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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Cig offers significantly less expensive prices than Sentry
• Cig offers more affordable average premiums for policyholders who live in the suburbs
• Cig tends to be a much cheaper option for couples purchasing insurance together

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering large discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Cig or Sentry as potential options, but which one will offer you less expensive prices?

Looking at nationwide averages, Cig has average rates that are about 40% per month cheaper than those from Sentry.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean Cig will be the more affordable option for every single driver. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your age, your credit score, or even your driving record (among other things), so premiums will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Cig or Sentry is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Cig or Sentry: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Cig and Sentry only compete against each other in one states, with Cig offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Washington has the most noticable difference, where Cig premiums are over 70% cheaper than car insurance rates at Sentry.

But there's more to auto insurance than just where you call home. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance carriers calculate your prices. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. It's usually because young, inexperienced 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. As you can see above, teens who use Cig save more than $150 a month compared to those who use Sentry.

That being said, both companies will reduce premiums by the time drivers turn 25. Sentry offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Cig still has the most affordable prices at $119 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the lowest insurance rates you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for auto insurance.

When looking at Cig and Sentry specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Cig gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older over 40% more affordable than the national average for Sentry.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly less expensive car insurance premiums than single policyholders. That's because policies for married couples typically cover more than one car, which several carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Cig is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates around $86 per month more affordable than Sentry, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Cig is also obvious, where drivers save more than 40% a month.

Cig vs. Sentry: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and file an insurance claim. That means when it comes to insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

On average, women see premiums about $4 per month cheaper with Cig, and around $20 less with Sentry.

Looking at overall affordability, Cig comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $84 a month and women save about $68 with Cig compared to the average Sentry policyholder.

Cig 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.

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

Even so, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Cig typically offers significantly more affordable prices of $71 compared to Sentry's $104. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Cig again has the edge, with policies around $100 per month less expensive than Sentry, on average.

Is Cig 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.

At-fault collisions and tickets will most likely raise your rates, but is Cig or Sentry cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Cig policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $24 a month if they get a ticket, while Sentry usually raises premiums about $25 per month, on average.

But Cig tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records, offering rates that are 51% and 45% less expensive, respectively, compared to Sentry Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Cig drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices climb by over 25%, while those who have insurance through Sentry will see around a 20% increase.

Overall, Cig offers the most affordable rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $118 compared to Sentry Insurance's $221.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even an accident. On average, Cig will climb your rates about 44% after a DUI, while Sentry's average prices increase by 0%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Cig tends to be the much more affordable option with average prices of $157 a month compared to $178 from Sentry.

How does Credit Score Impact Cig and Sentry Rates?

Did you know that many insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for quite a few policyholders.

The reasoning auto 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 rates, while those with poor credit will generally be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the cheapest prices for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Cig. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 55% compared to Sentry, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $91 or 49% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Cig typically offers lower premiums than Sentry when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $80 a month less with Cig compared to Sentry, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around $53 per month.

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

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a large impact on your monthly rates? That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

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 prices for Cig, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $12 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Cig is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

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

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a big impact as well. Generally, 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.

Cig boasts the cheapest average prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Cig offers rates around $128 monthly compared to Sentry's $224. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $123 per month for Cig and $218 for Sentry. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable premiums from both companies, with average monthly prices coming in at $106 and $143 for Cig and Sentry respectively.

Cig vs. Sentry Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you can take advantage of.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Cig and Sentry so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Cig blows Sentry away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 25 different discounts to Sentry's five.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a homeowner, and paid in full discounts. Cig also offers ABS discounts, anti-theft discounts, company car discounts, and more that Sentry does not.

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

Final Thoughts: Is Cig or Sentry Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors auto insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Cig might be best for you if....

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" car insurance.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's insurance policy.

Sentry might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Cig and Sentry 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple companies, not just Cig and Sentry. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Cig vs. Sentry FAQs

Is Cig or Sentry cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Cig is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $119 a month compared to $195 for Sentry. However, Cig won't necessarily be the lowest company for every driver, since there are multiple different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Cig or Sentry?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Cig and Sentry offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at many different factors when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Variables like where you live, where you call home, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Cig and Sentry calculate prices using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

How do I know if Cig or Sentry 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 carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Cig 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.