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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Safe Auto offers significantly more affordable rates than Encompass
• Encompass offers more discounts than Safe Auto
• Safe Auto offers less expensive average prices for couples purchasing auto insurance together

Encompass vs. Safe Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering Encompass or Safe Auto, but which carrier has cheaper premiums for insurance?

As you can see, Safe Auto has average rates that are about 50% per month less expensive than those from Encompass when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

However, Safe Auto may not be the most affordable or best option for each driver out there. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your age, where you call home, your driving record, or even your credit score (among other things). So, at the end of the day, prices from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Encompass and Safe Auto by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Encompass or Safe Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Safe Auto compete against each other in 11 states, with Safe Auto offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all but one of them. If you live in Texas, Encompass is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at the overall average premiums, but Safe Auto 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 where you call home. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for insurance than any group on the road. Normally, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $500 less a month by choosing Safe Auto over Encompass.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your rates reduce significantly by the time drivers turn 25. Safe Auto offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Encompass's average prices lower over 65% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the cheapest 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 premiums for car insurance.

When looking at Encompass and Safe Auto specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Safe Auto gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $156 less expensive than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance premiums are typically cheaper for married policyholders than they are for those who are single? That's usually because married couples tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Safe Auto is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates around $313 per month more affordable than Encompass, on average. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Safe Auto offers the lowest average prices.

Encompass vs. Safe Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women normally pay less for auto insurance than men? This is because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, which raises the chances of an insurance claim.

On average, women see rates nearly $25 a month less expensive with Encompass, and more than $15 cheaper with Safe Auto when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at overall affordability, Safe Auto offers the cheapest average premiums for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $246 per month and women save about $240 with Safe Auto compared to the average Encompass policyholder.

Encompass or Safe Auto: 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 so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

Even so, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Safe Auto typically offers significantly more affordable rates of $126 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Safe Auto again has the edge, with policies around $300 a month cheaper than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or Safe Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

It's no secret secret that accidents and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Encompass or Safe Auto -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Encompass policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $61 per month if they get a ticket, while Safe Auto generally raises prices about $40 a month, on average.

However, Safe Auto has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are $47 and $68 cheaper, respectively, compared to Encompass Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Encompass can expect to see around an $101 -- or about 31% -- increase in their auto insurance prices. Drivers who use Safe Auto for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $66 (or 27%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their auto insurance company.

Overall, Safe Auto offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $246 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 speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. On average, Encompass will increase your prices about 78% after a DUI, while Safe Auto's average rates rise by over 25%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Safe Auto tends to be the much more affordable option with average rates of $245 a month compared to 1020 from Encompass.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Safe Auto Rates?

Did you know that many insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating prices? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect several drivers out there.

Car insurance carriers argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Safe Auto. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save more than 45% compared to Encompass, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $174 or 44% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Safe Auto typically offers lower prices than Encompass when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $240 per month less with Safe Auto compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around $395 monthly.

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

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a considerable impact on how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage? That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to get into an accident 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 Safe Auto charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Encompass, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles yearly paying about $2 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Safe Auto is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Encompass vs. Safe Auto: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a substantial impact as well. Usually, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers because there are a lot more cars on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

Safe Auto tends to offer the cheapest premiums for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable rates from both carriers, but Safe Auto comes out on top with average prices around $197 per month. Safe Auto also has less expensive average rates for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $289 and $234 a month respective difference when compared to Encompass policyholders in similar areas.

Encompass vs. Safe Auto Discounts

Regardless of 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 possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as you can.

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

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Encompass and Safe Auto offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Encompass knocks Safe Auto out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 12 more discounts than Safe Auto.

Both companies offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a homeowner, and military discounts -- but Encompass also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, distant student discounts, and more that Safe Auto does not.

On the flip side, Safe Auto has a couple unique discounts of its own -- agency transfer discounts, claim free discounts, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Safe Auto Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your auto 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 best one for you and your specific driver profile?

Safe Auto might be best for you if....

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in a collision in the last few years.
• You have above-average credit.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (Encompass offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Encompass and Safe Auto and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just Encompass and Safe Auto. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Encompass vs. Safe Auto FAQs

Is Encompass or Safe Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Safe Auto is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $223 per month compared to $466 for Encompass. That being said, Safe Auto won't necessarily be the lowest company for every policyholder, since there are lots of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Encompass or Safe Auto?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Encompass and Safe Auto offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at lots of different variables when determining the prices they charge drivers. Factors like age, where you call home, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Encompass and Safe Auto calculate premiums using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see 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 Safe Auto 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, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once 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 best premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Encompass or Safe Auto 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.