Central Mutual vs. Kemper: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Kemper offers significantly cheaper rates than Central Mutual
• Kemper has more affordable prices for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles every year
• Kemper offers less expensive average premiums for policyholders who live in suburban areas

Central Mutual or Kemper: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering huge savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering Central Mutual or Kemper as potential options, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

As you can see, Kemper is quite a bit cheaper than Central Mutual, with prices averaging $235 a month compared to $340 with Central Mutual when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

That being said, Kemper may not be the most affordable or best option for each driver out there. Car insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how good your credit score is (among several other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Central Mutual or Kemper is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each carrier broken down by a variety of different rate factors.

Central Mutual vs. Kemper: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Central Mutual and Kemper only compete against each other in two states, with Central Mutual offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. New Mexico has the most noticable difference, where Central Mutual rates are $45 less expensive than auto insurance prices at Kemper.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's normally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of 15% less per month by choosing Kemper over Central Mutual.

However, with both companies, you'll see your premiums decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Central Mutual policyholders lower almost 45% and Kemper's premiums reduce over 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest prices you can find.

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Kemper gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $179 a month compared to Central Mutual's $275.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly cheaper car insurance prices than single drivers. That's usually because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with Kemper premiums coming in at a quarter less than Central Mutual's. The advantage for married policyholders with Kemper is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 40% a month.

Central Mutual or Kemper: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and file an insurance claim, which means they'll generally end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

With Central Mutual, men normally pay about $15 per month more than women, and around $19 more with Kemper.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, Kemper offers the lowest average premiums for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $103 a month and women save about $108 with Kemper compared to the average Central Mutual policyholder.

Central Mutual 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.

Insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing 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 if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which typically refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Kemper has the edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $139. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Kemper again has the edge, with policies averaging around $331 per month to Central Mutual's $506.

Is Central Mutual 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with speeding tickets and accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable rates to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Central Mutual for their insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 26% after getting a speeding ticket. Kemper policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 21%.

Even so, Kemper is generally the more affordable option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket, offering premiums that are $68 and $107 cheaper, respectively, compared to Central Mutual Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Central Mutual drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates rise by over 20%, while those who have insurance through Kemper will see about a 35% increase.

At the end of the day, the less expensive prices come from Kemper, with average premiums coming in at $259 compared to Central Mutual Insurance's $311.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. Central Mutual drivers usually see a 50% increase in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Kemper will normally raise rates by around 39%.

How does Credit Score Impact Central Mutual and Kemper Rates?

Did you know many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining premiums? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an auto insurance factor, but it does affect several policyholders out there.

Insurance carriers 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 more affordable rates.

So, which carrier offers the cheapest prices for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Central Mutual or Kemper 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 auto insurance cost. That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

Kemper tends to be the less expensive option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Central Mutual's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in more than 30% more expensive than Kemper. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay over 30% more with Central Mutual over Kemper.

Central Mutual or Kemper: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can play a considerable role in how much you pay for insurance. Typically, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders since there are a lot more vehicles on the road where they live, which increases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Kemper generally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Kemper's average premiums are about $296 while Central Mutual offers rates around $529. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly premium of about $226 with Kemper compared to $263 with Central Mutual. Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $182 per month with Kemper compared to Central Mutual's $228.

Central Mutual vs. Kemper Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Central Mutual and Kemper offer their customers so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Kemper knocks Central Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 24 different discounts to Central Mutual's 24.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Kemper also offers discounts for AAA, advance quote, continuous insurance, and more.

On the other hand, Central Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like book transfer policy discounts, teensmart discounts, and youthful driver discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Central Mutual or Kemper Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables auto insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is Central Mutual or Kemper the best company for you and your specific driver profile?

Kemper might be best for you if....

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You live in an urban area.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

Central Mutual might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Central Mutual and Kemper 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 Central Mutual and Kemper. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Central Mutual vs. Kemper FAQs

Is Central Mutual or Kemper cheaper?

Kemper is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $235 a month with Kemper and $340 for Central Mutual. That being said, that doesn't mean Kemper will be the cheapest company for each driver, since there are lots of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Central Mutual or Kemper?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Central Mutual and Kemper offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use quite a few different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Things such as gender, where you live, your driving record, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Central Mutual and Kemper calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

How do I know if Central Mutual or Kemper is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Central Mutual 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.