Dairyland Car Insurance Review
Dairyland is a Sentry-owned pure non-standard specialist that writes DUIs, SR-22s, FR-44s, multiple violations, and lapsed-coverage drivers through an independent-agent channel. The three facts that shape the decision: (1) SR-22 at no filing fee and FR-44 same-day in Florida and Virginia; (2) A+ (Superior) AM Best via Sentry Group — unusual at the non-standard tier; (3) no telematics / UBI program, so there is no behavioral off-ramp back to a lower rate. Modeled rates run well above standard-market averages — the trade is willingness-to-write when standard carriers decline.
YesWeSure Bottom Line
Dairyland is a Sentry Insurance Group non-standard specialist. The reader comes with a specific operational question — can I bind SR-22 or FR-44 today? — and Dairyland is one of the yes answers. A+ (Superior) AM Best via Sentry Group is unusually strong for the non-standard tier.
Strong at
SR-22 at no fee, FR-44 same-day, A+ Superior AM Best
Dairyland files SR-22 with no filing fee, electronic 'by the following day' in states that allow. FR-44 is same-day electronic filing in Florida and Virginia; Florida filing is free. Sentry Group has carried A+ Superior every year since 1992.
Watch for
No telematics and well-above-standard rates
Dairyland does not offer a usage-based telematics / UBI program — a reader choosing Dairyland for willingness-to-write accepts a book with no behavioral off-ramp back to a lower rate. NerdWallet modeled Dairyland full coverage at $3,922/yr standard profile vs the $2,315 publisher national average, and $5,248/yr post-one-DUI. The A+ Superior AM Best rating via Sentry Group is strong, but the stable outlook does not change the structural pricing trade.
Worth comparing if
SR-22 and FR-44 shoppers in time-pressured reinstatement flows
Worth quoting if your state requires SR-22 or FR-44, you are in a reinstatement timeline, and your agent handles non-standard carriers (standard-market carriers decline SR-22/FR-44 in most profiles). Less compelling for clean-record standard shoppers.
Quote-dependent
Your state, your agent appointment, and the sibling The General
Whether Dairyland writes in your state (confirmed exclusions include AK, HI, LA, MA, MI, MT, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OK, RI); whether your independent agent carries a Dairyland appointment; and whether a parallel quote from Sentry's DTC sibling The General would price better for your specific profile.
At a glance
Parent
Sentry Insurance Group (mutual); acquired Dairyland in 1966. HQ Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Availability
Broad national footprint; publisher sources report exclusions in AK, HI, LA, MA, MI, MT, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OK, RI (verify at bind time)
Distribution
Independent agents primarily; direct-to-consumer online quote available at dairylandinsurance.com
AM Best FSR
A+ (Superior); aa- ICR via Sentry Group; A+ every year since 1992; Stable outlook; most recent affirmation effective July 2, 20252
Non-standard positioning
PURE non-standard specialist — core book is drivers denied by standard carriers
SR-22
Filed with NO filing fee; electronic filing "by the following day" in states that allow it5
FR-44 (FL and VA only)
SAME-DAY electronic filing in both FL and VA; no fee in Florida6
Telematics program
NONE. Dairyland does not offer a usage-based program — no behavioral off-ramp back to a lower rate
Sibling under Sentry
The General (DTC non-standard; acquired December 31, 2024)
Strengths & considerations
Strengths
- SR-22 at no filing fee and FR-44 same-day in FL and VA. Dairyland is operationally fast at the exact moment a non-standard driver is time-pressured. The carrier's SR-22 page states "generally doesn't charge a fee to file an SR-22," with electronic filing "by the following day" where state law allows. FR-44 is same-day in Florida and Virginia; Florida FR-44 filing is free.5
- A+ (Superior) AM Best — unusual at the non-standard tier. Dairyland sits inside Sentry Insurance Group, which has carried A+ Superior every year since 1992. Among non-standard specialists, A+ Superior is rare — most peers rate A or lower. This is the strongest objective reason to prefer Dairyland over a thinly capitalized regional non-standard carrier.2
- Independent-agent channel suits the SR-22 shopping flow. SR-22 and reinstatement shoppers are already in an agency conversation (often referred by a bail-bond, DMV, or court-services contact). Dairyland is the quote that agency reaches for — the operational fit is strong.7
- Specialty breadth beyond auto. Motorcycle, off-road, and specialty vehicle coverage is written alongside the auto book. For a non-standard shopper who also needs motorcycle coverage, Dairyland is one of the few carriers that writes both.2
Considerations
- No telematics / UBI program. The one lever a modern non-standard shopper has to earn rate forgiveness after a DUI — a Progressive Snapshot-style good-driving period — is not available at Dairyland. The My Shelter / my-carrier-app model does not apply here. Readers choosing Dairyland for its willingness-to-write accept a book with no behavioral off-ramp back to a lower rate.2
- Modeled rates materially above standard-market. NerdWallet modeled Dairyland full coverage at $3,922/yr for a standard profile — well above the $2,315 publisher national average. Post-one-DUI full coverage ran ~$5,248/yr. The comparison that matters is Dairyland vs. a standard carrier's post-DUI re-quote, where Dairyland is often the only taker.9
- Not available in every state. Publisher secondary trackers in 2026 report that Dairyland does not currently write in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, or Rhode Island. Confirm current availability at bind time.4
- Underwriting floor is not publicly disclosed. Dairyland publishes no public eligibility matrix. Decline criteria vary by state and by agent appointment. If Dairyland declines you, Sentry's sibling The General (direct-to-consumer) is the natural next quote.2
Coverage options
Dairyland writes standard personal auto coverages plus carrier-specific products listed below. State availability and endorsement limits vary; confirm at quote time.
