Kemper Car Insurance Reviews: Costs and Ratings (2024)

Kemper offers coverage to high-risk drivers who may struggle to get a policy elsewhere, but it has generally poor reviews from existing customers.

Erin Gobler
Written byErin Gobler
Erin Gobler
Erin Gobler
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  • 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.

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Ashley Cox
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Ashley CoxSenior Managing Editor
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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
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Konstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
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  • 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.

Updated December 18, 2023

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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.

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IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
2.8
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
748
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-

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

I had no issues with Kemper until my rates started rising.

Richard - August 5, 2023
Verified

Flexibility.

Mariana - June 15, 2023
Verified

Poor communication; did not answer email about setting up auto payments

Jeffrey - January 29, 2023
Verified
Read our Kemper review

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.

  • Roadside assistance: Kemper offers 24/7 towing, fuel delivery, lockout service, tire changes, and jump-starts.

  • 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 $103 per month for liability-only insurance rates and $212 per month for full-coverage car insurance.

 Average Quote: Liability OnlyAverage Quote: Full Coverage
Kemper$88$175
National average$103$212
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 OnlyAverage 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.

AgeAverage 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.

  • Multi-car: Kemper will give you a discount if you have more than one vehicle on your policy.

  • 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 CompanyLiability OnlyFull CoverageIQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
Kemper$88$1752.8
Progressive$82$1463.9
Safeco$66$1243.8
Travelers$90$1984.3
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.
  • Insurify uses an in-house, proprietary method to rate and review the best car insurance companies. The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 crucial criteria, including average premiums, customer satisfaction, discounts, third-party ratings, and more, to calculate a final score for a company.

    Criteria are weighted by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings. With the IQ Score, Insurify is able to provide quantitative ratings for drivers to better compare car insurance companies and make informed decisions to meet their coverage needs.

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 $146, 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 $198 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.

Why Do Car Insurance Companies Deny Claims?

Why Do Car Insurance Companies Deny Claims?

Kemper insurance FAQs

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

Sources

  1. Insurance Business. "Kemper exits preferred home and auto insurance." Accessed November 17, 2023
Erin Gobler
Erin Gobler

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.

Ashley Cox
Edited byAshley CoxSenior Managing Editor
Headshot of Managing Editor Ashley Cox
Ashley CoxSenior Managing Editor
  • 7+ years in content creation and management

  • 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.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
  • 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.

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