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

Quick Facts

• In general, Kemper offers significantly cheaper premiums than Metlife
• Kemper offers more affordable prices for residents of suburban areas
• Metlife may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Kemper

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Kemper or Metlife, but which one will save you the most?

As you can see, Metlife has average rates that are around 30% a month more expensive than those from Kemper when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

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

So, if you want to find out which of Kemper or Metlife is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each company broken down by many different rate factors.

Kemper vs. Metlife: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Kemper and Metlife compete against each other in 13 states, with Kemper offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. If you live in, undefined is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at the overall average premiums, but undefined is the cheaper option in most of the others.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance bill than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. Generally, that's because 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 prices, 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 50% less than those who use Metlife.

That being said, both carriers will lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Kemper policyholders drop about $300 and Metlife's rates reduce around $500 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Kemper and Metlife? Kemper gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $179 per month compared to Metlife's $205.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance prices tend to be more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married drivers. This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple vehicles on their policy -- something a lot of car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with Kemper premiums coming in at a third less than Metlife's. The advantage for married couples with Kemper is also obvious, where drivers save more than $30 per month.

Kemper or Metlife: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, which means they'll normally end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

Usually, women see prices almost 10% a month less with Kemper, and nearly 10% less with Metlife when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the cheapest rates for each gender, Kemper comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums $110 less for men and $101 cheaper for women.

Kemper vs. Metlife: 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, insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a variety of different coverages that account for a bunch 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.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Kemper has the significant edge, with average monthly prices 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 around $331 per month to Metlife's $466.

Is Kemper or Metlife Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their car 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 collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest rates to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

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

But Kemper has more affordable premiums for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are $46 and $60 less expensive, respectively, compared to MetLife.

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% -- rise in their car insurance rates. Drivers who use Metlife for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $148 (or 40%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, Kemper offers the most affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average premiums coming in at $259 compared to MetLife's $368.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly car insurance bill -- typically a lot more than an accident or ticket. Metlife drivers usually see a 55% increase in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Kemper will normally raise rates by around 39%.

How does Credit Score Impact Kemper and Metlife Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when carriers determine your monthly bill. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an auto insurance factor, but it might come into play for several drivers.

Insurance carriers 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 premiums.

Looking at Kemper and Metlife specifically, which company has the cheapest prices 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 Kemper or Metlife Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a big impact on your monthly rates? Generally, the more milage you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

Kemper tends to be the less expensive option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Metlife's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in more than $100 more expensive than Kemper. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay over $100 more with Metlife over Kemper.

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

Where you live can have a substantial impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Usually, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Kemper normally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $182 a month with Kemper and $299 with Metlife. People in suburban areas pay a monthly rate of around $226 with Kemper compared to $333 with Metlife. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Kemper's average premiums are about $296 a month compared to Metlife's $389.

Kemper vs. Metlife 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. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Kemper and Metlife so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Metlife blows Kemper away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 12 more discounts than Kemper.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Metlife also offers discounts for academic, agency transfer, annual mileage, and more.

On the other hand, Kemper has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, continuous insurance discounts, driver training discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Kemper or Metlife Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance prices. 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 best fit for you?

Kemper might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower rates.

Metlife might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national auto insurance carrier.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Kemper and Metlife and that you can now make a more informed 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 several companies, not just Kemper and Metlife. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. 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.

Kemper vs. Metlife FAQs

Is Kemper or Metlife cheaper?

Kemper is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $235 per month with Kemper and $340 for Metlife. However, that doesn't mean Kemper will be the cheapest company for every policyholder, since there are several different factors that are considered when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, Kemper or Metlife?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Kemper and Metlife offer me different rates?

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

How do I know if Kemper or Metlife 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 quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Kemper or Metlife 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.