- Bodily injury and property damage liability4
- Collision4
- Comprehensive4
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist4
- Medical payments: Where offered.4
- Personal injury protection: Where state requires.4
- Roadside assistance (24/7)4
- Rental reimbursement: In select states; confirm per state.4
- Motorcycle, off-road, and specialty vehicle: Separate product lines.2
Discounts
- Multi-car: More than one vehicle on policy.3
- Advance quote: Quote before current policy expires.3
- Homeowner: Even without a Dairyland home policy.3
- Anti-theft / safety features: Qualifying anti-theft equipment.3
- Prior insurance / transfer: Credit for continuous or prior coverage — relevant for the SR-22 shopper already paying for coverage elsewhere.3
- Payment frequency: Paid in full or quarterly.3
- Defensive-driver course: State-approved course completion.3
Pricing
Every Dairyland quote is personal. What follows are modeled premiums for defined driver profiles from reputable publisher analyses — not personalized quotes. Use them to calibrate what to expect, not to replace a real quote in your state.
NerdWallet (April 2026): Modeled quote data vs NerdWallet national benchmark; Dairyland prices well above clean-record carriers but is the taker for high-risk profiles.9
- Full coverage (standard profile): $3,922 per year
- Full coverage (post-one-DUI, annualized): $5,248 per year ($437/mo)
Publisher national benchmark: $2,315/yr
ValuePenguin (January 2026): Minimum-coverage auto and motorcycle averages.10
- Minimum coverage auto (monthly): $2,352 per year ($196/mo)
How to read these numbers. Different publishers model different profiles and may use different underlying data (Quadrant Information Services is the most common dataset). Your quote depends on your driving record, credit-based insurance score where allowed, vehicle, garaging ZIP, mileage, prior insurance history, age, household composition, telematics participation, and the coverages and deductibles you select.
Complaints and regulatory record
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners publishes a complaint index that normalizes complaint counts against a company's share of premium written. A value of 1.0 represents the baseline expected complaint volume for a company of that size; lower is generally better.
Non-standard carriers typically run NAIC complaint indices above the 1.00 baseline. Secondary aggregator values for Dairyland range widely (~0.9 to materially higher) depending on vintage and state. Pull current per-entity values on NAIC CIS before signing. Dairyland Insurance Company NAIC CIS entity: COCODE 21164.12
To look up the current complaint index for the specific Dairyland underwriting entity that writes policies in your state, use the NAIC Consumer Information Source or your state Department of Insurance. The entities most commonly rated for Dairyland are:
- Dairyland Insurance Company
- Dairyland American Insurance Company
- Sentry Insurance Group entities (NAIC Group Code 169)
Complaint index measures regulator-filed complaints, not overall service quality; treat it as one input among several. Index values vary by underwriting entity and by state and can shift year over year, so pull the current number for your state before signing.
Financial strength
AM Best affirmed Dairyland at Financial Strength Rating A+ (Superior) and Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating aa- (Superior) on July 2, 2025 with a stable outlook2. Sentry Insurance Group has carried A+ (Superior) every year since 1992 per Dairyland's marketing. Most recent affirmation reported effective July 2, 2025 with Stable outlook. AM Best primary-page confirmation of the exact affirmation date for the Dairyland entity (AMB# 309) specifically was not retrieved in the research pass; Dairyland is a rated member of Sentry Insurance Group and shares the group FSR.
What these ratings mean and do not mean. A high financial-strength rating indicates the insurer has the resources to pay claims under a wide range of adverse scenarios. It is not a guarantee of any specific claim outcome, service quality, or price competitiveness in your quote. Ratings can change; check the affirmation date.
Material news (last 24 months)
- Sentry acquired The General from American Family (closed December 31, 2024) (December 2024): Sentry now owns both Dairyland (independent-agent non-standard) and The General (direct-to-consumer non-standard). Dairyland remains the IA-channel brand; The General remains DTC. Both marketed as 60+ years of non-standard experience.8
- AM Best affirmed Sentry Insurance Group at A+ (Superior) with Stable outlook (July 2025): Confirms top-tier non-standard-market financial strength — unusual for the segment and the strongest objective reason to prefer Dairyland over a thinly capitalized regional non-standard carrier.2
YesWeSure Fit Check
Is Dairyland a fit worth quoting?
