Kemper Auto Insurance Review [2024]: Highly-Rated, But Is It Worth It?

Kemper is a major provider of auto insurance that operates in most, but not all, U.S. states. It specializes in non-standard coverage, a type of car insurance policy for drivers with certain risk factors, such as previous accidents or traffic violations.

Kemper also offers several other insurance products you can bundle and get discounts on, such as renters and homeowners insurance. However, the company ranks low for customer satisfaction and has a large number of complaints.

It may be worth getting a quote from Kemper if you live in a state where it operates and your quotes with other insurers are expensive due to a previous accident or ticket history.

Kemper auto insurance: Is it worth it?

Pros	Cons
Provides coverage for drivers with a history of accidents or tickets Excellent financial strength rating from AM Best Bundling discounts when combined with renters, homeowners, or condo insurance	Complaint number is much higher than the industry average Ranks lowest for satisfaction with claim processes and results among 19 auto insurers Recent class-action lawsuit over two data breaches Quotes and detailed policy options are only available over the phone
Our verdict: Drivers who find it difficult to get auto insurance due to a previous history of accidents or tickets may be able to get the coverage they need from Kemper in the states where coverage is available. However, drivers with strong credit and no past infractions may get better customer service elsewhere.

What is Kemper?

Kemper Auto Insurance is an insurance agency based out of Chicago, Illinois. It’s part of the Kemper Corporation, which is a family of companies. The company can trace its roots back to 1912 when it was founded by James Kemper. His son, James Kemper, Jr., later held numerous roles at the company, including chairman and chief executive.

Since its founding, Kemper has grown into a vast multi-policy insurance provider that operates nationwide. It services over 6.2 million policies, is represented by more than 34,000 insurance agents and brokers and has over 9,500 employees. With over $14 billion in assets, Kemper is a leading insurer in the U.S.

In addition, Kemper has an A- rating from AM Best. This rating describes the financial strength of a company, with an A- falling into the excellent category. As defined by AM Best, an excellent rating recognizes an insurance company with “an excellent ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations.” In other words, Kemper is seen as a financially stable company that doesn’t appear to be vulnerable to changes in underwriting or economic conditions.

Year founded	1990
Types of coverage	Liability protection Collision coverage Comprehensive insurance Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage SR-22 financial responsibility coverage GAP insurance Vehicle replacement insurance Roadside assistance
Discounts available	Advance quote discount Discount for proving prior insurance Discount for paying in full Anti-theft discount Defensive driving course discount Good student discount Military discount Multi-car discount Multi-policy discount Homeowner discount
Where you can use it	Online at Kemper's website Kemper Auto Insurance app on Android and iOS devices
Kemper customer support	Call 866-860-9348 Send a message via the online contact form
Availability	Kemper Specialty is available in 34 states Kemper Preferred is available in 45 states and Washington, D.C.

What insurance does Kemper Insurance offer?

Kemper provides auto insurance primarily through two segments: Kemper Specialty and Kemper Preferred.

Kemper Specialty

Kemper Specialty provides auto insurance coverage for people with no driving history or with a past record of accidents or driving infractions. It also offers auto coverage for people using international driver's licenses. Kemper Specialty is available in 34 states.

The following coverages are available through Kemper Specialty:

• Liability insurance coverage: This protection helps pay for the damages or injuries sustained by the driver and passenger in an accident. Liability protection is required in most states.
• Collision insurance: This coverage helps pay for your vehicle’s repairs or replacement costs following an accident. Collision insurance is optional unless your car is financed or leased.
• Comprehensive insurance: This insurance helps pay for damage repairs following events other than auto accidents, such as fire or storm damages. Collision and comprehensive insurance are known as full coverage and are optional unless you finance or lease your vehicle.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: This coverage helps pay for your medical bills and property damage if you’re in an accident with a driver that is uninsured or has inadequate coverage. You may be required to have this coverage, depending on your state.
• Roadside assistance: This optional coverage provides 24/7 towing, jumpstart, and fuel-delivery services if your car breaks down.
• SR-22 financial responsibility coverage: This coverage helps prove that you have adequate financial protection when you’re ordered by a court to carry an SR-22 certificate due to a history of accidents or violations.

Kemper Preferred

Kemper Preferred provides auto insurance coverage for drivers with valid U.S. licenses and a relatively clear driving record. It’s available in 45 states and Washington, D.C.

