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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Kemper offers significantly cheaper premiums than Mercury
• Kemper offers less expensive average prices for policyholders who may not have much of a commute
• Mercury offers more discounts than Kemper

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Kemper or Mercury, but which carrier will save you the most?

As you can see, Mercury is about $60 more per month than Kemper when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

But that doesn't mean Kemper will necessarily be more affordable than Mercury for each driver. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your age, your driving record, your credit score, or even where you call home (among other things), so premiums will vary quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Kemper or Mercury is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each carrier broken down by multiple different rate factors.

Kemper or Mercury: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Kemper and Mercury compete against each other in four states, with Mercury offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. Virginia has the most noticable difference, where Mercury rates are over 50% less expensive than auto insurance premiums at Kemper.

But there's more to insurance than just where you call home. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance carriers calculate your prices. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance rates of any group out there on the road. That's because young, inexperienced 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. As you can see above, teens who use Kemper save nearly $250 a month compared to those who use Mercury.

However, both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Kemper policyholders reduce almost $300 and Mercury's premiums lower around $500 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the cheapest insurance prices you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically lowers their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Kemper gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $179 a month compared to Mercury's $219.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

When it comes to relationship status, Kemper is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices around $87 per month more affordable than Mercury, on average. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Kemper offers the lowest average rates.

Kemper vs. Mercury: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into accidents and get tickets, they raise the chances of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men usually pay more for insurance than women.

Men normally pay nearly 10% more a month than women with Kemper, and about 5% more with Mercury.

When it comes to the most affordable prices for each gender, Kemper comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $58 per month and women save around $63 with Kemper compared to the average Mercury policyholder.

Kemper or Mercury: 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.

For most people, car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are lots of 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.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Kemper generally offers cheaper rates of $139 compared to Mercury's $184. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Kemper again has the edge, with policies about $75 a month more affordable than Mercury, on average.

Is Kemper or Mercury 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 tickets and at-fault collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Kemper policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $45 per month if they get a ticket, while Mercury typically raises premiums around $57 a month, on average.

Even so, Kemper is normally the less expensive option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering prices that are $63 and $75 more affordable, respectively, compared to Mercury Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Kemper can expect to see about an $85 -- or around 33% -- increase in their auto insurance rates. Drivers who use Mercury for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $109 (or 32%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their car insurance carrier.

Overall, the cheaper prices come from Kemper, with monthly premiums averaging $259 compared to Mercury Insurance's $346.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. Kemper drivers usually see a 39% increase in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Mercury will usually climb prices by around 22%.

How does Credit Score Impact Kemper and Mercury Rates?

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

Car 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.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Mercury charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Kemper, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying about $1 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Kemper is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you park your car can play a large role in how much you pay for insurance. Normally, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Kemper usually comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest premiums from both companies, but Kemper comes out on top with average rates around $182 per month. Kemper also has cheaper average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 26% and 18% per month respective difference when compared to Mercury policyholders in similar areas.

Kemper vs. Mercury Discounts

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

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.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Kemper and Mercury offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Overall, Mercury has advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Kemper offers a grand total of 24 discounts, while Mercury has 27.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Mercury also offers COVID-19 relief discount, e-signature discounts, electric vehicle discounts, and more that Kemper does not.

On the flip side, Kemper has a couple unique discounts of its own -- AAA discounts, discounts for getting driver training, EFT discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Kemper or Mercury Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

Kemper might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• You live in an urban area.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

Mercury might be best for you if...

• You're thinking about moving to another state -- undefined is only available in.
• You care about discounts (Mercury offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Kemper and Mercury. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 a handful of carriers, not just Kemper and Mercury. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Kemper vs. Mercury FAQs

Is Kemper or Mercury 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 $295 for Mercury. That being said, Kemper won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are a range of different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Kemper or Mercury?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Kemper and Mercury offer me different rates?

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

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

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Kemper or Mercury 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.