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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Rurual Mutual offers more affordable rates than Sentry
• Rurual Mutual has less expensive prices for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles every year
• Sentry offers cheaper average premiums for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods

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

Are you in the market for 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've maybe even narrowed it down to Rurual Mutual or Sentry for your next policy, but which company has less expensive prices for car insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Rurual Mutual has average rates that are around 14% a month more affordable than those from Sentry.

That being said, Rurual Mutual may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Auto insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how good your credit score is (among many other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

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

Rurual Mutual and Sentry only compete against each other in Wisconsin, where Rurual Mutual offers the cheaper average rates. Undefined drivers tend to pay about undefined per month less on average compared to drivers who use undefined for their insurance.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance cost than just your home state. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance prices of any other group of drivers. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 15% less a month by choosing Rurual Mutual over Sentry.

Even so, with both companies, you'll see your premiums lower significantly once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Rurual Mutual policyholders drop about $200 and Sentry's premiums reduce around $200 over that time.

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 cheapest rates you can find.

When looking at Rurual Mutual and Sentry specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Rurual Mutual gets the slight edge here, with average prices coming in at about $135 per month compared to Sentry's $148.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance rates tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples. This usually boils down to married drivers having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something several car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with Rurual Mutual prices coming in at around 15% less than Sentry's. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Rurual Mutual has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Rurual Mutual or Sentry: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will generally end up paying a little more.

Men typically pay more than $10 per month more than women with Rurual Mutual, and about $20 more with Sentry.

When it comes to the most affordable rates for each gender, Rurual Mutual comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices 16% less for men and 12% cheaper for women.

Rurual 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, insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

However, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which usually refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Rurual Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $67. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Rurual Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging around $267 a month to Sentry's $286.

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

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance carriers offering great prices 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 collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest premiums to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Rurual Mutual for their auto insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 8% after getting a speeding ticket. Sentry policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 12%.

Even so, Rurual Mutual is generally the cheaper option for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket, offering rates that are $61 and $76 more affordable, respectively, compared to Sentry Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Rurual Mutual drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums rise by just under 15%, while those who have insurance through Sentry will see about a 20% increase.

At the end of the day, the cheaper prices come from Rurual Mutual, with average rates coming in at $136 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 speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, Rurual Mutual increases average premiums by more than $150 per month -- that's nearly a 60% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Sentry tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $178 to Rurual Mutual's $288.

How does Credit Score Impact Rurual Mutual and Sentry Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining premiums? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a car insurance factor, but it might come into play for lots of policyholders.

Car insurance carriers 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.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Rurual 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. Usually, those who drive less will end up with cheaper prices since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Rurual Mutual or Sentry report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, Rurual Mutual comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average prices of $167 a month for both.

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

Where your home is can have a sizable impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Rurual Mutual normally comes out as the more affordable option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while Sentry wins in rural areas.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Rurual Mutual Insurance's average premiums are about $13 less than Sentry Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay around $86 less with Rurual Mutual compared to Sentry. Those in rural areas can expect to save about $15 with Sentry compared to Rurual Mutual.

Rurual 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 hard to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you qualify for.

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

Overall, Rurual Mutual comes out ahead with six discounts to Sentry's five.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like paid in full discounts. Rurual Mutual also offers discounts for claim free, distant student, good student, and more.

On the other hand, Sentry has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, defensive driver discounts, homeowner discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Rurual Mutual or Sentry the right company for you and your specific needs?

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

• You will be the only person on the car insurance policy.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You and your spouse are buying insurance together.

Sentry might be best for you if...

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Rurual Mutual and Sentry and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

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

Rurual Mutual vs. Sentry FAQs

Is Rurual Mutual or Sentry cheaper?

Rurual Mutual is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $167 per month with Rurual Mutual and $195 for Sentry. That being said, that doesn't mean Rurual Mutual will be the lowest company for every driver, since there are many different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Rurual Mutual or Sentry?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, Sentry is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Rurual Mutual offers cheaper rates for policyholders with an at-fault accident on their record.

Why do Rurual Mutual and Sentry offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use quite a few different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Things like your driving record, gender, age, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Rurual Mutual and Sentry calculate premiums using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

How do I know if Rurual 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 multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Rurual 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.