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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Patriot offers significantly cheaper rates than Encompass
• Encompass may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Patriot Insurance
• Patriot has less expensive premiums for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles every year

Encompass or Patriot: 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 large savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Encompass or Patriot, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Encompass has average rates that are around 60% a month more expensive than those from Patriot.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Patriot will be the more affordable option for every driver. Insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how old you are, where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, and tons of other factors. So, at the end of the day, rates from each company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Encompass vs. Patriot: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Patriot only compete against each other in one states, with Encompass offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. New Hampshire has the most noticable difference, where Encompass prices are $93 cheaper than auto insurance premiums at Patriot.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just your home state. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance prices of any group on the road. That's typically because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Patriot save over 65% per month compared to those who use Encompass. It's worth noting that Encompass offers insurance in 31 different states compared to Patriot's three, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both carriers will reduce rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Encompass policyholders decrease more than 65% and Patriot's prices lower over 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the most affordable car insurance rates out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Encompass and Patriot? Patriot gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at about $128 per month compared to Encompass's $335.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance prices tend to be more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having multiple vehicles on their policy -- something quite a few auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For those who are single, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with Patriot prices coming in at around a third of Encompass's. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Patriot offers the cheapest average premiums.

Encompass or Patriot: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which means they'll normally end up paying more for insurance than women.

Usually, women see rates about $25 a month more affordable with Encompass, and around $18 less with Patriot.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, Patriot comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average prices 58% less for men and 60% cheaper for women.

Encompass vs. Patriot: 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.

It's no secret that car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

Even so, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Patriot has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $80. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Patriot again has the edge, with policies averaging about $303 per month to Encompass's $629.

Is Encompass or Patriot 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.

Speeding tickets and at-fault collisions will most likely raise your prices, but is Encompass or Patriot cheaper for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

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

But Patriot has more affordable rates for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are $143 and $181 less expensive, respectively, compared to Encompass Insurance.

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 car insurance prices. Drivers who use Patriot for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $19 (or 18%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance company.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Patriot end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $103 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 ticket or even a collision. Encompass drivers usually see a 78% raise in their insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Patriot will typically climb prices by about 82%.

Patriot has the overall most affordable rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $472 a month, but it's worth noting that Encompass's average rates come from 31 states compared to just three for Patriot, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Patriot Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it will come into play for many drivers.

Car insurance carriers 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 best premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Patriot will normally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Patriot comes in nearly 54.29 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save around 57% with Patriot compared to average rates from Encompass.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Patriot typically offers lower prices than Encompass when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 60% a month less with Patriot compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around 62% monthly.

Is Encompass or Patriot 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 auto insurance cost. Usually, the more milage you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Patriot charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Encompass, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $2 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, Patriot is the more affordable company.

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

Where you call home can have a sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Typically, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers due to the number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

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

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Patriot Insurance's average rates are around 66% less than Encompass Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay about 54% less with Patriot compared to Encompass. Those in rural areas can expect to save around 55% with Patriot compared to Encompass.

Encompass vs. Patriot 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, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many car insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Encompass and Patriot so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Encompass blows Patriot away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 26 different discounts to Patriot's 11.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Encompass also offers discounts for ABS, anti-theft, driver training, and more.

On the other hand, Patriot has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like full coverage discounts, life policy discounts, multi-car discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Patriot Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the right one for you and your specific driver profile?

Patriot might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the insurance policy.
• You're looking for the best rates on liability only coverage.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- Patriot Insurance is only available in three states.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

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

Encompass vs. Patriot FAQs

Is Encompass or Patriot cheaper?

Patriot is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $191 per month with Patriot and $466 for Encompass. Even so, that doesn't mean Patriot will be the most affordable carrier for every driver, since there are lots of different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, Encompass or Patriot?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Encompass and Patriot offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use lots of different variables when determining the prices they charge. Things such as your driving record, age, gender, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Encompass and Patriot calculate rates differently, 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 bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if Encompass or Patriot 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, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Encompass or Patriot 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.