Kemper Preferred offers policyholders the same coverages as Kemper Specialty, including:

• Liability protection
• Collision insurance
• Comprehensive coverage
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

It also offers additional insurance options, including:

• Kemper Prime Auto Enhanced: This coverage package includes personal property protection, waiver of your first accident or minor violation, and waiver of deductible when your car is damaged while parked. It also gives you diminishing deductible credits for safe driving and key or entry transmitter replacement coverage.
• Kemper Total: This coverage helps pay for a vehicle replacement if your car is totaled in an accident. Kemper Total is exclusive to new vehicles.
• Auto loan/lease coverage: This coverage, also known as GAP insurance, helps pay the difference between your car’s value and the amount owed on your auto loan or lease if your car is totaled.

Additional insurance products

Kemper offers several insurance products other than auto coverage. These insurance products come in three main categories.

Property insurance products:

• Homeowners insurance
• Renters insurance
• Condo insurance
• Flood insurance
• Mobile home insurance

If you purchase homeowners insurance and auto insurance, you can qualify for a multi-policy discount.

Life insurance products:

• Whole life insurance
• Term life insurance
• Guaranteed issue life insurance
• Accident and health insurance
• Fire and contents protection

Business insurance products:

• Commercial auto insurance
• Commercial general liability protection
• Business owners policy coverage

Kemper auto insurance: How cheap is it?

There are several factors that affect car insurance rates, including your driving record, vehicle type, and desired coverage. Kemper also has two separate segments — Specialty and Preferred — so your auto insurance rates also depend on the segment you use.

How to find discounts

Kemper has several auto insurance discounts that can help you save money on car insurance.

Auto insurance policy discounts:

• Advance quote discount: If you get a quote and finalize your policy in advance of its effective date, you may be eligible for a discount.
• Proof of prior insurance discount: If you previously had coverage from another insurer, you can qualify for a discount if you provide proof of coverage to Kemper.
• Paid-in-full discount: If you pay your premiums in full upfront rather than opting for monthly payments, you can qualify for this discount.

Safety discounts:

• Anti-theft: If your car has alarm systems or anti-theft devices, you may be eligible for a discount.
• Defensive driving course discount: If you take a qualifying defensive driving course, you could lower your premiums with this discount.

Driver discounts:

• Good student discount: Full-time students that maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher can qualify for the good student discount.
• Military discount: Active duty military or National Guard service members may save with a military discount from Kemper.

Bundling discounts:

• Multi-car discount: Households that need to insure multiple cars can take advantage of the multi-car discount.
• Multi-policy discount: Besides car insurance, Kemper also sells homeowners, renters, and condo insurance. If you insure your car and home through Kemper, you could save more money.

How to maximize savings

You can increase your savings with Kemper in a number of ways other than discounts:

• Decrease your coverage. You may not need extensive or full coverage when your vehicle is old. Lowering your coverage or removing collision or comprehensive insurance for a vehicle you fully own can lower your premium. Keep in mind that lowering your coverage can increase your costs following an accident.
• Raise your deductible. Increasing your deductibles can lower your auto insurance premium. However, it leaves you with higher financial responsibility following an accident.
• Improve your credit. Insurers look at your credit score while determining your auto coverage rates. Improving your credit history may qualify for a lower premium.

How to get an auto insurance quote from Kemper

If you’re wondering how to get car insurance through Kemper, you likely will need to meet with an agent or call. Although Kemper has a “Get a Quote” button on its website, you may not be able to get a quote online.

We tried multiple ZIP codes in California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas. In each case, the site directed us to call and speak with an agent.

In other cases, it redirected us to Insure.com to get a quote and provided quotes from other insurers.

To get the most accurate quote, you will likely have to call or meet with a local insurance agent in your area. You can use the Find an Agent tool to locate an agent near you.

Kemper auto insurance FAQs

Bottom line

Receiving traffic tickets or getting into major accidents can make it difficult to get auto insurance coverage with some car insurance providers.

That’s when Kemper can be an option worth considering, as Kemper Specialty offers coverage for drivers with adverse marks on their records. Remember that you will need to work with an agent to get your coverage because you can’t get a quote or finalize a policy online.

Kemper has many negative customer reviews and complaints and low insurance claims satisfaction, so you may be better off with a different insurer if you have a clean record. Check out our picks for the best car insurance companies.

Methodology

FinanceBuzz researches a number of factors in each auto insurance provider to create our reviews. These factors include cost and discounts, complaints and customer satisfaction, coverage, and ease of use. We also gather information from sources such as J.D. Power, AM Best, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), and the Better Business Bureau to ensure we provide the most useful information to our readers.