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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, State National offers significantly more affordable premiums than Kemper
• Kemper may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than State National
• State National offers less expensive average rates for policyholders who live in suburban areas

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

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Kemper or State National as your top options, but between the two, which one has cheaper prices for car insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Kemper has average rates that are around 30% a month more expensive than those from State National.

Even so, that doesn't mean State National will necessarily be less expensive than Kemper for each driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, where you live, and tons of other factors, so rates will vary quite a bit from person to person.

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

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

Kemper and State National only compete against each other in California, where Kemper offers the cheaper average premiums. Kemper drivers tend to pay about $19 per month less on average compared to drivers who use State National for their insurance.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance payment than just your home state. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance rates of any group out there on the road. Typically, that's because teen 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 prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 35% less a month by choosing State National over Kemper. It's worth noting that Kemper offers car insurance in 15 different states compared to State National's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Kemper policyholders decrease about $300 and State National's premiums reduce around $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable rates out there.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? State National gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $118 per month compared to Kemper's $179.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly cheaper car insurance premiums than single drivers. That's because policies for married policyholders normally cover several vehicles, which quite a few carriers will give you a discount for.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with State National prices coming in at a third less than Kemper's. The advantage for married couples with State National is also obvious, where drivers save almost 30% per month.

Kemper or State National: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and file an insurance claim, which means they'll usually end up paying more for insurance than women.

With Kemper, women generally pay nearly 10% a month less than men; men and women end up paying the same monthly premiums with State National.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, State National offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women, with average prices 35% less for men and 29% cheaper for women.

Kemper vs. State 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, auto insurance can be pretty complicated. There are many different coverages that account for a bunch of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, State National has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $79. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, State National again has the edge, with policies averaging around $240 per month to Kemper's $331.

Is Kemper or State National 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with speeding tickets and accidents on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Kemper for their insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 21% after getting a speeding ticket. State National policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 28%.

But State National is usually the more affordable option for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records, offering prices that are 41% and 35% cheaper, 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 premiums rise by just under 35%, while those who have insurance through State National will see about a 30% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use State National end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $142 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 -- generally a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. State National drivers usually see a 60% raise in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Kemper will normally increase premiums by around 39%.

State National has the overall cheapest prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $252 monthly, but it's worth noting that Kemper's average rates come from 15 states compared to just one for State National, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Kemper and State National Rates?

Did you know many insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining rates? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it might come into play for lots of policyholders.

Auto insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time every month, which raises the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have stellar credit, Kemper will typically reward you. With Kemper, improving your score from "good" to "excellent" will generally save you about $35. On the other hand, State National doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means they most likely don't use credit to calculate your rates.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Having bad credit normally means you'll also see higher premiums with Kemper. If your credit score is in the "poor" range, at Kemper, you may pay around $85 more a month compared to those with "fair" scores (and even more compared to drivers with good or excellent scores). On the other hand, because State National doesn't have data available for credit scores, they might have better rates for drivers with bad credit over Kemper.

Is Kemper or State 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 car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. That's because the more milage you drive, the more likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, State National tends to be the less expensive option. Kemper's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about 40% more expensive than State National. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay around 24% more with Kemper over State National.

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

Where you call home can play a considerable role in how much you pay for insurance. Usually, 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.

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

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, State National's average premiums are about $173 while Kemper offers rates around $296. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly rate of about $163 with State National compared to $226 with Kemper. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $143 a month with State National compared to Kemper's $182.

Kemper vs. State National Discounts

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

The difficult part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Kemper and State National so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

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

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Kemper also offers discounts for AAA, ABS, advance quote, and more.

On the other hand, State National has a proprietary discount of their own -- a auto-pilot discounts.

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

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables car insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which carrier is the right company for you and your specific needs?

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

• You like the personalized touch of a small, regional company.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• You and your spouse are buying auto insurance together.

Kemper might be best for you if...

• Your credit is less-than-stellar.
• You have above-average credit.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

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

At the end of the day, the best 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 State National. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Kemper vs. State National FAQs

Is Kemper or State National cheaper?

State National is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $159 per month with State National and $235 for Kemper. That being said, that doesn't mean State National will be the most affordable carrier for each policyholder, since there are a range of different factors that are considered when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Kemper or State National?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Kemper is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while State National offers less expensive rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record.

Why do Kemper and State National offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use several different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Things such as your driving record, gender, where your home is, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Kemper and State National calculate premiums using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance company 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Kemper or State National 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.