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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Personal Service offers significantly cheaper prices than Encompass
• Encompass offers more discounts than Personal Service Insurance Company
• Personal Service offers more affordable rates for residents in New Jersey

Encompass vs. Personal Service: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for 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 might be considering Encompass or Personal Service, but between the two, which one has more affordable premiums for insurance?

As you can see, Encompass is quite a bit more expensive than Personal Service, with prices averaging $466 per month compared to just $325 with Personal Service when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean Personal Service will necessarily be less expensive than Encompass for every driver. Insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like where you live, how good your credit score is, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, and a variety of other factors, so premiums will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Encompass or Personal Service: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Personal Service only compete against each other in New Jersey, where Personal Service offers the cheaper average rates. For New Jersey residents, Personal Service offers auto insurance for $325 per month on average. Encompass's average premiums come out to be over 30% more expensive, at $433 a month.

But there's more to calculating insurance prices than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance rates of any other group of drivers out there on the road. It's typically 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 still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Personal Service for their auto insurance pay more than $500 less than those who use Encompass. It's worth noting that Encompass offers car insurance in 31 different states compared to Personal Service's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

But both carriers will offer you dramatically lower premiums once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Encompass policyholders reduce over $500 and Personal Service's prices lower about $300 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the cheapest auto insurance rates you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for insurance.

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Personal Service gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $231 monthly compared to Encompass's $335.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are generally cheaper for married drivers than they are for single drivers? This usually boils down to married couples having multiple cars on their policy -- something many auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Personal Service is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices about $202 a month more affordable than Encompass, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Personal Service is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 20% per month.

Encompass vs. Personal Service: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and file an insurance claim. That means when it comes to insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

On average, men see rates around 5% a month higher with Encompass, while with Personal Service, the difference is closer to 13% per month.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, Personal Service comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $152 a month and men save about $129 with Personal Service compared to the average Encompass policyholder.

Encompass or Personal Service: 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.

Car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are several different coverages that account for multiple different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Personal Service generally offers less expensive prices of $228 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Personal Service again has the edge, with policies around $200 per month cheaper than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or Personal Service Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and at-fault collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the most affordable rates to drivers with spotty 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 Personal Service usually raises premiums about $35 per month, on average.

That being said, Encompass is normally the less expensive option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering prices that are 12% and 2% more affordable, respectively, compared to Personal Service Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Encompass raising by over $100. Personal Service has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay $90 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, drivers who use Encompass end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $328 compared to Personal Service Insurance Company's $348.

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 -- typically a lot more than an accident or ticket. Encompass drivers usually see a 78% raise in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Personal Service will normally climb premiums by around 36%.

Personal Service has the overall lowest prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $400 per month, but it's worth noting that Encompass's average rates come from 31 states compared to just one for Personal Service, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Personal Service Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for lots of drivers.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper rates, while those with poor credit will generally be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums for drivers 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 Personal Service. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 25% compared to Encompass, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $84 or 21% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Personal Service typically offers lower prices than Encompass when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $125 a month less with Personal Service compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about $267 a month.

Is Encompass or Personal Service Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on your monthly insurance cost. That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

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

Encompass vs. Personal Service: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your vehicle can have a large impact on your monthly car insurance bill. Typically, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Personal Service generally comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable premiums from both carriers, but Personal Service comes out on top with average prices about $217 monthly. Personal Service also has more affordable average rates for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 28% and 18% per month respective difference when compared to Encompass drivers in similar areas.

Encompass vs. Personal Service Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as you can.

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Encompass and Personal Service offer their customers 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 Personal Service away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 16 more discounts than Personal Service.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Encompass also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, distant student discounts, and more that Personal Service does not.

On the flip side, Personal Service has a couple unique discounts of its own -- cellphone safety discounts, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, multi-car/single driver discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Personal Service Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which company is the best one for you and your specific needs?

Personal Service might be best for you if....

• You like the personalized touch of a small, regional carrier.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your insurance.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on your record.
• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Encompass and Personal Service. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Encompass and Personal Service. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Encompass vs. Personal Service FAQs

Is Encompass or Personal Service cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Personal Service is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $325 a month compared to $466 for Encompass. However, Personal Service won't necessarily be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are lots of different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Encompass or Personal Service?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile. For example, Encompass offers more affordable rates for policyholders with an at-fault accident on their record, while Personal Service is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Encompass and Personal Service offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at several different factors when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Variables such as age, gender, where you call home, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Encompass and Personal Service calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Encompass or Personal Service 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.