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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Root offers significantly less expensive premiums than Encompass
• Encompass may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Root Insurance
• Root offers more affordable average rates for policyholders who live in urban areas

Encompass or Root: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering sizable savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed your search down to Encompass or Root as your top options, but which one will offer you less expensive prices?

As you can see, Encompass has average rates that are around 85% a month more expensive than those from Root when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

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

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

Encompass vs. Root: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Root only compete against each other in Arizona, where Root offers the cheaper average prices. Root drivers tend to pay about $165 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Encompass for their auto insurance.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance cost than just where you call home. 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 other group of drivers out there on the road. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance rates. As you can see above, teens who use Root save over 90% a month compared to those who use Encompass. It's worth noting that Encompass offers insurance in 31 different states compared to Root's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

But both companies will reduce prices by the time drivers turn 25. Root offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Encompass's average premiums lower more than 65% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Encompass and Root? Root gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older almost 85% cheaper than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance rates are generally more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married drivers? This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something many car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with Root prices coming in at about a quarter of Encompass's. The advantage for married couples with Root is also obvious, where drivers save around $250 per month.

Encompass or Root: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but insurance is typically cheaper for women than it is for men. That's because men are more likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, which increases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Normally, men see rates about $25 a month higher with Encompass, and around $2 with Root.

Looking at overall affordability, Root comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices $411 less for men and $390 cheaper for women.

Encompass vs. Root: 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 can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

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

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Root has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $46. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Root again has the edge, with policies averaging about $84 per month to Encompass's $629.

Is Encompass or Root 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 speeding tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest prices to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Encompass for their auto insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up around 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Root policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 15%.

That being said, Root has less expensive premiums for drivers in both categories. With Root Insurance, drivers with a clean record can save around $170 a month and drivers with a ticket can save about $221 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Encompass climbing by around 31%. Root has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay nearly 30% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, the more affordable prices come from Root, with average premiums coming in at $79 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 speeding ticket or even an accident. On average, Encompass will raise your rates about 78% after a DUI, while Root's average prices climb by 0%.

Root has the overall most affordable premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $57 monthly, but it's worth noting that Encompass's average rates come from 31 states compared to just one for Root, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Root 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 (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it will come into play for a lot of drivers.

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

So, which carrier offers the lowest rates for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, Root will normally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Root comes in just under 84.57 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save around 85% with Root compared to average prices from Encompass.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Root typically offers lower rates than Encompass when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 86% a month less with Root compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around 88% a month.

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

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on your monthly premiums. Generally, those who drive less will end up with less expensive prices 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 Root charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Encompass, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles annually paying about $2 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, for drivers in both categories, Root is the more affordable company.

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

Where your home is can have a big impact on your monthly insurance payment. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because of the number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

Root tends to offer the most affordable premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $346 with Root compared to Encompass. People who live in suburban areas pay about $374 less with Root compared to Encompass. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Root Insurance's average rates are around $483 less than Encompass Insurance.

Encompass vs. Root Discounts

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

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Encompass and Root 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 Root away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 21 more discounts than Root.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a good driver, discounts for being a homeowner, and paid in full discounts. Encompass also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, anti-theft, and more.

On the other hand, Root has a few proprietary discounts of their own like auto-steer discounts and paperless discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Root Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Root might be best for you if....

• You want to save money on your auto insurance after an accident.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles yearly.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- Root Insurance only offers policies to Arizona residents.
• You're looking for discounts -- Encompass has the most.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Encompass and Root. 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 a handful of companies, not just Encompass and Root. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Encompass vs. Root FAQs

Is Encompass or Root cheaper?

Root is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $65 per month with Root and $466 for Encompass. But that doesn't mean Root will be the lowest company for every policyholder, since there are many different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Encompass or Root?

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

Why do Encompass and Root offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use several different variables when determining the rates they charge. Things like where you live, where you park your vehicle, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Encompass and Root use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers 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 auto insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Encompass or Root 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.