Encompass vs. West Bend Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, West Bend Mutual offers significantly less expensive premiums than Encompass
• Encompass may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than West Bend Mutual Insurance
• West Bend Mutual offers more affordable rates for drivers with a DUI

Encompass or West Bend 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 savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering Encompass or West Bend Mutual, but which carrier has more affordable prices for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Encompass has average rates that are around 70% a month more expensive than those from West Bend Mutual.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean West Bend Mutual will be the cheaper option for every single driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like where you live, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, how old you are, and a variety of other factors. So, at the end of the day, prices from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Encompass and West Bend Mutual by many different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Encompass vs. West Bend Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and West Bend Mutual only compete against each other in two states, with West Bend Mutual offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Minnesota has the most noticable difference, where West Bend Mutual prices are 1152 cheaper than car insurance premiums at Encompass.

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

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 other group of drivers. Generally, 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 rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 70% less per month by choosing West Bend Mutual over Encompass. It's worth noting that Encompass offers insurance in 31 different states compared to West Bend Mutual's three, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, with both companies, you'll see your prices reduce significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Encompass policyholders decrease about $500 and West Bend Mutual's premiums lower more than $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Encompass and West Bend Mutual? West Bend Mutual gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $243 less expensive than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance rates tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers. This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple vehicles on their policy -- something lots of car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with West Bend Mutual premiums coming in at around a quarter of Encompass's. The advantage is also clear for married couples - West Bend Mutual offers the most affordable average rates.

Encompass or West Bend Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but insurance is typically cheaper for women than it is for men. That's because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which raises the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

On average, men see premiums about $25 a month higher with Encompass, and around $16 more with West Bend Mutual.

Looking at overall affordability, West Bend Mutual offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women. On average, women save about $331 per month and men save about $338 with West Bend Mutual compared to the average Encompass policyholder.

Encompass vs. West Bend 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 a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different limits and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

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

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, West Bend Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $77. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, West Bend Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging around $186 a month to Encompass's $629.

Is Encompass or West Bend Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and collisions lead to higher rates, but which company -- Encompass or West Bend Mutual -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Encompass for their auto insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 21% after getting a speeding ticket. West Bend Mutual policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 23%.

That being said, West Bend Mutual tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket -- their rates are around 63% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 62% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Encompass can expect to see about an $101 -- or around 31% -- rise in their insurance premiums. Drivers who use West Bend Mutual for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $79 (or 48%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their car insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, West Bend Mutual offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average prices coming in at $163 compared to Encompass Insurance's $328.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or speeding ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. Encompass drivers usually see a 78% climb in their insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while West Bend Mutual will generally raise prices by around 50%.

West Bend Mutual has the overall cheapest premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $169 a month, but it's worth noting that Encompass's average rates come from 31 states compared to just three for West Bend Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and West Bend Mutual Rates?

Did you know many car insurance carriers take your credit score into account when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Massachusetts and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for quite a few drivers.

Auto insurance companies argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which lowers the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

Looking specifically at West Bend Mutual and Encompass, which company has the best prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, West Bend Mutual will typically reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, West Bend Mutual comes in more than 72.29 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save about 71% with West Bend Mutual compared to average premiums from Encompass.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

West Bend Mutual typically offers lower rates than Encompass when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 72% per month less with West Bend Mutual compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about 72% per month.

Is Encompass or West Bend Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Generally, those who drive less will end up with cheaper premiums since there's less of a chance of causing a collision 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 West Bend Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Encompass, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying around $2 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, West Bend Mutual is the less expensive company.

Encompass or West Bend Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a big impact on your monthly insurance cost. Typically, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

West Bend Mutual tends to offer the cheapest premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, West Bend Mutual Insurance's average rates are about 72% less than Encompass Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay around 72% less with West Bend Mutual compared to Encompass. Those in rural areas can expect to save about 72% with West Bend Mutual compared to Encompass.

Encompass vs. West Bend Mutual 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 difficult part is finding all of the discounts you qualify for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Encompass and West Bend Mutual so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Encompass knocks West Bend Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 10 more discounts than West Bend Mutual.

Both companies offer a lot of the same discounts -- like ABS discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and multi-policy discounts -- but Encompass also offers discounts for advance quote, driver training, DRL, and more.

On the other hand, West Bend Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advanced safety feature discounts, excess vehicle discounts, marital status discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or West Bend Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Encompass or West Bend Mutual the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

West Bend Mutual might be best for you if....

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your premiums rise.
• You're looking for the best prices on liability only coverage.
• You have a short commute.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- West Bend Mutual Insurance is only available in three states.
• You're looking for discounts -- Encompass has the most.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Encompass and West Bend Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto 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 a handful of carriers, not just Encompass and West Bend Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Encompass vs. West Bend Mutual FAQs

Is Encompass or West Bend Mutual cheaper?

West Bend Mutual is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $131 a month with West Bend Mutual and $466 for Encompass. However, that doesn't mean West Bend Mutual will be the most affordable company for every policyholder, since there are lots of different factors that come into play when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, Encompass or West Bend Mutual?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile.

Why do Encompass and West Bend Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use several different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Factors like where you park your car, age, where you live, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Encompass and West Bend Mutual calculate premiums using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

How do I know if Encompass or West Bend Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies 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 area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers 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 West Bend Mutual 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.