Encompass vs. Western Reserve Group: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Western Reserve Group offers significantly less expensive prices than Encompass
• Encompass may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Western Reserve Group
• Western Reserve Group has cheaper rates for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision

Encompass or Western Reserve Group: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to 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 it down to Encompass or Western Reserve Group for your next policy, but between the two, which company has more affordable premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Western Reserve Group is quite a bit cheaper than Encompass, with rates averaging $137 a month compared to $466 with Encompass.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Western Reserve Group will be the cheaper option for each driver. Car insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how good your credit score is (among a wide array of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Encompass and Western Reserve Group by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Encompass vs. Western Reserve Group: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Western Reserve Group only compete against each other in two states, with Encompass offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Indiana, Encompass is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at the overall average prices. Western Reserve Group is the less expensive option in Ohio.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just where you live. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for insurance than any group on the road. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

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 75% less per month by choosing Western Reserve Group over Encompass. It's worth noting that Encompass offers car insurance in 31 different states compared to Western Reserve Group's two, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, with both carriers, you'll see your prices decrease significantly once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Encompass policyholders lower more than 65% and Western Reserve Group's premiums reduce almost 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the most affordable auto 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.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Western Reserve Group gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $107 a month compared to Encompass's $335.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly cheaper car insurance premiums than those who are single. This usually boils down to married drivers having several vehicles on their policy -- something several auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Western Reserve Group rates coming in at about a quarter of Encompass's. The advantage for married couples with Western Reserve Group is also obvious, where drivers save over 65% a month.

Encompass or Western Reserve Group: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, they have a decreased chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, insurance companies will tend to offer women more affordable prices.

On average, women see premiums around $25 per month less expensive with Encompass, but surprisingly, with Western Reserve Group, women usually pay about $2 a month more than men.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, Western Reserve Group offers the lowest average premiums for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $341 per month and women save around $316 with Western Reserve Group compared to the average Encompass policyholder.

Encompass vs. Western Reserve Group: 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.

Car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are multiple different coverages that account for a bunch of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

But most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Western Reserve Group has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $94. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Western Reserve Group again has the edge, with policies averaging about $180 a month to Encompass's $629.

Is Encompass or Western Reserve Group Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from 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 at-fault collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable prices to drivers with less-than-perfect 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 around 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Western Reserve Group policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 28%.

However, Western Reserve Group is usually the cheaper option for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket, offering rates that are $139 and $166 more affordable, respectively, compared to Encompass Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Encompass drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums increase by over 30%, while those who have insurance through Western Reserve Group will see around a 25% increase.

At the end of the day, the less expensive prices come from Western Reserve Group, with average rates coming in at $120 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 insurance bill. On average, Encompass will raise your premiums about 78% after a DUI, while Western Reserve Group's average rates climb by nearly 60%.

Western Reserve Group has the overall cheapest prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $218 monthly, but it's worth noting that Encompass's average rates come from 31 states compared to just two for Western Reserve Group, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Western Reserve Group Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (for example, Michigan and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for a lot of policyholders.

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

So, which company offers the best prices for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Western Reserve Group will normally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Western Reserve Group comes in more than 70.57 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save around 70% with Western Reserve Group compared to average rates from Encompass.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Western Reserve Group typically offers lower prices than Encompass when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 70% per month less with Western Reserve Group compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around 71% per month.

Is Encompass or Western Reserve Group Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in how much insurance carriers will charge for coverage. That's because the more milage you put on your car each year, the more likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

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

Encompass or Western Reserve Group: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Usually, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Western Reserve Group tends to offer the cheapest prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around 69% with Western Reserve Group compared to Encompass. People who live in suburban areas pay about 68% less with Western Reserve Group compared to Encompass. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Western Reserve Group's average rates are around 74% less than Encompass Insurance.

Encompass vs. Western Reserve Group Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many 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 can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Encompass and Western Reserve Group so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Encompass knocks Western Reserve Group out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 15 more discounts than Western Reserve Group.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, and discounts for being a good student. Encompass also offers discounts for ABS, driver training, DRL, and more.

On the other hand, Western Reserve Group has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like agency transfer discounts, company car discounts, multi-car discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Western Reserve Group Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables car insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the best carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Western Reserve Group might be best for you if....

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You're looking for the best rates on liability only coverage.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national auto insurance carrier.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Encompass and Western Reserve Group and that it aids in making a more informed decision about 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 several carriers, not just Encompass and Western Reserve Group. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Encompass vs. Western Reserve Group FAQs

Is Encompass or Western Reserve Group cheaper?

Western Reserve Group is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $137 a month with Western Reserve Group and $466 for Encompass. Even so, that doesn't mean Western Reserve Group will be the most affordable company for every driver, since there are several different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Encompass or Western Reserve Group?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Encompass and Western Reserve Group offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use quite a few different variables when determining the premiums they charge. Factors such as where your home is, gender, age, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Encompass and Western Reserve Group calculate rates using different variables, 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 lots of different carriers.

How do I know if Encompass or Western Reserve Group is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies 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 ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Encompass or Western Reserve Group 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.