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

Quick Facts

• In general, Oregon Mutual offers significantly less expensive rates than Sentry
• Oregon Mutual has cheaper prices for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse
• Oregon Mutual tends to be a much more affordable option for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually

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

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might be considering Oregon Mutual or Sentry as your top options, but between the two, which one will offer you cheaper premiums?

As you can see, Sentry is quite a bit more expensive than Oregon Mutual, with rates averaging $195 a month compared to just $135 with Oregon Mutual when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

However, Oregon Mutual may not be the lowest or best option for every driver out there. Auto insurance carriers vary their prices depending on things like how good your credit score is, where you live, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, and a variety of other factors, so rates will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

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

Oregon Mutual and Sentry only compete against each other in one states, with Oregon Mutual offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Washington has the most noticable difference, where Oregon Mutual premiums are $73 more affordable than insurance prices at Sentry.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance payment than just the state you live in. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance rates of any other group of drivers out there on the road. Normally, 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. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of 15% less per month by choosing Oregon Mutual over Sentry.

Even so, both companies will lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. Sentry offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Oregon Mutual still has the cheapest premiums at $109 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the most affordable car insurance rates you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for auto insurance.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Oregon Mutual and Sentry? Oregon Mutual gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older over 30% less expensive than the national average for Sentry.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance rates are usually more expensive for single drivers than they are for married policyholders? That's because policies for married drivers typically cover multiple vehicles, which several carriers will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with Oregon Mutual prices coming in at a quarter less than Sentry's. The advantage for married couples with Oregon Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save more than 35% a month.

Oregon Mutual or Sentry: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and file an insurance claim. That means when it comes to insurance men will usually end up paying a little more.

With Oregon Mutual, men generally pay around $10 per month more than women, and about $20 more with Sentry.

Looking at overall affordability, Oregon Mutual comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $56 a month and men save around $64 with Oregon Mutual compared to the average Sentry policyholder.

Oregon 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 insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (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 -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Oregon Mutual has the slight edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $97. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Oregon Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging about $172 per month to Sentry's $286.

Is Oregon Mutual or Sentry Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with speeding tickets and accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest prices to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Oregon Mutual for their auto insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 9% after getting a speeding ticket. Sentry policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 12%.

But Oregon Mutual tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket. With Oregon Mutual, drivers with a clean record can save around $67 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $81 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Oregon Mutual drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums rise by over $20, while those who have insurance through Sentry will see around a $45 increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Oregon Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $133 compared to Sentry Insurance's $221.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. Oregon Mutual drivers usually see a 35% climb in their auto insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Sentry will typically raise prices by about 0%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Oregon Mutual tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $171 to Sentry's $178.

How does Credit Score Impact Oregon Mutual and Sentry Rates?

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

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, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable premiums.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, Oregon Mutual will generally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Oregon Mutual comes in nearly 32.56 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save about 35% with Oregon Mutual compared to average premiums from Sentry.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Oregon Mutual typically offers lower rates than Sentry when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 34% a month less with Oregon Mutual compared to Sentry, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about 24% monthly.

Is Oregon Mutual or Sentry Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on your monthly prices. Typically, the more milage you drive, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

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 premiums for Oregon Mutual, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car yearly paying around $5 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, for drivers in both categories, Oregon Mutual is the more affordable company.

Oregon Mutual 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 big impact as well. Usually, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Oregon Mutual tends to offer the most affordable rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Oregon Mutual's average prices are about $151 per month compared to Sentry's $224. People in suburban areas pay around $138 with Oregon Mutual compared to Sentry's $218 per month. Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $115 monthly with Oregon Mutual compared to Sentry's $143.

Oregon Mutual 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 insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be difficult to find all the ones you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Oregon Mutual and Sentry so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Oregon Mutual knocks Sentry out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 10 more discounts than Sentry.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company -- but Oregon Mutual also offers discounts for anti-theft, csl discount, distant student, and more.

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

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

You've seen the role certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, is Oregon Mutual or Sentry the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Oregon Mutual might be best for you if....

• You have below-average credit.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's insurance policy.

Sentry might be best for you if...

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

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Oregon Mutual 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 several carriers, not just Oregon Mutual 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 auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Oregon Mutual vs. Sentry FAQs

Is Oregon Mutual or Sentry cheaper?

Oregon Mutual is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $135 a month with Oregon Mutual and $195 for Sentry. That being said, that doesn't mean Oregon Mutual will be the lowest carrier for every policyholder, since there are a range of different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Oregon Mutual or Sentry?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Oregon Mutual and Sentry offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use lots of different factors when calculating the premiums they charge. Variables like age, gender, your driving record, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Oregon Mutual and Sentry calculate prices using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company 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, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Oregon 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.