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Sentry vs. Erie Insurance
Which insurance company is right for you? Compare plans, savings, and quotes from Sentry and Erie.
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Sentry vs. Erie: What You Need to Know
Sentry insurance specializes in business insurance and its subsidiary, Dairyland, sells high-risk car insurance, which includes SR-22 and FR-44 filings.
Erie Insurance Exchange was founded in 1925 by H.O. Hirt and O.G. Crawford, in the city of Erie, Pennsylvania. H.O. Hirt hoped to create a company based on superior service using the mantra, “The ERIE is Above all in sERvIcE,” with the letters "E-R-I-E" raised in capitals out of the word “service.” It still remains the company tagline today. Three years after being established, the company was doing so well that it expanded its business by opening its first office outside Erie, in Pittsburgh. By 1934, the company created the “Super Standard Auto Policy,” which was used as a model for other insurance companies across the country. The company later expanded its product portfolio into a home, business and in the year 1967, Erie Family Life Insurance Company was formed, offering life insurance to consumers. Erie Indemnity Company was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1994 and in the following year it was listed on NASDAQ. Today, Erie Insurance Company ranks number 381 on the 2019 FORTUNE 500® list and has over 5,000 employees and 12,000 independent agents. Also, the company ranks highest among auto insurers in providing a satisfying purchase experience, with a score of 917 (on a 1,000-point scale).
Below is a list of average rates, rankings, products, and discounts for the two companies. For full company overviews, you can visit Sentry Overview and Erie Overview.
Sentry vs. Erie: How much are the Average Rates?
Below is a list of the average rates that drivers typically pay with Sentry and Erie. On average, Sentry charges approximately $244.59 per month while Erie comes in at around $126.03 per month. For Sentry, the cheapest state average is Idaho at $183.85 per month and the most expensive is Pennsylvania at $302.77 per month. For Erie, the cheapest state average is Ohio at $74.59 per month and the most expensive is Maryland at $154.31 per month.
Average Rate
Average Rate
Average Rate
| State | Sentry | Erie |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $268.87 | - |
| Idaho | $183.85 | - |
| Maryland | - | $154.31 |
| New York | - | $136.26 |
| North Carolina | - | $75.42 |
| Ohio | - | $74.59 |
| Oregon | $273.22 | - |
| Pennsylvania | $302.77 | $132.86 |
| Tennessee | - | $140.34 |
| Virginia | - | $99.84 |
| Washington | $236.32 | - |
| West Virginia | - | $130.09 |
| Wisconsin | $200.53 | $104.24 |
Sentry vs. Erie: Rates by Number of Vehicle
Drivers will typically get a discount if they insure multiple vehicles. Here is a list of average rates that Sentry and Erie typically charge for drivers who have more than 1 vehicle.
| Number of Vehicles | Sentry | Erie |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Vehicle | $242.44 | $124.97 |
| 2 Vehicles | $307.74 | $175.76 |
Sentry vs. Erie: Rates by Homeownership
Drivers who own their home rather than rent can sometimes get a small discount. We found that on average Sentry charges $219.94 per month and Erie charges $133.88 per month for customers who own their home.
| Own/Rent | Sentry | Erie |
|---|---|---|
| Own | $219.94 | $133.88 |
| Rent | $246.84 | $125.36 |
What is Sentry and Erie Insurance Rating?
Which car insurance company is better? We've made it easy to compare companies side by side. See how Sentry and Erie ranked among the industry ratings.
| Comparison | Sentry | Erie |
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1904 | 1925 |
| Market Share | 1.29% | |
| A.M. Best Rating | A+ | A+ |
| BBB Rating | A+ | |
| Financial Strength | Excellent | Excellent |
| NAIC Complaint Ratio | 0.22 |
Sentry or Erie: Insurance Products Offered
What coverage is available through Sentry and Erie? Both insurance companies offer Auto, Commercial, Home, and Life insurance. Additional products from Erie insurance also includes Condo, Health, Motorcycle, Renters, and RV insurance. Considering these two top insurance providers? Check out the list below. To view a full list of products that are available, visit Sentry and Erie Insurance page.
