- Kemper's Focus on High-Risk Drivers: Kemper specializes in insuring high-risk drivers, such as those with DUIs, accidents, or license suspensions, especially after shifting away from standard policies in 2023.
- Affordability for High-Risk Drivers: Kemper offers competitive rates for drivers with bad credit, DUIs, or SR-22 requirements, but its prices for minimum coverage are generally higher than average.
- Coverage Options and Specialty Coverages: Kemper provides standard auto insurance coverages along with unique options like roadside assistance, rental car coverage, and GAP insurance, though availability varies by state.
- Customer Satisfaction Challenges: Despite solid financial strength, Kemper has a high complaint volume, poor claims satisfaction, and a poorly rated mobile app, affecting customer experience.
- Ideal Candidates for Kemper: Kemper is best suited for drivers with serious violations, international driver’s licenses, or those who have been rejected by other insurers, but not for drivers seeking the best rates and service.
Kemper Car Insurance Overview
Kemper has established itself as a go-to option for drivers who have had trouble finding coverage elsewhere. This Chicago-based insurer focuses heavily on the nonstandard auto insurance market, meaning they specialize in covering people with DUIs, license suspensions, accidents on their record, or those who need SR-22 filings. Kemper ranks 17th among the country’s largest private passenger auto insurers based on 2024 market share.
Kemper Corporation has executed a major strategic shift in its business model. Effective August 2023, Kemper Personal Insurance, a subsidiary that previously offered both home and auto insurance to standard and preferred customers, began canceling and nonrenewing all preferred policies. This change means the company is now focusing almost entirely on the high-risk auto insurance market, serving drivers who typically have difficulty securing coverage from mainstream insurance carriers.
Who Is Kemper Car Insurance Best For?
Kemper makes the most sense for drivers who have hit roadblocks getting approved by traditional insurers. Kemper is best for budget-conscious drivers, especially those with bad credit, low income, an accident history, or DUI convictions, seeking cheap rates. If you need an SR-22 filing, have a suspended or revoked license, or only have a state ID or international license instead of a standard driver’s license, Kemper might be your best bet. The company has also carved out a niche serving the Hispanic community through its American Access Casualty subsidiary, which offers bilingual agents. However, if you have a clean driving record and decent credit, you will almost certainly find better rates and service with other providers.
Key Strengths
- Willingness to insure high-risk drivers, including those with DUIs, accidents, or suspended licenses
- A.M. Best has given Kemper an excellent strength rating of A-
- Kemper files SR-22 documents on behalf of its drivers
- You can get a policy even if you only have a state ID, Matricula Consular, or an international license
Key Weaknesses
- Kemper’s NAIC rating is 9.99. This means it has received significantly more complaints than average car insurance providers. This kept it off of our list of the top-rated car insurance companies.
- Kemper ranked last in J.D. Power’s 2022 Auto Claims Satisfaction study.
- On the iPhone app store, it had a 1.4 rating out of 5 stars across 304 total reviews as of October 2025
- For minimum coverage, Kemper’s $991 annual average is significantly higher, over $300 more, than the national average of $635
Kemper Car Insurance Affordability
When it comes to car insurance cost, Kemper presents a mixed picture that depends heavily on what type of coverage you need and your driving history. For full coverage, Kemper’s auto insurance premiums average around $2,279 annually, about 5% below the national average. That sounds decent until you look at minimum liability coverage, where the story changes dramatically.
For minimum coverage, Kemper’s $991 annual average is significantly higher, over $300 more, than the national average of $635. This pricing structure reflects Kemper’s customer base. When you are insuring drivers with checkered histories, the risk is simply higher, and that gets baked into the premiums.
For high-risk drivers specifically, Kemper can actually be competitive. Drivers with bad credit will find Kemper among the cheapest car insurance companies available. Although Kemper’s average rates for drivers with a DUI are higher than the national average, keep in mind that Kemper’s approval rate of DUI policies is also above the national average. Sometimes the question is not about finding the cheapest rate but finding anyone willing to insure you at all.
