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

Quick Facts

• In general, Foremost offers significantly less expensive rates than Encompass
• Encompass tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record
• Foremost has more affordable premiums for residents of rural areas

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

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Encompass or Foremost as potential options, but which one will offer you cheaper rates?

As you can see, Foremost is quite a bit cheaper than Encompass, with premiums averaging $270 per month compared to $466 with Encompass when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

However, that doesn't mean Foremost will necessarily be more affordable than Encompass for every driver. Auto insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like where you live, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, how old you are, and tons of other factors, so rates will vary quite a bit from person to person.

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

Encompass or Foremost: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Foremost only compete against each other in three states, with Foremost offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Texas, Encompass is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at the overall average rates. Foremost is the more affordable option in New Jersey and Washington.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance cost than just where you call home. Read on to learn 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. Generally, 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. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Foremost for their auto insurance pay more than $500 less than those who use Encompass. It's worth noting that Encompass offers insurance in 31 different states compared to Foremost's three, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums once you turn 25. For example, average prices for Encompass policyholders lower over $500 and Foremost's rates decrease nearly $350 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the cheapest car insurance prices you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for auto insurance.

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Foremost gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $219 monthly compared to Encompass's $335.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance premiums tend to be less expensive for married drivers than they are for single drivers. That's because policies for married policyholders normally cover more than one car, which several carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Foremost is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates around $257 a month cheaper than Encompass, on average. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Foremost offers the lowest average prices.

Encompass vs. Foremost: 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 increases the chances of an insurance claim.

Men normally pay about 5% more per month than women with Encompass, while with Foremost, the difference is closer to 1% a month.

When it comes to the most affordable premiums for each gender, Foremost comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 43% less for men and 41% cheaper for women.

Encompass or Foremost: 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. Everyone needs car 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 (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Foremost usually offers significantly less expensive prices of $173 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Foremost again has the edge, with policies around $250 per month more affordable than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or Foremost 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 accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest 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 Foremost generally raises rates about $56 per month, on average.

But Foremost is typically the cheaper option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering premiums that are $25 and $30 more affordable, respectively, compared to Encompass Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Encompass drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates increase by over $100, while those who have insurance through Foremost will see around a $200 increase.

Overall, the less expensive premiums come from Encompass, with monthly prices averaging $328 compared to Foremost Insurance Group's $381.

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 insurance bill -- normally a lot more than an accident or ticket. Encompass drivers usually see a 78% increase in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Foremost will typically raise premiums by about 15%.

Foremost has the overall most affordable prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $238 per month, but it's worth noting that Encompass's average rates come from 31 states compared to just three for Foremost, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Foremost Rates?

Did you know that many insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating rates? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for lots of policyholders.

Auto 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 cheaper prices.

So, which carrier offers the lowest premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Foremost. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 35% compared to Encompass, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $135 or 34% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Foremost typically offers lower rates than Encompass when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $193 a month less with Foremost compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around $341 a month.

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

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly car insurance bill. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car, the less likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

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

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

Where you live can have a large impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Generally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Foremost normally comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable prices from both carriers, but Foremost comes out on top with average rates around $205 per month. Foremost also has cheaper average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $242 and $147 per month respective difference when compared to Encompass policyholders in similar areas.

Encompass vs. Foremost Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car 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 insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you're eligible for.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Encompass and Foremost 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 knocks Foremost out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 26 different discounts to Foremost's 12.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Encompass also offers ABS discounts, driver training discounts, DRL discounts, and more that Foremost does not.

On the flip side, Foremost has a couple unique discounts of its own -- minor child discounts, multi-car/single driver discounts, and paperless discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Foremost Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which company is the right company for you and your specific needs?

Foremost might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your insurance.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national auto insurance carrier.
• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Encompass and Foremost. 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 best 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 Foremost. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Encompass vs. Foremost FAQs

Is Encompass or Foremost cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Foremost is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $270 a month compared to $466 for Encompass. Even so, Foremost won't necessarily be the lowest company for everyone, since there are lots of different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Encompass or Foremost?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile. For example, Encompass offers more affordable rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record, while Foremost is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Encompass and Foremost offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different factors when determining the prices they charge policyholders. Things like your driving record, age, gender, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Encompass and Foremost calculate premiums using 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 a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Encompass or Foremost 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.