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

Quick Facts

• In general, Sentry offers less expensive premiums than Kemper
• Kemper may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Sentry Insurance
• Sentry offers more affordable rates for policyholders who drive fewer than 12,000 miles yearly

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

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering huge savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Kemper or Sentry for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier has more affordable prices for car insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Kemper is around $40 more a month than Sentry.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Sentry will be the cheaper option for each driver. After all, insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your age, where you call home, your credit score, or even your driving record (among other things). So, at the end of the day, premiums from each company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Kemper or Sentry is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Kemper vs. Sentry: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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

But there's more to calculating auto insurance rates than just where you live. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Sentry save almost 20% per month compared to those who use Kemper. It's worth noting that Kemper offers insurance in 15 different states compared to Sentry's two, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, both companies will lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Kemper policyholders reduce about $300 and Sentry's prices drop around $200 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 most affordable rates you'll ever find.

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Sentry gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older over 15% less expensive than the national average for Kemper.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance prices tend to be cheaper for married drivers than they are for single policyholders. That's usually because married couples tend to own and insure multiple vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with Sentry prices coming in at about 15% less than Kemper's. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Sentry offers the lowest average rates.

Kemper or Sentry: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men normally pay more for car insurance than women? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

Women typically pay nearly $20 a month less than men with Kemper, and around $20 with Sentry.

Looking at overall affordability, Sentry offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women. On average, women save about $40 per month and men save about $39 with Sentry compared to the average Kemper policyholder.

Kemper vs. Sentry: 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.

Auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Sentry has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $104. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Sentry again has the edge, with policies averaging around $286 a month to Kemper's $331.

Is Kemper or Sentry Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and at-fault collisions lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- Kemper or Sentry -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Kemper for their car insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Sentry policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 12%.

If you have gotten a ticket, Sentry tends to offer the best prices at about 7% more affordable, while Kemper has the edge for drivers with a clean record.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Kemper drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates rise by just under 35%, while those who have insurance through Sentry will see around a 20% increase.

At the end of the day, Sentry offers the lowest premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average rates coming in at $221 compared to Kemper's $259.

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 speeding ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. Kemper drivers usually see a 39% raise in their car insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Sentry will typically climb rates by about 0%.

Sentry has the overall cheapest premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $178 a month, but it's worth noting that Kemper's average rates come from 15 states compared to just two for Sentry, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Kemper and Sentry Rates?

Did you know many insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it will come into play for a lot of policyholders.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so normally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive premiums.

Looking at Kemper and Sentry specifically, which company has the lowest prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Sentry will usually reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Sentry comes in NaN cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save around 11% with Sentry compared to average rates from Kemper.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Sentry typically offers lower prices than Kemper when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 18% per month less with Sentry compared to Kemper, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around 30% monthly.

Is Kemper or Sentry 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 insurance cost? Usually, the more milage you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Sentry 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 annually. Still, for drivers in both categories, Sentry is the more affordable company.

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

Where you live can play a sizable role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas since there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads where they live.

Sentry tends to offer the cheapest premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Sentry Insurance's average rates are around 24% less than Kemper. People who live in suburban areas pay about 4% less with Sentry compared to Kemper. Those in rural areas can expect to save around 21% with Sentry compared to Kemper.

Kemper vs. Sentry Discounts

No matter 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 you can, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Kemper and Sentry offer their customers so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Kemper knocks Sentry out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 19 more discounts than Sentry.

Both companies offer several of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a homeowner, and paid in full discounts -- but Kemper also offers discounts for AAA, ABS, anti-theft, and more.

Sentry's discounts come through just a few categories, including Advance Quote, Defensive Driver, Homeowner, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Kemper or Sentry Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which carrier is the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Sentry might be best for you if....

• Your credit is below-average.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

Kemper might be best for you if...

• You have a clean driving record, free of accidents, tickets, or DUIs.
• You value the experience that comes with a large national auto insurance company.
• You care about discounts (Kemper offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Kemper and Sentry. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about 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 Sentry. 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. Sentry FAQs

Is Kemper or Sentry cheaper?

Sentry is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $195 a month with Sentry and $235 for Kemper. But that doesn't mean Sentry will be the most affordable carrier for each policyholder, since there are a variety of different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Kemper or Sentry?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Kemper and Sentry offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use several different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Factors such as gender, your driving record, where your home is, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Kemper and Sentry calculate prices using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple 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 information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Kemper or Sentry 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.