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

Quick Facts

• In general, Maryland Automobile offers significantly less expensive rates than Encompass
• Encompass may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund
• Maryland Automobile offers more affordable premiums for single people who will be the only person on the auto insurance policy

Encompass or Maryland Automobile: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering Encompass or Maryland Automobile, but between the two, which one has cheaper rates for insurance?

As you can see, Maryland Automobile has average rates that are around 45% a month more affordable than those from Encompass when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

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

Wanting to know if Encompass or Maryland Automobile is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Encompass vs. Maryland Automobile: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Maryland Automobile only compete against each other in Maryland, where Encompass offers the cheaper average prices. Encompass drivers tend to pay about $34 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Maryland Automobile for their insurance.

But there's more to calculating car insurance rates than just the state you live in. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance premiums of any other group of drivers. 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.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance prices. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Maryland Automobile for their insurance pay over 65% less than those who use Encompass. It's worth noting that Encompass offers car insurance in 31 different states compared to Maryland Automobile's one, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Encompass policyholders decrease about $500 and Maryland Automobile's premiums reduce more than $100 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the cheapest auto insurance rates you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally lowers their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise premiums.

So, which carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? Maryland Automobile gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $224 monthly compared to Encompass's $335.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance rates than married couples. This usually boils down to married drivers having several vehicles on their policy -- something lots of car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

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

Encompass or Maryland Automobile: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, they run a lower risk of filing a claim with insurance. So, insurance carriers will tend to charge women less than men.

Normally, women see prices around $25 a month cheaper with Encompass, and about $15 with Maryland Automobile.

Looking at overall affordability, Maryland Automobile comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums $213 less for men and $207 cheaper for women.

Encompass vs. Maryland Automobile: 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, auto insurance can be pretty complicated. There are several different coverages that account for multiple different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Maryland Automobile has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $168. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Maryland Automobile again has the edge, with policies averaging around $343 per month to Encompass's $629.

Is Encompass or Maryland Automobile 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with accidents and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable premiums to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Maryland Automobile 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 about a quarter.

That being said, Maryland Automobile has more affordable rates for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are 3% and 24% cheaper, respectively, compared to Encompass Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Encompass drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices climb by over $100, while those who have insurance through Maryland Automobile will see around a $60 increase.

At the end of the day, the less expensive rates come from Maryland Automobile, with average prices coming in at $281 compared to Encompass Insurance's $328.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even an accident. On average, Encompass will increase your premiums about 78% after a DUI, while Maryland Automobile's average prices increase by more than 25%.

Maryland Automobile has the overall cheapest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $301 per month, but it's worth noting that Encompass's average rates come from 31 states compared to just one for Maryland Automobile, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Maryland Automobile Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly auto insurance premiums. This isn't true for everyone (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an auto insurance factor) but it will come into play for many policyholders.

The reasoning insurance carriers use is that drivers 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 typically be forced to pay more.

So, which company offers the lowest rates for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Maryland Automobile will usually reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Maryland Automobile comes in over 26.86 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save around 35% with Maryland Automobile compared to average premiums from Encompass.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Maryland Automobile typically offers lower rates than Encompass when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 46% a month less with Maryland Automobile compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around 60% a month.

Is Encompass or Maryland Automobile 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 prices? That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Maryland Automobile charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Encompass, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $2 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, for drivers in both categories, Maryland Automobile is the less expensive carrier.

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

Where your home is can have a big impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Usually, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers since there are a lot fewer cars on the roads where they live.

Maryland Automobile tends to offer the cheapest premiums for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund's average prices are around $152 less than Encompass Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay about $237 less with Maryland Automobile compared to Encompass. Those in rural areas can expect to save around $242 with Maryland Automobile compared to Encompass.

Encompass vs. Maryland Automobile Discounts

No matter 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 you can, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Encompass and Maryland Automobile so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Encompass blows Maryland Automobile away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 24 more discounts than Maryland Automobile.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Encompass also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, anti-theft, and more.

Maryland Automobile's discounts come through just two categories -- Good Driving and Paid In Full.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Maryland Automobile Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which carrier is the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Maryland Automobile might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• You have less-than-stellar credit.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund only offers policies in MD.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Encompass and Maryland Automobile. 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 best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Encompass and Maryland Automobile. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Encompass vs. Maryland Automobile FAQs

Is Encompass or Maryland Automobile cheaper?

Maryland Automobile is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $256 per month with Maryland Automobile and $466 for Encompass. But that doesn't mean Maryland Automobile will be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are many different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Encompass or Maryland Automobile?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Encompass and Maryland Automobile offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use a lot of different variables when determining the prices they charge. Factors like age, gender, your driving record, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Encompass and Maryland Automobile calculate premiums using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies 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 area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Encompass or Maryland Automobile 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.