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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Key offers significantly more affordable premiums than Encompass
• Encompass offers more discounts than Key Insurance Company
• Key offers more affordable rates for policyholders who have a clean record

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Encompass or Key as your top options, but which company has cheaper premiums for car insurance?

As you can see, Key is quite a bit cheaper than Encompass, with prices averaging $285 per month compared to $466 with Encompass when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

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

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

Encompass or Key: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Key only compete against each other in Nevada, where Key offers the cheaper average rates. For Nevada residents, Key offers auto insurance for $285 a month on average. Encompass's average prices come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $603 monthly.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance payment than just where you live. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance rates. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Key for their insurance pay more than $450 less than those who use Encompass. It's worth noting that Encompass offers car insurance in 31 different states compared to Key's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower prices once you turn 25. Key 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 reduce over 65% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Key gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $112 cheaper than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly more affordable auto insurance prices than those who are single. That's because policies for married policyholders normally cover several cars, which many companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Key is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums about $227 a month less expensive than Encompass, on average. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Key offers the lowest average rates.

Encompass vs. Key: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which means they'll typically end up paying more for insurance than women.

On average, men see prices nearly $25 per month higher with Encompass, and around $55 with Key.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Key comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average premiums 35% less for men and 43% cheaper for women.

Encompass or Key: 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. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

However, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Key usually offers significantly cheaper prices of $196 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Key again has the edge, with policies about $250 a month less expensive than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or Key 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 at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest rates to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Key insurance policies don't report seeing their prices increase after getting a ticket, but Encompass policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by around 20%.

Even so, Key tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 7% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 27% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Encompass increasing by over $100. Key has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay $25 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, Key offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly prices averaging $235 compared to Encompass Insurance's $328.

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 speeding ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. For example, Encompass increases average premiums by more than $500 per month -- that's just under a 80% increase.

Key has the overall most affordable rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $483 per month, but it's worth noting that Encompass's average rates come from 31 states compared to just one for Key, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Key Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect a lot of policyholders out there.

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

Looking at Encompass and Key specifically, which one has the best premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Key. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save nearly 20% compared to Encompass, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $111 or 28% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Key typically offers lower rates than Encompass when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $185 a month less with Key compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about $362 monthly.

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

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on your monthly premiums. Generally, those who drive less will end up with less expensive 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 Key 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 yearly. Still, Key is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

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

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

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Key generally comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about $170 with Key compared to Encompass. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $200 less with Key compared to Encompass. In urban areas, Key Insurance Company's average premiums are about $174 less than Encompass Insurance.

Encompass vs. Key Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? 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 difficult to find all the ones you can take advantage of or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Encompass and Key offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Encompass knocks Key out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 22 more discounts than Key.

Both companies offer several of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and passive restraint discounts -- but Encompass also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that Key does not.

On the flip side, Key has a unique discount of its own -- a multi-car discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Key Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, at the end of the day, is Encompass or Key the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Key might be best for you if....

• You want to save money on your car insurance after an accident.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You are considering moving to another state -- Key Insurance Company only offers policies to Nevada residents.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Encompass and Key and that you can now make a more informed 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 several companies, not just Encompass and Key. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Encompass vs. Key FAQs

Is Encompass or Key cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Key is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $285 per month compared to $466 for Encompass. However, Key won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for each driver, since there are a variety of different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Encompass or Key?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Encompass and Key offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at several different factors when determining the prices they charge policyholders. Things like gender, where your home is, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Encompass and Key use 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 multiple different companies.

How do I know if Encompass or Key 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 ZIP code 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 Key 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.