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

Quick Facts

• In general, Kemper offers slightly cheaper rates than State Auto
• Kemper tends to be a much less expensive option for drivers with a DUI
• State Auto offers more affordable premiums for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record

Kemper or State Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to 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 might have narrowed it down to Kemper or State Auto as potential options, but between the two, which carrier has more affordable prices for auto insurance?

As you can see, State Auto is around $24 more a month than Kemper when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

But Kemper may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Auto insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how good your credit score is (among a range of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

Kemper vs. State Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Kemper and State Auto only compete against each other in three states, with Kemper offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Maryland has the most noticable difference, where Kemper premiums are $322 more affordable than car insurance rates at State Auto.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance payment than just where you call home. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. It's because teen 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 teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Kemper save almost 35% per month compared to those who use State Auto.

Even so, with both companies, you'll see your prices decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. State Auto offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a quarter 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?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the cheapest auto insurance rates you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for car insurance.

When looking at Kemper and State Auto specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? State Auto gets the slight edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older about 7% cheaper than the national average for Kemper.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance premiums are generally more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers? That's normally because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Kemper rates coming in at around 15% less than State Auto's. It's not quite so glaring for married couples, where drivers who use State Auto save nearly 10% a month.

Kemper or State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, they run a lower risk of filing a claim with insurance. So, insurance companies will often charge women less than men.

On average, women see prices almost 10% per month less with Kemper, and nearly 10% less with State Auto when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Kemper offers the most affordable average premiums for both men and women, with average prices 10% less for men and 9% cheaper for women.

Kemper vs. State Auto: 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 for you.

However, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Kemper has the slight edge, with average monthly premiums 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 about $331 a month to State Auto's $369.

Is Kemper or State Auto 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 at-fault collisions and speeding tickets lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- Kemper or State Auto -- has the lowest premiums for drivers with less-than-perfect 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 around 21% after getting a speeding ticket. State Auto policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 22%.

That being said, State Auto tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket, offering rates that are $4 and $1 less expensive, respectively, compared to Kemper.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with State Auto increasing by around 37%. Kemper has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay nearly 35% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Kemper end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $259 compared to State Auto Insurance's $269.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. For example, State Auto increases average prices by more than $200 per month -- that's more than a 55% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Kemper tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $287 to State Auto's $380.

How does Credit Score Impact Kemper and State Auto Rates?

Did you know many insurance carriers take your credit score into account when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect a lot of drivers out there.

The reasoning car insurance companies 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 cheaper rates.

So, which company offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Kemper will typically reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Kemper comes in just under NaN more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save around 9% with Kemper compared to average prices from State Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Kemper typically offers lower rates than State Auto when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 8% a month less with Kemper compared to State Auto, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around 8% a month.

Is Kemper or State Auto 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 auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Normally, the more milage you put on your car each year, 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 State Auto charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Kemper, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles yearly paying about $1 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, for drivers in both categories, Kemper is the cheaper carrier.

Kemper or State Auto: 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 insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a large impact as well. Usually, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders since there are a lot fewer vehicles on the road where they live, which decreases the chances of an accident.

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

Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $182 per month with Kemper compared to State Auto's $225. People in suburban areas pay about $226 with Kemper compared to State Auto's $236 monthly. In urban areas, Kemper's average premiums are around $296 while State Auto offers rates about $317.

Kemper vs. State Auto 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, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many car insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Kemper and State Auto offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Kemper knocks State Auto out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering six more discounts than State Auto.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Kemper also offers discounts for AAA, continuous insurance, DRL, and more.

On the other hand, State Auto has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advantage program discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, employee discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Kemper or State Auto Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is Kemper or State Auto the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

Kemper might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower premiums.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's auto insurance policy.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Kemper and State Auto and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple carriers, not just Kemper and State Auto. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Kemper vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Kemper or State Auto cheaper?

Kemper is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $235 per month with Kemper and $259 for State Auto. However, that doesn't mean Kemper will be the most affordable company for every driver, since there are many different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Kemper or State Auto?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile. For example, State Auto is more affordable for drivers who have already retired, while Kemper offers less expensive prices for single drivers.

Why do Kemper and State Auto offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use quite a few different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Factors like your driving record, where you call home, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Kemper and State Auto calculate premiums using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies 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 insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Kemper or State Auto 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.