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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Shelter offers significantly less expensive prices than Encompass
• Encompass offers more discounts than Shelter Insurance
• Shelter tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

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

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

You might have narrowed it down to Encompass or Shelter as your top options, but between the two, which company will offer you more affordable premiums?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Shelter has average rates that are about 55% per month less expensive than those from Encompass.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Shelter will be the cheaper option for every single driver. Insurance carriers vary their prices depending on things like how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, where you live, how old you are, and tons of other factors. So, at the end of the day, rates from each carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Encompass or Shelter is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Encompass or Shelter: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Shelter only compete against each other in three states, with Shelter offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. Kentucky has the most noticable difference, where Shelter premiums are over 70% less expensive than auto insurance rates at Encompass.

But there's more to car insurance than just the state you live in. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance companies calculate your prices. 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 generally pay a lot more for car insurance than any group on the road. Usually, 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 insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $500 less a month by choosing Shelter over Encompass.

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

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the most affordable auto insurance prices out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally reduces their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

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

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance rates are typically more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married policyholders? This usually boils down to married drivers having several cars on their policy -- something a lot of insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Shelter is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums around $328 per month more affordable than Encompass, on average. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Shelter offers the cheapest average rates.

Encompass vs. Shelter: Average Rates by Gender

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

With Encompass, men normally pay about 5% more a month than women., while with Shelter, the difference is closer to 11% per month.

Looking at overall affordability, Shelter comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $258 a month and men save around $256 with Shelter compared to the average Encompass policyholder.

Encompass or Shelter: 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.

Insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

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

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Shelter generally offers significantly cheaper premiums of $129 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Shelter again has the edge, with policies about $350 per month more affordable than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or Shelter 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest prices to 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 a month if they get a ticket, while Shelter normally raises prices around $39 per month, on average.

However, Shelter has less expensive premiums for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save about $85 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $107 per month with Shelter Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Encompass drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices climb by over 30%, while those who have insurance through Shelter will see about a 40% increase.

Overall, Shelter offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with monthly rates averaging $234 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 an accident. On average, Encompass will increase your premiums around 78% after a DUI, while Shelter's average rates increase by just under 50%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Shelter tends to be the much cheaper option with average premiums of $277 a month compared to 1020 from Encompass.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Shelter Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly car insurance rates. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for quite a few policyholders.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so typically, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive prices.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Encompass or Shelter 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 sizable impact on your monthly prices? Usually, those who drive less will end up with more affordable premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure, Shelter offers less expensive prices than Encompass. Shelter's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over 55% more affordable than Encompass. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay nearly 55% less with Shelter over Encompass.

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

Where you call home can have a big impact on your monthly insurance bill. Generally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

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

In urban areas, Shelter Insurance's average rates are about $325 less than Encompass Insurance. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $247 less with Shelter compared to Encompass. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about $201 with Shelter compared to Encompass.

Encompass vs. Shelter Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you qualify for.

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Encompass and Shelter so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Encompass knocks Shelter out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 16 more discounts than Shelter.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and paid in full discounts. Encompass also offers ABS discounts, distant student discounts, DRL discounts, and more that Shelter does not.

On the flip side, Shelter has a unique discount of its own -- a multi-car discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Shelter Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the right one for you and your specific needs?

Shelter might be best for you if....

• You have a clean driving record, free of accidents, tickets, or DUIs.
• You live in an suburban area.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Encompass and Shelter and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

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

Encompass vs. Shelter FAQs

Is Encompass or Shelter cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Shelter is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $208 a month compared to $466 for Encompass. That being said, Shelter won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for each policyholder, since there are many different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Encompass or Shelter?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Encompass and Shelter offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when calculating the rates they charge policyholders. Things such as age, where you live, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Encompass and Shelter calculate premiums differently, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies 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 area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers 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 Shelter 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.