lower rates than Encompass when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $315 a month less with First Chicago compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about $448 per month.

Is Encompass or First Chicago Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a large impact on your monthly premiums? Normally, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much First Chicago charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Encompass, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car yearly paying around $2 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, First Chicago is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Encompass vs. First Chicago: 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 big impact as well. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

First Chicago boasts the cheapest average rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $145 monthly with First Chicago compared to Encompass's $404. People in suburban areas pay a monthly price of around $128 with First Chicago compared to $434 with Encompass. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, First Chicago's average prices are about $196 per month compared to Encompass's $560.

Encompass vs. First Chicago 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 car insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you're eligible for.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Encompass and First Chicago so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Encompass knocks First Chicago out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 17 more discounts than First Chicago.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and multi-policy discounts. Encompass also offers distant student discounts, DRL discounts, EFT discounts, and more that First Chicago does not.

On the flip side, First Chicago has a unique discount of its own -- a renewal discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or First Chicago Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the right carrier for you and your specific needs?

First Chicago might be best for you if....

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in a collision in the last few years.
• Your credit score is high.
• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- First Chicago Insurance only offers policies to Illinois residents.
• You're looking for discounts -- Encompass has the most.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Encompass and First Chicago. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just Encompass and First Chicago. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do 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. First Chicago FAQs

Is Encompass or First Chicago cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, First Chicago is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $156 a month compared to $466 for Encompass. However, First Chicago won't necessarily be the most affordable company for each policyholder, since there are lots of different variables that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, Encompass or First Chicago?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Encompass and First Chicago offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at several different factors when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Things such as age, where you live, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Encompass and First Chicago use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Encompass or First Chicago 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.