Kemper offers several ways to lower your premium. In March 2024, Kemper introduced a telematics discount program called Kemper Co-Pilot for tracking your driving habits. Enrolled drivers receive a 10 percent premium discount simply for participating in the program. The program is currently available in Arizona, Georgia, Florida, and Texas. Other available discounts include multi-car savings, paid-in-full discounts, defensive driving course completion, good student discounts for maintaining a 3.0 GPA or higher, military discounts for active-duty members or National Guard, and advance quote discounts for starting your policy before the effective date.
Kemper Car Insurance Coverage Options
Kemper provides all the standard auto insurance coverages you would expect, along with some specialized options designed for their high-risk customer base. Standard coverage types include bodily injury liability, property damage liability, collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, medical payments, personal injury protection in applicable states, and uninsured/underinsured motorist protection.
Where Kemper gets more interesting is their specialty coverage options. Kemper offers specialized coverage options, such as Kemper Total, which includes new-car replacement and enhanced rental-car coverage. Parked Auto Protection waives the collision deductible if the car is damaged while parked. Auto Loan/Lease Coverage, also known as GAP insurance, covers the difference between the car’s actual cash value and the outstanding loan or lease balance.
Kemper provides roadside assistance, including fuel delivery, towing, jump-starts, and tire changes if your vehicle is disabled on the road.
It is worth noting that coverage options and availability vary significantly by state. Some of Kemper’s enhanced packages and specialty coverages are only available in certain regions, particularly California. When shopping for a Kemper policy, you will want to ask your agent specifically what is available in your area.
Kemper Car Insurance Reliability
When evaluating an insurer’s reliability, financial strength ratings indicate whether the company can pay claims when you need them. On this front, Kemper performs well. AM Best has assigned the company a financial strength rating of A-. The outlook for these ratings is stable, indicating analysts expect Kemper to maintain this level of financial health going forward.
However, when it comes to customer complaint data, the picture is less rosy. Kemper’s NAIC rating is 9.99. This means it has received significantly more complaints than average car insurance providers. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners uses a baseline of 1.00, so Kemper’s score indicates nearly ten times the expected complaint volume for a company of its size.
Kemper Car Insurance Customer Service
Customer service is where Kemper struggles the most, according to independent evaluations and consumer feedback.
Phone Support: Phone support for auto, home, and commercial auto is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm CT, and Saturday from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm CT. The main customer service and claims number is 800-353-6737. Actual wait times and service quality are frequently criticized in consumer reviews, with many customers reporting difficulty reaching adjusters and getting return calls.
Digital Support: You can manage your auto insurance policy using your iPhone or Android device. Kemper makes it easy to make payments, display ID cards, find preferred repair shops, or submit claims information. However, the digital experience leaves much to be desired. On the iPhone app store, the app had a 1.4 rating out of 5 stars across 304 total reviews as of October 2025. General customer complaints ranged from minor bugs and crashes while filling out a claim to the app not opening at all, causing them to miss their monthly payments. The website functions adequately for basic tasks like checking your policy and making payments, but online quote generation often redirects you to call an agent rather than providing instant quotes.
Third-Party Ratings: Kemper Corporation holds an A+ rating and is BBB-accredited since December 2021. However, the volume of complaints tells a different story. The company has a 1.8-star rating out of 5 on Trustpilot. WalletHub rates Kemper 1.4 out of 5 based on customer reviews, insurance quotes, and ratings from third-party watchdog organizations.
Kemper’s performance yields mixed results in customer satisfaction and industry rankings. The company scored poorly in the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, ranking last in the California region with only 528 points out of a possible 1,000. However, customer discussions on forums like Reddit often praise Kemper’s affordable rates and simple coverage. These same discussions also indicate inconsistent experiences with customer service quality and the speed of claims processing.
Kemper Car Insurance Claims Process
Filing a claim with Kemper can be done online through their portal, via phone, or through their mobile app. Once you have filed your claim, a claims adjuster will be assigned to you and will contact you by the next business day to get the process started. Kemper aims to settle insurance claims within 30 days, but this depends on the claim’s complexity and the type of coverage you have.
Unfortunately, the claims experience is where Kemper receives its harshest criticism. Kemper ranked last in J.D. Power’s 2022 Auto Claims Satisfaction study and received a C- grade from CRASH Network’s 2024 Insurer Report Card, ranking 72nd out of 88 insurers. Customer reviews cite poor communication, lengthy processing time, and disputes over claim valuations.
