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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Metlife offers significantly less expensive rates than Encompass
• Encompass offers more affordable premiums for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision
• Metlife tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers who have below-average credit

Encompass or Metlife: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might be considering Encompass or Metlife for your next policy, but which carrier has more affordable prices for insurance?

As you can see, Metlife is quite a bit cheaper than Encompass, with premiums averaging $340 a month compared to $466 with Encompass when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

However, Metlife may not be the cheapest or best option for every single driver out there. Auto insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how old you are or how good your credit score is (among a bunch of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

Encompass vs. Metlife: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Metlife compete against each other in 29 states, with Encompass offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in, undefined is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at the overall average rates, but Metlife is the cheaper option in most of the others.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance cost than just where you call home. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for auto insurance than any group on the road. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance premiums. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 15% less per month by choosing Metlife over Encompass.

Even so, both carriers will decrease prices once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Encompass policyholders lower over 65% and Metlife's rates reduce more than 70% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the most affordable auto insurance prices you can find. 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.

When looking at Encompass and Metlife specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Metlife gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $130 cheaper than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance rates tend to be more affordable for married drivers than they are for single policyholders. That's because policies for married couples typically cover more than one vehicle, which several companies will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Metlife premiums coming in at a quarter less than Encompass's. The advantage for married policyholders with Metlife is also obvious, where drivers save around $100 a month.

Encompass or Metlife: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into accidents and get tickets, they run a lower risk of filing a claim with insurance. So, women tend to pay less for insurance than men.

With Encompass, men normally pay about $25 per month more than women, and around $28 more with Metlife.

Looking at overall affordability, Metlife comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $123 a month and women save about $128 with Metlife compared to the average Encompass policyholder.

Encompass vs. Metlife: 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.

Car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different terms and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

But most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Metlife has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $215. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Metlife again has the edge, with policies averaging around $466 per month to Encompass's $629.

Is Encompass or Metlife Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their auto insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and accidents lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- Encompass or Metlife -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Encompass for their insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Metlife policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 21%.

Even so, Metlife tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records, offering premiums that are $7 and $9 cheaper, respectively, compared to Encompass Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Encompass drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices increase by over $100, while those who have insurance through Metlife will see about a $150 increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Encompass end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $328 compared to MetLife's $368.

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

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Metlife Rates?

Did you know many car insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an auto insurance factor) but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

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 best rates for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Encompass or Metlife 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 your monthly prices. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car each year, the less likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Metlife tends to be the less expensive option. Metlife's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 27% cheaper than Encompass. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay about 27% less with Metlife over Encompass.

Encompass or Metlife: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a sizable impact as well. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas since there are a lot more vehicles on the roads where they live.

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

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $105 with Metlife compared to Encompass. People who live in suburban areas pay about $101 less with Metlife compared to Encompass. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, MetLife's average rates are around $171 less than Encompass Insurance.

Encompass vs. Metlife Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can. That's where car insurance discounts comes into play.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Encompass and Metlife offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Metlife knocks Encompass out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 10 more discounts than Encompass.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, EFT discounts, and discounts for being a good student. Metlife also offers discounts for AAA, academic, agency transfer, and more.

On the other hand, Encompass has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, driver training discounts, DRL discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Metlife Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the best fit for you?

Metlife might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the auto insurance policy.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You are purchasing your car insurance with a spouse.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You want to save money on your insurance after an accident.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Encompass and Metlife. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your car insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on auto insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple carriers, not just Encompass and Metlife. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. 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. Metlife FAQs

Is Encompass or Metlife cheaper?

Metlife is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $340 per month with Metlife and $466 for Encompass. However, that doesn't mean Metlife will be the lowest carrier for every driver, since there are many different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Encompass or Metlife?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Metlife is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Encompass offers more affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record.

Why do Encompass and Metlife offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use many different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Factors such as where you call home, where you live, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Encompass and Metlife use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Encompass or Metlife 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.