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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, National Mutual offers significantly less expensive prices than Encompass
• Encompass may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than National Mutual Insurance
• National Mutual tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods

Encompass or National Mutual: 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 National Mutual for your next policy, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

As you can see, National Mutual is quite a bit cheaper than Encompass, with premiums averaging $201 a month compared to $466 with Encompass when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

But National Mutual may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Insurance carriers vary their prices depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, where you live, how old you are, and a ton of other factors, so rates will change quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Encompass or National Mutual is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each company broken down by many different rate factors.

Encompass vs. National Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and National Mutual only compete against each other in two states, with Encompass offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Indiana, Encompass is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at the overall average prices. National Mutual is the less expensive option in Ohio.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance payment than just where you call home. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for auto insurance than any group out there on the road. It's typically because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 60% less per month by choosing National Mutual over Encompass. It's worth noting that Encompass offers insurance in 31 different states compared to National Mutual's three, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your rates lower significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Encompass policyholders drop around $500 and National Mutual's premiums decrease about $300 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? National Mutual gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older around 60% more affordable than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance premiums than married couples. This usually boils down to married drivers having multiple vehicles on their policy -- something quite a few insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with National Mutual premiums coming in at about 60% less than Encompass's. The advantage for married policyholders with National Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save more than $150 a month.

Encompass or National Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but men typically pay more for auto insurance than women do. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and get tickets, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

Usually, women see rates around 5% per month less with Encompass, but with National Mutual, the difference is closer to 10% a month.

Looking at overall affordability, National Mutual offers the most affordable average premiums for both men and women. On average, women save about $263 per month and men save about $265 with National Mutual compared to the average Encompass policyholder.

Encompass vs. National Mutual: 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 lots of different coverages that account for a variety of 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 that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, National Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $94. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, National Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging around $308 a month to Encompass's $629.

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

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their 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 at-fault accidents and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Encompass for their car insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 21% after getting a speeding ticket. National Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 8%.

However, National Mutual tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records, offering premiums that are 42% and 51% 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 rates climb by over 30%, while those who have insurance through National Mutual will see about a 35% increase.

At the end of the day, National Mutual offers the cheapest prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average premiums coming in at $207 compared to Encompass Insurance's $328.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly insurance bill -- usually a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. Encompass drivers usually see a 78% climb in their auto insurance rates after a DUI charge, while National Mutual will generally increase prices by around 60%.

National Mutual has the overall most affordable rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $325 a month, but it's worth noting that Encompass's average rates come from 31 states compared to just three for National Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and National Mutual Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when carriers determine your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (for example, Massachusetts and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect lots of policyholders out there.

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

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, National Mutual will generally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, National Mutual comes in nearly 64 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save about 59% with National Mutual compared to average prices from Encompass.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

National Mutual typically offers lower rates than Encompass when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 53% per month less with National Mutual compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about 54% per month.

Is Encompass or National Mutual 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 car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper premiums since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

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

Encompass or National Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a substantial role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Generally, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers since there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, National Mutual typically comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, National Mutual Insurance's average prices are about 62% less than Encompass Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay around 54% less with National Mutual compared to Encompass. Those in rural areas can expect to save about 53% with National Mutual compared to Encompass.

Encompass vs. National Mutual Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem hard to find all the of the ones you qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Encompass and National Mutual so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Encompass blows National Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering seven more discounts than National Mutual.

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, EFT discounts, and paid in full discounts -- but Encompass also offers discounts for ABS, distant student, DRL, and more.

On the other hand, National Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like claim free discounts, continuous insurance discounts, education discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or National Mutual 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 company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which carrier is the best carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower rates.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national car insurance company.
• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Encompass and National Mutual. 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 auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Encompass and National Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Encompass vs. National Mutual FAQs

Is Encompass or National Mutual cheaper?

National Mutual is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $201 a month with National Mutual and $466 for Encompass. But that doesn't mean National Mutual will be the lowest company for every policyholder, since there are a bunch of different factors that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, Encompass or National Mutual?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Encompass and National Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use a lot of different variables when determining the premiums they charge. Factors such as age, gender, your driving record, where you park your car, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Encompass and National Mutual calculate rates using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier 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, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Encompass or National Mutual 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.