Certificate of financial planning from Boston University
Erin is a personal finance writer and journalist with work featured in major publications. Her writing explores investing, credit cards, mortgages, insurance, and more.
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Save up to $852 by comparing quotes from the top 100+ insurance companies
Excellent
Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Advertiser Disclosure
At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.
Why you can trust Insurify: Comparing accurate insurance quotes should never put you at risk of spam. We earn an agent commission only if you buy a policy based on our quotes. Our editorial team follows a rigorous set of editorial standards and operates independently from our insurance partners. Learn more.
While it’s not one of the largest or most popular auto insurance companies in the country, Kemper has a reputation for offering auto insurance to high-risk drivers. In other words, the company might be a good fit if you’ve struggled to qualify for car insurance elsewhere.
If you’re wondering whether Kemper is right for you, here’s what you need to know about Kemper’s auto insurance policies, including its coverage options, cost, discounts, customer reviews, and more.
Quick Facts
The average cost of Kemper car insurance is $88 per month for liability coverage and $175 per month for full coverage.
In August 2023, Kemper exited the preferred insurance market, focusing only on its specialty auto business, which caters to high-risk drivers. Kemper Personal Insurance will cancel or non-renew customer policies, according to Insurance Business.[1]
Kemper has generally poor reviews from its customers, many of whom cite the company’s poor customer service.
User Reviews
3.4
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
5.4 /10
3.4
A solid optionBased on 262 verified guest reviews and ratings
How drivers feel about Kemper
Drivers appreciate the relatively low initial prices and decent customer service but dislike the frequent rate increases and lack of towing services.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Hard-to-insure drivers
SR-22 insurance
Affordable rates
How drivers feel about Kemper
Drivers appreciate the relatively low initial prices and decent customer service but dislike the frequent rate increases and lack of towing services.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Hard-to-insure drivers
SR-22 insurance
Affordable rates
Reviews (138)
Rolando
October 13, 2024
Verified Review
Good Service, but Check Around for Faster Claim Service
The service is good.
Rufus
October 10, 2024
Verified Review
No Response
They never called me back.
Carlos
October 7, 2024
Verified Review
Poor Customer Service
I would not recommend this company. My representative was not helpful. I had a claim that was never attended to. I had to do all of the work and there has been no progress. I've left multiple messages and none have been returned.
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
748
NAIC Index
Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.
1.74
A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
A-
Why we picked this company
Founded in 1990 in Chicago, Illinois as Unitrin, the company became Kemper in 2011. The company now offers auto, property, life insurance, and more. Kemper offers Kemper Personal Insurance for drivers who want more customization options, and Kemper Auto for high-risk drivers. A.M. Best gives Kemper a rating of A- minus, which means the ratings organization views Kemper as financially stable and creditworthy. However, the company had a low score in J.D. Power’s overall customer satisfaction index ranking, and more than three times the expected number of complaints with the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer Complaints Index.
Pros
High ratings from A.M. Best and the Better Business Bureau
Coverage for high-risk drivers
Cons
Policies only available for purchase through agents
High incidence of customer complaints
How does Kemper auto insurance work?
Kemper operates as a family of companies that includes Kemper Auto, Infinity, Kemper Personal Insurance, and Kemper Life. It sells and distributes its products using the help of independent agents and brokers. Roughly 29,000 agents and brokers across the country serve more than 5.3 million policies.2
Kemper used to offer auto insurance under two separate umbrellas — Kemper Personal Insurance and Kemper Auto — but now it only offers high-risk auto insurance through Kemper Auto.[1]
Kemper Auto is best suited for drivers who may struggle to find insurance elsewhere because they’re considered high-risk drivers. A high-risk driver could be someone with a poor credit score or someone with accidents or violations on their record. Some of the coverage options available with Kemper Auto include:[3]
Annual policies: You can lock in your low rate for a full year to help you save money on your premiums.
SR-22 certificates: If you’ve had a driving violation that requires you to have an SR-22 certificate, Kemper can provide that for you.
How to get a Kemper car insurance quote
Unfortunately, Kemper doesn’t offer online insurance quotes. Instead, you’ll have to connect with an independent agent or broker near you to get a price estimate. Kemper’s website offers a tool to help you find an agent near you by entering your ZIP code and the type of insurance you’re shopping for.
As you’re shopping for insurance, it can also be helpful to use a quote-comparison platform like Insurify. You’ll be able to compare Kemper with other auto insurance companies to ensure you’re getting the best rate for the coverage you need.
Average cost of Kemper auto insurance
Kemper car insurance customers pay an average of $88 per month for liability-only coverage and $175 per month for full-coverage policies.
Compare these rates to the national average of $104 per month for liability-only insurance rates and $211 per month for full-coverage car insurance.
