Kemper vs. West Bend Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Want to know if Kemper or West Bend Mutual is the better choice for insurance? You're probably wondering which company offers the best rates or the most discounts. Check out our latest guide below to find out which of these two companies is the best for you.
Newly insured car driving down the road
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Quick Facts

  • Looking at the national averages for car insurance, West Bend Mutual offers significantly more affordable prices than Kemper
  • Kemper offers more discounts than West Bend Mutual Insurance
  • West Bend Mutual tends to be a much less expensive option for residents of urban areas


Kemper vs. West Bend Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering huge discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Kemper or West Bend Mutual, but which company has cheaper premiums for auto insurance?

Kemper West Bend Mutual
$235$131

As you can see, West Bend Mutual is quite a bit cheaper than Kemper, with rates averaging $131 per month compared to $235 with Kemper when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

But West Bend Mutual may not be the cheapest or best option for every single driver out there. Insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like how good your credit score is, how old you are, where you live, how clean your driving record is, and tons of other factors, so prices will change quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Kemper and West Bend Mutual by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Kemper or West Bend Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

State Kemper West Bend Mutual
WI$192$121

Kemper and West Bend Mutual only compete against each other in one states, with West Bend Mutual offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. Wisconsin has the most noticable difference, where West Bend Mutual rates are over 50% cheaper than car insurance premiums at Kemper.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just where you live. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.


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Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Kemper West Bend Mutual
18-year-old drivers$490$328
25-year-old drivers$213$114

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for auto insurance than any other group of drivers. It's normally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use West Bend Mutual save more than $150 a month compared to those who use Kemper. It's worth noting that Kemper offers car insurance in 15 different states compared to West Bend Mutual's three, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. West Bend Mutual offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Kemper's average prices lower over 55% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Kemper West Bend Mutual
65+-year-old drivers$179$92

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

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? West Bend Mutual gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $87 less expensive than the national average for Kemper.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Kemper West Bend Mutual
Single$272$162
Married$185$90

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

When it comes to relationship status, West Bend Mutual is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums about $110 per month less expensive than Kemper, on average. The advantage for married drivers with West Bend Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save around $95 a month.

Kemper vs. West Bend Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Kemper West Bend Mutual
Male$244$139
Female$225$123

Men are statistically more likely than women to get speeding tickets and get into collisions. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will typically end up paying a little more.

Normally, women see prices nearly 10% per month less with Kemper, while with West Bend Mutual, the difference is closer to 12% a month.

Looking at overall affordability, West Bend Mutual comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums 43% less for men and 45% cheaper for women.


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Kemper or West Bend Mutual: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

Kemper West Bend Mutual
State Minimum*$139$77
Full Coverage**$331$186

*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 pretty complicated. There are so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, West Bend Mutual usually offers significantly more affordable prices of $77 compared to Kemper's $139. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, West Bend Mutual again has the edge, with policies about $150 per month cheaper than Kemper, on average.

Is Kemper or West Bend Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance companies offering great rates for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

You'll probably end up paying more with accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest prices to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Kemper West Bend Mutual
Clean Record$174$84
1 Speeding Ticket$219$109

Kemper policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $45 a month if they get a ticket, while West Bend Mutual generally raises rates around $25 per month, on average.

That being said, West Bend Mutual tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket -- their rates are around 52% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 50% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Kemper West Bend Mutual
Clean Record$174$84
1 At-Fault Accident$259$163

Both companies will increase prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Kemper increasing by $85. West Bend Mutual has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay just under $80 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the cheaper rates come from West Bend Mutual, with monthly premiums averaging $163 compared to Kemper's $259.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

Kemper West Bend Mutual
Clean Record$174$84
1 DUI$287$169

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even a collision. Kemper drivers usually see a 39% climb in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while West Bend Mutual will normally raise prices by about 50%.

West Bend Mutual has the overall cheapest premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $169 per month, but it's worth noting that Kemper's average rates come from 15 states compared to just three for West Bend Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.


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How does Credit Score Impact Kemper and West Bend Mutual Rates?

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

The reasoning 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 more affordable premiums.

Looking specifically at West Bend Mutual and Kemper, which carrier has the best prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Kemper West Bend Mutual
Excellent Credit Score$175$97
Good Credit Score$208$115

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with West Bend Mutual. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 45% compared to Kemper, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $93 or 45% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Kemper West Bend Mutual
Fair Credit Score$240$133
Poor Credit Score$323$180

West Bend Mutual typically offers lower premiums than Kemper when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $107 a month less with West Bend Mutual compared to Kemper, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around $143 monthly.


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Is Kemper or West Bend Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Kemper West Bend Mutual
6,000 Annual Miles$234$131
12,000 Annual Miles$235$131

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on how much auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Generally, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much West Bend Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Kemper, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle every year paying about $1 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, West Bend Mutual is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Kemper vs. West Bend Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a substantial role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas because of the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Kemper West Bend Mutual
Urban Areas$296$158
Suburban Areas$226$122
Rural Areas$182$113

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, West Bend Mutual generally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the lowest rates from both carriers, but West Bend Mutual comes out on top with average prices around $113 a month. West Bend Mutual also has less expensive average rates for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $138 and $104 per month respective difference when compared to Kemper policyholders in similar areas.

Kemper vs. West Bend Mutual 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 utilizing as many car insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Kemper and West Bend Mutual so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Kemper West Bend Mutual
AAA Discount 
ABS Discount
Advance Quote Discount 
Advanced Safety Feature Discount 
Anti-Theft Discount
Continuous Insurance Discount 
Defensive Driver Discount
Distant Student Discount
Driver Training Discount 
DRL Discount 
EFT Discount 
ESC Discount 
Excess Vehicle Discount 
Full Coverage Discount 
Good Driving Discount
Good Student Discount
Group Discount
Homeowner Discount 
Marital Status Discount 
Mature Driver Discount 

Kemper knocks West Bend Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 24 different discounts to West Bend Mutual's 16.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Kemper also offers AAA discounts, advance quote discounts, continuous insurance discounts, and more that West Bend Mutual does not.

On the flip side, West Bend Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advanced safety feature discounts, excess vehicle discounts, marital status discounts, and more.


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Final Thoughts: Is Kemper or West Bend Mutual Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables 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 carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

West Bend Mutual might be best for you if....

  • You like the personalized touch of a small, local company.
  • You already have a great credit score.
  • You live in a rural area.


Kemper might be best for you if...

  • You're thinking about moving to another state -- West Bend Mutual Insurance is only available in three states.
  • You're looking for discounts -- Kemper has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Kemper and West Bend Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Kemper and West Bend Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.


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Kemper vs. West Bend Mutual FAQs

Is Kemper or West Bend Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, West Bend Mutual is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $131 a month compared to $235 for Kemper. Even so, West Bend Mutual won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are lots of different factors that come into play when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Kemper or West Bend Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Kemper and West Bend Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at several different variables when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Things like your driving record, age, gender, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Kemper and West Bend Mutual calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

How do I know if Kemper or West Bend Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the auto 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, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Kemper or West Bend Mutual 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.

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