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

So, you're in the market for a new insurance policy. You may have even narrowed down your search to Kemper and State Farm. But which of these two companies is the best one for you? Read on to find which company has the best premiums and biggest discounts.
Newly insured car driving down the road
Why You Can Trust Compare.com trust shield

At Compare.com, it's our mission to find simple ways to help our customers save money on the things they need. While we partner with some of the companies and brands we talk about in our articles, all of our content is written and reviewed by our independent editorial team and never influenced by our partnerships. Learn about how we make money, review our editorial standards, and reference our data methodology to learn more about why you can trust Compare.com.

Quick Facts

  • Looking at the national averages for car insurance, State Farm offers significantly more affordable prices than Kemper
  • Kemper offers more discounts than State Farm
  • State Farm has less expensive rates for policyholders who don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on their record


Kemper vs. State Farm: 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've maybe even narrowed your search down to Kemper or State Farm as your top options, but between the two, which carrier has cheaper premiums for insurance?

Kemper State Farm
$235$158

Looking at nationwide averages, Kemper has average rates that are about 35% per month more expensive than those from State Farm.

However, State Farm may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your age, where you call home, your driving record, or even your credit score (among other things), so prices could change drastically from person to person.

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

Kemper or State Farm: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

State Kemper State Farm
CA$140$224
CO$193$124
CT$125$118
MD$227$227
MO$266$118
MT$197$82
NM$174$100
NV$234$123
NY$782$393
OR$198$129
SD$165$172
UT$164$190
VA$219$95
WA$174$89
WI$192$144

Kemper and State Farm compete against each other in 15 states, with Kemper offering less expensive prices 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 premiums, but State Farm is the cheaper option in most of the others.

But there's more to calculating car insurance rates than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.


Find your best rate in just a few minutes


Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Kemper State Farm
18-year-old drivers$490$353
25-year-old drivers$213$142

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. Typically, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $150 less a month by choosing State Farm over Kemper.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Kemper policyholders drop more than 55% and State Farm's rates reduce almost 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Kemper State Farm
65+-year-old drivers$179$111

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable premiums you can find.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? State Farm gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $68 more affordable than the national average for Kemper.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Kemper State Farm
Single$272$183
Married$185$124

You may not be aware, but insurance premiums tend to be cheaper for married policyholders than they are for those who are single. That's generally because married drivers tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, State Farm is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices around $89 per month more affordable than Kemper, on average. The advantage for married couples with State Farm is also obvious, where drivers save over $60 a month.

Kemper vs. State Farm: Average Rates by Gender

Kemper State Farm
Male$244$164
Female$225$152

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

Men generally pay nearly 10% more per month than women with Kemper, and about 7% with State Farm.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, State Farm offers the cheapest average premiums for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $80 a month and women save around $73 with State Farm compared to the average Kemper policyholder.


Find your best rate in just a few minutes


Kemper or State Farm: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

Kemper State Farm
State Minimum*$139$99
Full Coverage**$331$216

*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 auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are lots of different coverages that account for multiple different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which typically refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, State Farm normally offers significantly less expensive prices of $99 compared to Kemper's $139. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, State Farm again has the edge, with policies about $100 per month more affordable than Kemper, on average.

Is Kemper or State Farm Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

It's no secret secret that tickets and collisions lead to higher rates, but which company -- Kemper or State Farm -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Kemper State Farm
Clean Record$174$134
1 Speeding Ticket$219$155

Kemper policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $45 a month if they get a ticket, while State Farm usually raises premiums around $21 per month, on average.

Even so, State Farm is typically the less expensive option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering rates that are $40 and $64 cheaper, respectively, compared to Kemper.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Kemper State Farm
Clean Record$174$134
1 At-Fault Accident$259$163

Kemper drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums increase by just under 35%, while those who have insurance through State Farm will see about a 20% increase.

Overall, drivers who use State Farm end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $163 compared to Kemper's $259.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

Kemper State Farm
Clean Record$174$134
1 DUI$287$179

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. On average, Kemper will increase your premiums around 39% after a DUI, while State Farm's average prices rise by over 25%.


Find your best rate in just a few minutes


How does Credit Score Impact Kemper and State Farm Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (for example, are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect many policyholders out there.

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.

Looking at Kemper and State Farm specifically, which one has the lowest premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Kemper State Farm
Excellent Credit Score$175$80
Good Credit Score$208$105

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Kemper State Farm
Fair Credit Score$240$148
Poor Credit Score$323$300

Find your best rate in just a few minutes


Is Kemper or State Farm Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Kemper State Farm
6,000 Annual Miles$234$151
12,000 Annual Miles$235$164

How much you drive can have a big impact on how much auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

State Farm tends to be the more affordable option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure. Kemper average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $83 more expensive than State Farm. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay around $71 more with Kemper over State Farm.

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

Where you park your car can play a considerable role in how much you pay for insurance. Generally, 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.

Kemper State Farm
Urban Areas$296$185
Suburban Areas$226$161
Rural Areas$182$127

State Farm 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 cheapest premiums from both companies, but State Farm comes out on top with average rates about $127 per month. State Farm also has less expensive average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 38% and 29% a month respective difference when compared to Kemper drivers in similar areas.

Kemper vs. State Farm Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you can take advantage of.

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Kemper and State Farm so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Kemper State Farm
AAA Discount 
ABS Discount
Advance Quote Discount 
Annual Mileage Discount 
Anti-Theft Discount
Continuous Insurance Discount 
Defensive Driver Discount
Distant Student Discount
Drive Safe & Save Discount 
Driver Training Discount
DRL Discount
EFT Discount 
ESC Discount 
Farm Discount 
Full Coverage Discount 
Good Driving Discount
Good Student Discount
Goverment Employee Discount 
Group Discount 
Homeowner Discount

Looking at the total number of discounts, Kemper has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. State Farm offers a grand total of 23 discounts, while Kemper has 24.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and discounts for being a good student. Kemper also offers AAA discounts, advance quote discounts, continuous insurance discounts, and more that State Farm does not.

On the flip side, State Farm has a couple unique discounts of its own -- annual mileage discounts, drive safe & save discounts, farm discounts, and more.


Find your best rate in just a few minutes


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

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best fit for you?

State Farm might be best for you if....

  • You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your rates climb.
  • You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
  • You have a short drive to work everyday.


Kemper might be best for you if...

  • You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Kemper and State Farm and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Kemper and State Farm. 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.


Find your best rate in just a few minutes


Kemper vs. State Farm FAQs

Is Kemper or State Farm cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, State Farm is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $158 per month compared to $235 for Kemper. But State Farm won't necessarily be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are a variety of different variables that are considered when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, Kemper or State Farm?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Kemper and State Farm offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Things such as your driving record, age, where your home is, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Kemper and State Farm use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Kemper or State Farm 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.

About Compare.com

Compare.com's #1 goal is to save you money. We publish resources that are based on hard-hitting data and years of industry experience to help you make more informed decisions with your wallet.

  • All of Compare.com's content is written and reviewed for accuracy by a team of experienced writers and editors who are experts on the topics they cover.
  • None of Compare.com's content is ever influenced by the companies and brands we partner with.
  • Compare.com's editorial team operates independently of any of the company's partnership or business development interests. We publish unbiased information strictly for the benefit of our readers.
  • All of the content you see on Compare.com is based on comprehensive analysis and all data is gathered and vetted from trustworthy sources.

Learn more about us, our team, and what makes us tick.

Find your best rate in just a few minutes