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Kemper Insurance Review 2024

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

Our Take

The bottom line: Kemper sells insurance to high-risk drivers who may struggle to find coverage, but has far more complaints than similar-sized companies.

Kemper sells insurance to high-risk drivers who may struggle to find coverage, but has far more complaints than similar-sized companies.

Full Review

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Pros & Cons

Can get an SR-22 if you need one.

Many coverage types and discounts.

Far more than the expected number of complaints to state regulators

Mobile app is rated poorly by consumers.

Full Review

NerdWallet was not able to rate Kemper for overall performance because there is no financial strength rating information available for the company. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer experience, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and financial strength ratings.

If you’ve had trouble getting auto insurance elsewhere because of poor credit or your driving record, Kemper may be worth a look. The company is known for providing auto insurance for high-risk drivers, and its policies are available in most states through independent agents. You can also get homeowners, life and business insurance through the company.

But while Kemper is a popular choice — it’s the 12th biggest insurer in the country, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners [0] National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Property and Casualty Insurance Industry, 2021 Top 25 Groups and Companies by Countrywide Premium. View all sources — not all of its customers are happy with their experience. For its size, Kemper receives far more than the expected number of consumer complaints to state regulators.

» MORE: The best car insurance companies

In our auto insurance reviews, our editorial team considers both the customer and the insurer. These are some of the factors we take into account:

Financial strength. We use A.M. Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims. NerdWallet does not recommend companies with a rating lower than a B. 

Complaints. These ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The best auto insurance companies have fewer than the expected number of complaints.

Ease of use. This category looks at how easily consumers can interact with an insurer through its mobile app and website. This includes how much coverage information is offered online, whether a user can start and track a claim online and get a quote and mobile app scores based on the Apple and Google Play store ratings. Discounts. We look at both the kind of discounts a company offers and the total number of discounts available.

Compare to other insurers

Current Product

3.0

Complaints to NAIC  Ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company's size, according to three years' worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.

Far more than expected

Complaints to NAIC  Ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company's size, according to three years' worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.

More than expected

Complaints to NAIC  Ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company's size, according to three years' worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.

More than expected

Ease of use  Ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our "ease of use" category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim.

Below average

Ease of use  Ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our "ease of use" category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim.

Average

Ease of use  Ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our "ease of use" category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim.

Average

Discounts  Ratings are based on the number of discounts a company offers in comparison to other insurers.

Average set of discounts

Discounts  Ratings are based on the number of discounts a company offers in comparison to other insurers.

Very few discounts

Discounts  Ratings are based on the number of discounts a company offers in comparison to other insurers.

Very few discounts

Bottom line 

Kemper sells insurance to high-risk drivers, but has far more complaints than similar-sized companies.

Bottom line 

GoAuto offers a barebones option, but other companies have lower customer complaints and offer more discounts.

Bottom line 

Dairyland specializes in high-risk drivers, but with more complaints than expected, you may find better coverage elsewhere.

Kemper auto insurance coverage

When you're shopping for car insurance coverage, it's important to understand what car insurance coverage you want and what you’re required to buy. For instance, most states require a minimum amount of car insurance to drive a vehicle. Alternatively, if you want extra protection, you may be interested in full coverage insurance. Read about the most common types of car insurance coverage to see how they work.

Kemper auto insurance options vary by state. High-risk drivers buying nonstandard insurance from Kemper may have different coverage options than those buying standard policies.

For high-risk drivers, Kemper offers:

SR-22 availability. States often require an SR-22 form to prove you have insurance after a DUI or some other serious violation.

Insurance for salvaged vehicles . Kemper will insure most “salvage title” vehicles that were rebuilt after being totaled in an accident.

» MORE: How to insure a car with a salvage or rebuilt title

Options for Kemper’s standard auto policies include:

New car replacement. If your new car is seriously damaged in a covered accident, Kemper’s new-car replacement coverage will pay to repair or replace it (whichever costs less), even if it’s more than the actual cash value of the car.

Gap insurance . If your vehicle is totaled, this will cover the difference between your car’s actual value and the amount you owe on your loan or lease.

