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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, National General offers significantly cheaper rates than Encompass
• Encompass has more affordable prices for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record
• National General offers more affordable rates for couples purchasing car insurance together

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

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

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Encompass or National General, but which company will save you the most?

As you can see, Encompass has average rates that are about 45% per month more expensive than those from National General when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

However, that doesn't mean National General will necessarily be less expensive than Encompass for every single driver. Auto insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like how old you are, where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, and all sorts of other factors, so prices could change drastically from person to person.

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

Encompass or National General: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and National General only compete against each other in Texas, where Encompass offers the cheaper average rates. For Texas residents, Encompass offers insurance for $178 monthly on average. National General's average premiums come out to be over 30% more expensive, at $249 per month.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance prices than just the state you live in. Read on 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 out there 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.

But 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 National General over Encompass. It's worth noting that Encompass offers car insurance in 31 different states compared to National General's one, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

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

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the lowest auto insurance rates out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally reduces their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Encompass and National General? National General gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older more than 45% cheaper than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance prices than married drivers. That's usually because married policyholders tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, National General is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates around $274 per month more affordable than Encompass, on average. The advantage is also clear for married couples - National General offers the most affordable average premiums.

Encompass vs. National General: Average Rates by Gender

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

On average, women see rates nearly $25 a month less expensive with Encompass, while with National General, the difference is closer to $16 per month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, National General offers the cheapest average prices for both men and women. On average, women save about $213 a month and men save about $220 with National General compared to the average Encompass policyholder.

Encompass or National General: 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, car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are a range of different coverages that account for many different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

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 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, National General generally offers significantly more affordable premiums of $151 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, National General again has the edge, with policies around $300 per month cheaper than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or National General Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance companies offering great rates for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and at-fault collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest premiums to drivers with less-than-ideal driving 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 National General typically raises rates about $20 per month, on average.

That being said, National General tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering premiums that are 29% and 37% less expensive, 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 30%, while those who have insurance through National General will see around a 65% increase.

Overall, the cheaper premiums come from Encompass, with monthly rates averaging $328 compared to National General Insurance's $472.

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 ticket or even an accident. On average, Encompass will climb your prices about 78% after a DUI, while National General's average rates increase by over 10%.

National General has the overall most affordable prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $183 a month, but it's worth noting that Encompass's average rates come from 31 states compared to just one for National General, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and National General Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly insurance premiums. This isn't always the case (for example, California and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect several policyholders out there.

The reasoning car insurance companies use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so normally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive prices.

So, which carrier offers the cheapest premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with National General. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save more than 40% compared to Encompass, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $173 or 44% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

National General typically offers lower rates than Encompass when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $208 a month less with National General compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around $337 per month.

Is Encompass or National General 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 considerable impact on your monthly prices? Generally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive rates since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision 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 National General charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Encompass, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car annually paying about $2 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, National General is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you call home can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Typically, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, National General usually comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, National General Insurance's average rates are around $298 less than Encompass Insurance. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $193 less with National General compared to Encompass. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around $160 with National General compared to Encompass.

Encompass vs. National General Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Encompass and National General offer their customers so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

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

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and discounts for getting driver training. Encompass also offers ABS discounts, distant student discounts, DRL discounts, and more that National General does not.

On the flip side, National General has a couple unique discounts of its own -- low mileage discounts and vehicle brand discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or National General Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables auto insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the best carrier for you and your specific needs?

National General might be best for you if....

• Your credit is below-average.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- National General Insurance only offers policies to Texas residents.
• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• You care about discounts (Encompass offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Encompass and National General 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 car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Encompass and National General. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do 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. National General FAQs

Is Encompass or National General cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, National General is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $249 per month compared to $466 for Encompass. But National General won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are multiple different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Encompass or National General?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for each driver -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, Encompass offers less expensive rates for policyholders with an at-fault accident on their record, while National General is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Encompass and National General offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at lots of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Things such as where you park your vehicle, where your home is, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Encompass and National General use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company 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 makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Encompass or National General 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.