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

Quick Facts

• In general, Western National offers significantly more affordable prices than Sentry
• Sentry tends to be a much cheaper option for residents of rural areas
• Western National offers less expensive average premiums for policyholders who live in the suburbs

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Sentry or Western National, but between the two, which one has cheaper prices for car insurance?

As you can see, Sentry has average rates that are about 21% per month more expensive than those from Western National when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

However, Western National may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your age, your credit score, your driving record, or even where you call home (among other things). So, at the end of the day, premiums from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Sentry and Western National by lots of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Sentry or Western National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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

But there's more to auto insurance than just where you live. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance carriers calculate your premiums. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance prices of any other group of drivers. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Western National save more than $90 a month compared to those who use Sentry.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time you turn 25. Western National offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Sentry's average rates reduce nearly 55% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable prices you'll ever see.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Sentry and Western National? Western National gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $109 monthly compared to Sentry's $148.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance premiums are generally more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples? That's usually because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Western National is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates about $50 per month cheaper than Sentry, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Western National is also obvious, where drivers save almost $30 a month.

Sentry vs. Western National: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but auto insurance is typically cheaper for women than it is for men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

On average, women see premiums around $20 per month less expensive with Sentry, and about $15 with Western National.

Looking at overall affordability, Western National offers the lowest average prices for both men and women, with average premiums $44 less for men and $38 cheaper for women.

Sentry or Western National: 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.

Insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are a variety of different coverages that account for a bunch of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Western National normally offers significantly more affordable rates of $60 compared to Sentry's $104. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Western National again has the edge, with policies around $40 a month less expensive than Sentry, on average.

Is Sentry or Western National Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto 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.

It's no secret secret that tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Sentry or Western National -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Western National car insurance policies don't report seeing their premiums increase after getting a ticket, but Sentry policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by about $25.

Even so, Western National tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket, offering rates that are 13% and 24% more affordable, respectively, compared to Sentry Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Sentry policyholders who get in an accident can expect to see their prices rise by just under $45, while those who have insurance through Western National will see around a $0 increase.

Overall, drivers who use Western National end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $154 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 accident or speeding ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. Western National drivers usually see a 0% raise in their car insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Sentry will typically increase premiums by about 0%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Western National tends to be the much cheaper option with average premiums of $154 a month compared to $178 from Sentry.

How does Credit Score Impact Sentry and Western National Rates?

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

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

Looking at Sentry and Western National specifically, which carrier has the best premiums 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 Western National 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 your monthly rates. That's because the fewer miles you put on your vehicle each year, the less likely you are to get into a collision and cause 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 prices for Western National, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles annually paying around $4 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Western National is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you call home can have a considerable impact on your monthly insurance payment. Usually, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas because of the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

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

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about $15 with Sentry compared to Western National. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $91 less with Western National compared to Sentry. In urban areas, Western National Insurance Company's average prices are about $47 less than Sentry Insurance.

Sentry vs. Western National Discounts

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

The difficult part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Sentry and Western National so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Western National knocks Sentry out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering seven more discounts than Sentry.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company. Western National also offers anti-theft discounts, corporate discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more that Sentry does not.

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

Final Thoughts: Is Sentry or Western National Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Sentry or Western National the best fit for you?

Western National might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
• You live in an urban area.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your insurance.

Sentry might be best for you if...

• You live in a rural neighborhood.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Sentry and Western National and that it aids in making a more informed 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 Western National. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Sentry vs. Western National FAQs

Is Sentry or Western National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Western National is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $154 per month compared to $195 for Sentry. That being said, Western National won't necessarily be the lowest company for each policyholder, since there are a range of different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Sentry or Western National?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, Western National offers more affordable premiums for policyholders with an at-fault collision on their record, while Sentry is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Sentry and Western National offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at many different factors when determining the rates they charge drivers. Variables like age, your driving record, gender, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Sentry and Western National calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier 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 free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Sentry or Western National 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.