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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Sentry offers significantly more affordable premiums than Encompass
• Encompass may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Sentry Insurance
• Sentry offers cheaper average rates for policyholders who drive a short distance to work everyday

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

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering considerable savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed it down to Encompass or Sentry as potential options, but which company will save you the most?

As you can see, Encompass is quite a bit more expensive than Sentry, with premiums averaging $466 a month compared to just $195 with Sentry when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Sentry will be the less expensive option for each driver. Car insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how old you are or where you live (among multiple other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

Encompass vs. Sentry: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Sentry only compete against each other in two states, with Sentry offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. Washington has the most noticable difference, where Sentry premiums are $241 less expensive than auto insurance rates at Encompass.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance cost than just where you call home. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. Usually, that's because 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.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance prices. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 65% less per month by choosing Sentry over Encompass. It's worth noting that Encompass offers car insurance in 31 different states compared to Sentry's two, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, with both companies, you'll see your prices lower significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Encompass policyholders reduce around $500 and Sentry's premiums decrease more than $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the most affordable auto insurance rates out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally decreases their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise prices.

So, which carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? Sentry gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $187 more affordable than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance premiums tend to be cheaper for married policyholders than they are for those who are single. This usually boils down to married drivers having several vehicles on their policy -- something several auto insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Sentry prices coming in at about a third of Encompass's. The advantage for married couples with Sentry is also obvious, where drivers save around $150 a month.

Encompass or Sentry: Average Rates by Gender

Women generally to pay less for insurance than men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

With Encompass, women normally pay about $25 per month less than men, but with Sentry, the difference is closer to $20 a month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Sentry offers the cheapest average prices for both men and women, with average rates 57% less for men and 59% cheaper for women.

Encompass 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 several different coverages that account for lots of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

However, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which usually refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Sentry has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums 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 around $286 per month to Encompass's $629.

Is Encompass 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with accidents and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Encompass for their car insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Sentry policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 12%.

Even so, Sentry tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record. With Sentry Insurance, drivers with a clean record can save about $49 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $85 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

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

At the end of the day, drivers who use Sentry end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $221 compared to Encompass Insurance's $328.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly insurance bill -- normally a lot more than an accident or ticket. Encompass drivers usually see a 78% raise in their auto insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Sentry will usually increase premiums by around 0%.

Sentry has the overall most affordable prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $178 monthly, but it's worth noting that Encompass's average rates come from 31 states compared to just two for Sentry, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Sentry Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly insurance premiums. This isn't true for everyone (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it does affect a lot of policyholders out there.

Car insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, Sentry will typically reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Sentry comes in more than 50.86 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save about 53% with Sentry compared to average rates from Encompass.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Sentry typically offers lower premiums than Encompass when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 58% a month less with Sentry compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about 65% per month.

Is Encompass 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 big impact on your monthly auto insurance bill? That's because the more milage you put on your car, the more likely you are to be in a collision and file 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 rates for Encompass, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying around $2 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, for drivers in both categories, Sentry is the more affordable company.

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

Where you park your vehicle can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Sentry normally comes out as the lowest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Sentry's average prices are about $224 while Encompass offers premiums around $560. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly premium of about $218 with Sentry compared to $434 with Encompass. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $143 a month with Sentry and $404 with Encompass.

Encompass vs. Sentry Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem hard to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Encompass and Sentry so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Encompass knocks Sentry out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 21 more discounts than Sentry.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a homeowner, and paid in full discounts. Encompass also offers discounts for ABS, anti-theft, distant student, and more.

On the other hand, Sentry has a proprietary discount of their own -- a multi-car discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Sentry Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is 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.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You are purchasing your auto insurance with a spouse.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You are considering moving to another state -- Sentry Insurance is only available in Washington and Wisconsin.
• You're looking for discounts -- Encompass has the most.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Encompass and Sentry and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

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

Encompass vs. Sentry FAQs

Is Encompass or Sentry cheaper?

Sentry is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $195 per month with Sentry and $466 for Encompass. But that doesn't mean Sentry will be the cheapest company for every driver, since there are a bunch of different factors that are considered when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, Encompass or Sentry?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for each policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Encompass and Sentry offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use many different variables when determining the rates they charge. Factors like gender, where your home is, your driving record, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Encompass and Sentry use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier 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 does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Encompass 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.