Kemper Car Insurance Review
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Kemper Insurance is a midsized insurance provider offering auto, home, health, and life insurance. It's in the top 20 in terms of market share, holding about 1.25% of auto policies nationwide as of 2020. To put that in context, Kemper is slightly larger than National General but slightly smaller than AAA Insurance. Kemper auto coverage is available in all 50 states, though the company operates under a few different names. Brand names include (but are not limited to):
Kemper Personal Insurance is available through an independent agent network.
Kemper Direct is available in 28 states and can be quoted and purchased online.
Kemper Specialty California covers high-risk drivers in California only.
Kemper Auto | Alliance United also covers high-risk drivers in California.
Infinity Insurance is a Kemper company that serves higher-risk drivers in Florida, Arizona, California, Texas, and Georgia.
While many auto insurance providers specialize in well-qualified drivers or high-risk drivers, Kemper and its companies have offerings for both.
Related Resource: Kemper Insurance Profile for Auto.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- 1
Kemper Insurance offers auto, home, health, and life insurance, serving both well-qualified and high-risk drivers.
- 2
The company has a history of mergers and acquisitions, including buying the renewal rights for Kemper Insurance's homeowners and car insurance lines in 2002.
- 3
Kemper's customer service has received average to poor ratings, but the company offers competitive rates and discounts for young drivers.
History
In 1990, conglomerate Teledyne spun off a financial services division it called Unitrin, Inc. Unitrin, launched and traded on the NASDAQ, provided several lines of insurance along with auto loans and other finance offerings. In 2002, Unitrin bought the renewal rights for the homeowners and car insurance lines written by Chicago-based Kemper Insurance. Unitrin later purchased all rights to the Kemper name and began operating as Kemper Corporation in 2011. Kemper acquired Alliance United in 2015 and Infinity Insurance in 2018. Today, Kemper Corporation trades on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker KMPR and has a market capitalization in excess of $3 billion.1
Kemper Insurance is based in Chicago.
Kemper Insurance Complaint History: Below Average
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners tracks complaints against insurance carriers, by type of coverage. The table below shows the complaint ratings for some of the Kemper and Unitrin companies that write personal auto insurance, from 2017 through 2019. The ratings represent the number of complaints relative to the company's share of premiums. A rating greater than 1 means the company had a higher than expected volume of complaints. A rating lower than 1 means the company had a lower than expected volume of complaints (e.g. a 0.5 is half as many complaints as average while a 2.0 is twice as many).
Company | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Kemper Independence Insurance Company
| 1.95 | 1.56 | 0.83 |
Unitrin Auto & Home Insurance Company
| 2.16 | 0.86 | 1.57 |
Unitrin Direct Property & Casualty Company | 2.69 | 1.06 | 5.79 |
Unitrin Direct Insurance Company | 5.59 | 1.55 | 2.56 |
Unitrin Preferred Insurance Company | 0.98 | 0 | 0 |
Table data source: NAIC
As you can see, the 2019 complaint indexes for Kemper companies range from very poor at 5.59 to about average at 0.98. Public reviews on Kemper show complaints in several areas, including billing, adjuster responsiveness, speed of claims payments, and general attitude of customer service representatives. Note that many of these complaints are related specifically to the Infinity brand.
Is Kemper Right For You?
Kemper doesn't have great customer service or cutting edge, online tools. The company does, however, offer competitive rates, plus discounts that are particularly appropriate for families with young drivers. If your independent insurance agent has presented Kemper as the cheapest auto insurance option for you, that may be reason enough to give the company a shot. We recommend purchasing Kemper coverage through an agent rather than direct, because your agent can help you manage your policy and you won't be as reliant on Kemper's customer service.
Kemper Insurance may be right if… | Kemper Insurance may not fit if… |
You need coverage for multiple drivers in your home, including a teen driver.
| You are a single driver and only need auto insurance. |
You like to manage your auto insurance through an agent. | You'd rather manage your insurance independently with online tools instead of using an agent.
|
You would like to have a single bill for your auto and home insurance.
| You have high standards for customer service. |
What We Think About Kemper Insurance
Kemper is one of the middle-of-the-road insurance companies that doesn't have a strong brand presence or a clearly defined niche. In fact, Kemper and its affiliate brands are all over the place, with offerings specifically for families and other programs tailored for high-risk drivers. You're most likely to have a good experience with the Kemper Standard and Preferred insurance offering, which is available to well-qualified drivers who work through an independent agent. This is where Kemper is most price-competitive and also more consistent with respect to customer service.
According to an analysis by Value Penguin, average Kemper Preferred premiums are 14% less than overall industry averages and slightly cheaper than GEICO, the nearest competitor in terms of price. However, Kemper's rates are not the cheapest across the board. A married couple with one teenage driver might pay substantially less with Kemper vs. GEICO, while a single, 30-year-old man might pay more for Kemper coverages. That's why you should always price-shop before purchasing any type of insurance, including auto coverage through Kemper.
