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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Rockford Mutual offers less expensive premiums than Sentry
• Rockford Mutual has cheaper prices for single people who will be the only person on the auto insurance policy
• Sentry offers more affordable average premiums for drivers with a DUI

Rockford 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 hefty savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Rockford Mutual or Sentry as your top options, but which company will offer you cheaper prices?

As you can see, Sentry is around $26 more a month than Rockford Mutual when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

That being said, Rockford Mutual may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. Car insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how old you are or how good your credit score is (among several other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

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

Rockford Mutual and Sentry only compete against each other in one states, with Rockford Mutual offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Wisconsin has the most noticable difference, where Rockford Mutual rates are $32 more affordable than auto insurance premiums at Sentry.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

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

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Sentry for their auto insurance pay almost 6% less than those who use Rockford Mutual.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time you turn 25. Sentry offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Rockford Mutual still has the most affordable prices at $137 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Rockford Mutual and Sentry specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Rockford Mutual gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at about $118 monthly compared to Sentry's $148.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married policyholders. That's normally because married drivers tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For single drivers, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is not very significant, with Rockford Mutual prices coming in at around 10% less than Sentry's. The advantage for married couples is more obvious, where drivers who use Rockford Mutual save about $35 per month.

Rockford Mutual or Sentry: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get tickets and get into accidents, they have a decreased chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, insurance companies will tend to offer women more affordable premiums.

Men usually pay around $15 a month more than women with Rockford Mutual, but with Sentry, the difference is closer to $20 per month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Rockford Mutual comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 14% less for men and 13% cheaper for women.

Rockford 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.

For most people, auto insurance can be pretty complicated. There are many different coverages that account for a bunch of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

However, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which typically refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Rockford Mutual has the edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $88. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Rockford Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging about $251 a month to Sentry's $286.

Is Rockford 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 car insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

Collisions and speeding tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is Rockford Mutual or Sentry cheaper for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Rockford Mutual for their insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up around 29% after getting a speeding ticket. Sentry policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 12%.

Even so, Rockford Mutual is usually the more affordable option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket -- their rates are around 33% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 16% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Rockford Mutual can expect to see around an $38 -- or about 24% -- rise in their auto 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 auto insurance company.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Rockford Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $158 compared to Sentry Insurance's $221.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly insurance bill -- normally a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. Rockford Mutual drivers usually see a 48% climb in their car insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Sentry will typically increase rates by about 0%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Sentry tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $178 to Rockford Mutual's $229.

How does Credit Score Impact Rockford Mutual and Sentry Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly auto insurance prices. This isn't true for everyone (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it does affect quite a few drivers out there.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so generally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive premiums.

So, which carrier offers the best prices for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Rockford Mutual will usually reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Rockford Mutual comes in more than 21.51 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save about 24% with Rockford Mutual compared to average rates from Sentry.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have less-than-perfect credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best premiums. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 13% less with Rockford Mutual than Sentry, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving about 2% per month with Sentry.

Is Rockford Mutual 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 insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Rockford Mutual or Sentry report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, Rockford Mutual comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average prices of $169 a month for both.

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

Where your home is can have a pretty big impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Generally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas since there are a lot fewer vehicles on the road where they live, which lowers the chances of an accident.

Looking at these carriers side-by-side, Sentry typically comes out as the more affordable option for drivers in rural and urban areas, while Rockford Mutual wins in suburban areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $1 with Sentry compared to Rockford Mutual. People who live in suburban areas pay about $87 less with Rockford Mutual compared to Sentry. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Sentry Insurance's average premiums are around $9 less than Rockford Mutual Insurance Company.

Rockford Mutual vs. Sentry Discounts

No matter 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 you can, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Rockford Mutual and Sentry so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Overall, Rockford Mutual comes out ahead with eight discounts to Sentry's five.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Rockford Mutual also offers discounts for anti-theft, good driving, good student, and more.

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

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

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, is Rockford Mutual or Sentry the right one for you and your specific needs?

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

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.
• You have a short commute.

Sentry might be best for you if...

• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• You live in a rural area.
• You want to save money while purchasing insurance for a teenager.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Rockford 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.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Rockford Mutual 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.

Rockford Mutual vs. Sentry FAQs

Is Rockford Mutual or Sentry cheaper?

Rockford Mutual is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $169 per month with Rockford Mutual and $195 for Sentry. However, that doesn't mean Rockford Mutual will be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are a variety of different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Rockford Mutual or Sentry?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Rockford Mutual is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit, while Sentry offers less expensive rates for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Rockford Mutual and Sentry offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use several different factors when determining the prices they charge. Things like age, your driving record, where you park your car, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Rockford Mutual and Sentry calculate premiums using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

How do I know if Rockford 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 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 quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Rockford 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.