California Casualty vs. Kemper: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, California Casualty offers more affordable premiums than Kemper
• California Casualty has less expensive rates for policyholders who don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on their record
• Kemper may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than California Casualty

California Casualty or Kemper: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to California Casualty or Kemper as your top options, but between the two, which one will offer you cheaper prices?

As you can see, Kemper has average rates that are around 14% a month more expensive than those from California Casualty when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean California Casualty will be the less expensive option for every single driver. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every 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 each carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if California Casualty or Kemper is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

California Casualty vs. Kemper: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

California Casualty and Kemper only compete against each other in three states, with Kemper offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. Washington has the most noticable difference, where California Casualty rates are $28 more affordable than car insurance premiums at Kemper.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance bill than just your home state. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. Usually, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. As you can see above, teens who use California Casualty save almost 10% per month compared to those who use Kemper.

Even so, with both companies, you'll see your prices decrease significantly by the time drivers turn 25. Kemper offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, California Casualty still has the lowest premiums at $181 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between California Casualty and Kemper? California Casualty gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older over 15% cheaper than the national average for Kemper.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance prices are generally more expensive for single drivers than they are for married policyholders? That's typically because married couples tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with California Casualty premiums coming in at about 15% less than Kemper's. The advantage for married drivers with California Casualty is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 15% a month.

California Casualty or Kemper: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, they have a lower chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, insurance companies will often charge women less than men.

Typically, women see rates around $15 per month more affordable with California Casualty, and about $19 less with Kemper.

Looking at overall affordability, California Casualty comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average premiums 14% less for men and 14% cheaper for women.

California Casualty vs. Kemper: 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.

For most people, insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, California Casualty has the edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $122. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, California Casualty again has the edge, with policies averaging around $281 a month to Kemper's $331.

Is California Casualty or Kemper Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their auto insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

Accidents and speeding tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is California Casualty or Kemper less expensive for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use California Casualty for their insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 19% after getting a speeding ticket. Kemper policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 21%.

However, California Casualty has more affordable prices for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are $37 and $49 less expensive, respectively, compared to Kemper.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

California Casualty drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices climb by over 30%, while those who have insurance through Kemper will see about a 35% increase.

At the end of the day, California Casualty offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average premiums coming in at $198 compared to Kemper's $259.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even a collision. On average, California Casualty will climb your prices around 54% after a DUI, while Kemper's average premiums rise by nearly 40%.

How does Credit Score Impact California Casualty and Kemper Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance carriers take your credit score into account when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

Car insurance companies argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper prices.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is California Casualty or Kemper Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a considerable impact on your monthly rates? That's because the fewer miles you put on your car, the less likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, California Casualty offers less expensive prices than Kemper. California Casualty's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about 19% cheaper than Kemper. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay around 9% less with California Casualty over Kemper.

California Casualty or Kemper: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a sizable impact as well. Normally, 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.

California Casualty tends to offer the most affordable premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about $18 with California Casualty compared to Kemper. People who live in suburban areas pay around $5 less with California Casualty compared to Kemper. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, California Casualty's average rates are about $78 less than Kemper.

California Casualty vs. Kemper Discounts

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

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by California Casualty and Kemper so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Kemper blows California Casualty away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 24 different discounts to California Casualty's 14.

Both carriers offer a lot of the same discounts -- like discounts for getting driver training, discounts for being a good driver, discounts for being a good student, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company -- but Kemper also offers discounts for AAA, advance quote, anti-theft, and more.

On the other hand, California Casualty has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like education discounts, paperless discounts, and travelink discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is California Casualty or Kemper Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

California Casualty might be best for you if....

• You have less-than-stellar credit.
• Your credit score is high.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's car insurance policy.

Kemper might be best for you if...

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- undefined only offers policies to residents.
• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You care about discounts (Kemper offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare California Casualty and Kemper. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just California Casualty and Kemper. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

California Casualty vs. Kemper FAQs

Is California Casualty or Kemper cheaper?

California Casualty is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $201 per month with California Casualty and $235 for Kemper. Even so, that doesn't mean California Casualty will be the lowest company for every driver, since there are lots of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, California Casualty or Kemper?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile. For example, California Casualty is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit, while Kemper offers more affordable rates for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do California Casualty and Kemper offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use several different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Things such as age, your driving record, where you call home, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both California Casualty and Kemper calculate rates differently, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

How do I know if California Casualty or Kemper is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies 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 area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't California Casualty or Kemper at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.