| Insurance | Sentry | Erie |
|---|---|---|
| Auto Insurance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Commercial Insurance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Condo Insurance | ✔ | |
| Health Insurance | ✔ | |
| Home Insurance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Life Insurance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Motorcycle Insurance | ✔ | |
| Renters Insurance | ✔ | |
| RV Insurance | ✔ | |
| SR22/FR44 | ✔ |
Sentry or Erie: Ways To Save
Sentry offers a wide range of discounts to its policyholders, including Homeowners, Multi-vehicle, and Payment Frequencys discounts. In contrast, Erie also offers a few discounts that Sentry doesn’t, including Young Driver Loyalty, Teen Driver, and Student discounts. Start taking advantage of discounts offered by insurance providers like Erie and Sentry insurance and save yourself some money. You can review the full list of discounts that these two companies offer below.
| Sentry | Erie |
|---|---|
| Driving Course Discounts | Advance Quote Discount |
| Homeowners Discount | Age 55 Discount |
| Multi-vehicle Discount | Driver Training Discount |
| Payment Frequency Discounts | Multi-Policy Discount |
| Transfer Discount | Multi-Vehicle Discount |
| Vehicle Safety Feature Discounts | New Vehicle Discount |
| Paid in Full Discount | |
| Prior Bodily Injury Limits (BIL) Discount | |
| Reduced Usage Discount | |
| Safe Driver Discount | |
| Safety Features Discount | |
| Student Discount | |
| Teen Driver Discount | |
| Young Driver Loyalty Discount |
Pros & Cons of Sentry & Erie
Pros
Sentry
- Sentry offers a comprehensive suite of business insurance products.
- Sentry offers high-risk insurance through Dairyland Insurance.
Erie
- Erie Insurance is well-known for its competitive price and excellent claims service.
- It has fewer customer complaints than the industry median, relative to its size.
- Offers 12-month premium quotes
- Multiple discounts available
- It locks in your auto insurance rate, so your premium won’t change unless you add or remove drivers or cars.
Cons
Sentry
- Sentry does not offer basic car insurance to the average driver, only high-risk drivers through Dairyland and auto insurance for business fleets and cars.
Erie
- It doesn’t accept claims online, only by phone.
- It offers its products in only 12 states.
Sentry or Erie Mobile Apps Options
The Sentry Mobile parking app is available for iOS and Android. The app interacts with your parking meter in real-time and lets you buy time on an MPS parking meter. You can also access a map of nearby meters and parking space availability.
The Erie Insurance mobile app is available for iOS and Android.
| Sentry Mobile App | ||
|---|---|---|
| iOS | 2.7 | 5 user reviews |
| Android | 3.1 | 8 user reviews |
| Erie Mobile App | ||
|---|---|---|
| iOS | 3.3 | 18 user reviews |
| Android | 3.8 | 19 user reviews |
Sentry & Erie Contact Info
| Sentry Contact Info | |
|---|---|
| Address | 1800 North Point Drive, Stevens Point, WI 54481 |
| Phone | 1 (800) 473-6879 |
| Website | https://www.sentry.com/ |
| https://www.facebook.com/SentryInsurance/ | |
| https://twitter.com/SentryInsurance | |
| Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8e_0-7XichFIuDa-JI54gQ |
| https://www.linkedin.com/company/sentry/ | |
| Erie Contact Info | |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 Erie Insurance Place, PA 16530 |
| Phone | 1-800-458-0811 |
| Website | https://www.erieinsurance.com/ |
| https://www.facebook.com/erieinsurance/ | |
| https://twitter.com/erie_insurance | |
| Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/user/ErieInsurance |
| https://www.linkedin.com/company/erie-insurance-group/ | |
Methodology
The statistics listed on this page are from our own in house reporting. We track and record quotes that carriers have provided based on various criteria. The rates and averages shown on this page should only be used as an estimate.
Fran Majidi manages content on SmartFinancial's website. She's had nearly a decade's worth of experience writing about insurance-related topics. Prior, she was an arts and entertainment editor in New York City. She has a B.A. from Barnard College and an M.F.A. in writing from The New School. She writes books under her given name, Afarin Majidi.
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