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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Sentry offers slightly cheaper rates than Allstate
• Allstate offers less expensive average prices for residents of suburban areas
• Sentry has more affordable rates for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision

Allstate or Sentry: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering huge savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Allstate or Sentry, but between the two, which one will offer you less expensive prices?

As you can see, Allstate is around $4 more a month than Sentry when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

But Sentry may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Car insurance carriers use a ton of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on how old you are or how clean your driving record is (among many other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Allstate or Sentry is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each carrier broken down by a variety of different rate factors.

Allstate vs. Sentry: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Allstate and Sentry only compete against each other in two states, with Allstate offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Washington, Allstate is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at the overall average premiums. Sentry is the more affordable option in Wisconsin.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your insurance bill than just where you call home. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that 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.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Sentry for their insurance pay over 10% less than those who use Allstate. It's worth noting that Allstate offers auto insurance in 47 different states compared to Sentry's two, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

That being said, both carriers will drop prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Allstate policyholders reduce about $300 and Sentry's premiums lower around $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable prices you can find.

When looking at Allstate and Sentry specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? In this case, Sentry has the slight edge, with premiums about $4 per month less than Allstate. Even so, that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other variables, like your credit score or where you live.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance prices are normally more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married drivers? This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple vehicles on their policy -- something several insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Sentry is the winner for those who are single, with rates around 3% a month cheaper than Allstate, on average.

Allstate or Sentry: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, they have a lower chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, women tend to get cheaper rates than men.

Normally, women see prices almost $10 per month less expensive with Allstate, and about $20 cheaper with Sentry when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Sentry is the lowest company for women. Rates with Sentry are $9 cheaper for women, while with Allstate, men can save around $9.

Allstate vs. 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.

Car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different terms and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Sentry has the slight edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $104. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Sentry again has the edge, with policies averaging about $286 a month to Allstate's $289.

Is Allstate or Sentry Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their auto 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 collisions and speeding tickets lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Allstate or Sentry -- has the most affordable rates for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Allstate for their car insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up around 15% after getting a speeding ticket. Sentry policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 12%.

But Allstate tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 12% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 10% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Allstate drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices climb by just under $75, while those who have insurance through Sentry will see around a $45 increase.

At the end of the day, the less expensive premiums come from Sentry, with average prices coming in at $221 compared to Allstate's $229.

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. Allstate drivers usually see a 31% climb in their auto insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Sentry will typically raise rates by about 0%.

Sentry has the overall cheapest premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $178 monthly, but it's worth noting that Allstate's average rates come from 47 states compared to just two for Sentry, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Allstate and Sentry Rates?

Did you know many insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Michigan and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for lots of policyholders.

Auto insurance companies argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable rates.

Looking specifically at Sentry and Allstate, which carrier has the most affordable premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Allstate will usually reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Allstate comes in more than 15.7 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save around 7% with Allstate compared to average prices from Sentry.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Sentry typically offers lower rates than Allstate when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 2% per month less with Sentry compared to Allstate, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around 18% a month.

Is Allstate or Sentry 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 car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Generally, the more milage you put on your vehicle each year, 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 small difference in monthly premiums for Allstate, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car every year paying about $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, Sentry is the cheaper company.

Allstate or Sentry: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a considerable impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas since there are a lot more vehicles on the roads where they live.

Allstate boasts the lowest average rates in urban and suburban areas, while Sentry wins in rural areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $143 per month with Sentry compared to Allstate's $174. People in suburban areas pay about $199 with Allstate compared to Sentry's $218 a month. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Allstate's average prices are around $222 while Sentry offers premiums about $224.

Allstate vs. Sentry 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 looked at all of the different discounts Allstate and Sentry offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Allstate blows Sentry away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 35 more discounts than Sentry.

Both companies offer several of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a homeowner, and paid in full discounts -- but Allstate also offers discounts for ABS, agency transfer, alert driving, and more.

Sentry's discounts come through just a few categories, including Advance Quote, Defensive Driver, Homeowner, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Allstate or Sentry Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Allstate or Sentry the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Sentry might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually.

Allstate might be best for you if...

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- Sentry Insurance is only available in WA and WI.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's auto insurance policy.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Allstate and Sentry and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

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

Allstate vs. Sentry FAQs

Is Allstate or Sentry cheaper?

Sentry is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $195 a month with Sentry and $199 for Allstate. Even so, that doesn't mean Sentry will be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are many different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Allstate or Sentry?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Allstate is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit, while Sentry offers more affordable premiums for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Allstate and Sentry offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use a lot of different factors when calculating the rates they charge. Things like your driving record, gender, where you live, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Allstate and Sentry calculate premiums using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Allstate or Sentry 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.