Encompass vs. Southern County Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Southern County Mutual offers significantly less expensive rates than Encompass
• Encompass offers more discounts than Southern County Mutual Insurance Company
• Southern County Mutual offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who may not have much of a commute

Encompass vs. Southern County Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Encompass or Southern County Mutual as potential options, but which one will save you the most?

As you can see, Encompass is quite a bit more expensive than Southern County Mutual, with prices averaging $466 per month compared to just $179 with Southern County Mutual when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

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

So, if you want to find out which of Encompass or Southern County Mutual is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each company broken down by several different rate factors.

Encompass or Southern County Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Southern County Mutual only compete against each other in Texas, where Encompass offers the cheaper average rates. For Texas residents, Encompass offers car insurance for $178 a month on average. Southern County Mutual's average premiums come out to be more expensive, at $179 monthly.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your 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 normally pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Southern County Mutual save more than $500 a month compared to those who use Encompass. It's worth noting that Encompass offers insurance in 31 different states compared to Southern County Mutual's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, both carriers will drop rates by the time you turn 25. Southern County Mutual offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Encompass's average premiums decrease 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 car insurance prices you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for auto insurance.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Encompass and Southern County Mutual? Southern County Mutual 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?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly more affordable insurance prices than those who are single. That's typically 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, Southern County Mutual is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums about $368 per month less expensive than Encompass, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Southern County Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save nearly $200 a month.

Encompass vs. Southern County Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

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

On average, women see prices around $25 per month cheaper with Encompass, and almost $20 with Southern County Mutual.

Looking at overall affordability, Southern County Mutual comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average premiums $289 less for men and $284 cheaper for women.

Encompass or Southern County Mutual: 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. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

But most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Southern County Mutual usually offers significantly less expensive rates of $105 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Southern County Mutual again has the edge, with policies about $400 a month cheaper than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or Southern County Mutual 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.

Accidents and tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is Encompass or Southern County Mutual more affordable for drivers with less-than-ideal driving 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 Southern County Mutual typically raises rates around $10 a month, on average.

Even so, Southern County Mutual is generally the less expensive option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering premiums that are $61 and $112 cheaper, respectively, compared to Encompass Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Encompass climbing by over $100. Southern County Mutual has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay $3 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, Southern County Mutual offers the lowest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $169 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 auto insurance bill -- usually a lot more than a collision or ticket. On average, Encompass will raise your prices about 78% after a DUI, while Southern County Mutual's average premiums climb by just under 20%.

Southern County Mutual has the overall most affordable prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $207 per month, but it's worth noting that Encompass's average rates come from 31 states compared to just one for Southern County Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Southern County Mutual Rates?

Did you know that many insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect several drivers out there.

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper rates, while those with poor credit will normally be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the best prices 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 Southern County Mutual. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 55% compared to Encompass, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $233 or 59% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Southern County Mutual typically offers lower premiums than Encompass when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $276 per month less with Southern County Mutual compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $436 monthly.

Is Encompass or Southern County Mutual 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 big impact on your monthly rates? Typically, those who drive less will end up with less expensive premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Southern County Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Encompass, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle every year paying about $2 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Southern County Mutual is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

Encompass vs. Southern County Mutual: 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 pretty big impact as well. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas because there are a lot fewer cars on the road in those areas, which decreases the chances of an accident.

Southern County Mutual boasts the cheapest average rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Southern County Mutual offers premiums around $202 per month compared to Encompass's $560. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $177 a month for Southern County Mutual and $434 for Encompass. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable prices from both carriers, with average monthly rates coming in at $159 and $404 for Southern County Mutual and Encompass respectively.

Encompass vs. Southern County Mutual Discounts

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

The challenging part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Encompass and Southern County Mutual offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Encompass knocks Southern County Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 26 different discounts to Southern County Mutual's nine.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, and multi-policy discounts. Encompass also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, defensive driver discounts, and more that Southern County Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Southern County Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- corporate discounts, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and umbrella policy discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Southern County Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Encompass or Southern County Mutual the best company for you and your specific driver profile?

Southern County Mutual might be best for you if....

• You live in one of the following states: Texas.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- Southern County Mutual Insurance Company only offers policies to Texas residents.
• You're looking for discounts -- Encompass has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Encompass and Southern County Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your auto 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 car insurance -- comparing quotes from several companies, not just Encompass and Southern County Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Encompass vs. Southern County Mutual FAQs

Is Encompass or Southern County Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Southern County Mutual is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $179 per month compared to $466 for Encompass. That being said, Southern County Mutual won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for every policyholder, since there are lots of different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, Encompass or Southern County Mutual?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for each driver -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

Why do Encompass and Southern County Mutual offer me different rates?

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

How do I know if Encompass or Southern County Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Encompass or Southern County Mutual 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.