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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Meemic offers significantly more affordable premiums than Encompass
• Encompass offers more discounts than Meemic Insurance Company
• Meemic offers less expensive average prices for residents of rural areas

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Encompass or Meemic as your top options, but which company will offer you more affordable premiums?

Looking at nationwide averages, Meemic is quite a bit cheaper than Encompass, with rates averaging $281 per month compared to $466 with Encompass.

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

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Encompass and Meemic by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Encompass or Meemic: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Meemic only compete against each other in Michigan, where Meemic offers the cheaper average premiums. For Michigan residents, Meemic offers auto insurance for $281 a month on average. Encompass's average prices come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $490 per month.

But there's more to calculating insurance premiums than just the state you live in. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for car insurance than any group on the road. It's generally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $500 less a month by choosing Meemic over Encompass. It's worth noting that Encompass offers car insurance in 31 different states compared to Meemic's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Encompass policyholders reduce over $500 and Meemic's rates drop about $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the lowest auto insurance prices you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

When looking at Encompass and Meemic specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Meemic gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $279 monthly compared to Encompass's $335.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly cheaper car insurance premiums than single policyholders. That's because policies for married drivers typically cover several cars, which several companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Meemic is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices about $275 per month more affordable than Encompass, on average. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Meemic offers the most affordable average premiums.

Encompass vs. Meemic: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance carriers will tend to charge men more than women.

On average, men see rates around 5% a month higher with Encompass; and with Meemic, both genders end up paying the same monthly rate.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, Meemic comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 41% less for men and 38% cheaper for women.

Encompass or Meemic: 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

But most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Meemic normally offers significantly cheaper premiums of $201 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Meemic again has the edge, with policies about $250 per month less expensive than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or Meemic 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with at-fault collisions and tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest rates to 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 a month if they get a ticket, while Meemic usually raises prices around $100 per month, on average.

That being said, Meemic tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket -- their rates are around 22% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 4% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Encompass drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums rise by over 30%, while those who have insurance through Meemic will see about a 30% increase.

Overall, drivers who use Meemic end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $250 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 accident or ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, Encompass increases average rates by over $500 a month -- that's just under a 80% increase.

Meemic has the overall cheapest prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $421 per month, but it's worth noting that Encompass's average rates come from 31 states compared to just one for Meemic, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Meemic Rates?

Did you know that many insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (for example, California and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for a lot of policyholders.

Car 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 specifically at Encompass and Meemic, which carrier has the most affordable premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Michigan is one of a small number of states that bans auto insurance carriers from using credit scores to calculate rates. And since Meemic is only available in Michigan, there is no data available on how credit score impacts premiums because it's not a factor at all. This may be a good thing, since Encompass and other companies tend to raise prices quite a bit in other states if you don't have excellent credit.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have less-than-perfect credit and live in Michigan, the good news is it won't cost you extra when it comes to insurance. As you can see, poor credit can really cost Encompass drivers in other states, but no need to worry if you live in Michigan.

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

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car, the less likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Meemic charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Encompass, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles yearly paying around $2 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, Meemic is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

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

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a sizable impact as well. Generally, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the road in those areas, which reduces the chances of an accident.

Meemic boasts the most affordable average prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Meemic offers rates about $322 monthly compared to Encompass's $560. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $273 per month for Meemic and $434 for Encompass. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest premiums from both carriers, with average monthly prices coming in at $248 and $404 for Meemic and Encompass respectively.

Encompass vs. Meemic 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.

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

Below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Encompass and Meemic so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Encompass blows Meemic away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 26 different discounts to Meemic's eight.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like employee discounts, discounts for being a good student, and paid in full discounts. Encompass also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, distant student discounts, and more that Meemic does not.

Meemic's discounts come through just a few categories, including Anti-Theft, Defensive Driver, Employee Discount, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Meemic Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Encompass or Meemic the right carrier for you and your specific needs?

Meemic might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• 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 -- Meemic Insurance Company is only available in Michigan.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Encompass and Meemic. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your 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 a handful of carriers, not just Encompass and Meemic. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Encompass vs. Meemic FAQs

Is Encompass or Meemic cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Meemic is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $281 a month compared to $466 for Encompass. However, Meemic won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for each driver, since there are several different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Encompass or Meemic?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Encompass and Meemic offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when determining the prices they charge drivers. Things such as age, where your home is, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Encompass and Meemic calculate rates differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see 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 Meemic is right for me?

The only way to find the auto 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 does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information 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 carrier for you might not be Encompass or Meemic 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.