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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, State Farm offers more affordable rates than Sentry
• Sentry tends to be a much less expensive option for drivers with a DUI
• State Farm has cheaper prices for policyholders who drive a short distance to work everyday

Sentry or State Farm: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering 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 have narrowed your search down to Sentry or State Farm for your next policy, but which carrier will offer you more affordable premiums?

Looking at nationwide averages, State Farm has average rates that are around 19% a month less expensive than those from Sentry.

That being said, State Farm may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Auto insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how clean your driving record is or where you live (among a range of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

Sentry vs. State Farm: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Sentry and State Farm only compete against each other in two states, with State Farm offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. Washington has the most noticable difference, where State Farm rates are $120 more affordable than insurance premiums at Sentry.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance payment than just where you call home. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for auto insurance than any group out there on the road. That's typically because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 10% less per month by choosing State Farm over Sentry.

Even so, with both companies, you'll see your rates lower significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Sentry policyholders decrease about $200 and State Farm's premiums drop over $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the cheapest insurance prices you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually decreases their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise rates.

When looking at Sentry and State Farm specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? State Farm gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $37 cheaper than the national average for Sentry.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance rates than married couples. That's because policies for married policyholders typically cover multiple vehicles, which many carriers will give you a discount for.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with State Farm rates coming in at a quarter less than Sentry's. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - State Farm offers the most affordable average prices.

Sentry or State Farm: Average Rates by Gender

Women tend to pay less for insurance than men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into a collision, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

Generally, women see prices nearly 10% a month less with Sentry, and around 7% less with State Farm.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, State Farm offers the lowest average premiums for both men and women. On average, women save about $33 per month and men save about $41 with State Farm compared to the average Sentry policyholder.

Sentry vs. State Farm: 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 car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

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

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, State Farm has the slight edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $99. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, State Farm again has the edge, with policies averaging around $216 a month to Sentry's $286.

Is Sentry or State Farm Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance carriers offering great premiums 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 speeding tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- Sentry or State Farm -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Sentry for their insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 12% after getting a speeding ticket. State Farm policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 14%.

But State Farm tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket -- their rates are around 25% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 24% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Sentry drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums rise by just under $45, while those who have insurance through State Farm will see about a $30 increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use State Farm end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $163 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, State Farm increases average rates by $45 per month -- that's more than a 25% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Sentry and State Farm Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (for example, are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect lots of policyholders out there.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that drivers 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 prices.

So, which company offers the best rates for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Sentry or State Farm Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car each year, the less likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

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 State Farm, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying around $13 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, for drivers in both categories, State Farm is the cheaper carrier.

Sentry or State Farm: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Usually, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

State Farm boasts the lowest average prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, State Farm's average premiums are about $185 while Sentry offers prices around $224. People in suburban areas pay a monthly premium of about $161 with State Farm compared to $218 with Sentry. Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $127 a month with State Farm compared to Sentry's $143.

Sentry vs. State Farm Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Sentry and State Farm offer their customers so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

State Farm knocks Sentry out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 18 more discounts than Sentry.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but State Farm also offers discounts for ABS, annual mileage, anti-theft, 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 Sentry or State Farm Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, is Sentry or State Farm the right company for you and your specific driver profile?

State Farm might be best for you if....

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in a collision in the last few years.
• You're looking for the best rates on liability only coverage.
• You want to save money while purchasing insurance for a teenager.

Sentry might be best for you if...

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Sentry and State Farm. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about 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 multiple carriers, not just Sentry and State Farm. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Sentry vs. State Farm FAQs

Is Sentry or State Farm cheaper?

State Farm is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $158 a month with State Farm and $195 for Sentry. However, that doesn't mean State Farm will be the most affordable carrier for every driver, since there are multiple different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Sentry or State Farm?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile. For example, State Farm is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit, while Sentry offers cheaper prices for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Sentry and State Farm offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use a lot of different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Factors like gender, your driving record, age, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Sentry and State Farm use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Sentry or State Farm 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.