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

Quick Facts

• In general, Kemper offers significantly cheaper prices than Esurance
• Kemper tends to be a much more affordable option for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods
• Kemper offers more affordable premiums for residents of suburban areas

Esurance or Kemper: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might have narrowed your search down to Esurance or Kemper as potential options, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

As you can see, Esurance is around $64 more a month than Kemper when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean Kemper will necessarily be less expensive than Esurance for every driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like where you live, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, how good your credit score is, and a variety of other factors, so premiums could change drastically from person to person.

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

Esurance vs. Kemper: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Esurance and Kemper compete against each other in five states, with Kemper offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Missouri or New York, Esurance is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at the overall average premiums. Kemper is the cheaper option in California, Colorado, and Maryland.

But there's more to calculating car insurance prices than just the state you live in. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance rates of any other group of drivers. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Kemper for their auto insurance pay over 30% less than those who use Esurance.

That being said, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower prices once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Esurance policyholders lower more than 65% and Kemper's premiums reduce over 55% over that time.

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 you can find.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Kemper gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $179 per month compared to Esurance's $232.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly more affordable insurance rates than single drivers. That's usually because married couples 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 premiums between these two companies is significant, with Kemper prices coming in at a quarter less than Esurance's. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Kemper has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Esurance or Kemper: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but auto insurance is typically cheaper for women than it is for men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

Women normally pay around 7% per month less than men with Esurance, and about 8% less with Kemper.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, Kemper comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $63 a month and men save around $65 with Kemper compared to the average Esurance policyholder.

Esurance 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.

It's no secret that car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are several different coverages that account for lots of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

However, most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Kemper has the significant edge, with average monthly rates 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 about $331 per month to Esurance's $396.

Is Esurance 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 collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the most affordable premiums to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Esurance for their insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up around 16% after getting a speeding ticket. Kemper policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 21%.

But Kemper has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 28% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 24% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Esurance can expect to see around an $122 -- or about 34% -- rise in their auto insurance prices. Drivers who use Kemper for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $85 (or 33%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance company.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Kemper end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $259 compared to Esurance's $364.

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 ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. Kemper drivers usually see a 39% increase in their insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Esurance will normally raise prices by about 20%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Kemper tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $287 to Esurance's $301.

How does Credit Score Impact Esurance and Kemper Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it might come into play for quite a few drivers.

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, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper prices.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, Kemper will typically reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Kemper comes in nearly 18.22 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save about 22% with Kemper compared to average rates from Esurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Kemper typically offers lower prices than Esurance when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 21% a month less with Kemper compared to Esurance, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about 24% a month.

Is Esurance 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 auto insurance bill. That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

Kemper tends to be the cheaper option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Esurance's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 21% more expensive than Kemper. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay about 21% more with Esurance over Kemper.

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

Where your home is can play a sizable role in how much you pay for insurance. Normally, 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 roads where they live.

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

In urban areas, Kemper's average rates are around $296 per month compared to Esurance's $396. People in suburban areas pay a monthly rate of about $226 with Kemper compared to $288 with Esurance. Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $182 monthly with Kemper compared to Esurance's $211.

Esurance vs. Kemper Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Esurance and Kemper so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

They both offer great discounts like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, DRL discounts, and group discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Esurance or Kemper Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables car 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, is Esurance or Kemper the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Kemper might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• You're looking for the best premiums on liability only coverage.
• You are purchasing your auto insurance with a spouse.

Esurance 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 Esurance and Kemper. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Esurance and Kemper. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Esurance vs. Kemper FAQs

Is Esurance or Kemper cheaper?

Kemper is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $235 a month with Kemper and $299 for Esurance. Even so, that doesn't mean Kemper will be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are many different factors that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, Esurance or Kemper?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Esurance and Kemper offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use lots of different variables when determining the premiums they charge. Factors such as age, where you park your car, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Esurance and Kemper calculate prices using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company 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 information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Esurance 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.