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

Quick Facts

• In general, Houston General offers significantly more affordable prices than Encompass
• Encompass offers more discounts than Houston General Insurance Exchange
• Houston General has less expensive rates for policyholders who may not have much of a commute

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

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Encompass or Houston General for your next policy, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

As you can see, Houston General has average rates that are about 65% per month cheaper than those from Encompass when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

However, Houston General may not be the cheapest or best option for every single driver out there. 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 all sorts of other factors, so rates could vary drastically from person to person.

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

Encompass or Houston General: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Houston General only compete against each other in Texas, where Houston General offers the cheaper average rates. For Texas residents, Houston General offers insurance for $160 per month on average. Encompass's average prices come out to be over 10% more expensive, at $178 monthly.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance payment than just where you call home. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for auto insurance than any group out there on the road. It's generally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Houston General 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 Houston General's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your rates decrease significantly once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Encompass policyholders lower over $500 and Houston General's prices drop nearly $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the most affordable auto insurance premiums out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually lowers their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Encompass and Houston General? Houston General gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older almost 70% more affordable than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly less expensive insurance premiums than single drivers. That's typically because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Houston General is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $388 per month cheaper than Encompass, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Houston General is also obvious, where drivers save more than 60% a month.

Encompass vs. Houston General: Average Rates by Gender

Women normally to pay less for car insurance than men. This is because men are more likely to get tickets and get into accidents, which increases the chances of an insurance claim.

On average, men see rates about 5% per month higher with Encompass, while with Houston General, the difference is closer to 7% a month.

Looking at overall affordability, Houston General comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average prices $311 less for men and $300 cheaper for women.

Encompass or Houston General: 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 can be pretty complicated. There are several different coverages that account for a bunch 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 injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Houston General generally offers significantly less expensive premiums of $83 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Houston General again has the edge, with policies around $400 per month cheaper than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or Houston General Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car 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 collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest rates to 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 Houston General usually raises prices about $37 per month, on average.

But Houston General has more affordable premiums for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around $116 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $140 per month with Houston General Insurance Exchange.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

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

Overall, the cheaper prices come from Houston General, with monthly rates averaging $233 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 -- generally a lot more than an accident or ticket. Encompass drivers usually see a 78% raise in their car insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Houston General will normally climb premiums by around 24%.

Houston General has the overall most affordable prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $147 a month, but it's worth noting that Encompass's average rates come from 31 states compared to just one for Houston General, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Houston General Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect lots of drivers out there.

The reasoning insurance companies use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so typically, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive premiums.

So, which carrier offers the best rates 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 Houston General. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 65% compared to Encompass, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $251 or 63% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Houston General typically offers lower premiums than Encompass when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $300 a month less with Houston General compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about $436 per month.

Is Encompass or Houston General 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 how much auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Generally, those who drive less will end up with cheaper prices since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

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

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

Where you live can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Houston General usually comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Houston General Insurance Exchange's average premiums are about 70% less than Encompass Insurance. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 66% less with Houston General compared to Encompass. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 59% with Houston General compared to Encompass.

Encompass vs. Houston General Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto 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.

The difficult part is finding all of the discounts you qualify for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Encompass and Houston General offer their customers so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Encompass knocks Houston General out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 26 different discounts to Houston General's eight.

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, distant student discounts, and discounts for being a good student -- but Encompass also offers defensive driver discounts, driver training discounts, DRL discounts, and more that Houston General does not.

On the flip side, Houston General has a unique discount of its own -- a excess vehicle discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Houston General Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables auto insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance company is the right company for you and your specific needs?

Houston General might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- Houston General Insurance Exchange only offers policies to Texas residents.
• You're looking for discounts -- Encompass has the most.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Encompass and Houston General and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Encompass and Houston General. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Encompass vs. Houston General FAQs

Is Encompass or Houston General cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Houston General is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $160 per month compared to $466 for Encompass. That being said, Houston General won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for each driver, since there are many different factors that are considered when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, Encompass or Houston General?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Encompass and Houston General offer me different rates?

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

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Encompass or Houston General 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.