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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Sentry offers significantly cheaper prices than Grange
• Grange offers more discounts than Sentry Insurance
• Sentry offers more affordable premiums for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

Grange 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 hefty discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed it down to Grange or Sentry for your next policy, but which company will offer you less expensive prices?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Grange has average rates that are about 22% per month more expensive than those from Sentry.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Sentry will be the more affordable option for every single driver. After all, insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your driving record, your credit score, or even your age (among other things). So, at the end of the day, rates from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Grange 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.

Grange or Sentry: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Grange and Sentry only compete against each other in one states, with Grange offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. Washington has the most noticable difference, where Grange rates are over 30% less expensive than car insurance premiums at Sentry.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance cost than just where you call home. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance prices. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Sentry for their auto insurance pay more than $150 less than those who use Grange.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. Sentry offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Grange's average premiums lower nearly 65% during that same period.

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 cheapest rates out there.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? Sentry gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older over 25% more affordable than the national average for Grange.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

When it comes to relationship status, Sentry is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates around $66 a month less expensive than Grange, on average. The advantage for married couples with Sentry is also obvious, where drivers save almost $40 per month.

Grange vs. Sentry: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get tickets and get into accidents, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance companies will tend to charge men more than women.

On average, men see premiums about 5% a month higher with Grange, and nearly 10% with Sentry.

Looking at overall affordability, Sentry comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $50 per month and women save around $58 with Sentry compared to the average Grange policyholder.

Grange 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.

For most people, auto insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Sentry usually offers significantly more affordable prices of $104 compared to Grange's $185. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Sentry again has the edge, with policies about $25 a month less expensive than Grange, on average.

Is Grange or Sentry Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Grange policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $55 per month if they get a ticket, while Sentry generally raises rates around $25 a month, on average.

However, Sentry is typically the cheaper option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering premiums that are $2 and $32 more affordable, respectively, compared to Grange Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Grange climbing by over $85. Sentry has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay just under $45 more than you were prior to your first accident.

Overall, Sentry offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with monthly prices averaging $221 compared to Grange Insurance's $266.

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 a collision. Grange drivers usually see a 43% climb in their auto insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Sentry will generally raise rates by about 0%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Sentry tends to be the much less expensive option with average premiums of $178 per month compared to $314 from Grange.

How does Credit Score Impact Grange and Sentry Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly insurance rates. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for many drivers.

Car insurance companies argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which lowers the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which carrier offers the best 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 Sentry. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 10% compared to Grange, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $38 or 17% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Sentry typically offers lower premiums than Grange when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $54 per month less with Sentry compared to Grange, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around $118 monthly.

Is Grange 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 prices? That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more likely you are to get into an accident 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 rates for Grange, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car annually paying about $2 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Sentry is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you live can have a large impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Sentry typically comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable rates from both companies, but Sentry comes out on top with average premiums around $143 a month. Sentry also has less expensive average prices for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $68 and $17 a month respective difference when compared to Grange drivers in similar areas.

Grange vs. Sentry Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many car insurance discounts as you can.

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

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Grange and Sentry offer their customers so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Grange blows Sentry away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 28 different discounts to Sentry's five.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and paid in full discounts. Grange also offers ABS discounts, advanced safety feature discounts, agency transfer discounts, and more that Sentry does not.

On the flip side, Sentry has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts and discounts for being a homeowner.

Final Thoughts: Is Grange or Sentry Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors auto insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the right carrier for you and your specific needs?

Sentry might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You live in an suburban area.
• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Grange might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (Grange offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Grange and Sentry. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from several companies, not just Grange 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 car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Grange vs. Sentry FAQs

Is Grange or Sentry cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Sentry is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $195 per month compared to $249 for Grange. That being said, Sentry won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are many different variables that are considered when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, Grange or Sentry?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Grange and Sentry offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when calculating the rates they charge policyholders. Things like age, your driving record, gender, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Grange and Sentry use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance company 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, sites like Compare.com make 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 companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Grange 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.