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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Shelter offers less expensive premiums than Kemper
• Kemper offers more affordable prices for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods
• Shelter has cheaper rates for policyholders who live in the suburbs

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

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering sizable savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering Kemper or Shelter for your next policy, but which carrier has more affordable prices for car insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Shelter is around $27 a month less expensive than Kemper.

However, Shelter may not be the lowest or best option for every driver out there. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every 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 change quite a bit from person to person.

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

Kemper vs. Shelter: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Kemper and Shelter only compete against each other in one states, with Shelter offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Missouri has the most noticable difference, where Shelter premiums are $85 cheaper than insurance prices at Kemper.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance payment 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 insurance than any group on the road. That's usually because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance premiums. As you can see above, teens who use Shelter save over 10% per month compared to those who use Kemper.

Even so, with both companies, you'll see your rates lower significantly once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Kemper policyholders reduce about $300 and Shelter's prices drop almost $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the most affordable insurance rates you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally reduces their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise premiums.

When looking at Kemper and Shelter specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Shelter gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older more than 20% more affordable than the national average for Kemper.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance rates tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married policyholders. That's typically because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with Shelter rates coming in at around 10% less than Kemper's. The advantage for married couples with Shelter is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 15% a month.

Kemper or Shelter: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into a collision or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

With Kemper, men generally pay about $20 per month more than women, but with Shelter, the difference is closer to $25 a month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Shelter comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices $23 less for men and $29 cheaper for women.

Kemper vs. Shelter: 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.

It's no secret that insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

That being said, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Shelter has the slight edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $129. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Shelter again has the edge, with policies averaging around $288 per month to Kemper's $331.

Is Kemper or Shelter 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.

Speeding tickets and accidents will most likely raise your prices, but is Kemper or Shelter less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect 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. Shelter policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 22%.

Even so, Shelter has cheaper rates for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are $32 and $38 more affordable, respectively, compared to Kemper.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Kemper drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates climb by just under 35%, while those who have insurance through Shelter will see about a 40% increase.

At the end of the day, Shelter offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average prices coming in at $234 compared to Kemper's $259.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even an accident. On average, Shelter will increase your rates around 49% after a DUI, while Kemper's average premiums increase by nearly 40%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Shelter tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $277 to Kemper's $287.

How does Credit Score Impact Kemper and Shelter Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly insurance rates. This isn't true for everyone (for example, Massachusetts and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect lots of policyholders out there.

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, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums for policyholders 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 Shelter Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on your monthly rates. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car, the less likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

Shelter tends to be the cheaper option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Shelter average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in more than $30 more affordable than Kemper. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay over $20 less with Shelter over Kemper.

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

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a pretty big impact as well. Generally, 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.

Shelter tends to offer the most affordable option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while Kemper wins in rural areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $21 with Kemper compared to Shelter. People who live in suburban areas pay about $39 less with Shelter compared to Kemper. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Shelter Insurance's average prices are around $61 less than Kemper.

Kemper vs. Shelter 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. That's where auto 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 can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Kemper and Shelter 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.

Kemper blows Shelter away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 24 different discounts to Shelter's 10.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for getting driver training, discounts for being a good driver, and multi-policy discounts. Kemper also offers discounts for AAA, ABS, continuous insurance, and more.

Shelter's discounts come through just a few categories, including Advance Quote, Anti-Theft, Defensive Driver, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Kemper or Shelter Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the best fit for you?

Shelter might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• Your credit score is high.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

Kemper might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- Kemper has the most.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Kemper and Shelter. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Kemper and Shelter. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Kemper vs. Shelter FAQs

Is Kemper or Shelter cheaper?

Shelter is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $208 a month with Shelter and $235 for Kemper. That being said, that doesn't mean Shelter will be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are many different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Kemper or Shelter?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for each policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Kemper and Shelter offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use a lot of different factors when determining the prices they charge. Things such as where you call home, where you park your vehicle, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Kemper and Shelter calculate rates using different variables, 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 a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car 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, Compare.com does 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 cheapest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Kemper or Shelter 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.