Dairyland tends to fit if you
- You need to bind SR-22 today through an independent agent — Dairyland files with no filing fee, electronic by the following day where state allows.
- You live in Florida or Virginia and need FR-44 same-day electronic filing after a DUI conviction.
- You have a DUI, revocation, at-fault accident, lapse, or no prior coverage and need a carrier that will write with Sentry-group counterparty strength (A+ Superior AM Best).
- You want motorcycle, off-road, or specialty vehicle coverage alongside non-standard auto.
Look carefully if you
- You live in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, or Rhode Island — publisher sources report Dairyland may not currently write in your state.
- You want a telematics / UBI program to earn rate forgiveness over time — Dairyland does not offer one.
- You are a pure-price shopper on a clean record; Dairyland modeled rates run well above standard-market benchmarks.
- Your preferred shopping style is direct-to-consumer with no agent — Sentry's sibling The General is a direct-channel non-standard quote; Dairyland is primarily agent-channel.
This is decision-support reasoning, not personalized advice. Your real decision depends on your quote in your state, current regulator data, and how much of your total budget an incident could disrupt.
Ready to compare Dairyland against alternatives?
Compare car insurance quotesCommon questions
Will Dairyland file SR-22 for me?
Yes. Dairyland files SR-22 certificates in states where state law requires financial-responsibility filings. The carrier states on its SR-22 page that it "generally doesn't charge a fee to file an SR-22." Filing is electronic "by the following day in states that allow it." Confirm per-state availability with your Dairyland independent agent at bind time.
Does Dairyland file FR-44?
Yes, in both Florida and Virginia — the two states where FR-44 filing applies. Dairyland issues FR-44 immediately with same-day electronic filing. Florida FR-44 limits are 100/300/50; Virginia FR-44 limits are 100/200/50. Dairyland does not charge a fee for FR-44 filings in Florida.
Will Dairyland quote me after a DUI?
Yes. DUI history is Dairyland's core target market, not an exception. The carrier's About page describes the founding mission as writing drivers denied by standard carriers because of poor driving records, lack of experience, or no prior insurance. Specific underwriting rules vary by state and agent.
Does Dairyland have a telematics program?
No. Dairyland does not offer a usage-based insurance / telematics program. If you are looking for a telematics discount to earn rate forgiveness after a DUI or at-fault accident, Dairyland does not provide that lever. The My Shelter / my-carrier-app model does not apply here.
Who owns Dairyland?
Sentry Insurance Group. Sentry acquired Dairyland in 1966 (when Dairyland wrote in 27 states). Dairyland remains the independent-agent non-standard brand within Sentry. Sentry also acquired The General (direct-to-consumer non-standard) on December 31, 2024.
How does Dairyland compare on price?
NerdWallet modeled Dairyland full coverage at $3,922/yr for a standard profile — well above the $2,315 publisher national average. Post-one-DUI full coverage ran approximately $5,248/yr. For a non-standard shopper, the honest comparison is Dairyland vs. standard carriers' post-DUI/post-lapse re-quote, where Dairyland is often the only taker.
What states does Dairyland NOT write in?
Publisher secondary trackers in 2026 report that Dairyland does not currently write in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, or Rhode Island. This exclusion list is directional, not primary-source verified — confirm with your agent or at dairylandinsurance.com before shopping.
Sources & methodology
- [TIER 1] Dairyland: About (history, parent, AM Best record) (Dairyland Insurance)
- [TIER 1] Dairyland: Auto Insurance product page (discounts, online quote) (Dairyland Insurance)
- [TIER 1] Dairyland: Auto Coverages (Dairyland Insurance)
- [TIER 1] Dairyland: SR-22 filing (no-fee statement; next-day electronic filing) (Dairyland Insurance)
- [TIER 1] Dairyland: FR-44 (same-day Florida and Virginia; FL fee-free) (Dairyland Insurance)
- [TIER 1] Dairyland: Independent-agent partners (Dairyland Insurance)
- [TIER 1] Sentry Insurance: Acquisition of The General closed December 31, 2024 (Sentry Insurance)
- [TIER 3] NerdWallet: Dairyland Auto Insurance Review (April 2026 analysis) (NerdWallet)
- [TIER 3] ValuePenguin: Dairyland Motorcycle and Auto Insurance Review (ValuePenguin)
- [TIER 2] J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study (J.D. Power)
- [TIER 1] NAIC Consumer Information Source (per-entity complaint and financial lookup; Dairyland COCODE 21164) (National Association of Insurance Commissioners)
Evidence hierarchy on this page: Tier 1 (regulators, insurer documentation, rating agencies), Tier 2 (independent authoritative research including J.D. Power and industry datasets), Tier 3 (reputable publishers with transparent methodology). Every material claim traces to a source in this list, with the tier shown next to each source. Modeled rate figures are premiums produced from Quadrant Information Services or publisher proprietary data for defined driver profiles; they are not personalized quotes. Last reviewed .