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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Kemper offers cheaper rates than Donegal Mutual
• Donegal Mutual has less expensive premiums for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record
• Kemper offers more affordable average prices for people who are single and purchasing insurance by yourself

Donegal Mutual vs. Kemper: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Donegal Mutual or Kemper as your top options, but between the two, which company has less expensive rates for car insurance?

As you can see, Donegal Mutual is about $55 more per month than Kemper when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Kemper will be the cheaper option for every single driver. After all, insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your age, your driving record, where you call home, or even your credit score (among other things). So, at the end of the day, premiums from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Donegal Mutual or Kemper: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Donegal Mutual and Kemper only compete against each other in two states, with Kemper offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. Maryland has the most noticable difference, where Kemper premiums are over 70% cheaper than car insurance prices at Donegal Mutual.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just your home state. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance rates. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Kemper for their auto insurance pay more than $150 less than those who use Donegal Mutual.

However, both carriers will lower premiums once you turn 25. Kemper offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Donegal Mutual's average rates decrease over 60% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest prices out there.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Donegal Mutual and Kemper? Kemper gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older more than 15% less expensive than the national average for Donegal Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance rates tend to be more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married policyholders. This usually boils down to married drivers having multiple cars on their policy -- something several auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Kemper is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums around $72 a month more affordable than Donegal Mutual, on average. The advantage for married couples with Kemper is also obvious, where drivers save over 15% per month.

Donegal Mutual vs. Kemper: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into accidents and get tickets, they run a larger risk of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to pay more for insurance than women.

On average, men see prices about 6% a month higher with Donegal Mutual, and nearly 10% with Kemper.

Looking at overall affordability, Kemper comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $56 per month and men save around $55 with Kemper compared to the average Donegal Mutual policyholder.

Donegal Mutual or 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.

Car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Kemper normally offers less expensive rates of $139 compared to Donegal Mutual's $170. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Kemper again has the edge, with policies about $80 a month cheaper than Donegal Mutual, on average.

Is Donegal Mutual or Kemper Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

Accidents and tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is Donegal Mutual or Kemper more affordable for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Donegal Mutual policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $47 per month if they get a ticket, while Kemper typically raises premiums around $45 a month, on average.

But Kemper is generally the less expensive option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering rates that are $23 and $25 cheaper, respectively, compared to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Donegal Mutual can expect to see about an $48 -- or around 20% -- increase in their auto insurance prices. Drivers who use Kemper for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $85 (or 33%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance company.

Overall, Donegal Mutual offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $245 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 an accident. On average, Donegal Mutual will climb your prices around 58% after a DUI, while Kemper's average rates increase by just under 40%.

How does Credit Score Impact Donegal Mutual and Kemper Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for lots of drivers.

Insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Kemper and Donegal Mutual, which one has the most affordable prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Donegal Mutual or Kemper Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly car insurance cost. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure, Kemper offers more affordable rates than Donegal Mutual. Donegal Mutual average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $38 more expensive than Kemper. Those who drive 12,000 miles each year can expect to pay around $73 more with Donegal Mutual over Kemper.

Donegal Mutual vs. 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. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because there are a lot more cars on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

Kemper tends to offer the lowest premiums for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest prices from both carriers, but Kemper comes out on top with average rates about $182 monthly. Kemper also has less expensive average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $149 and $14 per month respective difference when compared to Donegal Mutual drivers in similar areas.

Donegal Mutual vs. Kemper Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to find all the ones you can take advantage of or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Donegal Mutual and Kemper offer their customers so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Kemper comes out ahead with 24 discounts to Donegal Mutual's 20.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for getting driver training, and group discounts. Kemper also offers AAA discounts, continuous insurance discounts, distant student discounts, and more that Donegal Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Donegal Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- family discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, marital status discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the role certain variables have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the right one for you and your specific driver profile?

Kemper might be best for you if....

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

Donegal Mutual might be best for you if...

• You want to save money on your insurance after an accident.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Donegal Mutual and Kemper and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on auto insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Donegal Mutual 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 insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Donegal Mutual vs. Kemper FAQs

Is Donegal Mutual or Kemper cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Kemper is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $235 a month compared to $290 for Donegal Mutual. That being said, Kemper won't necessarily be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are multiple different factors that are considered when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, Donegal Mutual or Kemper?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Donegal Mutual offers cheaper prices for policyholders with an at-fault accident on their record, while Kemper is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Donegal Mutual and Kemper offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at a lot of different variables when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Things such as gender, where you live, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Donegal Mutual and Kemper use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

How do I know if Donegal 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 multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Donegal Mutual or Kemper at all!

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.