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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Erie offers significantly less expensive rates than Kemper
• Erie offers more affordable average premiums for people who are single and purchasing car insurance by yourself
• Kemper offers more discounts than Erie Insurance

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

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

You might be considering Erie or Kemper, but between the two, which one has cheaper prices for insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Erie is quite a bit cheaper than Kemper, with premiums averaging $153 per month compared to $235 with Kemper.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Erie will be the less expensive option for every single driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, and all sorts of other factors, so prices will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Erie 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.

Erie or Kemper: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Erie and Kemper compete against each other in four states, with Erie offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Virginia has the most noticable difference, where Erie prices are over 70% cheaper than insurance rates at Kemper.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance premiums than just where you call home. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for car 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.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Erie save nearly $200 a month compared to those who use Kemper.

However, both companies will lower rates 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, Erie still has the most affordable premiums at $142 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the lowest insurance rates you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for auto insurance.

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Erie gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older more than 35% less expensive than the national average for Kemper.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance prices than married drivers. That's because policies for married policyholders generally cover more than one car, which lots of carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Erie is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums about $96 per month cheaper than Kemper, on average. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Erie offers the cheapest average prices.

Erie vs. Kemper: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

Generally, women see premiums around 7% a month less with Erie, while with Kemper, the difference is closer to 8% per month.

Looking at overall affordability, Erie comes out as the most affordable option for both genders. On average, women save about $78 a month and men save about $86 with Erie compared to the average Kemper policyholder.

Erie 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 car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are a bunch of different coverages that account for multiple different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Erie typically offers significantly more affordable rates of $91 compared to Kemper's $139. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Erie again has the edge, with policies around $100 per month cheaper than Kemper, on average.

Is Erie or Kemper Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto 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 prices, but is Erie or Kemper less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Erie policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $18 a month if they get a ticket, while Kemper usually raises rates about $45 per month, on average.

Even so, Erie is normally the more affordable option for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 32% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 37% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Kemper climbing by $85. Erie has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay just under $40 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the more affordable rates come from Erie, with monthly premiums averaging $157 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, Kemper will climb your rates around 39% after a DUI, while Erie's average prices climb by just under 40%.

How does Credit Score Impact Erie and Kemper Rates?

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

The reasoning insurance companies use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so generally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive prices.

Looking at Erie and Kemper specifically, which company has the best rates 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 Erie or Kemper Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on your monthly premiums. Usually, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure, Erie offers more affordable prices than Kemper. Kemper average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $87 more expensive than Erie. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay around $77 more with Kemper over Erie.

Erie vs. Kemper: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a large impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. Normally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers because there are a lot more cars on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Erie generally comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Erie offers rates about $194 monthly compared to Kemper's $296. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $145 a month for Erie and $226 for Kemper. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable premiums from both companies, with average monthly prices coming in at $115 and $182 for Erie and Kemper respectively.

Erie vs. Kemper Discounts

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

The hard 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 compared all of the different discounts offered by Erie and Kemper so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Overall, Kemper comes out ahead with 24 discounts to Erie's 21.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, distant student discounts, and discounts for being a good driver. Kemper also offers AAA discounts, continuous insurance discounts, EFT discounts, and more that Erie does not.

On the flip side, Erie has a couple unique discounts of its own -- COVID-19 relief discount, farm discounts, pay plan discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Erie or Kemper Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the right one for you and your specific needs?

Erie might be best for you if....

• You have a clean driving record, free of collisions, tickets, or DUIs.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

Kemper might be best for you if...

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- undefined only offers policies in.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Erie and Kemper. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just Erie and Kemper. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Erie vs. Kemper FAQs

Is Erie or Kemper cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Erie is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $153 per month compared to $235 for Kemper. That being said, Erie won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for each policyholder, since there are a variety of different variables that are considered when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, Erie or Kemper?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Erie and Kemper offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at several different factors when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Variables like where you live, where you park your vehicle, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Erie and Kemper calculate prices using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers 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 information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Erie 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.