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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Sentry offers significantly cheaper rates than Foremost
• Foremost may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Sentry Insurance
• Sentry offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who live in the suburbs

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

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

You might have narrowed your search down to Foremost or Sentry, but between the two, which company will offer you less expensive prices?

As you can see, Foremost has average rates that are around 30% a month more expensive than those from Sentry when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Sentry will be the more affordable option for every single driver. Car insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like how old you are, where you live, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, and a ton of other factors, so premiums will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Foremost vs. Sentry: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Foremost and Sentry only compete against each other in one states, with Foremost offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Washington has the most noticable difference, where Foremost premiums are $29 more affordable than auto insurance rates at Sentry.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance bill than just the state you live in. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. Generally, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Sentry for their insurance pay almost 30% less than those who use Foremost.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for Foremost policyholders reduce about $350 and Sentry's premiums decrease around $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 prices you'll ever find.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Foremost and Sentry? Sentry gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at about $148 monthly compared to Foremost's $219.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Sentry premiums coming in at a quarter less than Foremost's. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Sentry offers the cheapest average prices.

Foremost or Sentry: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but men normally pay more for car insurance than women do. That's because men are more likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, which increases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Usually, women see rates around 1% per month less with Foremost, but with Sentry, the difference is closer to 10% a month.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Sentry comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $83 per month and men save about $67 with Sentry compared to the average Foremost policyholder.

Foremost 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.

For most people, insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a range of different coverages that account for several 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 bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, 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 a month to Foremost's $366.

Is Foremost or Sentry Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their car 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 speeding tickets and at-fault collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest prices to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Foremost for their auto insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 22% after getting a speeding ticket. Sentry policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 12%.

Even so, Sentry is usually the cheaper option for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket -- their rates are around 12% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 21% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Foremost can expect to see about an $179 -- or around 47% -- rise in their insurance premiums. Drivers who use Sentry for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $43 (or 19%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, the more affordable rates come from Sentry, with average prices coming in at $221 compared to Foremost Insurance Group's $381.

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 speeding ticket or even an accident. Foremost drivers usually see a 15% climb in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Sentry will generally increase premiums by around 0%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Sentry tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $178 to Foremost's $238.

How does Credit Score Impact Foremost and Sentry Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a car insurance factor, but it will come into play for quite a few drivers.

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, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with less expensive prices.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Sentry will typically reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Sentry comes in more than 27.12 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save around 29% with Sentry compared to average prices from Foremost.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Sentry typically offers lower rates than Foremost when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 29% per month less with Sentry compared to Foremost, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around 26% per month.

Is Foremost 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 insurance cost? Usually, those who drive less will end up with less expensive premiums since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

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

Foremost or 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a pretty big impact as well. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas since there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads where they live.

Sentry tends to offer the most affordable prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Sentry's average premiums are about $224 while Foremost offers rates around $318. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $218 with Sentry compared to Foremost's $287 a month. Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $143 per month with Sentry and $205 with Foremost.

Foremost 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 auto insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard 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.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Foremost and Sentry offer their customers so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

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

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Foremost also offers discounts for anti-theft, distant student, EFT, and more.

On the other hand, Sentry has a few proprietary discounts of their own like homeowner discounts and multi-car discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Foremost or Sentry Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the best one for you and your specific driver profile?

Sentry might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You live in an urban area.
• You are purchasing your insurance with a spouse.

Foremost might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- Foremost has the most.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Foremost and Sentry and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your auto 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 car insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Foremost and Sentry. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Foremost vs. Sentry FAQs

Is Foremost or Sentry cheaper?

Sentry is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $195 per month with Sentry and $270 for Foremost. That being said, that doesn't mean Sentry will be the lowest carrier for every policyholder, since there are many different factors that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Foremost or Sentry?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Foremost and Sentry offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use many different variables when determining the premiums they charge. Things such as your driving record, gender, where you park your car, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Foremost and Sentry calculate rates using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

How do I know if Foremost 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 information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Foremost 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.