- About us
- Agent Login
- 855.214.2291
Sentry vs. Shelter Insurance
Which insurance provider is right for you? Compare plans, rates, and quotes from Sentry and Shelter.
Compare Car Insurance Rates in Your Area
Sentry vs. Shelter: 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.
Shelter Insurance company is a mutual insurance company that focuses on auto, property, business and life insurance. In, when the company was founded and called MFA Mutual Insurance Company. Its focus was to provide farmers access to reliable insurance protection at prices that they could afford.
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 Shelter Overview.
Sentry vs. Shelter: How much are the Average Rates?
Below is a list of the average rates that drivers typically pay with Sentry and Shelter. On average, Sentry charges approximately $264.17 per month while Shelter comes in at around $198.15 per month. For Sentry, the cheapest state average is Idaho at $188.69 per month and the most expensive is Oregon at $311.92 per month. For Shelter, the cheapest state average is Arkansas at $154.04 per month and the most expensive is Kentucky at $302.04 per month.
Average Rate
Average Rate
Average Rate
| State | Sentry | Shelter |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $241.74 | $154.04 |
| Idaho | $188.69 | - |
| Kansas | - | $240.57 |
| Kentucky | - | $302.04 |
| Mississippi | - | $189.83 |
| Missouri | - | $220.95 |
| Nebraska | - | $237.95 |
| Oklahoma | - | $206.62 |
| Oregon | $311.92 | - |
| Pennsylvania | $292.34 | - |
| Washington | $288.21 | - |
| Wisconsin | $232.64 | - |
Sentry vs. Shelter: 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 Shelter typically charge for drivers who have more than 1 vehicle.
| Number of Vehicles | Sentry | Shelter |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Vehicle | $260.72 | $190.79 |
| 2 Vehicles | $299.96 | $243.26 |
Sentry vs. Shelter: Rates by Homeownership
Drivers who own their home rather than rent can sometimes get a small discount. We found that on average Sentry charges $266.07 per month and Shelter charges $187.22 per month for customers who own their home.
| Own/Rent | Sentry | Shelter |
|---|---|---|
| Own | $266.07 | $187.22 |
| Rent | $263.69 | $202.18 |
What is Sentry and Shelter Insurance Rating?
Which car insurance company is better? We've made it easy to compare companies side by side. See how Sentry and Shelter ranked among the industry ratings.
| Comparison | Sentry | Shelter |
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1904 | 1946 |
| A.M. Best Rating | A+ | A |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ |
| Financial Strength | Excellent | Excellent |
| NAIC Complaint Ratio | 0.36 (2013) |
Sentry or Shelter: Insurance Products Offered
What coverage is available through Sentry and Shelter? Both insurance companies offer Auto, Commercial, Home, and Life insurance. Additional products from Shelter insurance also includes Condo, Farm, Motorcycle, Renters, RV, and Umbrella 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 Shelter Insurance page.
| Insurance | Sentry | Shelter |
|---|---|---|
| Auto Insurance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Commercial Insurance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Condo Insurance | ✔ | |
| Farm Insurance | ✔ | |
| Home Insurance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Life Insurance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Motorcycle Insurance | ✔ | |
| Renters Insurance | ✔ | |
| RV Insurance | ✔ | |
| SR22/FR44 | ✔ | |
| Umbrella Insurance | ✔ |
Sentry or Shelter: Ways To Save
Sentry offers a wide range of discounts to its policyholders, including Homeowners, Multi-vehicle, and Payment Frequencys discounts. In contrast, Shelter also offers a few discounts that Sentry doesn’t, including Window Identification System – Louisiana Residents, Safe Driver, and Pay in Full discounts. Start taking advantage of discounts offered by insurance providers like Shelter and Sentry insurance and save yourself some money. You can review the full list of discounts that these two companies offer below.
| Sentry | Shelter |
|---|---|
| Driving Course Discounts | Accident Prevention Course Discount |
| Homeowners Discount | Anti-Theft Discount - Kentucky and Illinois Residents |
| Multi-vehicle Discount | Companion Life Discount |
| Payment Frequency Discounts | Companion Policy Discount |
| Transfer Discount | Driver Training Course Discount |
| Vehicle Safety Feature Discounts | Good Student Discount |
| Military Discount | |
| Multi-car Discount | |
| Multi-coverage Discount - Nevada Residents | |
| Passive Restraint Discount | |
| Pay in Full Discount | |
| Safe Driver Discount | |
| Window Identification System Discount – Louisiana Residents |
Pros & Cons of Sentry & Shelter
Pros
Sentry
- Sentry offers a comprehensive suite of business insurance products.
- Sentry offers high-risk insurance through Dairyland Insurance.
Shelter
- Shelter Insurance offers personalized service through a network of more than 1,400 agents.
- The company has a few customer's complaints, which indicates high satisfaction.
- You can start your claims online or by phone.
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.
Shelter
- The company covers only 15 states. If you don’t live in the Midwest, you’ll need to look for another carrier.
Sentry or Shelter 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 Shelter Insurance Mobile app is available for iOS and Android. With the app, you can access your ID cards, report a claim and upload photos, view coverages and policy details, obtain roadside assistance, get in touch with your agent and pay your bill by credit or debit card.
| Sentry Mobile App | ||
|---|---|---|
| iOS | 2.7 | 5 user reviews |
| Android | 3.1 | 8 user reviews |
| Shelter Mobile App | ||
|---|---|---|
| iOS | 2.3 | 35 user reviews |
| Android | 2.3 | 240 user reviews |
Sentry & Shelter 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/ | |
| Shelter Contact Info | |
|---|---|
| Address | 1817 West Broadway - Columbia, MO 65218 |
| Phone | 1-800-743-5837 |
| Website | https://www.shelterinsurance.com/ |
| https://www.facebook.com/ShelterInsurance/ | |
| https://twitter.com/Shelter_ins/ | |
| https://www.linkedin.com/company/shelter-insurance-companies/ | |
| Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/user/ShelterIns |
| https://www.instagram.com/shelter_ins/ | |
| https://www.pinterest.com/shelterins/ | |
| Vimeo | https://vimeo.com/user48805731 |
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.
Compare Insurance Rates for Free.
Answer a few questions and let Penny find the best rates in your area.