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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Imt offers significantly more affordable rates than Sentry
• Imt offers more affordable prices for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Imt offers less expensive average rates for people who are single and purchasing car insurance by yourself

Imt vs. Sentry: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering pretty big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might be considering Imt or Sentry as potential options, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Sentry is quite a bit more expensive than Imt, with prices averaging $195 per month compared to just $109 with Imt.

But Imt may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. After all, insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your age, your driving record, your credit score, 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.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Imt and Sentry by a bunch of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Imt or Sentry: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Imt and Sentry only compete against each other in one states, with Imt offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Wisconsin has the most noticable difference, where Imt prices are over 70% less expensive than auto insurance premiums at Sentry.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance payment than just the state you live in. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that 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 insurance prices. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Imt for their auto insurance pay nearly $200 less than those who use Sentry.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your rates lower significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Imt policyholders decrease more than 45% and Sentry's prices drop almost 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the most affordable insurance rates you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually reduces their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Imt gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older nearly 45% more affordable than the national average for Sentry.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are normally cheaper for married couples than they are for single policyholders? That's generally because married drivers tend to own and insure multiple cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Imt is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices about $101 a month less expensive than Sentry, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Imt is also obvious, where drivers save over $65 per month.

Imt vs. Sentry: Average Rates by Gender

Women typically to pay less for auto 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 rates.

Men usually pay around $10 a month more than women with Imt, and about $20 with Sentry.

Looking at overall affordability, Imt offers the cheapest average prices for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $90 per month and women save around $82 with Imt compared to the average Sentry policyholder.

Imt 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.

Insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a variety of different coverages that account for multiple 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.

However, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) 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 insurance, Imt normally offers significantly more affordable premiums of $58 compared to Sentry's $104. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Imt again has the edge, with policies about $150 a month cheaper than Sentry, on average.

Is Imt or Sentry Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

It's no secret secret that at-fault collisions and tickets lead to higher prices, but which company -- Imt or Sentry -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Imt policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $13 per month if they get a ticket, while Sentry usually raises prices around $25 a month, on average.

Even so, Imt is generally the less expensive option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering premiums that are $102 and $114 more affordable, respectively, compared to Sentry Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Imt drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates rise by just under 45%, while those who have insurance through Sentry will see about a 20% increase.

Overall, Imt offers the lowest premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $134 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 ticket or even a collision. For example, Imt increases average prices by just under $60 per month -- that's just under a 45% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Imt tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $135 a month compared to $178 from Sentry.

How does Credit Score Impact Imt and Sentry Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (for example, California and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

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

Looking at Imt and Sentry specifically, which carrier has the best rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Imt. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save 50% compared to Sentry, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $83 or 45% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Imt typically offers lower premiums than Sentry when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $90 a month less with Imt compared to Sentry, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around $85 monthly.

Is Imt 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 how much auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Imt or Sentry report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Imt comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car each year, with average prices of $109 per month for both.

Imt vs. 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 substantial impact as well. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because there are a lot more vehicles on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

Imt tends to offer the lowest prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest premiums from both companies, but Imt comes out on top with average rates about $90 per month. Imt also has cheaper average premiums for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $88 and $118 a month respective difference when compared to Sentry policyholders in similar areas.

Imt 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, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as you can.

The difficult part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Imt and Sentry so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Overall, Imt has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Sentry offers a grand total of five discounts, while Imt has nine.

Both carriers offer lots of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver and paid in full discounts -- but Imt also offers commercial product discounts, distant student discounts, driver training discounts, and more that Sentry does not.

On the flip side, Sentry has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, discounts for being a homeowner, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company.

Final Thoughts: Is Imt or Sentry Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables car insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Imt or Sentry the best carrier for you and your specific needs?

Imt might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• Your credit score is high.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Sentry might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Imt and Sentry and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Imt and Sentry. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make 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 companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Imt vs. Sentry FAQs

Is Imt or Sentry cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Imt is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $109 per month compared to $195 for Sentry. That being said, Imt won't necessarily be the most affordable company for every policyholder, since there are many different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Imt or Sentry?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Imt and Sentry offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at a lot of different variables when calculating the prices they charge drivers. Things like age, gender, where you live, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Imt and Sentry calculate rates differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple 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 area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Imt 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.