Encompass Auto Insurance Review [2023]

Is Encompass Insurance Company a Good Choice?

Looking at Encompass insurance reviews and ratings is the best way to determine how reputable the company is and whether it has the financial ability to pay out on claims.

You want to ensure that any insurance company you choose has good customer service and is financially solid. We explain the major ratings you should pay attention to for Encompass below.

Encompass Customer Satisfaction

Encompass is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which means Encompass didn’t pay to be officially accredited so that it can use the BBB logo. However, even though it isn’t accredited, it does have an A+ rating from the BBB, meaning customers are generally satisfied.

Encompass Insurance ratings from the BBB look at multiple customer satisfaction factors, such as customer complaints, transparent business practices, and similar factors. So while Encompass has a large number of customer complaints logged on the BBB, because most of these complaints were resolved and Encompass scored well in other areas, it still has an A+ rating from the BBB.

Encompass Insurance Complaints

One of the best ways to see if a car insurance company has dissatisfied customers is to check its complaint ratio with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Ideally, a company’s complaint index score should be below one, which is the national average.

A complaint index score of over one means that a company has more dissatisfied customers than average and should probably be avoided. Encompass has an average complaint index score below one, which is great.

On the BBB’s website, Encompass had a total of 1,279 complaints closed in the last three years and 559 complaints closed in the last 12 months, which is a high number of complaints. However, because Encompass has a decent complaint index score from the NAIC, it can be concluded that these complaints only make up a relatively small portion of Encompass’s customers.

Encompass A.M. Best Rating

A.M. Best is one of the best places to check a company’s financial ratings. Checking a company’s financial ratings is important because it will tell you if your insurer is in danger of going out of business or rejecting claims due to poor financial management.

Encompass has an A+ rating, which means the company is very financially sound. Also, it is a subsidiary company of Allstate, which also has a great financial rating. You can rest easy knowing that Encompass is backed by one of the biggest insurance companies in the U.S.

Encompass Pros and Cons

No matter what car insurance company you choose, there will always be pros and cons to consider. What matters is whether the cons far outweigh the pros, or if there is a particular con that is a dealbreaker to you.

Below, we’ve outlined the pros and cons of Encompass, so you can get a general idea of the company’s strengths and weaknesses before we dive into an in-depth review of Encompass’s services.

Encompass Pros

There are a number of pros for Encompass. Take a look at the most significant benefits of buying a policy with this company below.

• Encompass is backed by Allstate, which means it has the support of a well-known company with a strong financial rating.
• Encompass has a strong financial rating itself from A.M. Best.
• Encompass offers unlimited accident forgiveness with its Elite package deal.
• Encompass offers a good range of coverages as well as a decent number of discounts to its customers.

While the EncompassOne Elite package deal costs more, having accident forgiveness can save drivers a lot of money on auto insurance in the long run, as car insurance rates won’t increase after an accident.

Encompass Cons

Of course, no matter how excellent a company is, there will always be cons. See the main drawbacks of Encompass below.

• Encompass is not available in every state, which means you will have to switch car insurance companies if you move to a state Encompass doesn’t cover.
• Encompass only sells its insurance through independent agents, which means you can’t get quick online quotes to see how much Encompass will cost you.
• Encompass’s mobile app isn’t available in every state and has poor reviews on the Apple Store and Google Play.

Not being able to get a quick quote can be a major con for many drivers. Most companies offer the option to get a quick, free quote online, so having to find an agent and reach out for quotes can discourage customers from choosing Encompass when there are faster options.

Also, since so many people prefer to access and change information from their phones, not having a good mobile app can be a major deterrent for drivers. If you want to file a claim from your phone, for example, but the app keeps glitching and you have to call instead, this can be enough of an annoyance to cause you to choose a different insurer.

Encompass Contact Information

Currently, Encompass’s website states that it does not sell insurance products in the following states:

• Alaska
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• Montana
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Wyoming

If you live in one of the states listed above, you can’t purchase Encompass insurance. If you want to get Encompass insurance or learn more about its products, you can contact Encompass using a contact form on its webpage or speak to an agent.

To speak to an agent, you will have to use Encompass’s agent directory search tool to find one in your area. There is no phone number listed on Encompass’s website to contact the company outside of using an agent, so this is the only way you can get information or quotes.

However, there is a phone number for claims at Encompass, which means you can contact the company quickly and directly when filing a claim. The Encompass claims phone number is 800-588-7400.