Complaints reported to the NAIC highlight delays in claims payments. Many reviewers report difficulty reaching their assigned adjusters, unreturned phone calls and emails, and extended wait times for claim resolution that far exceed the 30-day target.
Kemper Car Insurance Application Process
Getting a quote from Kemper is not as streamlined as with some competitors. Although the website offers an online quote, after entering a zip code, you may be prompted to call an agent. This agent-focused approach aligns with Kemper’s distribution model, which relies on independent agents and brokers rather than direct-to-consumer sales.
Kemper encourages prospective policyholders to contact a local agent for quotes and coverage information. You can find an agent through the Kemper website’s agent locator tool. Policyholders can also contact the company directly via the website form or by phone.
Once you have a policy, online binding availability depends on your state and the specific coverage type. For the telematics discount program, customers download and register in the app with an eligible smartphone. Some customers may be unable to participate due to smartphone incompatibility. The company does offer digital tools, including a claims portal where you can submit claims online 24/7, upload photos and documents, and track claim status.
Pros & Cons of Kemper Car Insurance
Weighing Kemper’s strengths against its weaknesses can help you determine if this insurer makes sense for your situation.
Pros
- Strong financial stability with an A- (Excellent) rating from AM Best ensures the company can pay claims.s
- You can get a policy even if you only have a state ID, Matricula Consular, or an international license.
- SR-22 filing assistance for drivers who need to prove insurance to the state
- For full coverage, premiums average about five percent below the national average
- The telematics program offers a 10% premium discount just for enrolling
Cons
- Kemper consistently sees more complaints than the average for a company of its size.
- Ranked last in J.D. Power’s auto claims satisfaction study, with a C- grade from CRASH Network. The mobile app is essentially unusable, with a 1.4-star rating.
- Minimum coverage costs over $300 more than the national average
- The quote process often requires calling an agent rather than providing instant online quotes
Our Verdict & Rating for Kemper Car Insurance
Kemper occupies an unusual position in the auto insurance market. On one hand, they fill a genuine need by providing coverage to drivers who might otherwise go uninsured. On the other hand, their customer service record is among the worst in the industry. If you are a high-risk driver, Kemper might be your best or only option, and their financial stability means they will be there to pay claims.
However, the company’s struggle with customer satisfaction cannot be ignored. The company had the lowest 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 Commissioners Complaint Index. These are not minor quibbles but systemic issues that affect real customers trying to get their vehicles repaired and their claims paid.
For most drivers with clean records and decent credit, Kemper should not be your first choice. The potential cost savings are not worth the headaches that seem to accompany the claims process. But for those who have been denied elsewhere, Kemper’s willingness to write policies for difficult cases makes them a valuable, if imperfect, option.
Who Should Consider Kemper?
- Drivers with DUIs, at-fault accidents, or other serious violations on their record
- Anyone who needs SR-22 documentation filed
- People with only a state ID, an international license, or a Matricula Consular instead of a standard driver’s license
- Drivers whose previous insurer has dropped them or refuses to renew their policy.
- Those with bad credit who struggle to get affordable quotes elsewhere
Who Should Consider Another Provider?
- Drivers with clean records who want competitive rates and reliable service. Consider Amica car insurance.
- Anyone who values a strong mobile app and digital experience. Consider Lemonade car insurance.
- Customers who prioritize quick, hassle-free claims processing. Consider State Farm car insurance.
- Young drivers, who face particularly high premiums with Kemper. Consider Geico car insurance.
- Homeowners looking to bundle auto and home insurance (Kemper no longer offers home coverage). Consider Progressive car insurance.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to your questions about Kemper car insurance.
Kemper specializes in insuring high-risk drivers, including those with DUIs, accidents, or license suspensions, and offers options like SR-22 filing, even if you only have a state ID or international license.
Yes, Kemper offers competitive rates for high-risk drivers, especially those with bad credit or criminal violations, though its minimum coverage prices tend to be higher than average.
Kemper provides standard auto insurance coverages such as liability, collision, and comprehensive, along with specialty coverages like roadside assistance, rental car coverage, and GAP insurance, depending on the state.
Kemper has strong financial stability with an A- rating from AM Best, but it receives significantly more complaints than average and ranked last in J.D. Power’s 2022 auto claims satisfaction study, affecting overall reliability ratings.
