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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Progressive offers significantly more affordable premiums than Encompass
• Progressive offers cheaper average prices for policyholders who may not have much of a commute
• Progressive tends to be a much less expensive option for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

Encompass vs. Progressive: 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 large discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Encompass or Progressive for your next policy, but which carrier will offer you more affordable rates?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Encompass has average rates that are about 60% per month more expensive than those from Progressive.

However, that doesn't mean Progressive will necessarily be cheaper than Encompass for every single driver. After all, insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, your age, where you call home, or even your driving record (among other things). So, at the end of the day, premiums from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Encompass and Progressive by several different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Encompass or Progressive: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Progressive compete against each other in 29 states, with Progressive offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. If you live in, undefined is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at the overall average premiums, but Progressive is the cheaper option in most of the others.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance bill than just your home state. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $500 less a month by choosing Progressive over Encompass.

But with both carriers, you'll see your rates lower significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Encompass policyholders reduce over 65% and Progressive's rates decrease nearly 70% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the lowest insurance prices you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for car insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Encompass and Progressive? Progressive gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older more than 60% cheaper than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married policyholders. That's usually because married couples tend to own and insure multiple cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Progressive is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices around $351 per month less expensive than Encompass, on average. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - Progressive has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Encompass vs. Progressive: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, which means they'll normally end up paying more for car insurance than women.

Typically, women see rates about 5% a month less with Encompass, and around 3% less with Progressive when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at overall affordability, Progressive offers the most affordable average premiums for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $294 per month and women save about $276 with Progressive compared to the average Encompass policyholder.

Encompass or Progressive: 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 insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different terms and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

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 and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Progressive typically offers significantly more affordable prices of $111 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Progressive again has the edge, with policies around $400 a month less expensive than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or Progressive 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.

Tickets and at-fault accidents will most likely raise your premiums, but is Encompass or Progressive cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Encompass policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $61 per month if they get a ticket, while Progressive normally raises prices about $31 a month, on average.

That being said, Progressive tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record -- their rates are around 34% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 38% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Encompass drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums rise by over 30%, while those who have insurance through Progressive will see around a 30% increase.

Overall, Progressive offers the cheapest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with monthly prices averaging $214 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 ticket. On average, Encompass will climb your premiums about 78% after a DUI, while Progressive's average rates climb by over 15%.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Progressive Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating prices? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for a lot of policyholders.

Auto insurance carriers argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking at Encompass and Progressive specifically, which company has the most affordable premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Encompass or Progressive 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 prices. Generally, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

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

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

Where you live can play a considerable role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas because of the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Progressive tends to offer the lowest rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Progressive offers premiums about $207 a month compared to Encompass's $560. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $179 per month for Progressive and $434 for Encompass. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable prices from both companies, with average monthly rates coming in at $154 and $404 for Progressive and Encompass respectively.

Encompass vs. Progressive 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 what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you can take advantage of.

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Encompass and Progressive so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Progressive blows Encompass away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering eight more discounts than Encompass.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, distant student discounts, and discounts for being a good driver. Progressive also offers advanced safety feature discounts, agency transfer discounts, continuous insurance discounts, and more that Encompass does not.

On the flip side, Encompass has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for getting driver training, employee discounts, fire/fisher discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Progressive Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Progressive might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing insurance by yourself.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" car insurance.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's auto insurance policy.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Encompass and Progressive and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to 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 a handful of companies, not just Encompass and Progressive. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Encompass vs. Progressive FAQs

Is Encompass or Progressive cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Progressive is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $180 a month compared to $466 for Encompass. Even so, Progressive won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every policyholder, since there are many different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Encompass or Progressive?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Encompass and Progressive offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at many different factors when determining the prices they charge drivers. Variables like where you park your vehicle, age, gender, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Encompass and Progressive calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Encompass or Progressive 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.