Encompass vs. South Carolina Farm Bureau: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, South Carolina Farm Bureau offers significantly cheaper rates than Encompass
• Encompass offers more discounts than South Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance
• South Carolina Farm Bureau offers more affordable average prices for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

Encompass vs. South Carolina Farm Bureau: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering pretty big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Encompass or South Carolina Farm Bureau for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier will offer you less expensive premiums?

As you can see, Encompass is quite a bit more expensive than South Carolina Farm Bureau, with rates averaging $466 per month compared to just $111 with South Carolina Farm Bureau when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

However, South Carolina Farm Bureau may not be the most affordable or best option for each driver out there. Auto insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how good your credit score is or where you live (among multiple other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Encompass and South Carolina Farm Bureau by a bunch of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Encompass or South Carolina Farm Bureau: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and South Carolina Farm Bureau only compete against each other in South Carolina, where South Carolina Farm Bureau offers the cheaper average rates. For South Carolina residents, South Carolina Farm Bureau offers car insurance for $111 a month on average. Encompass's average prices come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $365 monthly.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance cost than just where you live. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. That'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 rates, 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 South Carolina Farm Bureau over Encompass. It's worth noting that Encompass offers car insurance in 31 different states compared to South Carolina Farm Bureau's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Encompass policyholders reduce over 65% and South Carolina Farm Bureau's premiums decrease nearly 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Encompass and South Carolina Farm Bureau? South Carolina Farm Bureau gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at about $75 per month compared to Encompass's $335.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

When it comes to relationship status, South Carolina Farm Bureau is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices around $441 per month cheaper than Encompass, on average. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - South Carolina Farm Bureau has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Encompass vs. South Carolina Farm Bureau: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

Generally, women see premiums about 5% a month less with Encompass, while with South Carolina Farm Bureau, the difference is closer to 5% per month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, South Carolina Farm Bureau comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average prices $363 less for men and $346 cheaper for women.

Encompass or South Carolina Farm Bureau: 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 auto 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.

But most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which generally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, South Carolina Farm Bureau usually offers significantly more affordable rates of $78 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, South Carolina Farm Bureau again has the edge, with policies around $500 a month less expensive than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or South Carolina Farm Bureau 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 accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest premiums to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Encompass policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $61 per month if they get a ticket, while South Carolina Farm Bureau typically raises rates about $12 a month, on average.

Even so, South Carolina Farm Bureau has cheaper prices for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 58% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 63% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Encompass increasing by over $100. South Carolina Farm Bureau has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay $30 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, South Carolina Farm Bureau offers the cheapest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $125 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 car insurance bill -- usually a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. On average, Encompass will increase your rates around 78% after a DUI, while South Carolina Farm Bureau's average premiums increase by just under 20%.

South Carolina Farm Bureau has the overall lowest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $116 monthly, but it's worth noting that Encompass's average rates come from 31 states compared to just one for South Carolina Farm Bureau, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and South Carolina Farm Bureau Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly insurance prices. This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect several drivers out there.

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 company offers the best premiums for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with South Carolina Farm Bureau. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save nearly 80% compared to Encompass, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $302 or 76% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

South Carolina Farm Bureau typically offers lower rates than Encompass when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $360 per month less with South Carolina Farm Bureau compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about $483 per month.

Is Encompass or South Carolina Farm Bureau 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 auto insurance bill. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more 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 South Carolina Farm Bureau charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices 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, South Carolina Farm Bureau is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Encompass vs. South Carolina Farm Bureau: 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 insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a large impact as well. Normally, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

South Carolina Farm Bureau boasts the most affordable average prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, South Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance's average premiums are about $445 less than Encompass Insurance. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $331 less with South Carolina Farm Bureau compared to Encompass. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about $290 with South Carolina Farm Bureau compared to Encompass.

Encompass vs. South Carolina Farm Bureau Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to nail down the company 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 compared all of the different discounts offered by Encompass and South Carolina Farm Bureau so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Encompass blows South Carolina Farm Bureau away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 21 more discounts than South Carolina Farm Bureau.

Both carriers offer many of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for getting driver training, and multi-policy discounts -- but Encompass also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that South Carolina Farm Bureau does not.

South Carolina Farm Bureau's discounts come through just a few categories, including Defensive Driver, Distant Student, Driver Training, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or South Carolina Farm Bureau Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, when it comes down to it, which carrier is the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

South Carolina Farm Bureau might be best for you if....

• You like the personalized touch of a small, regional company.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You live in a rural area.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- South Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance is only available in South Carolina.
• You're looking for discounts -- Encompass has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Encompass and South Carolina Farm Bureau 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 auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Encompass and South Carolina Farm Bureau. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Encompass vs. South Carolina Farm Bureau FAQs

Is Encompass or South Carolina Farm Bureau cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, South Carolina Farm Bureau is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $111 a month compared to $466 for Encompass. That being said, South Carolina Farm Bureau won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for every driver, since there are a variety of different factors that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Encompass or South Carolina Farm Bureau?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Encompass and South Carolina Farm Bureau offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at quite a few different variables when calculating the rates they charge drivers. Factors such as where your home is, gender, where you park your car, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Encompass and South Carolina Farm Bureau use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

How do I know if Encompass or South Carolina Farm Bureau is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple 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 information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Encompass or South Carolina Farm Bureau 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.