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

Quick Facts

• In general, North Star Mutual offers significantly cheaper premiums than Encompass
• Encompass may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than North Star Mutual
• North Star Mutual offers more affordable prices for policyholders who have a clean record

Encompass or North Star Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering huge savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Encompass or North Star Mutual for your next policy, but which carrier will offer you more affordable premiums?

Looking at nationwide averages, North Star Mutual is quite a bit cheaper than Encompass, with prices averaging $180 a month compared to $466 with Encompass.

Even so, that doesn't mean North Star Mutual will necessarily be less expensive than Encompass for each driver. Car insurance carriers use a ton of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how good your credit score is or how old you are (among quite a few other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Encompass and North Star Mutual by a bunch of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Encompass vs. North Star Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and North Star Mutual only compete against each other in one states, with North Star Mutual offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Minnesota has the most noticable difference, where North Star Mutual premiums are 1135 less expensive than auto insurance prices at Encompass.

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 calculate your rates. Read on 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. It's because teen 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 car insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have North Star Mutual for their insurance pay over 70% less than those who use Encompass.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your prices drop significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Encompass policyholders reduce more than 65% and North Star Mutual's rates decrease over 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the lowest car insurance premiums out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally decreases their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise prices.

When looking at Encompass and North Star Mutual specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? North Star Mutual gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $191 cheaper than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly more affordable auto insurance premiums than those who are single. That's typically because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with North Star Mutual prices coming in at around a third of Encompass's. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - North Star Mutual has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Encompass or North Star Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, they have a lower chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, women generally pay less for insurance than men.

Men usually pay about $25 per month more than women with Encompass, and around $4 more with North Star Mutual.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, North Star Mutual comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average premiums 62% less for men and 61% cheaper for women.

Encompass vs. North Star 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.

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 for you.

That being said, most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which normally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, North Star Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $65. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, North Star Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging about $295 a month to Encompass's $629.

Is Encompass or North Star 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.

It's no secret secret that accidents and speeding tickets lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Encompass or North Star Mutual -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Encompass for their car insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up around 21% after getting a speeding ticket. North Star Mutual policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 30%.

Even so, North Star Mutual tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket. With North Star Mutual, drivers with a clean record can save around $126 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $143 a month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Encompass can expect to see around an $101 -- or about 31% -- rise in their insurance rates. Drivers who use North Star Mutual for their car insurance will see a monthly bill around $73 (or 42%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance company.

At the end of the day, drivers who use North Star Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $174 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 collision or ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. Encompass drivers usually see a 78% raise in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while North Star Mutual will generally climb prices by about 66%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, North Star Mutual tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $299 to Encompass's 1020.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and North Star Mutual Rates?

Did you know many insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for lots of drivers.

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

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, North Star Mutual will usually reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, North Star Mutual comes in more than 61.14 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save about 62% with North Star Mutual compared to average rates from Encompass.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

North Star Mutual typically offers lower premiums than Encompass when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 62% per month less with North Star Mutual compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about 61% a month.

Is Encompass or North Star 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. That's because the more milage you put on your car each year, the more likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

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

Encompass or North Star Mutual: 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. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas due to the small number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

North Star Mutual boasts the most affordable average prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, North Star Mutual's average rates are about $352 less than Encompass Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay around $269 less with North Star Mutual compared to Encompass. Those in rural areas can expect to save about $238 with North Star Mutual compared to Encompass.

Encompass vs. North Star Mutual Discounts

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

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 broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Encompass and North Star Mutual so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Encompass blows North Star Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 20 more discounts than North Star Mutual.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Encompass also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, distant student, and more.

On the other hand, North Star Mutual has a proprietary discount of their own -- a family discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or North Star Mutual Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables car insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the right fit for you?

North Star Mutual might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the auto insurance policy.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's car insurance policy.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national insurance carrier.
• You care about discounts (Encompass offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Encompass and North Star Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car 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 multiple companies, not just Encompass and North Star Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Encompass vs. North Star Mutual FAQs

Is Encompass or North Star Mutual cheaper?

North Star Mutual is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $180 a month with North Star Mutual and $466 for Encompass. But that doesn't mean North Star Mutual will be the lowest company for each driver, since there are a range of different factors that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Encompass or North Star Mutual?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Encompass and North Star Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use quite a few different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Things such as where you call home, where you park your vehicle, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Encompass and North Star Mutual use different formulas, 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 companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier 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 area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Encompass or North Star 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.