Encompass Insurance: Reviews, Coverage, And Cost (2022)

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If you’re trying to decide if an auto insurance policy from Encompass Insurance can meet your specific needs, we can help. In this article, we will look into factors like coverage, the claims process, discounts, and Encompass Insurance reviews so you can make an informed decision about your car insurance policy. Many of our readers also find our recent review of the best auto insurance providers helpful in narrowing down the best possible coverage at the best price.

When shopping for car insurance, it’s wise to contact several providers and compare quotes. To get started, use the tool above to see free, personalized quotes from top recommended providers available in your area. 

 

In this article:

Encompass Insurance Overview

Encompass Insurance is a subsidiary of the Illinois-based Allstate Insurance Company. In 1999, Allstate auto insurance purchased the personal lines insurance business from CNA Financial and rebranded it as Encompass.

Today, the company is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, and employs more than 2,400 independent agents. 

While the Encompass website specifically states that it does not provide service in Idaho, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Nebraska, several other sources claim that coverage is limited to 39 states.

Aside from the Encompass One® Policy, Encompass offers standalone home and auto insurance, as well as personal umbrella protection, lifestyle endorsement, home business insurance, motorcycle insurance, RV insurance, boat and watercraft insurance, and identity theft protection.

Encompass Auto Insurance Coverage

If you are looking for car insurance through Encompass, you have several options. First, you need to decide if you want a standalone auto policy or if you want a comprehensive package that combines policies.

Encompass Insurance Standalone Auto Policies

A standalone auto insurance policy is just that – an auto insurance policy. But even when just looking at one type of insurance product, you have choices. When buying your auto insurance policy from Encompass, you can choose from three coverage tiers – Special, Deluxe, and Elite, with Elite offering the most comprehensive coverage. 

Let’s take a closer look at each of the types of car insurance:

Coverage Details Liability Insurance (BI/PD) Liability insurance protects you when you are responsible for damages to other people and their property. It can be broken down into bodily injury liability (BI) and property damage liability (PD). In case of an at-fault accident in which you injure another driver, liability insurance will cover the repair costs for the car, the cost of medical treatment, and legal fees if needed.

Collision Insurance

Collision insurance covers the cost of any damages or injuries to you or your vehicle in the case you collide with another car or object, such as a telephone pole or guard rail. Generally, collision also protects against rollovers and similar accidents. Comprehensive Insurance Comprehensive insurance covers damages that may have been caused to your car by something other than a collision, such as theft, vandalism, natural disasters, civil disturbances, etc. Medical Payments Insurance (MedPay) Medical payment insurance covers the costs of vehicle-related medical treatments for both yourself and your passengers, regardless of whether you or another driver was at fault in an accident. It should be noted that this type of insurance is not available in all states. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) While MedPay only covers the cost of medical treatment, PIP pays for medical treatment as well as other injury-related losses, such as lost wages due to the inability to work while recovering from the accident. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Insurance (UM/UIM) Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance protects you in the case that you get into an accident with a motorist who doesn’t have sufficient insurance and consequently can’t cover your expenses.

 

In addition to standard auto insurance coverage options, you can also add the below optional coverages to further customize your policy. Some coverages are only available in the higher levels and/or in certain states.

  • Accident forgiveness insurance: This coverage protects you from premium increases because of an accident. If you have the Elite coverage tier, you may be eligible for Enhanced Accident Forgiveness, which will apply to multiple at-fault accidents. 
  • New car replacement: If your car is less than four model years old and you are the original owner, you can purchase this coverage at the time of adding this car to your policy. If your car is totaled in a covered loss, Encompass will pay to replace it with a new car of the same or similar make and model, minus your deductible.
  • Loan/lease gap coverage: If you have comprehensive and collision coverage on your Encompass Insurance policy, you can buy loan/lease gap insurance to bridge your auto loan and your car’s value. 
  • Roadside assistance: This coverage provides 24/7 roadside assistance for services like a dead battery or flat tire. It’s included in the Elite package and can be purchased as an add-on for Special and Deluxe.

We like how you can have unlimited accident forgiveness through the Elite auto coverage. The company recommends this upgrade if you’re adding a teen to your policy.

EncompassOne® Policy

Encompass Insurance also offers a comprehensive package called EncompassOneⓇ, which allows you to combine your auto insurance with other types of insurance under one premium and one deductible. 

Similar to the standalone auto insurance plans, the EncompassOne policy also has three levels of coverage and optional add-ons that will allow you to personalize your coverage to fit your needs. 