You can also send claims-related mail to P.O. Box 1623, Winston-Salem, NC 27102, or file a claim online through your Encompass account. Outside of Encompass’s claims address and phone number, however, all other contact with Encompass will have to be through email or through an independent agent.

Encompass Insurance Company Rates

Car insurance rates are one of the most important aspects of a company besides its ratings. A company can have great ratings, but you may still not want to do business there if it also has high prices.

Unfortunately, because Encompass doesn’t offer quotes online, it is hard to determine whether you can actually find cheap auto insurance there. If you would like to know how much Encompass car insurance will cost for your particular coverage needs and driving profile, you will have to contact an agent to get a quote.

However, it can be helpful to review some average car insurance rates so you can immediately tell if Encompass is overcharging you and whether you can find cheaper rates elsewhere. Take a look at the table below that shows the average rates for minimum liability and full coverage policies in the U.S.

Of course, your rates will also vary based on your age, driving record, and more. When getting Encompass quotes from an agent, make sure to compare the rates to the average rates for different driving records below.

If your quote from Encompass is significantly above these averages, you may wish to get quotes from a few comparable companies to see if you can find something better.

Encompass Insurance Company Discounts Available

Besides keeping a clean driving record, cashing in on discounts is one of the best ways to save on your car insurance policy. Encompass offers the following car insurance discounts:

• Anti-lock brake discount. You must have a two- or four-wheel anti-locking brake system to qualify for this discount at Encompass.
• Anti-theft discount. You must have a passive, active special lock, or VIN etching anti-theft device to qualify for this discount at Encompass. The discount will apply to your comprehensive insurance coverage.
• Autopay discount. You must sign up for autopay at Encompass to qualify.
• Defensive driver discount. You must successfully complete a defensive driving course that is approved by Encompass and provide proof of completion to qualify for this discount.
• Driver training discount. You must be under 21, have successfully completed a driver’s ed course, and have several hours of driving experience outside of the course to qualify.
• Future effective date discount. You must have the policy issued at least seven days before the effective date in order to qualify for this discount.
• Good payer discount. You can’t have any notices of cancellation for non-payment within the last year in order to qualify for this discount at Encompass.
• Good student discount. You must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher or at least a B average to qualify for this discount. You must also provide proof of grades to receive the discount.
• Homeowner’s discount. You must own a home, townhouse, mobile home, or condo to qualify for this discount at Encompass.
• New car discount. You must have a newly purchased car that wasn’t previously titled in order to qualify.
• Passive restraint discount. You must have factory-installed airbags or a factory-installed motorized automatic belt restraint system to qualify. The discount will apply to your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage.
• Resident student discount. You must have a student at least 100 miles away from your residence and without a car in order to qualify.
• Safe driver discount. You must have had no accidents within the last year in order to qualify. The discount is 5% off your next policy premium.

If you qualify for a number of discounts on Encompass’s list, you could potentially save a significant amount on your car insurance policy. However, there are a few discounts typically offered by the vast majority of insurance companies that Encompass lacks, so you may find a better deal elsewhere.

For instance, if you add more than one car to your insurance policy at Encompass, you won’t earn a multi-car policy discount. Encompass also doesn’t offer a multi-policy bundling discount, although it offers a discount for customers who own a home.

And if you want to buy boat and car insurance through Encompass, you likewise won’t get a discount for purchasing more than one type of insurance from the company.

Encompass Claims Process

Even if you are the safest driver, there may come a time when you need to make a car insurance claim. To make a claim at Encompass, you can call the 800-588-7400 number that is available 24/7 or file online through Encompass’s website or mobile app.

You will need your policy number to provide it to the claims assistant. You should also take plenty of pictures of the damage after the accident so you can pass them on to Encompass. If you have a police report, you should also submit that as well. Be prepared to answer questions about when the accident happened, where it happened, and how it happened.

If your claim is approved, Encompass will provide you with an estimated settlement amount. You will then have to complete the claim by signing any applicable documents before you can receive the final settlement payment from Encompass.

Encompass Website and Mobile Apps

We found that Encompass’s website is a little lacking in information about its auto insurance. We would have liked to see more information about its coverages and packages. Encompass also doesn’t have an online quote tool like the majority of auto insurance companies, which is a downside to its website.

Other than those issues, however, Encompass’s website is easy to navigate and user-friendly. You can sign into your account on the Encompass website to pay bills, manage your policy, and more.

