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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Metromile offers significantly less expensive rates than Encompass
• Encompass offers more discounts than Metromile
• Metromile offers more affordable prices for policyholders who drive fewer than 12,000 miles yearly

Encompass vs. Metromile: 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 Metromile as your top options, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Metromile has average rates that are about 70% per month more affordable than those from Encompass.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean Metromile will be the cheaper option for every single driver. Insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on where you live 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 prices from both Encompass and Metromile by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Encompass or Metromile: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Metromile only compete against each other in Arizona, where Metromile offers the cheaper average premiums. For Arizona residents, Metromile offers auto insurance for $150 a month on average. Encompass's average rates come out to be over 50% more expensive, at $230 per month.

But there's more to car insurance than just where you live. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance companies determine your premiums. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance prices. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $500 less a month by choosing Metromile over Encompass. It's worth noting that Encompass offers insurance in 31 different states compared to Metromile's one, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, both carriers will drop premiums by the time drivers turn 25. Metromile offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Encompass's average rates decrease over 65% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the lowest auto 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.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Encompass and Metromile? Metromile gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older more than 60% less expensive than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance prices tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples. That's normally because married policyholders tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Metromile is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums around $398 per month more affordable than Encompass, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Metromile is also obvious, where drivers save over $200 a month.

Encompass vs. Metromile: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which means they'll usually end up paying more for car insurance than women.

With Encompass, men normally pay nearly $25 per month more than women, but surprisingly, with Metromile, men typically pay about $4 a month less than women.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Metromile offers the most affordable average rates for both men and women, with average prices $329 less for men and $302 cheaper for women.

Encompass or Metromile: 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Metromile generally offers significantly cheaper premiums of $99 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Metromile again has the edge, with policies around $450 per month less expensive than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or Metromile Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

Tickets and accidents will most likely raise your rates, but is Encompass or Metromile more affordable for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Encompass policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $61 a month if they get a ticket, while Metromile usually raises premiums about $33 per month, on average.

But Metromile has cheaper rates for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are $112 and $140 less expensive, 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 rates climb by over $100, while those who have insurance through Metromile will see around a $55 increase.

Overall, Metromile offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly prices averaging $171 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 a collision. On average, Encompass will raise your premiums about 78% after a DUI, while Metromile's average rates rise by over 30%.

Metromile has the overall lowest premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $167 monthly, but it's worth noting that Encompass's average rates come from 31 states compared to just one for Metromile, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Metromile Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (for example, are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect many policyholders out there.

Car insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which reduces the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which carrier offers the best rates for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Metromile typically offers lower premiums than Encompass when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $314 a month less with Metromile compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around $458 a month.

Is Encompass or Metromile 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 how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage. Generally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable rates since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident 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 Metromile charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Encompass, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles each year paying about $2 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Metromile is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Encompass vs. Metromile: 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 substantial impact as well. Usually, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas because of the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

Metromile tends to offer the most affordable prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Metromile offers rates around $209 monthly compared to Encompass's $560. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $121 per month for Metromile and $434 for Encompass. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest prices from both carriers, with average monthly premiums coming in at $120 and $404 for Metromile and Encompass respectively.

Encompass vs. Metromile 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 challenging to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you qualify for.

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Encompass and Metromile so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

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

Both companies offer a lot of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a good driver and multi-policy discounts -- but Encompass also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that Metromile does not.

On the flip side, Metromile has a couple unique discounts of its own -- online quote discounts and paperless discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Metromile Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors auto insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. But, at the end of the day, is Encompass or Metromile the right fit for you?

Metromile might be best for you if....

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on your record.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your insurance.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You are considering moving to another state -- Metromile only offers policies in Arizona.
• You care about discounts (Encompass offers the most).

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Encompass and Metromile and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your auto 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple companies, not just Encompass and Metromile. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Encompass vs. Metromile FAQs

Is Encompass or Metromile cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Metromile is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $150 a month compared to $466 for Encompass. That being said, Metromile won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for each policyholder, since there are many different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Encompass or Metromile?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Encompass and Metromile offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different factors when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Things such as your driving record, where you park your car, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Encompass and Metromile 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 a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Encompass or Metromile 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.