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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Sentry offers slightly less expensive prices than Hastings Mutual
• Hastings Mutual has more affordable premiums for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record
• Sentry offers more affordable rates for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles every year

Hastings Mutual or Sentry: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Hastings Mutual or Sentry as potential options, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Hastings Mutual is around $16 more a month than Sentry.

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

Wanting to know if Hastings Mutual 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.

Hastings Mutual vs. Sentry: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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

But there's more to calculating auto insurance premiums than just where you live. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

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

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Hastings Mutual save almost 6% per month compared to those who use Sentry.

Even so, both carriers will drop rates once you turn 25. Sentry offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Hastings Mutual's average prices decrease over 45% during that same period.

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 you'll ever see.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Hastings Mutual and Sentry? Sentry gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older more than 10% more affordable than the national average for Hastings Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance prices than married policyholders. That's generally because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is not very significant, with Sentry rates coming in at about 3% less than Hastings Mutual's. But for married couples, the advantage is clear - Sentry has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Hastings Mutual or Sentry: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but insurance is typically more expensive for men than for women. That's because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which raises the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Men normally pay around $5 a month more than women with Hastings Mutual, and about $20 with Sentry.

Looking at overall affordability, Sentry comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates $8 less for men and $23 cheaper for women.

Hastings Mutual 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.

It's no secret that 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 for you.

But most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to liability).

When it comes to state minimum limits for liability insurance, Sentry has the edge, while Hastings Mutual offers the lowest average premiums for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $40 with Sentry Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $7 less expensive with Hastings Mutual Insurance Company.

Is Hastings Mutual 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.

Speeding tickets and collisions will most likely raise your prices, but is Hastings Mutual or Sentry cheaper for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Hastings Mutual for their insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 16% after getting a speeding ticket. Sentry policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 12%.

That being said, Hastings Mutual has more affordable premiums for drivers in both categories. With Hastings Mutual Insurance Company, drivers with a clean record can save about $69 per month and drivers with a ticket can save around $74 a month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Hastings Mutual policyholders who get in an accident can expect to see their rates climb by just under 15%, while those who have insurance through Sentry will see about a 20% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Hastings Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $126 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 speeding ticket or even a collision. Hastings Mutual drivers usually see a 77% raise in their auto 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 prices, Sentry tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $178 to Hastings Mutual's $478.

How does Credit Score Impact Hastings Mutual and Sentry Rates?

Did you know many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it will come into play for lots of drivers.

Insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which raises the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

So, which carrier offers the best rates for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Hastings Mutual will usually reward you the most for an "excellent" credit score. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Hastings Mutual comes in 3% less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save around 4% with Sentry compared to average prices from Hastings Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Sentry typically offers lower rates than Hastings Mutual when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 4% per month less with Sentry compared to Hastings Mutual, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around 18% per month.

Is Hastings Mutual 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 sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance cost? Normally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable premiums since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Hastings Mutual or Sentry report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, Sentry comes out as the cheapest 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.

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

Where you park your vehicle can play a substantial role in how much you pay for car insurance. Usually, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers since there are a lot fewer cars on the road where they live, which reduces the chances of an accident.

Sentry tends to offer the lowest option for drivers in rural and urban areas, while Hastings Mutual wins in suburban areas.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Sentry Insurance's average premiums are about $67 less than Hastings Mutual Insurance Company. People who live in suburban areas pay around $41 less with Hastings Mutual compared to Sentry. Those in rural areas can expect to save about $21 with Sentry compared to Hastings Mutual.

Hastings Mutual vs. Sentry Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Hastings Mutual and Sentry so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Hastings Mutual comes out ahead with 10 discounts to Sentry's five.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company. Hastings Mutual also offers discounts for ABS, anti-theft, company car, and more.

On the other hand, Sentry has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, homeowner discounts, and paid in full discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Hastings Mutual or Sentry Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the best fit for you?

Sentry might be best for you if....

• You have less-than-stellar credit.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You and your spouse are buying car insurance together.

Hastings Mutual might be best for you if...

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.
• You want to save money while purchasing insurance for a teenager.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Hastings Mutual 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 car insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just Hastings Mutual and Sentry. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Hastings Mutual vs. Sentry FAQs

Is Hastings Mutual or Sentry cheaper?

Sentry is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $195 per month with Sentry and $211 for Hastings Mutual. Even so, that doesn't mean Sentry will be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are multiple different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Hastings Mutual or Sentry?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for every policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, Hastings Mutual is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit, while Sentry offers less expensive prices for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Hastings Mutual and Sentry offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use several different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Factors like where you call home, gender, age, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Hastings Mutual and Sentry use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

How do I know if Hastings Mutual 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 carriers 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 auto insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Hastings Mutual 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.