Coverage Details EncompassOne Elite Insurance policy The EncompassOne Elite Insurance policy is the highest level of home and auto insurance coverage offered by the company. Under this policy, in addition to your standard coverages, your auto insurance will include benefits like unlimited accident forgiveness, safe driving bonus, high rental car reimbursement, trip interruption, zero-deductible windshield repairs, roadside assistance, protection for electronic equipment in the car, and protection for your company car. New car replacement and gap coverage can be purchased as optional add-ons.

EncompassOne Deluxe Insurance policy

The EncompassOne Deluxe Insurance policy offers high limits of protection for both your home and your vehicle. While new car replacement, rental car reimbursement, trip interruption, roadside assistance, and gap coverage can be purchased as add-ons for your auto insurance, first-time accident forgiveness, zero-deductible windshield repairs, and protection for electronic equipment in your car are included. EncompassOne Special Insurance policy The EncompassOne Special Insurance policy offers customers a way to combine both their auto and home insurance policies for a smooth insurance experience. Unlike the higher tiers of coverage, the Special policy does not include special auto insurance benefits, though you can purchase new car replacement, roadside assistance, electronic equipment protection, and gap coverage as add-ons.

 

If more than one item covered under this policy suffers a covered loss in the same event, only the highest deductible will apply. However, if your policy has a wind/hail, tropical cyclone, or earthquake deductible, you will have to pay a deductible per property location. Also, if you buy optional coverages as add-ons along with this policy, there may be other deductibles as well. 

EncompassOne policies are not available in Florida, Massachusetts, Texas, or North Carolina. 

Encompass Auto Insurance Cost

It is hard to say how much an auto insurance policy with Encompass would cost, as each quote is based on your individual circumstances. Factors that are taken into account when calculating the cost of an insurance premium include:

  • Driving record
  • Credit score
  • Years of experience driving
  • Where you live
  • Age
  • Mileage
  • Previous insurance coverage
  • Claims history
  • Gender
  • Type of car
  • More

Discounts With Encompass Insurance

Good driving habits, your payment method, or having a car with safety features can qualify you for one or more Encompass discounts on your auto policy. Since the availability and rate of discounts vary by state and are subject to terms and conditions, we recommend talking to an Encompass agent to determine your eligibility. 

Discounts Details Encompass Easy PayⓇ You can get a discount on your premium by using the Encompass Easy Pay plan for automatic payments.  Safe driving bonus Save up to 5% on your premium if none of the covered drivers on your policy has had a chargeable accident in the last 12 months. This is included in the Elite package in some states.  New car discount You may be eligible for this discount if your car is new and not previously titled.  Future effective date You can get a discount on your premium if the policy is issued a week or before the effective date. Homeowner’s discount If you own a home, condo, townhome, or mobile home, you may be eligible for a homeowner’s discount.  Good payer discount This discount is automatically applied at the start of the auto insurance policy and continued on renewal if you have not been sent a cancelation notice in the last year.  Defensive driver discount Drivers may be eligible for this discount if they complete an approved defensive driving course. Good student discount This discount is available for students with a grade point average of 3.0 (“B”) or higher. Driver training discount This discount is available for drivers under age 21 who complete a driver’s training course and have several hours of actual driving experience. Resident student discount This discount is available for students who reside at a school at least 100 miles from home and does not have a car at school. Anti-lock brake discount This discount is available for vehicles with factory-installed two or four-wheel anti-lock braking systems.  Anti-theft device discount You can get a discount on comprehensive coverage if you have anti-theft devices in your vehicle. Passive restraint system discount You can get a discount on medical/personal injury protection coverage if your car has airbags or motorized automatic belt restraint systems.

 

How Do Encompass Insurance Quotes And Claims Work?

The Encompass website is well designed, describes coverage options in detail, and features a MyEncompass portal for existing customers to view policy information, pay bills, or retrieve insurance ID cards, and an online quote tool.

For the online quote tool, there’s a form where you submit your basic information. An insurance agent will contact you to discuss your needs and provide you with a quote. You can also get free quotes from insurers in your area below.

 

 

Claims must be filed over the phone. To report a claim, call Encompass with your policy number. An Encompass Insurance claims specialist will then contact you by the end of the next business day to gather information about the claim. Once the claims adjuster gives you an initial estimate, you can contact your repair shop to schedule your repairs. 

