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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, West Bend Mutual offers significantly less expensive premiums than Sentry
• West Bend Mutual offers cheaper average rates for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit
• West Bend Mutual has more affordable prices for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years

Sentry vs. West Bend Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Sentry or West Bend Mutual, but between the two, which carrier has less expensive premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Sentry has average rates that are about 35% per month more expensive than those from West Bend Mutual.

However, that doesn't mean West Bend Mutual will necessarily be more affordable than Sentry for each driver. After all, insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your credit score, your age, or even your driving record (among other things), so rates could vary drastically from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Sentry or West Bend Mutual is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each carrier broken down by a range of different rate factors.

Sentry or West Bend Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Sentry and West Bend Mutual only compete against each other in one states, with West Bend Mutual offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. Wisconsin has the most noticable difference, where West Bend Mutual rates are over 40% more affordable than car insurance prices at Sentry.

But there's more to insurance than just the state you live in. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance carriers calculate your rates. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance premiums of any group out there on the road. That's usually because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. As you can see above, teens who use West Bend Mutual save nearly $70 a month compared to those who use Sentry.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Sentry policyholders reduce more than $200 and West Bend Mutual's premiums drop around $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? West Bend Mutual gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at about $92 a month compared to Sentry's $148.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance prices are generally less expensive for married policyholders than they are for single policyholders? That's because policies for married drivers typically cover more than one car, which several carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, West Bend Mutual is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums around $63 per month cheaper than Sentry, on average. The advantage for married couples with West Bend Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save about $65 a month.

Sentry vs. West Bend Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into accidents and get tickets, they are more likely to file a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance companies will tend to offer men more expensive rates.

On average, men see prices almost 10% per month higher with Sentry, and around 12% more with West Bend Mutual.

When it comes to the most affordable premiums for each gender, West Bend Mutual comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $66 a month and women save about $62 with West Bend Mutual compared to the average Sentry policyholder.

Sentry or West Bend Mutual: 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 insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car 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 covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, West Bend Mutual normally offers significantly less expensive prices of $77 compared to Sentry's $104. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, West Bend Mutual again has the edge, with policies around $100 per month more affordable than Sentry, on average.

Is Sentry or West Bend Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest rates to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

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

That being said, West Bend Mutual tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record -- their rates are around 53% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 46% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Sentry can expect to see around an $43 -- or about 19% -- increase in their auto insurance premiums. Drivers who use West Bend Mutual for their car insurance will see a monthly bill around $79 (or 48%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their insurance carrier.

Overall, drivers who use West Bend Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $163 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 auto insurance bill -- usually a lot more than an accident or ticket. On average, West Bend Mutual will increase your premiums about 50% after a DUI, while Sentry's average prices climb by 0%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, West Bend Mutual tends to be the much more affordable option with average prices of $169 monthly compared to $178 from Sentry.

How does Credit Score Impact Sentry and West Bend Mutual Rates?

Did you know that many insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for many drivers.

Car insurance companies argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time every month, which lowers the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

Looking specifically at Sentry and West Bend Mutual, which one has the most affordable rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on how much auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Typically, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper prices since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Sentry or West Bend Mutual report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, West Bend Mutual comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle each year, with average rates of $131 a month for both.

Sentry vs. West Bend Mutual: 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 substantial impact as well. 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.

West Bend Mutual tends to offer the cheapest rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable prices from both companies, but West Bend Mutual comes out on top with average rates around $113 per month. West Bend Mutual also has more affordable average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $66 and $96 per month respective difference when compared to Sentry drivers in similar areas.

Sentry vs. West Bend Mutual Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem hard to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Sentry and West Bend Mutual so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

West Bend Mutual blows Sentry away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 11 more discounts than Sentry.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and paid in full discounts. West Bend Mutual also offers ABS discounts, advanced safety feature discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that Sentry does not.

On the flip side, Sentry has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts and discounts for being a homeowner.

Final Thoughts: Is Sentry or West Bend Mutual Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors car insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the best company for you and your specific profile and needs?

West Bend Mutual might be best for you if....

• Your credit is below-average.
• You have above-average credit.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Sentry might be best for you if...

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

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Sentry and West Bend Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about 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 a handful of companies, not just Sentry and West Bend Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Sentry vs. West Bend Mutual FAQs

Is Sentry or West Bend Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, West Bend Mutual is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $131 a month compared to $195 for Sentry. But West Bend Mutual won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for every policyholder, since there are lots of different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Sentry or West Bend Mutual?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Sentry and West Bend Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different factors when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Things like where your home is, age, where you park your car, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Sentry and West Bend Mutual calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Sentry or West Bend Mutual 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.