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

Quick Facts

• In general, Utica National offers cheaper premiums than Encompass
• Encompass may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Utica National
• Utica National offers more affordable average prices for policyholders who live in urban areas

Encompass or Utica National: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Encompass or Utica National, but which carrier has less expensive rates for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Encompass is around $72 more a month than Utica National.

But that doesn't mean Utica National will necessarily be more affordable than Encompass for every driver. Insurance carriers use a ton of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among numerous other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Encompass and Utica National by a bunch of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Encompass vs. Utica National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Utica National only compete against each other in New York, where Utica National offers the cheaper average premiums. Utica National drivers tend to pay about $117 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Encompass for their auto insurance.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance payment than just your home state. Continue reading to see how other variables 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 car insurance than any group out there on the road. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Utica National for their auto insurance pay over 40% less than those who use Encompass. It's worth noting that Encompass offers car insurance in 31 different states compared to Utica National's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Encompass policyholders reduce about $500 and Utica National's premiums decrease more than $300 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest rates out there.

When looking at Encompass and Utica National specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Utica National gets the slight edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $23 less expensive than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance rates tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers. That's generally because married couples tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with Utica National prices coming in at a quarter less than Encompass's. But for married policyholders, that advantage is much less clear - Encompass offers the most affordable average rates.

Encompass or Utica National: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and file an insurance claim, which means they'll typically end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

Usually, women see premiums around 5% a month less with Encompass, but with Utica National, the difference is closer to 7% per month.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Utica National comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $75 a month and men save about $68 with Utica National compared to the average Encompass policyholder.

Encompass vs. Utica National: 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 can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

Even so, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Utica National has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $197. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Utica National again has the edge, with policies averaging around $592 per month to Encompass's $629.

Is Encompass or Utica National Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance companies offering great prices for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

You'll probably end up paying more with at-fault accidents and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers 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 auto insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Utica National policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 16%.

That being said, Encompass is usually the cheaper option for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 25% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 20% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Encompass drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums increase by over $100, while those who have insurance through Utica National will see about a $60 increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Encompass end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $328 compared to Utica National's $362.

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 insurance bill -- normally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. Encompass drivers usually see a 78% raise in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Utica National will typically climb rates by around 45%.

Utica National has the overall cheapest premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $548 per month, but it's worth noting that Encompass's average rates come from 31 states compared to just one for Utica National, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Utica National Rates?

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

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

Looking at Encompass and Utica National specifically, which one has the lowest rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Encompass will typically reward you the most for an "excellent" credit score. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Encompass comes in more than 11% cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save about 1% with Utica National compared to average prices from Encompass.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Utica National typically offers lower rates than Encompass when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 16% a month less with Utica National compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about 39% a month.

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

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Generally, those who drive less will end up with more affordable premiums since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

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

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

Where you call home can have a large impact on your monthly car insurance bill. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas since there are a lot more cars on the roads where they live.

Utica National boasts the most affordable average premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Utica National's average prices are about 5% less than Encompass Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay around 27% less with Utica National compared to Encompass. Those in rural areas can expect to save about 18% with Utica National compared to Encompass.

Encompass vs. Utica National 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.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Encompass and Utica National so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Encompass blows Utica National away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering eight more discounts than Utica National.

Both companies offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for getting driver training, DRL discounts, and group discounts -- but Encompass also offers discounts for advance quote, distant student, employee discount, and more.

On the other hand, Utica National has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like ESC discounts, greenhouse gas discounts, low mileage discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Utica National Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the best carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Utica National might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the insurance policy.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You live in a rural area.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national auto insurance carrier.
• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• You and your spouse are buying car insurance together.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Encompass and Utica National. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Encompass and Utica National. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. 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. Utica National FAQs

Is Encompass or Utica National cheaper?

Utica National is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $394 per month with Utica National and $466 for Encompass. But that doesn't mean Utica National will be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are many different variables that come into play when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, Encompass or Utica National?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, Utica National is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Encompass offers less expensive premiums for policyholders with an at-fault accident on their record.

Why do Encompass and Utica National offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use lots of different factors when calculating the prices they charge. Variables such as gender, where you live, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Encompass and Utica National calculate rates using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. 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 Utica National is right for me?

The only way to find the 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Encompass or Utica National 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.