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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Nationwide offers significantly more affordable prices than Kemper
• Kemper offers more discounts than Nationwide
• Nationwide offers less expensive average premiums for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Kemper or Nationwide as your top options, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

As you can see, Nationwide has average rates that are about 30% per month cheaper than those from Kemper when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

That being said, Nationwide may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how clean your driving record is, where you live, how good your credit score is, how old you are, and tons of other factors, so premiums could change drastically from person to person.

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

Kemper or Nationwide: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Kemper and Nationwide compete against each other in 12 states, with Kemper offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in, undefined is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at the overall average rates, but Nationwide is the cheaper option in most of the others.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance payment than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for car insurance than any group on the road. Usually, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Nationwide for their insurance pay more than $100 less than those who use Kemper.

But both companies will reduce prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Kemper policyholders decrease nearly $300 and Nationwide's prices lower around $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the cheapest auto insurance rates out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

When looking at Kemper and Nationwide specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Nationwide gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $54 less expensive than the national average for Kemper.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance rates are usually more expensive for those who are single than they are for married drivers? That's generally because married couples tend to own and insure multiple cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Nationwide is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums about $71 a month more affordable than Kemper, on average. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Nationwide has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Kemper vs. Nationwide: Average Rates by Gender

Women tend to pay less for insurance than men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into an accident, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

Typically, women see rates almost $20 per month less expensive with Kemper, and over $10 cheaper with Nationwide when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the most affordable premiums for each gender, Nationwide offers the cheapest average prices for both men and women, with average premiums 28% less for men and 27% cheaper for women.

Kemper or Nationwide: 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, auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Nationwide typically offers cheaper prices of $112 compared to Kemper's $139. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Nationwide again has the edge, with policies around $100 a month more affordable than Kemper, on average.

Is Kemper or Nationwide Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance carriers offering great rates for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

It's no secret secret that collisions and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Kemper or Nationwide -- has the lowest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Kemper policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $45 per month if they get a ticket, while Nationwide generally raises premiums about $24 a month, on average.

Even so, Nationwide tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 28% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 32% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Kemper drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices rise by just under 35%, while those who have insurance through Nationwide will see around a 30% increase.

Overall, the more affordable rates come from Nationwide, with monthly premiums averaging $178 compared to Kemper's $259.

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 -- usually a lot more than a collision or ticket. Kemper drivers usually see a 39% raise in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Nationwide will typically climb rates by about 46%.

How does Credit Score Impact Kemper and Nationwide Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect many policyholders out there.

Car 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, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper rates.

Looking specifically at Kemper and Nationwide, which one has the most affordable prices for policyholders 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 Nationwide Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage. Normally, the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles each year, as well as those who average twice that figure, Nationwide tends to be the less expensive option. Kemper's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over 25% more expensive than Nationwide. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay more than 25% more with Kemper over Nationwide.

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

Where your home is can play a substantial role in how much you pay for insurance. Typically, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Nationwide boasts the lowest average prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable premiums from both carriers, but Nationwide comes out on top with average rates around $151 a month. Nationwide also has cheaper average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 33% and 30% per month respective difference when compared to Kemper drivers in similar areas.

Kemper vs. Nationwide Discounts

Regardless of 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 possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as you can.

The difficult 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.

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Kemper and Nationwide so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Kemper comes out ahead with 24 discounts to Nationwide's 22.

Both companies offer many of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and discounts for being a good student -- but Kemper also offers AAA discounts, ABS discounts, continuous insurance discounts, and more that Nationwide does not.

On the flip side, Nationwide has a couple unique discounts of its own -- agency transfer discounts, employee discounts, intra-agency transfer discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Kemper or Nationwide Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, is Kemper or Nationwide the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Nationwide might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• You have above-average credit.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

Kemper might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (Kemper offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Kemper and Nationwide. 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 sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Kemper and Nationwide. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Kemper vs. Nationwide FAQs

Is Kemper or Nationwide cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Nationwide is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $170 a month compared to $235 for Kemper. That being said, Nationwide won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are lots of different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, Kemper or Nationwide?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

Why do Kemper and Nationwide offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different factors when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Variables such as gender, where you park your car, your driving record, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Kemper and Nationwide use different formulas, 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 bunch of different companies.

How do I know if Kemper or Nationwide 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Kemper or Nationwide 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.