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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Southern offers significantly cheaper rates than Encompass
• Encompass may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Southern Insurance Company of Virginia
• Southern offers less expensive average prices for single people who will be the only person on the auto insurance policy

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering large savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Encompass or Southern as potential options, but which one has more affordable rates for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Encompass is quite a bit more expensive than Southern, with premiums averaging $466 a month compared to just $322 with Southern.

However, Southern may not be the lowest or best option for every driver out there. Car insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how clean your driving record is or where you live (among a lot of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

Encompass vs. Southern: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Southern only compete against each other in two states, with Encompass offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Georgia has the most noticable difference, where Encompass rates are $131 more affordable than insurance premiums at Southern.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance payment than just the state you live in. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Southern save almost 40% per month compared to those who use Encompass.

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

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Encompass and Southern specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Southern gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older nearly 25% less expensive than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly more affordable car insurance premiums than those who are single. That's generally because married couples tend to own and insure multiple vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with Southern premiums coming in at a third less than Encompass's. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Southern has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Encompass or Southern: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men tend to pay more for insurance than women? That's because women are less likely to get into accidents and get tickets, which decreases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

With Encompass, men typically pay around $25 a month more than women, and about $35 with Southern.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Southern offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $137 per month and women save around $150 with Southern compared to the average Encompass policyholder.

Encompass vs. Southern: 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 car 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 for you.

That being said, most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Southern has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $192. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Southern again has the edge, with policies averaging about $452 a month to Encompass's $629.

Is Encompass or Southern Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their auto 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 at-fault accidents and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable rates to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Encompass for their insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up around 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Southern policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 7%.

Even so, Southern has less expensive premiums for drivers in both categories. With Southern Insurance Company of Virginia, drivers with a clean record can save around $11 per month and drivers with a ticket can save about $55 a month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Encompass raising by around 31%. Southern has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay more than 25% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, the cheaper premiums come from Southern, with average rates coming in at $293 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. For example, Encompass increases average premiums by more than $500 per month -- that's nearly a 80% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Southern tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $548 to Encompass's 1020.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Southern Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Michigan and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect a lot of drivers out there.

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

Looking specifically at Southern and Encompass, which company has the best premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

How much you drive can have a large impact on your monthly rates. That's because the more milage you put on your car each year, the more likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Southern tends to be the more affordable option. Encompass's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 34% more expensive than Southern. Those who drive 12,000 miles each year can expect to pay about 28% more with Encompass over Southern.

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

Where you park your vehicle can play a big role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas due to the number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

Southern boasts the lowest average prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Southern Insurance Company of Virginia's average rates are around 30% less than Encompass Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay about 36% less with Southern compared to Encompass. Those in rural areas can expect to save around 26% with Southern compared to Encompass.

Encompass vs. Southern Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Encompass and Southern offer their customers so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

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

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for getting driver training, and group discounts. Encompass also offers discounts for distant student, DRL, EFT, and more.

On the other hand, Southern has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like experienced operator discounts, family discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Southern Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. 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 needs?

Southern might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You're looking for the best prices on liability only coverage.
• You want to save money while purchasing car insurance for a teenager.

Encompass might be best for you if...

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

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Encompass and Southern. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to 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 companies, not just Encompass and Southern. 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. Southern FAQs

Is Encompass or Southern cheaper?

Southern is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $322 a month with Southern and $466 for Encompass. But that doesn't mean Southern will be the most affordable company for every driver, since there are multiple different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Encompass or Southern?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

Why do Encompass and Southern offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use lots of different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Factors such as gender, where your home is, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Encompass and Southern calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier 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 make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top 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 Southern 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.