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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Encompass offers significantly less expensive prices than Hanover
• Encompass offers more affordable rates for policyholders who have a clean driving record, free of collisions, tickets, or DUIs
• Hanover tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers with a DUI

Encompass or Hanover: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering huge savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Encompass or Hanover, but which carrier has more affordable prices for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Hanover has average rates that are around 45% a month more expensive than those from Encompass.

Even so, that doesn't mean Encompass will necessarily be less expensive than Hanover for every driver. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every 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, premiums from each carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Encompass vs. Hanover: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Hanover compete against each other in six states, with Encompass offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. Illinois has the most noticable difference, where Encompass premiums are 1182 less expensive than insurance rates at Hanover.

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. Normally, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance premiums. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 40% less per month by choosing Encompass over Hanover.

But both companies will lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Encompass policyholders decrease more than 65% and Hanover's rates reduce over 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Encompass and Hanover specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Encompass gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $278 more affordable than the national average for Hanover.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly cheaper auto insurance premiums than single policyholders. That's because policies for married couples usually cover multiple vehicles, which lots of carriers will give you a discount for.

For single drivers, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Encompass premiums coming in at about half of Hanover's. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Encompass offers the lowest average prices.

Encompass or Hanover: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men generally pay more for car insurance than women? That's because women are less likely to get tickets and get into collisions, which lowers the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Usually, men see rates around $25 a month higher with Encompass, but with Hanover, the difference is closer to $60 per month.

Looking at overall affordability, Encompass offers the cheapest average premiums for both men and women. On average, women save about $369 a month and men save about $406 with Encompass compared to the average Hanover policyholder.

Encompass vs. Hanover: 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 limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

That being said, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which usually refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Encompass has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $302. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Encompass again has the edge, with policies averaging around $629 per month to Hanover's 1196.

Is Encompass or Hanover Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their car insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

Speeding tickets and at-fault accidents will most likely raise your rates, but is Encompass or Hanover less expensive for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Encompass for their auto insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Hanover policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 26%.

Even so, Encompass has cheaper prices for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are 63% and 66% more affordable, respectively, compared to Hanover Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Encompass drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates increase by over $100, while those who have insurance through Hanover will see about a $350 increase.

At the end of the day, the cheaper prices come from Encompass, with average rates coming in at $328 compared to Hanover Insurance's $943.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, Encompass increases average premiums by more than $500 a month -- that's nearly a 80% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Hanover tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around 1013 to Encompass's 1020.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Hanover Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly auto insurance premiums. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an auto insurance factor, but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

Insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time every month, which raises the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

So, which company offers the lowest prices for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Encompass or Hanover 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 premiums. Typically, those who drive less will end up with less expensive prices since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

Encompass tends to be the more affordable option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Encompass's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about 45% less expensive than Hanover. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay around 45% less with Encompass over Hanover.

Encompass or Hanover: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can have a substantial impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Usually, 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.

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

Those in rural areas can expect to save about $346 with Encompass compared to Hanover. People who live in suburban areas pay around $408 less with Encompass compared to Hanover. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Encompass Insurance's average premiums are about $406 less than Hanover Insurance.

Encompass vs. Hanover Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many car insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Encompass and Hanover so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Encompass has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Hanover offers a grand total of 21 discounts, while Encompass has 26.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, distant student discounts, and EFT discounts. Encompass also offers discounts for employee discount, fire/fisher, gated community, and more.

On the other hand, Hanover has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like annual mileage discounts, education discounts, experienced operator discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Hanover Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the best fit for you?

Encompass might be best for you if....

• You have a clean driving record, free of collisions, tickets, or DUIs.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

Hanover might be best for you if...

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Encompass and Hanover. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Encompass and Hanover. 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 carriers in your area, all for free.

Encompass vs. Hanover FAQs

Is Encompass or Hanover cheaper?

Encompass is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $466 per month with Encompass and $853 for Hanover. However, that doesn't mean Encompass will be the lowest carrier for each policyholder, since there are several different variables that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, Encompass or Hanover?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Encompass and Hanover offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use several different factors when determining the premiums they charge. Variables like age, your driving record, where you live, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Encompass and Hanover use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Encompass or Hanover at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.