As for mobile apps, Encompass’s mobile app is not yet available in all states. In the states where customers can download the Encompass app, it is designed to help Encompass customers do all of the following:

• Access your Encompass ID card
• Contact your Encompass agent
• File a car insurance claim
• Make payments and view payment history
• Request roadside assistance
• Review your policy details, such as coverages
• Sign electronic policy documents

While the app appears convenient, it only has a handful of reviews and poor ratings on both Google Play and the Apple App Store. On Google Play, it has an average rating of 1.6 out of five stars based on 16 reviews. In the Apple App Store, it has one star out of five and only one review.

As you can see, Encompass has fewer than 20 reviews total of its mobile app, and all are negative, citing complaints about signing in, app glitches, and more. Hopefully, as the app expands to other states and bugs are fixed, it will become more useful to customers.

Encompass Insurance Company Coverage Options

You should always consider what auto insurance coverages are offered by a company before purchasing a policy, especially if you want any add-on or specialty insurance coverages. While all auto insurance companies will offer the basic insurance coverages required by the state, some may not offer much beyond that.

Encompass offers the following car insurance coverages, which include the basics as well as some add-on coverages.

• Accident forgiveness insurance. Your rates won’t go up after an at-fault accident, and you can purchase a higher level of accident forgiveness that forgives multiple at-fault accidents.
• Bodily injury liability insurance. Bodily injury liability insurance will pay for other parties’ medical bills if you cause an accident that injures someone.
• Collision auto insurance. Collision insurance will pay for your car’s repairs if you crash into an object or another vehicle.
• Comprehensive auto insurance. Comprehensive insurance will pay for your car’s repairs if you hit an animal or your car is damaged by falling objects, weather, or vandalism.
• Loan/lease gap insurance. If your car is totaled, gap insurance will help pay the difference between the depreciated value of your car and the amount left on your loan or lease.
• Medical Payments (MedPay) insurance. MedPay will pay for you and your passengers’ medical bills if you are injured in a car accident.
• New car replacement insurance. If your new car is totaled, new car replacement will replace it with a car of the same make and model.
• Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. PIP will pay for you and your passengers’ medical bills if you are injured in an accident, as well as lost wages, childcare costs, and more.
• Property damage liability insurance. Property damage liability insurance will pay for other parties’ property repair bills if you cause an accident that damages others’ property.
• Roadside assistance insurance. Roadside assistance is a 24-hour service that helps you if your car breaks down, you get a flat tire, or your car battery dies.

The most noticeable coverages that Encompass lacks include rental car reimbursement and classic car insurance. If you need classic car insurance, you will have to buy insurance from one of the best classic car insurance companies instead of through Encompass.

Encompass also doesn’t state what basic coverages it offers. However, if you live in a state that requires coverage like uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, for example, you will be able to get this coverage through Encompass, as it is state-required insurance.

Encompass Packages

Encompass is different from other insurance companies in that it also offers its auto insurance in packages: Special, Deluxe, and Elite. You can purchase these packages with just auto insurance, or you can purchase a home and auto insurance together in a package.

Each package comes with basic auto insurance coverages but offers additional coverages ass well. For example, the Elite package comes with unlimited accident forgiveness, which means you will be forgiven for more than just one at-fault accident.

Since at-fault accidents raise your rates, investing in the Elite package if you are a riskier driver could save you a lot of money in the long run. Most other insurance companies will only forgive one at-fault accident, which means Encompass offers a nice perk with its Elite package.

Other Insurance Types Offered at Encompass

Encompass doesn’t just offer car insurance. It also has the following types of insurance for customers:

• Boat and watercraft insurance
• Home business insurance
• Home insurance
• Identity theft insurance
• Lifestyle endorsement insurance
• Motorcycle insurance
• Personal umbrella insurance
• Recreational vehicle insurance

The two main coverages are auto insurance and home insurance, which Encompass sells together in a package deal as well as separately.

The Final Word on Encompass Car Insurance

Encompass has a decent array of auto insurance coverages and discounts available to customers. It is also a subsidiary company of Allstate, one of the top insurance companies, and has a good financial rating.

However, there are a number of cons that go along with the pros that may make customers want to reconsider choosing Encompass as an auto insurance company.

Encompass doesn’t offer online quotes, has a poorly rated mobile app, and lacks detailed information on its website.

Whether you are interested in Encompass or another company, the best way to make sure you are getting the best car insurance coverage for your budget and needs is to shop around. You can use our free quote comparison tool to find the best rates from car insurance companies in your area.