Encompass vs. Main Street America: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Main Street America offers significantly less expensive rates than Encompass
• Encompass offers more discounts than Main Street America Insurance
• Main Street America has cheaper premiums for couples purchasing car insurance together

Encompass vs. Main Street America: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering considerable discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Encompass or Main Street America as your top options, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

As you can see, Encompass has average rates that are about 50% per month more expensive than those from Main Street America when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Main Street America will be the more affordable 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, where you call home, your age, or even your driving record (among other things), so rates will change quite a bit from person to person.

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

Encompass or Main Street America: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Main Street America compete against each other in four states, with Main Street America offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Virginia, Encompass is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at the overall average rates. Main Street America is the less expensive option in New York, Rhode Island, and South Carolina.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance cost than just the state you live in. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's usually because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $500 less a month by choosing Main Street America over Encompass.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. Main Street America offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Encompass's average premiums drop over 65% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the most affordable auto insurance rates you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for insurance.

When looking at Encompass and Main Street America specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Main Street America gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $181 monthly compared to Encompass's $335.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance prices tend to be cheaper for married policyholders than they are for single drivers. This usually boils down to married drivers having multiple cars on their policy -- something quite a few auto insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Main Street America is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums about $307 per month less expensive than Encompass, on average. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Main Street America offers the lowest average prices.

Encompass vs. Main Street America: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but men normally pay more for car insurance than women do. This is because women are less likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, which lowers the chances of an insurance claim.

Women typically pay nearly $25 a month less than men with Encompass, but surprisingly, with Main Street America, women usually pay around $6 per month more than men.

Looking at overall affordability, Main Street America comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums 53% less for men and 49% cheaper for women.

Encompass or Main Street America: 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 several different coverages that account for a range 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 property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and 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).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Main Street America generally offers significantly more affordable rates of $159 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Main Street America again has the edge, with policies about $350 a month less expensive than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or Main Street America 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.

Accidents and tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is Encompass or Main Street America cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Encompass policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $61 per month if they get a ticket, while Main Street America usually raises rates around $61 a month, on average.

Even so, Main Street America is normally the more affordable option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record. Drivers with a clean record can save about $52 per month and drivers with a ticket can save around $52 a month with Main Street America Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Encompass raising by over $100. Main Street America has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay $40 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the cheaper prices come from Main Street America, with monthly rates averaging $215 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 car insurance bill -- generally a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. Encompass drivers usually see a 78% increase in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Main Street America will normally raise rates by about 38%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Main Street America tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $283 per month compared to 1020 from Encompass.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Main Street America Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly insurance rates. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for many drivers.

Auto insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Main Street America and Encompass, which carrier has the most affordable premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Main Street America. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 70% compared to Encompass, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $259 or 65% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Main Street America typically offers lower rates than Encompass when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $291 per month less with Main Street America compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around $163 a month.

Is Encompass or Main Street America Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a pretty big impact on your monthly car insurance bill? Usually, the more miles you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure, Main Street America offers cheaper premiums than Encompass. Main Street America average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in just under $250 more affordable than Encompass. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay nearly $250 less with Main Street America over Encompass.

Encompass vs. Main Street America: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your vehicle can have a substantial impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Generally, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders due to the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Main Street America normally comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Main Street America offers rates about $264 per month compared to Encompass's $560. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $230 a month for Main Street America and $434 for Encompass. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest prices from both companies, with average monthly premiums coming in at $188 and $404 for Main Street America and Encompass respectively.

Encompass vs. Main Street America Discounts

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

The challenging 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 section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Encompass and Main Street America so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Encompass knocks Main Street America out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering eight more discounts than Main Street America.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Encompass also offers advance quote discounts, employee discounts, fire/fisher discounts, and more that Main Street America does not.

On the flip side, Main Street America has a couple unique discounts of its own -- mature driver discounts, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, new business discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Main Street America Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, when it comes down to it, is Encompass or Main Street America the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

Main Street America might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You are purchasing your auto insurance with a spouse.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national car insurance carrier.
• You're looking for discounts -- Encompass has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Encompass and Main Street America and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your 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 several carriers, not just Encompass and Main Street America. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Encompass vs. Main Street America FAQs

Is Encompass or Main Street America cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Main Street America is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $227 per month compared to $466 for Encompass. However, Main Street America won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each policyholder, since there are a bunch of different factors that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, Encompass or Main Street America?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

Why do Encompass and Main Street America offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at a lot of different variables when calculating the rates they charge policyholders. Things like gender, age, where you live, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Encompass and Main Street America calculate premiums using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

How do I know if Encompass or Main Street America is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Encompass or Main Street America 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.