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

If you're in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you might be wondering how Western National and Kemper compare when it comes to the lowest rates and biggest discounts. To find out which of these companies is the best fit for you and your wallet, check out our newest guide below.
Newly insured car driving down the road
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Quick Facts

  • Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Western National offers significantly less expensive premiums than Kemper
  • Kemper may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Western National Insurance Company
  • Western National offers more affordable prices for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods


Kemper or Western National: 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 big savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering Kemper or Western National for your next policy, but which company will offer you cheaper premiums?

Kemper Western National
$235$154

Looking at nationwide averages, Western National is quite a bit cheaper than Kemper, with prices averaging $154 a month compared to $235 with Kemper.

Even so, that doesn't mean Western National will necessarily be more affordable than Kemper for every driver. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, where you call home, your driving record, or even your age (among other things), so rates will vary quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Kemper or Western National is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

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

State Kemper Western National
SD$165$141
WI$192$177

Kemper and Western National only compete against each other in two states, with Western National offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. South Dakota has the most noticable difference, where Western National premiums are $24 less expensive than insurance rates at Kemper.

But there's more to car insurance than just where you live. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance companies determine your prices. Keep reading to learn more.


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Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Kemper Western National
18-year-old drivers$490$306
25-year-old drivers$213$160

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car 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. As you can see above, teens who use Western National save almost 40% per month compared to those who use Kemper.

But with both carriers, you'll see your rates lower significantly by the time drivers turn 25. Western National offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half 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?

Kemper Western National
65+-year-old drivers$179$109

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest prices you'll ever see.

When looking at Kemper and Western National specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Western National gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $109 a month compared to Kemper's $179.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Kemper Western National
Single$272$175
Married$185$126

Did you know that car insurance rates are generally more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married drivers? This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something lots of auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Western National rates coming in at a third less than Kemper's. The advantage for married couples with Western National is also obvious, where drivers save about $60 a month.

Kemper or Western National: Average Rates by Gender

Kemper Western National
Male$244$161
Female$225$147

You may not know, but insurance is typically cheaper for women than it is for men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into a collision, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

On average, men see premiums nearly 10% per month higher with Kemper, and almost 10% with Western National.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Western National comes out as the most affordable option for both genders. On average, women save about $78 a month and men save around $83 with Western National compared to the average Kemper policyholder.


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Kemper vs. Western National: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

Kemper Western National
State Minimum*$139$60
Full Coverage**$331$248

*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 many different coverages that account for a variety of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which usually refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Western National has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $60. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Western National again has the edge, with policies averaging about $248 per month to Kemper's $331.

Is Kemper or Western National Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

It's no secret secret that at-fault collisions and speeding tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Kemper or Western National -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Kemper Western National
Clean Record$174$154
1 Speeding Ticket$219$154

Policyholders with Western National car insurance policies don't report seeing their prices increase after getting a ticket, but Kemper policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by around 20%.

That being said, Western National has more affordable premiums for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save about 11% a month with Western National Insurance Company, and the same can be said for those with a speeding ticket, too.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Kemper Western National
Clean Record$174$154
1 At-Fault Accident$259$154

Kemper drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates rise by $85, while those who have insurance through Western National will see around a $0 increase.

At the end of the day, Western National offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average prices coming in at $154 compared to Kemper's $259.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

Kemper Western National
Clean Record$174$154
1 DUI$287$154

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. Kemper drivers usually see a 39% increase in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Western National will generally climb prices by about 0%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Western National tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $154 to Kemper's $287.


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How does Credit Score Impact Kemper and Western National Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it does affect a lot of policyholders out there.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper rates, while those with poor credit will typically be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the lowest premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Kemper Western National
Excellent Credit Score$175$70
Good Credit Score$208$114

If you have great credit, Western National will normally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Western National comes in 60 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save about 45% with Western National compared to average prices from Kemper.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Kemper Western National
Fair Credit Score$240$154
Poor Credit Score$323$278

Western National typically offers lower premiums than Kemper when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 36% per month less with Western National compared to Kemper, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about 14% per month.


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Is Kemper or Western National Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Kemper Western National
6,000 Annual Miles$234$152
12,000 Annual Miles$235$156

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a large impact on your monthly prices? Normally, the more milage you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Western National tends to be the less expensive option. Kemper's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in more than $80 more expensive than Western National. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay nearly $80 more with Kemper over Western National.

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

Where you live can have a sizable impact on your monthly insurance bill. 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.

Kemper Western National
Urban Areas$296$177
Suburban Areas$226$127
Rural Areas$182$158

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

In urban areas, Western National's average premiums are around $177 a month compared to Kemper's $296. People in suburban areas pay about $127 with Western National compared to Kemper's $226 monthly. Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $158 per month with Western National and $182 with Kemper.

Kemper vs. Western National Discounts

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

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, 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 broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Kemper and Western National 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 Western National
AAA Discount 
ABS Discount 
Advance Quote Discount 
Anti-Theft Discount
Continuous Insurance Discount 
Corporate Discount 
Covid-19 Relief Discount 
Defensive Driver Discount
Distant Student Discount
Driver Training Discount
DRL Discount 
EFT Discount 
Employee Discount 
ESC Discount 
Family Discount 
Full Coverage Discount 
Good Driving Discount 
Good Student Discount
Group Discount 
Homeowner Discount 

Kemper knocks Western National out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 12 more discounts than Western National.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like distant student discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and multi-policy discounts. Kemper also offers discounts for AAA, ABS, advance quote, and more.

On the other hand, Western National has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like corporate discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, employee discounts, and more.


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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the right one for you and your specific driver profile?

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

  • You will be the only person on the auto insurance policy.
  • Your home is located in the suburbs.
  • You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower prices.


Kemper might be best for you if...

  • You're thinking about moving to another state -- Western National Insurance Company only offers policies in four states.
  • You're looking for discounts -- Kemper has the most.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Kemper and Western National and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to 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 a handful of companies, not just Kemper and Western National. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all for free.


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Kemper vs. Western National FAQs

Is Kemper or Western National cheaper?

Western National is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $154 per month with Western National and $235 for Kemper. However, that doesn't mean Western National will be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are multiple different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Kemper or Western National?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Kemper and Western National offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use several different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Things like your driving record, where you park your car, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Kemper and Western National calculate premiums using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

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

The only way to find the 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, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code 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 lowest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Kemper or Western 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.

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