Enhanced coverage. This package includes accident forgiveness , a waiver of your deductible if your car is damaged while parked, a diminishing deductible credit if you drive safely and coverage for personal property in your vehicle if your car is stolen. It also covers the replacement of a key or entry transmitter device, as well as expenses if a trip is interrupted by a covered accident.

» MORE: Compare car insurance rates

Auto insurance discounts

Kemper’s auto insurance discounts vary by state and type of policy. You may be able to save money by:

Insuring more than one car.

Owning a home.

Paying your full insurance premium upfront.

Having good grades, if you or someone insured on your policy is a student.

Completing a course in defensive driving or accident prevention.

Being covered with a previous insurer before switching to Kemper.

Getting a quote in advance of the policy’s effective date.

Being an active-duty member of the military or National Guard.

Having an anti-theft device in your car.

First time shopping for auto insurance? Unsure of where to start? Check out our guide on how to shop for car insurance .

Kemper home insurance coverage

Homeowners insurance from Kemper includes standard home coverage and a variety of additional options, including:

Contents replacement coverage , which pays for brand-new belongings, rather than the depreciated value of lost belongings, if yours are stolen or ruined for a covered reason.

Identity fraud coverage , which will reimburse certain expenses if you're a victim of identity theft.

Water backup coverage that pays for damage associated with the backup of sewers or drains.

Equipment breakdown coverage that pays out if appliances or major household systems break down.

Valuable items coverage , which lets you put extra insurance on specific items with no deductible, though you may need appraisals for high-dollar items. You can also opt for blanket coverage for your valuables, which raises your coverage limit across the board for expensive items rather than insuring them individually.

Blanket property limit , which allows your various types of property coverage to be combined into one higher limit that can be paid out if you have a claim in a particular category. For example, you might have the structure of your home covered for $300,000 and your “other structures,” such as a shed, covered for $30,000. If your shed burned down but the house wasn’t affected, and the “other structures” coverage on the shed wasn’t enough to rebuild it, the blanket property limit would give you up to an extra $300,000 to get the job done.

» MORE: The best homeowners insurance companies

Home insurance discounts

If you buy both auto and homeowners insurance from Kemper, you may get a discounted package that includes a single deductible and bill.

You may also qualify for discounts on your home insurance for:

Being an active or retired member of the military, or a cadet at a military academy.

Having safety features such as fire alarms, smoke detectors, an automatic gas shutoff or a whole-house water leak protection system.

Complaints and customer satisfaction

Kemper had far more than the expected number of complaints about auto insurance to state regulators relative to its size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Kemper ranked last out of 24 companies in J.D. Power's 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study [0] J.D. Power. 2022 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. View all sources .

More about Kemper auto insurance

Website: Kemper’s website lets you search for an agent, manage your policy and make a payment. You can also report a claim and find a repair shop if your car has been damaged. 

Mobile apps: Kemper has a general auto insurance policy management app that allows you to view ID cards, make payments, track claims and find agency contact info.

Life insurance from Kemper

Kemper offers whole life, term life and guaranteed issue life insurance. Not all types of policies are available in all states.

To get more details about coverage options and discounts, see our Kemper life insurance review .

» MORE: The best life insurance companies

Other insurance from Kemper

Besides auto, home and life insurance, Kemper offers the following policies:

Renters.

Condo.

Mobile home.

Flood.

Umbrella.

Business.

Supplemental health.

Kemper sells the following policies through third parties:

Motorcycle.

ATV.

RV.

Boat.

Insurer complaints methodology NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2020-2022. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance. Auto insurance ratings methodology NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines and full ratings methodology for auto insurance .

Insurer complaints methodology

NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2020-2022. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.

Auto insurance ratings methodology

NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines and full ratings methodology for auto insurance .

Frequently asked questions

Yes. If you need insurance after a DUI or other serious violation, Kemper will provide an SR-22 form, which states often require as proof that you have insurance.

Kemper owns Infinity, a separate brand that sells auto, home and business insurance. Read NerdWallet's review of Infinity auto insurance.

You will likely need to contact an agent or call Kemper directly to get a quote.

You can contact Kemper customer service by phone at 800-782-1020 or by email at [email protected] .

About the author

Isabel Contreras is a writer at NerdWallet covering auto insurance. Read more

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