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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Penn National offers slightly cheaper premiums than Kemper
• Kemper has more affordable prices for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Penn National offers less expensive average premiums for couples purchasing car insurance together

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

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

You might be considering Kemper or Penn National as your top options, but which carrier has cheaper rates for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Penn National is about $17 per month less expensive than Kemper.

Even so, that doesn't mean Penn National will necessarily be more affordable than Kemper for every driver. Car insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how clean your driving record is, where you live, how old you are, how good your credit score is, and a variety of other factors, so rates could change drastically from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Kemper and Penn National by many different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Kemper or Penn National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Kemper and Penn National only compete against each other in two states, with Kemper offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Maryland, Kemper is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at the overall average prices. Penn National is the more affordable option in Virginia.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance cost than just your home state. Keep reading to find out 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 other group of drivers out there on the road. It'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.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance premiums. As you can see above, teens who use Penn National save more than $15 a month compared to those who use Kemper.

However, with both companies, you'll see your rates decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. Penn National offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Kemper's average premiums reduce over 55% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest prices out there.

So, which carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? Penn National gets the slight edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $16 cheaper than the national average for Kemper.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are usually more affordable for married policyholders than they are for single policyholders? This usually boils down to married couples having several cars on their policy -- something lots of insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

If you're in the market for auto insurance, Penn National tends to have the most affordable average rates regardless of relationship status, with prices more than $10 less expensive for married drivers and around $20 more affordable for those who are single.

Kemper vs. Penn National: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and file an insurance claim. That means when it comes to car insurance men will generally end up paying a little more.

Women normally pay nearly $20 per month less than men with Kemper, and about $5 less with Penn National.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, Penn National offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women, with average prices $24 less for men and $10 cheaper for women.

Kemper or Penn National: 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. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

But most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability).

In this case, Kemper offers the most affordable average rates for state minimum liability insurance, while Penn National has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $5 with Kemper, while full coverage comes out to be around $40 cheaper with Penn National Insurance.

Is Kemper or Penn National Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car 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 collisions and tickets 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 prices to go up an average of $45 a month if they get a ticket, while Penn National generally raises rates about $40 per month, on average.

That being said, Penn National has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are 20% and 18% cheaper, respectively, compared to Kemper.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Kemper policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their rates increase by just under 35%, while those who have insurance through Penn National will see around a 35% increase.

Overall, drivers who use Penn National end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $206 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 auto insurance bill -- typically a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. Penn National drivers usually see a 60% raise in their insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Kemper will normally increase rates by about 39%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Kemper tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $287 monthly compared to $346 from Penn National.

How does Credit Score Impact Kemper and Penn National Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly auto insurance premiums. This isn't always the case (for example, are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for many drivers.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so usually, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with more affordable rates.

Looking specifically at Penn National and Kemper, which one has the most affordable prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Penn National. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 10% compared to Kemper, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $26 or 13% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Penn National typically offers lower rates than Kemper when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $32 a month less with Penn National compared to Kemper, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around $3 a month.

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

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. Usually, those who drive less will end up with more affordable prices since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

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

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

Where you call home can have a considerable impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Generally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

Penn National boasts the lowest average prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable premiums from both carriers, but Penn National comes out on top with average rates around $165 per month. Penn National also has more affordable average premiums for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 7% and 6% per month respective difference when compared to Kemper policyholders in similar areas.

Kemper vs. Penn National Discounts

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

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.

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Kemper and Penn National so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Kemper blows Penn National away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 24 different discounts to Penn National's 16.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Kemper also offers AAA discounts, continuous insurance discounts, EFT discounts, and more that Penn National does not.

On the flip side, Penn National has a couple unique discounts of its own -- added pip option discounts and pennid discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Kemper or Penn National Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables auto insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Penn National might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

Kemper might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You care about discounts (Kemper offers the most).
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Kemper and Penn National. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto 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 multiple companies, not just Kemper and Penn National. Luckily, Compare.com makes 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. Penn National FAQs

Is Kemper or Penn National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Penn National is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $218 a month compared to $235 for Kemper. But Penn National won't necessarily be the lowest company for every policyholder, since there are multiple different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Kemper or Penn National?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Kemper offers cheaper prices for drivers with a recent DUI, while Penn National is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Kemper and Penn National offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different variables when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Things like gender, your driving record, where your home is, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Kemper and Penn National use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do 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 lowest rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Kemper or Penn National 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.