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

Quick Facts

• In general, Virginia Farm Bureau offers significantly less expensive rates than Encompass
• Encompass offers more discounts than Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance
• Virginia Farm Bureau has more affordable prices for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. 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 Virginia Farm Bureau for your next policy, but which company has cheaper premiums for auto insurance?

As you can see, Virginia Farm Bureau is quite a bit cheaper than Encompass, with prices averaging $101 per month compared to $466 with Encompass when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

That being said, Virginia Farm Bureau may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. Auto insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how old you are, where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, and all sorts of other factors. So, at the end of the day, premiums from each company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Encompass or Virginia Farm Bureau: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Virginia Farm Bureau only compete against each other in Virginia, where Virginia Farm Bureau offers the cheaper average rates. For Virginia residents, Virginia Farm Bureau offers insurance for $101 per month on average. Encompass's average prices come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $201 monthly.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance rates than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. That's normally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Virginia Farm Bureau for their insurance pay more than $500 less than those who use Encompass. It's worth noting that Encompass offers car insurance in 31 different states compared to Virginia Farm Bureau's one, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums drop significantly once you turn 25. For example, average prices for Encompass policyholders decrease over 65% and Virginia Farm Bureau's rates reduce nearly 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the most affordable insurance premiums out there. 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 rates for retired drivers between Encompass and Virginia Farm Bureau? Virginia Farm Bureau gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $91 a month compared to Encompass's $335.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance prices are usually more affordable for married drivers than they are for those who are single? That's because policies for married couples generally cover several cars, which many companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Virginia Farm Bureau is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates around $457 a month cheaper than Encompass, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Virginia Farm Bureau is also obvious, where drivers save almost 75% per month.

Encompass vs. Virginia Farm Bureau: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men usually pay more for auto insurance than women? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and file an insurance claim, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

With Encompass, women typically pay nearly $25 a month less than men, while with Virginia Farm Bureau, the difference is closer to $4 per month.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Virginia Farm Bureau offers the most affordable average rates for both men and women, with average premiums 78% less for men and 78% cheaper for women.

Encompass or Virginia 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 car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are multiple different coverages that account for several different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

Even so, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Virginia Farm Bureau normally offers significantly less expensive prices of $66 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Virginia Farm Bureau again has the edge, with policies about $500 a month more affordable than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or Virginia Farm Bureau Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance carriers offering great premiums 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 tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest rates to drivers with less-than-perfect 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 Virginia Farm Bureau typically raises rates around $25 a month, on average.

But Virginia Farm Bureau is normally the less expensive option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record. Drivers with a clean record can save about $145 per month and drivers with a ticket can save around $181 a month with Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Encompass drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices rise by over 30%, while those who have insurance through Virginia Farm Bureau will see about a 20% increase.

Overall, the cheaper premiums come from Virginia Farm Bureau, with monthly prices averaging $105 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 -- generally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. On average, Encompass will climb your premiums around 78% after a DUI, while Virginia Farm Bureau's average rates climb by over 25%.

Virginia Farm Bureau has the overall most affordable premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $111 monthly, but it's worth noting that Encompass's average rates come from 31 states compared to just one for Virginia Farm Bureau, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Virginia Farm Bureau Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly insurance rates. This isn't always the case (for example, Massachusetts and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for quite a few policyholders.

Auto insurance carriers argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking at Encompass and Virginia Farm Bureau specifically, which carrier has the lowest prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Virginia Farm Bureau. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save more than 80% compared to Encompass, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $308 or 78% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Virginia Farm Bureau typically offers lower premiums than Encompass when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $361 per month less with Virginia Farm Bureau compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about $505 a month.

Is Encompass or Virginia Farm Bureau 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? Normally, the more miles you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

Virginia Farm Bureau tends to be the less expensive option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure. Virginia Farm Bureau average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over $350 cheaper than Encompass. Those who drive 12,000 miles each year can expect to pay more than $350 less with Virginia Farm Bureau over Encompass.

Encompass vs. Virginia Farm Bureau: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your vehicle can play a large role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers because there are a lot fewer cars on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Virginia Farm Bureau usually comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the lowest premiums from both carriers, but Virginia Farm Bureau comes out on top with average prices around $78 per month. Virginia Farm Bureau also has less expensive average rates for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 81% and 73% a month respective difference when compared to Encompass policyholders in similar areas.

Encompass vs. Virginia Farm Bureau 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 where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you qualify for.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Encompass and Virginia Farm Bureau offer their customers so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Encompass blows Virginia Farm Bureau away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 18 more discounts than Virginia Farm Bureau.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Encompass also offers advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, DRL discounts, and more that Virginia Farm Bureau does not.

On the flip side, Virginia Farm Bureau has a couple unique discounts of its own -- new business discounts and umbrella policy discounts.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance prices. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which carrier is the best company for you and your specific profile and needs?

Virginia Farm Bureau might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• You live in an urban area.
• You live in a rural area.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance is only available in VA.
• You care about discounts (Encompass offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Encompass and Virginia Farm Bureau and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple carriers, not just Encompass and Virginia Farm Bureau. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Encompass vs. Virginia Farm Bureau FAQs

Is Encompass or Virginia Farm Bureau cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Virginia Farm Bureau is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $101 per month compared to $466 for Encompass. That being said, Virginia Farm Bureau won't necessarily be the cheapest company for every policyholder, since there are a bunch of different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Encompass or Virginia Farm Bureau?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for each driver -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Encompass and Virginia Farm Bureau offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at lots of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Things such as gender, age, your driving record, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Encompass and Virginia Farm Bureau calculate rates differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Encompass or Virginia 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.