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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Progressive offers slightly less expensive rates than Sentry
• Progressive offers more affordable prices for couples purchasing car insurance together
• Sentry offers more affordable rates for residents in Washington and Wisconsin

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. 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 be considering Progressive or Sentry as your top options, but which company will offer you cheaper premiums?

As you can see, Progressive is about $15 per month more affordable than Sentry when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

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

So, if you want to find out which of Progressive or Sentry is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each carrier broken down by many different rate factors.

Progressive or Sentry: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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

But there's more to calculating car insurance prices than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance rates of any group on the road. It's generally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

That being said, 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 Sentry for their car insurance pay nearly $55 less than those who use Progressive. It's worth noting that Progressive offers auto insurance in 44 different states compared to Sentry's two, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your rates decrease significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Progressive policyholders drop almost 70% and Sentry's premiums lower nearly 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Progressive gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $131 a month compared to Sentry's $148.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance rates than married policyholders. That's because policies for married drivers usually cover several cars, which lots of companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, the two carriers are comparable for single policyholders, with prices only differing about $4 a month, on average. But for married couples, the advantage is clear - Progressive has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Progressive vs. Sentry: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get tickets and get into collisions, they raise the chances of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance companies will tend to charge men more than women.

Men normally pay around $5 per month more than women with Progressive, and about $20 with Sentry.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, Progressive comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices 11% less for men and 4% cheaper for women.

Progressive 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 insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which generally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

In this case, Sentry offers the cheapest average premiums for state minimum limits for liability insurance, while Progressive has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $7 with Sentry Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $35 more affordable with Progressive.

Is Progressive or Sentry Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

It's no secret secret that tickets and accidents lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- Progressive or Sentry -- has the lowest rates for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Progressive policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $31 a month if they get a ticket, while Sentry normally raises prices about $25 per month, on average.

Even so, Progressive is typically the less expensive option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket, offering rates that are $29 and $23 cheaper, respectively, compared to Sentry Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Progressive can expect to see around an $65 -- or about 30% -- increase in their car insurance premiums. Drivers who use Sentry for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $43 (or 19%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance company.

Overall, drivers who use Progressive end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $214 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 an accident. On average, Progressive will climb your premiums about 16% after a DUI, while Sentry's average prices climb by 0%.

Progressive has the overall most affordable premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $177 monthly, but it's worth noting that Progressive's average rates come from 44 states compared to just two for Sentry, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Progressive and Sentry Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (for example, Massachusetts and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for many policyholders.

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.

Looking at Progressive 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 Progressive. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 20% compared to Sentry, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $28 or 15% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have a below average credit score, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best premiums. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $17 less with Progressive than Sentry, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around $22 a month with Sentry.

Is Progressive 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 considerable impact on how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage? That's because the more miles you drive, the more likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Progressive or Sentry report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Progressive comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle yearly, with average prices of $180 per month for both.

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

Where your home is can have a sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Usually, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders because there are a lot fewer cars on the roads in those areas.

Progressive generally comes out as the cheaper option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while Sentry wins in rural areas.

In urban areas, Progressive's average prices are about 8% less than Sentry Insurance. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 18% less with Progressive compared to Sentry. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 7% with Sentry compared to Progressive.

Progressive 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 taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to find all the ones you qualify for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Progressive and Sentry offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Progressive knocks Sentry out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 34 different discounts to Sentry's five.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a homeowner, and paid in full discounts. Progressive also offers ABS discounts, advanced safety feature discounts, agency transfer discounts, and more that Sentry does not.

Sentry's discounts come through just a few categories, including Advance Quote, Defensive Driver, Homeowner, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Progressive or Sentry Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which company is the right one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Progressive might be best for you if....

• You have a clean record.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

Sentry might be best for you if...

• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Progressive and Sentry and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Progressive and Sentry. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Progressive vs. Sentry FAQs

Is Progressive or Sentry cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Progressive is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $180 a month compared to $195 for Sentry. But Progressive won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are multiple different variables that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Progressive or Sentry?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Progressive offers cheaper prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record, while Sentry is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Progressive and Sentry offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at quite a few different factors when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Things such as where you call home, gender, age, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Progressive and Sentry calculate prices using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple 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 information once 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 best premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Progressive 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.