Acuity vs. Sentry: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Sentry offers significantly more affordable rates than Acuity
• Acuity offers more discounts than Sentry Insurance
• Sentry offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who may not have much of a commute

Acuity vs. Sentry: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering sizable discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Acuity or Sentry as your top options, but which one will offer you cheaper prices?

As you can see, Sentry is quite a bit cheaper than Acuity, with rates averaging $195 per month compared to $313 with Acuity when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Sentry will be the less expensive option for each driver. Auto insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how old you are or how clean your driving record is (among a multitude of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Acuity or Sentry is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each company broken down by a range of different rate factors.

Acuity or Sentry: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Acuity and Sentry only compete against each other in one states, with Sentry offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Wisconsin has the most noticable difference, where Sentry prices are over 30% cheaper than insurance premiums at Acuity.

But there's more to car insurance than just the state you live in. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance carriers determine your rates. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for insurance than any group on the road. Typically, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Sentry save more than $500 a month compared to those who use Acuity.

But both companies will decrease premiums by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for Acuity policyholders reduce over 75% and Sentry's prices drop nearly 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the most affordable car insurance premiums out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally lowers their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

When looking at Acuity and Sentry specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Sentry gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $35 less expensive than the national average for Acuity.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance rates tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married drivers. That's because policies for married couples typically cover more than one car, which lots of carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Sentry is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums about $178 per month cheaper than Acuity, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Sentry is also obvious, where drivers save more than 20% a month.

Acuity vs. Sentry: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, they run a larger risk of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance companies will often charge men more than women.

With Acuity, men generally pay around 6% more per month than women., while with Sentry, the difference is closer to 10% a month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Sentry comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $119 per month and men save about $118 with Sentry compared to the average Acuity policyholder.

Acuity or Sentry: 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.

For most people, auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

However, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Sentry normally offers significantly more affordable prices of $104 compared to Acuity's $172. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Sentry again has the edge, with policies around $150 a month less expensive than Acuity, on average.

Is Acuity or Sentry Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

You'll probably end up paying more with collisions and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest rates to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Acuity policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $94 per month if they get a ticket, while Sentry generally raises prices about $25 a month, on average.

Even so, Sentry is normally the cheaper option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering premiums that are 22% and 37% more affordable, respectively, compared to Acuity Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Acuity drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates increase by over $100, while those who have insurance through Sentry will see around a $45 increase.

Overall, drivers who use Sentry end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $221 compared to Acuity Insurance's $344.

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 ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. Acuity drivers usually see a 36% climb in their car insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Sentry will typically increase prices by about 0%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Sentry tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $178 a month compared to $357 from Acuity.

How does Credit Score Impact Acuity and Sentry Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (for example, Hawaii and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for several policyholders.

The reasoning insurance carriers use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper premiums, while those with poor credit will usually be forced to pay more.

Looking at Acuity and Sentry specifically, which company has the best prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Sentry. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 35% compared to Acuity, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $102 or 36% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Sentry typically offers lower rates than Acuity when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $118 per month less with Sentry compared to Acuity, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $164 per month.

Is Acuity or Sentry Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on your monthly car insurance bill. Typically, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Sentry charges. However, there's a pretty significant difference in monthly premiums for Acuity, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $33 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, Sentry is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

Acuity vs. Sentry: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can have a considerable impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Generally, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers because of the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

Sentry boasts the cheapest average prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Sentry offers premiums around $224 monthly compared to Acuity's $374. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $218 a month for Sentry and $313 for Acuity. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest prices from both companies, with average monthly premiums coming in at $143 and $253 for Sentry and Acuity respectively.

Acuity vs. Sentry Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as you can.

The challenging 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.

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

Looking at the total number of discounts, Acuity comes out ahead with nine discounts to Sentry's five.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company -- but Acuity also offers college graduate discounts, continuous insurance discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more that Sentry does not.

On the flip side, Sentry has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, discounts for being a homeowner, and paid in full discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Acuity or Sentry Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. But, when it comes down to it, is Acuity or Sentry the right one for you and your specific profile and needs?

Sentry might be best for you if....

• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" auto insurance.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

Acuity might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Acuity and Sentry and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Acuity and Sentry. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Acuity vs. Sentry FAQs

Is Acuity or Sentry cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Sentry is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $195 per month compared to $313 for Acuity. However, Sentry won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for every driver, since there are a variety of different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Acuity or Sentry?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Acuity and Sentry offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at quite a few different factors when determining the rates they charge drivers. Things such as age, gender, where you call home, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Acuity and Sentry calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if Acuity or Sentry is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company 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 makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Acuity or Sentry 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.