▲▼
Average Quote: Liability Only
▲▼
Average Quote: Full Coverage
▲▼
Kemper
$88
$175
National average
$104
$211
Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile. As of August 2023, Kemper stopped selling preferred personal auto policies. Quotes are as recent as Aug. 31, 2023.
Kemper car insurance cost by state
The price you’ll pay for auto insurance depends on where you live. Each state has its own minimum insurance requirements, which affect the average price. Additionally, your location is one factor that affects the level of risk for the insurance company.
The table below shows the average monthly cost for full-coverage insurance versus liability-only insurance in 13 different states.
State
▲▼
Average Quote: Liability Only
▲▼
Average Quote: Full Coverage
▲▼
Arizona
$115
$184
California
$66
$131
Colorado
$139
$215
Connecticut
$111
$186
Idaho
$50
$102
Illinois
$87
$147
Indiana
$73
$157
Kansas
$71
$172
Kentucky
$111
$200
Louisiana
$180
$275
Maine
$48
$98
Maryland
$129
$220
Minnesota
$69
$134
Missouri
$85
$191
Nevada
$200
$271
New Mexico
$95
$181
New York
$222
$290
North Carolina
$44
$106
Ohio
$70
$125
Oklahoma
$87
$214
Oregon
$83
$145
Pennsylvania
$87
$146
South Carolina
$127
$230
Texas
$120
$242
Utah
$93
$152
Virginia
$79
$143
Washington
$123
$133
Wisconsin
$56
$123
Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile. As of August 2023, Kemper stopped selling preferred personal auto policies. Quotes are as recent as Aug. 31, 2023.
Kemper auto insurance rates by driving history
Your driving history is another important factor that affects your insurance premiums. Generally speaking, the more violations (or the more serious the violations) you have on your driving history, the more you’ll pay for auto insurance.
The table below breaks down the average monthly cost of full-coverage and liability-only insurance for drivers with clean records, speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, and DUIs.
Quote Price by Driving Record
Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile. As of August 2023, Kemper stopped selling preferred personal auto policies. Quotes are as recent as Aug. 31, 2023.
Kemper car insurance cost by age
Insurance companies also consider a driver’s age when setting insurance rates because, generally speaking, young drivers present an increased risk. The table below shows the average monthly rate for customers of different ages.
Age
▲▼
Average Quote: Full Coverage
▲▼
Teen
$313
20s
$217
30s
$163
40s
$149
50s
$131
60s
$123
70s
$131
Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile. As of August 2023, Kemper stopped selling preferred personal auto policies. Quotes are as recent as Aug. 31, 2023.
Kemper car insurance discounts
Like most auto insurance companies, Kemper offers various discounts to help its customers save money on auto insurance. Below is a list of discounts available to Kemper customers:
Advance quote: Kemper will give you a discount when you get a quote and sign up before the policy’s effective day.
Proof of prior insurance: You can save on your Kemper auto insurance policy if you’ve previously had auto insurance.
Paid-in-full: With this discount, you can save by paying your full insurance premium at the start of your policy rather than paying monthly.
Defensive driving course: Some customers can save on their premiums by taking an approved defensive driving course to learn safe driving skills.
Good student: Full-time students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher can get a discount on a Kemper Auto policy.
Military: You can save on your policy if you’re an active-duty military or National Guard member and have a Kemper Auto policy.
Homeowner: This discount applies to Kemper auto insurance customers who also have a homeowners insurance policy with Kemper.
Kemper insurance bundling options
As a Kemper customer, you can take advantage of two different bundling discounts. First, you can save by bundling two different cars onto the same auto insurance policy. Second, you can save by bundling your home and your auto insurance policies.
Kemper’s website doesn’t say just how much you can save by bundling your policies, so you’ll have to consult with an independent agent in your area to find out.
Kemper insurance reviews and ratings
It’s important to understand a company’s reviews and third-party ratings before buying a policy because it can help you determine how trustworthy it is.
Kemper Insurance has many negative reviews and rankings on customer review sites like Yelp and Trustpilot. The company has had many complaints over the past three years. Furthermore, it has few scores from third-party rating organizations in the insurance industry.
Kemper customer reviews
Kemper offers low insurance rates and special discounts. However, some of its non-standard coverages are only available in California. Common things that reviewers enjoy about the company are the low rates and coverage options.
The most common complaints about Kemper include poor communication, the claims process, and customer service.
Kemper ratings
Consumers rely on unbiased looks at insurance companies to make educated purchasing and investment decisions. Rankings, like those below, consider a company’s financial stability, unbiased reviews, and customer feedback to provide a clear picture of a company’s performance.
AM Best: A- (Excellent)
Better Business Bureau: 1.03 out of 5 stars
Moody’s: A3
NAIC Complaint Index: 3.24
Kemper vs. other insurance companies
Kemper is just one of many auto insurance companies available for customers today. When you’re shopping for a policy, it’s important to weigh your options and compare rates, coverage, customer service, and more across several different companies.
