Kemper vs. Main Street America: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Main Street America offers slightly less expensive prices than Kemper
• Kemper offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who have a clean record
• Main Street America offers more affordable rates for residents in New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, and Vermont

Kemper vs. Main Street America: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering large discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed your search down to Kemper or Main Street America as potential options, but which one has more affordable prices for auto insurance?

As you can see, Main Street America is about $8 per month cheaper than Kemper when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

However, that doesn't mean Main Street America will necessarily be less expensive than Kemper for every driver. Insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like where you live, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, and a variety of other factors. So, at the end of the day, rates from each company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Kemper or Main Street America is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each carrier broken down by lots of different rate factors.

Kemper or Main Street America: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Kemper and Main Street America only compete against each other in two states, with Main Street America offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Virginia, Kemper is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at the overall average rates. Main Street America is the less expensive option in New York.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just where you live. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically 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 that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance prices. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Main Street America for their auto insurance pay nearly $15 less than those who use Kemper.

Even so, both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Kemper policyholders decrease almost $300 and Main Street America's prices lower more than $250 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 premiums you can find.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? Kemper gets the slight edge here, with average rates coming in at around $179 monthly compared to Main Street America's $181. That being said, the difference is only about 5%, so other factors will likely come into play when determining which carrier has the most affordable premiums for you.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance rates tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers. That's because policies for married couples normally cover more than one car, which many carriers will offer you a discount for.

If you're in the market for auto insurance, Main Street America tends to have the cheapest average prices regardless of relationship status, with prices around 3% more affordable for those who are single and about 4% cheaper for married policyholders.

Kemper vs. Main Street America: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but men generally pay more for insurance than women do. This is because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, which increases the chances of an insurance claim.

Typically, men see premiums nearly 10% a month higher with Kemper, but surprisingly, with Main Street America, men usually pay around 3% per month less than women.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, Main Street America is the most affordable company for men. Rates with Main Street America are $20 less for men, while women can save about $5 with Kemper.

Kemper or Main Street America: 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 can be a complicated subject for most people. There are several different coverages that account for a bunch of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

However, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with liability).

In this case, Kemper offers the cheapest average premiums for state minimum liability limits, while Main Street America has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $20 with Kemper, while full coverage comes out to be around $35 less expensive with Main Street America Insurance.

Is Kemper or Main Street America 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.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

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

Even so, Kemper is usually the more affordable option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save around $1 a month and drivers with a ticket can save about $17 per month with Kemper.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Kemper policyholders who get in an accident can expect to see their prices increase by $85, while those who have insurance through Main Street America will see around a $40 increase.

Overall, the cheaper rates come from Main Street America, with monthly premiums averaging $215 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 speeding ticket or even a collision. Kemper drivers usually see a 39% increase in their car insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Main Street America will generally raise rates by about 38%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Main Street America tends to be the much less expensive option with average premiums of $283 per month compared to $287 from Kemper.

How does Credit Score Impact Kemper and Main Street America Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly insurance rates. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for a lot of drivers.

Auto insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time every month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Main Street America. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 40% compared to Kemper, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $71 or 34% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have a below average credit score, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best premiums. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $61 less with Main Street America than Kemper, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around $161 a month with Kemper.

Is Kemper or Main Street America Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Typically, those who drive less will end up with cheaper rates since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure, Main Street America tends to be the less expensive option. Main Street America's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $9 more affordable than Kemper. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay around $6 less with Main Street America over Kemper.

Kemper vs. Main Street America: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can have a sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Normally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers because there are a lot more vehicles on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Kemper generally comes out as the less expensive option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while Main Street America wins in urban areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $182 a month with Kemper compared to Main Street America's $188. People in suburban areas pay around $226 with Kemper compared to Main Street America's $230 per month. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Main Street America's average premiums are about $264 per month compared to Kemper's $296.

Kemper vs. Main Street America Discounts

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

The challenging part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Kemper and Main Street America offer their customers so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Kemper blows Main Street America away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering six more discounts than Main Street America.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Kemper also offers AAA discounts, advance quote discounts, continuous insurance discounts, and more that Main Street America does not.

On the flip side, Main Street America has a couple unique discounts of its own -- good payer discounts and new business discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Kemper or Main Street America Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Main Street America might be best for you if....

• You like the personalized touch of a small, local carrier.
• You live in an urban area.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

Kemper might be best for you if...

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.
• You live in a rural area.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Kemper and Main Street America 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 several companies, not just Kemper and Main Street America. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply 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.

Kemper vs. Main Street America FAQs

Is Kemper or Main Street America cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Main Street America is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $227 a month compared to $235 for Kemper. But Main Street America won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are a range of different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Kemper or Main Street America?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, Main Street America offers more affordable premiums for single policyholders, while Kemper is cheaper for drivers who have already retired.

Why do Kemper and Main Street America offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when calculating the rates they charge drivers. Things such as where your home is, where you call home, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Kemper and Main Street America use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

How do I know if Kemper or Main Street America is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 auto insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Kemper or Main Street America 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.