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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Sentry offers slightly cheaper prices than Farmers
• Farmers offers less expensive average premiums for policyholders who live in suburban areas
• Sentry has more affordable rates for residents of urban areas

Farmers 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 large discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Farmers or Sentry, but which company will offer you cheaper prices?

Looking at nationwide averages, Sentry is about $8 per month less expensive than Farmers.

However, Sentry may not be the cheapest or best option for every single driver out there. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your age, where you call home, your credit score, or even your driving record (among other things), so premiums could vary drastically from person to person.

Wanting to know if Farmers 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.

Farmers or Sentry: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Farmers and Sentry only compete against each other in two states, with Farmers offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. Washington has the most noticable difference, where Farmers premiums are over 70% more affordable than auto insurance rates at Sentry.

But there's more to calculating insurance prices than just where you call home. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

Even so, 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 car insurance pay nearly $150 less than those who use Farmers. It's worth noting that Farmers offers insurance in 25 different states compared to Sentry's two, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

But both carriers will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Farmers policyholders lower almost $400 and Sentry's rates drop more than $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable premiums out there.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Farmers gets the slight edge here, with average rates coming in at around $143 monthly compared to Sentry's $148. That being said, the difference is only about 5%, so other factors will likely come into play when determining which company has the cheapest premiums for you.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly less expensive car insurance prices than single drivers. This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple cars on their policy -- something a lot of insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Sentry is the winner for single policyholders, with rates around $20 a month cheaper than Farmers, on average.

Farmers vs. Sentry: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women generally pay less for auto insurance than men? This is because men are more likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, which increases the chances of an insurance claim.

With Farmers, men usually pay about $7 per month more than women, and around $20 more with Sentry.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Sentry comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $2 a month and women save about $15 with Sentry compared to the average Farmers policyholder.

Farmers 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.

It's no secret that car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are multiple different coverages that account for a bunch of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which typically refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability).

In this case, Sentry offers the most affordable average premiums for state minimum liability insurance, while Farmers has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $20 with Sentry Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $5 less expensive with Farmers Insurance.

Is Farmers or Sentry Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance carriers offering great rates for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

Accidents and tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is Farmers or Sentry more affordable for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Farmers policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $44 per month if they get a ticket, while Sentry usually raises rates about $25 a month, on average.

If you have a clean record, Farmers tends to offer the best prices at around 9% cheaper, while Sentry has the edge for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Farmers increasing by over $60. Sentry has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay just under $45 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, drivers who use Sentry end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $221 compared to Farmers Insurance's $224.

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 car insurance bill -- generally a lot more than an accident or ticket. For example, Farmers increases average prices by nearly $60 per month -- that's over a 25% increase.

Sentry has the overall cheapest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $178 a month, but it's worth noting that Farmers's average rates come from 25 states compared to just two for Sentry, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Farmers and Sentry Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly auto insurance premiums. This isn't always the case (for example, Hawaii and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect lots of policyholders out there.

Insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time every month, which decreases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which company offers the best prices for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Farmers. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save 5% compared to Sentry, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $0 or 0% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Sentry typically offers lower rates than Farmers when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $11 a month less with Sentry compared to Farmers, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about $31 per month.

Is Farmers 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 your monthly car insurance payment. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Farmers or Sentry report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Sentry comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average premiums of $195 per month for both.

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

Where you live can play a sizable role in how much you pay for insurance. Typically, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

Sentry usually comes out as the more affordable option for drivers in rural and urban areas, while Farmers wins in suburban areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around 16% with Sentry compared to Farmers. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about 13% less with Farmers compared to Sentry. In urban areas, Sentry Insurance's average prices are around 11% less than Farmers Insurance.

Farmers vs. Sentry Discounts

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

The difficult 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.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Farmers 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.

Farmers knocks Sentry out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 28 different discounts to Sentry's five.

Both companies offer several of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a homeowner, and paid in full discounts -- but Farmers also offers ABS discounts, alternative fuel discounts, anti-theft 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 Farmers or Sentry Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is Farmers or Sentry the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Sentry might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your prices.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Farmers might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- Sentry Insurance is only available in WA and WI.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" auto insurance.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your insurance.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Farmers 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 several carriers, not just Farmers and Sentry. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Farmers vs. Sentry FAQs

Is Farmers or Sentry cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Sentry is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $195 a month compared to $203 for Farmers. But Sentry won't necessarily be the cheapest company for every driver, since there are a range of different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Farmers or Sentry?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, Sentry offers cheaper premiums for drivers with a recent DUI, while Farmers is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Farmers and Sentry offer me different rates?

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

How do I know if Farmers 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 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 information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Farmers 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.