Insurance Company
▲▼
Liability Only
▲▼
Full Coverage
▲▼
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
▲▼
Kemper
$88
$175
2.8
Progressive
$79
$138
8.4
Safeco
$79
$142
8.3
Travelers
$89
$194
9.0
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 28,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
Kemper vs. Progressive
Progressive is one of the largest auto insurance companies in the country, ranking third in market share by number of premiums written.[4]
Progressive offers many different coverage types and highly customizable policies. In addition to all the standard coverage options, Progressive also offers gap insurance, rental car reimbursement, customer parts and equipment value, rideshare coverage, roadside assistance, and a deductible savings bank.
Progressive is known for its affordable premiums. Its national average monthly premium for full coverage is $138, while Kemper’s is $175. Progressive also doesn’t increase its rates as much for drivers with tickets, accidents, or DUIs on their records. Finally, Progressive has a far larger lineup of discounts than Kemper.
Kemper vs. Safeco
Safeco is an auto insurance company that’s part of Liberty Mutual. Safeco uses the same agent model as Kemper, meaning you’ll have to connect with a local independent agent to sign up for a policy.
Kemper and Safeco stack up similarly in terms of coverage options. In addition to the standard coverage options, both have diminishing deductibles, roadside assistance, and new-car replacement. Safeco doesn’t offer gap insurance like Kemper does, but it does have rental car reimbursement and cash back for staying claims-free.
Kemper seems to offer more discounts than Safeco does. However, Safeco has its RightTrack program, which allows customers to save up to $513 per year by using an app that tracks their braking, acceleration, nighttime driving, and mileage.
Kemper vs. Travelers
Travelers is another major auto insurance company, ranking in the top 10 by market share. A difference between Travelers that immediately stands out is the rates. While the average full-coverage Kemper policy costs $175 per month, similar coverage from Travelers costs an average of just $194 per month.
Kemper and Travelers have some similar coverage options, including gap insurance, roadside assistance, new-car replacement, and accident forgiveness. Travelers also offers rental coverage, rideshare coverage, and non-owner coverage.
The two companies also have some similar discounts, including discounts for multiple policies, multiple cars, homeownership, getting an early quote, being a good student, and taking a driver safety course. However, Travelers has a larger lineup of other discounts.
Filing an auto insurance claim with Kemper
If you’re in an accident or your car sustains damage covered by your insurance policy, you’ll need to file a claim with your insurer. A claim is essentially a request for the insurance company to cover the damage.
Kemper allows customers to file claims either directly with their agents or online. To file a claim online, you’ll have to share information about your policy, your vehicle, the incident that occurred, and anyone else who was involved. Kemper also has a mobile app through which you can file a claim.
The Kemper website allows you to not only file a claim online but also find a repair shop for the damage. Kemper doesn’t require customers to use certain repair shops. But it does have the Kemper Repair Network, with many facilities, and the claims process may move more quickly if you use a shop in Kemper’s network.
Once you’ve filed your claim, the process works similarly to any other insurance company. Your agent will investigate the claim and should pay you for any covered damage once you’ve paid your deductible.
Do you need more information about Kemper? Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Kemper auto insurance.
Is Kemper legitimate?
Yes. Kemper is a legitimate insurance company that’s licensed to operate across the country. However, it does have many unfavorable reviews from its customers.
What is the average cost of Kemper car insurance?
The average cost of Kemper car insurance is $88 per month for liability coverage and $175 per month for full coverage.
Is Kemper a good insurance company?
Kemper may be a good option for drivers who need non-traditional coverage or drivers with a poor driving record. However, the company has many complaints about claims and customer service, so it may not be a good fit for the average driver.
Is Kemper good with claims?
Many of Kemper’s poor reviews specifically mention its claims process, suggesting there’s room for improvement. However, the company has an A- (Excellent) financial strength rating from AM Best, which suggests it has the financial resources necessary to pay out claims.
I got hit by someone with Kemper insurance. Any advice?
Once you’re safe, you should contact your insurance company following an accident. If your state has no-fault laws, all drivers will file a claim with their car insurance company. In at-fault states, you may file a claim with the other driver’s company, but your insurance agent may be able to help streamline the process.
Does Kemper offer other types of insurance?
Yes. In addition to auto insurance, Kemper offers property insurance, umbrella insurance, business insurance, and life insurance
Erin Gobler is a personal finance writer and journalist based in Madison, Wisconsin. With more than five years of experience, Erin has covered topics such as investing, credit cards, mortgages, insurance, and more. Her work has been featured in major publications like Business Insider, Fox Business, and Time. Erin received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 2013, studying journalism and political science. She also received a certificate of financial planning from Boston University in 2022.
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
)
)
){kind=logo}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
){kind=logo}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)