One thing we liked is how Encompass has a downloadable Accident Fact Kit that makes it easy to understand what information you need while filing a claim. 

Encompass also has a virtual estimating service called Encompass Claim Photo Express™ to simplify the claims process. If you are eligible, you can take photos of your damaged vehicle with your smartphone, then submit them to receive an initial estimate, usually within 24 hours. 

Encompass Insurance Reviews And Ratings

We also looked into the company’s online reputation, reviews, and customer service records for our Encompass Insurance review. In general, Encompass appears to offer good customer service and has a low level of customer complaints about a company of this size. 

Encompass Insurance Company has an A+ Superior rating from AM Best. Two other Encompass underwriters, Encompass Insurance Company of New Jersey and Encompass Property and Casualty Insurance Company of New Jersey, have an A- rating.

1,110 complaints were filed against Encompass on Better Business Bureau (BBB) over the last three years, of which 514 were closed in the last 12 months. We couldn’t help noticing that a large number of the complaints were filed by people who were involved in an accident with someone insured by Encompass and not by actual Encompass policyholders. Also, while Encompass is not accredited with the BBB, it does have an A+ rating from the organization, which is a positive sign. 

Encompass Home and Auto Insurance Company, which is one of the biggest underwriters of Encompass, has a low complaint ratio well below the national average on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) as well. 

We also found these Encompass Insurance reviews on the company’s website.

Positive Encompass Insurance Review

“I can’t say anything but good things about Encompass … They have taken really good care of my needs … They were professional, compassionate and sympathetic to my needs during my time of turmoil..”

– Linda R. via BBB

Negative Encompass Insurance Review

“Not for high end cars. They have limits on what they will pay for repairs. They claim you can use anyone of your choosing for repairs but make it impossible to claim. And will not even pay the bill on your behalf. They expect you to pay the bill and trust them to reimburse you.”

– Alexander A. via BBB

Our Take On Encompass Insurance: 4.0 Stars

Overall, Encompass appears to be a viable option for your auto insurance if you live in the serviced areas and don’t mind the lack of online claim filing. The tiered coverage levels, potential to bundle home and auto coverage, online account management, and availability of a wide range of policy add-ons and discounts are all things that work in its favor. Also, it is a subsidiary of Allstate, which is one of the largest auto insurance companies in the country and helps build confidence in its financial strength.

Encompass Pros

Encompass Cons

Tiered coverage levels with a wide range of policy add-ons

Cannot file a claim online

Easy online quotes process

Not available in all 50 states

A+ rating from the BBB   A+ financial strength rating from AM Best  

 

However, if you live in one of the states not serviced by Encompass or would like to explore more options before you make the all-important decision of buying car insurance, we recommend you read our recent review of the top auto insurance providers.

While Encompass is a good choice for some drivers, we always encourage you to compare quotes to make sure you are getting the right coverage at the best price. Below are some insurers that we have identified as the best car insurance providers based on extensive research and the comparison of over 60 different companies.

  • If you are a military family, USAA, which is our top recommended provider, is your best option in terms of coverage, affordability, or customer service. Read our USAA auto insurance review to learn more.
  • Geico auto insurance was ranked as our Best Overall insurance company due to its great coverage, prices, and general availability. Read more in our Geico auto insurance review.
  • Progressive is also an excellent choice, especially for high-risk drivers who have tickets or DUIs on record, as well as young drivers with little experience. Read more in our Progressive auto insurance review. 

Get Quotes

No matter what you decide, it is always a good idea to get at least three quotes before you sign on the dotted line. After all, a car is one of the biggest and most expensive purchases you will ever make. Don’t you want to give it the protection it deserves?

Use our free tool below to start comparing personalized car insurance quotes:

 

 

Methodology

In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of auto insurance providers to formulate rankings of the best insurers. Companies receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.

  • Industry Standing: Insurers with strong financial ratings and customer-first business practices receive the highest scores in this category.
  • Availability: We consider availability by state as well as exclusions for specific groups of drivers.
  • Coverage: This rating is based on types of insurance available, maximum coverage limits, and add-on policies.
  • Cost and Discounts: Our research team reviews sample quotes for a variety of drivers in every state. Companies with lower prices and many car insurance discount opportunities receive the best scores.
  • Customer Service: We comb through customer reviews and consumer feedback studies from experts like J.D. Power.
  • Technology: Auto insurers with mobile apps, advanced online services and telematics are more likely to meet consumer needs.

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