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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Kemper offers significantly less expensive premiums than Encompass
• Encompass offers more discounts than Kemper
• Kemper tends to be a much more affordable option for people who are single and purchasing insurance by yourself

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

Are you considering a new insurance policy? 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 might have narrowed your search down to Encompass or Kemper as your top options, but between the two, which carrier has cheaper rates for auto insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Encompass is quite a bit more expensive than Kemper, with prices averaging $466 per month compared to just $235 with Kemper.

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

Wanting to know if Encompass 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.

Encompass or Kemper: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Kemper compete against each other in 12 states, with Kemper offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all but three of them. If you live in Maryland, New York, or Virginia, Encompass is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at the overall average rates, but Kemper is the cheaper option in most of the others.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just where you call home. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. It's normally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance prices. As you can see above, teens who use Kemper save more than $500 a month compared to those who use Encompass.

Even so, both carriers will drop rates by the time drivers turn 25. Kemper offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Encompass's average prices lower over 65% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the most affordable car insurance premiums out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for insurance.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Kemper gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older more than 45% cheaper than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance prices tend to be less expensive for married policyholders than they are for those who are single. That's typically because married couples tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Kemper is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates about $300 per month more affordable than Encompass, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Kemper is also obvious, where drivers save nearly $150 a month.

Encompass vs. Kemper: Average Rates by Gender

Women tend to pay less for insurance than men. This is because men are more likely to get into accidents and get tickets, which raises the chances of an insurance claim.

On average, women see premiums around $25 per month less expensive with Encompass, and about $19 less with Kemper.

Looking at overall affordability, Kemper comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices 49% less for men and 50% cheaper for women.

Encompass 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.

It's no secret that auto insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage 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 usually offers significantly more affordable premiums of $139 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Kemper again has the edge, with policies around $300 a month cheaper than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or Kemper Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their 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 rates, but is Encompass or Kemper less expensive for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Encompass policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $61 per month if they get a ticket, while Kemper typically raises rates about $45 a month, on average.

But Kemper has cheaper prices for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around $53 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $69 a month with Kemper.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Encompass drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates rise by over 30%, while those who have insurance through Kemper will see around a 35% increase.

Overall, Kemper offers the lowest premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly prices averaging $259 compared to Encompass Insurance's $328.

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. For example, Encompass increases average premiums by over $500 per month -- that's just under a 80% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Kemper tends to be the much more affordable option with average rates of $287 monthly compared to 1020 from Encompass.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Kemper Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating prices? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect a lot of policyholders out there.

Auto 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 less expensive premiums.

So, which company offers the best rates for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Kemper. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save 50% compared to Encompass, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $188 or 47% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Kemper typically offers lower prices than Encompass when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $230 a month less with Kemper compared to Encompass, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about $324 a month.

Is Encompass 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 how much insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Generally, those who drive less will end up with cheaper premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure, Kemper offers more affordable rates than Encompass. Encompass's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in just under $250 more expensive than Kemper. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay nearly $250 more with Encompass over Kemper.

Encompass 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 considerable impact as well. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

Kemper boasts the most affordable average rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Kemper offers premiums around $296 per month compared to Encompass's $560. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $226 per month for Kemper and $434 for Encompass. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest rates from both companies, with average monthly prices coming in at $182 and $404 for Kemper and Encompass respectively.

Encompass vs. Kemper Discounts

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

The difficult part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Encompass and Kemper so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Encompass comes out ahead with 26 discounts to Kemper's 24.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, distant student discounts, and EFT discounts. Encompass also offers employee discounts, fire/fisher discounts, gated community discounts, and more that Kemper does not.

On the flip side, Kemper has a couple unique discounts of its own -- AAA discounts, continuous insurance discounts, ESC discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Encompass or Kemper Best for You?

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

Kemper might be best for you if....

• Your credit is less-than-stellar.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Encompass and Kemper. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your 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 car insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just Encompass 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 carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Encompass vs. Kemper FAQs

Is Encompass or Kemper cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Kemper is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $235 a month compared to $466 for Encompass. Even so, Kemper won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each policyholder, since there are many different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Encompass or Kemper?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

Why do Encompass and Kemper offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at lots of different variables when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Things such as gender, your driving record, age, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Encompass and Kemper calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

How do I know if Encompass 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 carriers 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 car insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Encompass 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.