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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, GEICO offers significantly more affordable rates than Encompass
• GEICO offers more affordable prices for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit
• GEICO tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering pretty big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Encompass or GEICO, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Encompass is quite a bit more expensive than GEICO, with rates averaging $466 per month compared to just $185 with GEICO.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean GEICO will be the less expensive option for each driver. After all, insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, where you call home, your driving record, or even your age (among other things), so premiums could change drastically from person to person.

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

Encompass or GEICO: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and GEICO compete against each other in 30 states, with GEICO offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. If you live in, undefined is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at the overall average premiums, but GEICO is the cheaper option in most of the others.

But there's more to car insurance than just where you live. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance companies calculate your prices. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for insurance than any group on the road. That's 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 premiums. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $500 less a month by choosing GEICO over Encompass.

But both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Encompass policyholders drop over 65% and GEICO's rates lower more than 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Encompass and GEICO specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? GEICO gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $148 monthly compared to Encompass's $335.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance prices than married policyholders. That's generally because married drivers tend to own and insure multiple cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, GEICO is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums around $364 per month less expensive than Encompass, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - GEICO has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Encompass vs. GEICO: Average Rates by Gender

Men tend to pay more for car insurance than women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and get tickets, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

On average, men see premiums about 5% a month higher with Encompass, and around 4% more with GEICO.

When it comes to the cheapest rates for each gender, GEICO comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices $288 less for men and $273 cheaper for women.

Encompass or GEICO: 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 a bunch of different coverages that account for a variety 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 provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, GEICO usually offers significantly more affordable rates of $101 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, GEICO again has the edge, with policies about $350 per month cheaper than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or GEICO Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance companies offering great prices for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

It's no secret secret that tickets and collisions lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Encompass or GEICO -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with spotty 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 GEICO normally raises rates around $35 per month, on average.

That being said, GEICO tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save about $112 a month and drivers with a ticket can save around $138 per month with GEICO.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Encompass increasing by over $100. GEICO has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay $85 more than you were prior to your first accident.

Overall, the less expensive rates come from GEICO, with monthly premiums averaging $200 compared to Encompass Insurance's $328.

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 auto insurance bill -- typically a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. On average, Encompass will increase your prices about 78% after a DUI, while GEICO's average rates climb by just under 60%.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and GEICO Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly insurance premiums. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for quite a few drivers.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper prices, while those with poor credit will generally be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Encompass and GEICO, which company has the cheapest premiums for drivers 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 GEICO 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. Normally, the more miles you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure, GEICO offers more affordable premiums than Encompass. Encompass average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around $284 more expensive than GEICO. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay about $278 more with Encompass over GEICO.

Encompass vs. GEICO: 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 insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a substantial impact as well. Generally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

GEICO boasts the lowest average rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable premiums from both companies, but GEICO comes out on top with average prices around $159 a month. GEICO also has cheaper average premiums for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $349 and $249 a month respective difference when compared to Encompass policyholders in similar areas.

Encompass vs. GEICO 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 utilizing as many insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Encompass and GEICO so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Looking at the total number of discounts, GEICO comes out ahead with 28 discounts to Encompass's 26.

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and employee discounts -- but GEICO also offers commercial drivers license discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, deployed driver discounts, and more that Encompass does not.

On the flip side, Encompass has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, fire/fisher discounts, gated community discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or GEICO Best for You?

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

GEICO might be best for you if....

• You are considering moving to another state -- undefined only offers policies to residents.
• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your prices.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your insurance.

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 GEICO. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto 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 a handful of companies, not just Encompass and GEICO. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Encompass vs. GEICO FAQs

Is Encompass or GEICO cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, GEICO is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $185 per month compared to $466 for Encompass. Even so, GEICO won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for each policyholder, since there are several different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Encompass or GEICO?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Encompass and GEICO offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at many different variables when calculating the rates they charge drivers. Things such as 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 GEICO calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car 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 area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Encompass or GEICO 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.