Kemper has a good range of coverages for all types of drivers. Preferred drivers can get standard liability, comprehensive, and collision coverages plus premium features like gap insurance, accident forgiveness, diminishing deductibles, deductible waivers, trip interruption insurance, and personal property protection. New car drivers may appreciate Kemper Total coverage, which pays to replace your vehicle with a new model if it's totaled.
Traditionally, your auto insurance only reimburses you for actual cash value, which reduces your payout by the amount your vehicle has depreciated since you bought it. Discounts available under Kemper's preferred offering are geared for families. Examples include bundle discounts, discounts for multiple vehicles, and good student discounts. Also of note for those who want to bundle policies is the company's Package Plus program, which enhances coverages and gives you a single bill for your auto and home insurance.
High-risk drivers have access to SR-22 filings, coverage for salvage title vehicles, and broad form coverage in states that allow it. The salvage title program is appealing if you need to insure a reconditioned vehicle, because many carriers won't insure cars that have been totaled or came from the junkyard.
Kemper's customer service is, unfortunately, inconsistent. If you expect to get high-touch service, you'll likely be disappointed. You can, however, lean on your agent for most policy management tasks -- which would limit your direct interaction with Kemper.
Summary of Kemper auto coverage:
Kemper offers a good range of coverage options and generally competitive rates, but spotty customer service. The company does not provide much in the way of technology, so you'll have to work through your agent to keep your coverages, drivers, and vehicles updated on the policy.
How Kemper Insurance Works
See the table below for the types of auto coverage available through Kemper.
Car Coverage Type | How it Works |
Property Liability and Bodily Injury Liability
| Your property damage liability coverage pays to repair someone else's car or property in an accident you caused. Bodily injury liability specifically covers medical bills if the other driver or other driver's passengers are injured in an accident you caused. Both property damage and bodily injury are subject to coverage caps as defined in the policy.
|
Collision | If you collide with another vehicle or object, your collision insurance pays to repair your vehicle, up to stated policy limits and after you pay the deductible.
|
Comprehensive | If your vehicle is damaged by something other than a collision -- such as vandalism or theft -- your comprehensive insurance pays for the repairs, up to stated policy limits and after you pay the deductible.
|
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist
| Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage steps in to repair your vehicle when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough insurance.
|
Roadside Assistance | Roadside assistance coverage provides you with breakdown services such as towing, battery jumpstarts, tire changes, and lockout services.
|
Kemper Total | Available for new vehicles only. If you have Kemper Total and your new car is totaled, your insurance will pay out the amount needed for you to purchase another new car. Without Kemper Total, you'll receive actual cash value, which is the market value of your car.
|
Auto Loan/Lease (Gap Coverage) | Kemper's gap coverage offering comes with Kemper Total. This ensures that if your car is totaled, your insurance payout will be enough to pay off your car loan or lease.
|
Enhanced Coverage | Kemper Enhanced Coverage includes these premium features:
No rate increase after your first accident or minor violation Deductible that goes down over time when you have no claims or tickets Waiver of your deductible if your car is hit while it's parked Coverage for personal property inside your vehicle Trip interruption coverage Key or key fob replacement
|
Reconditioned Vehicle Program | Kemper will provide limited coverages for most salvaged or reconditioned vehicles.
|
Broad Form Coverage | Available in certain states only. Broad form coverage insures you as a driver, no matter what car you drive. It's normally used as an inexpensive way to meet state-mandated liability coverages.
|
Table data source: Kemper2
More About Kemper
Kemper's online experience seems subpar. The company does have an online portal and a workflow for submitting claims online, but the apps appear limited in functionality and have poor customer ratings.
Online tools
You can view your Kemper policy details and ID cards, make and manage payments, and track claims by registering at eKemper.com. If you want to submit a claim online, however, you need to visit a different URL here.
Kemper photo claims apps
Kemper has an iOS and an Android app that have limited functionality. They're both designed specifically for customers with existing claims to send photos of their damages to Kemper. Unfortunately, both apps are poorly rated by customers; the Android app is rated 3.2 of 5 stars and the iOS app, 1.8 out of 5 stars.
Kemper Insurance Discounts
The table below shows the discounts offered by Kemper on its auto coverage. Note that some discounts may only be available in certain states.
Discount | How You Get It |
Driver's Training | Young drivers (under the age of 21) who voluntarily complete a driver's education course qualify for the driver's training discount.
|
Married Discount | Married drivers who are insured through Kemper Direct get a discount.
|
Good Student Discount | Full-time students with a B (3.0) average qualify.
|
College Student Discount
| College students who are away at school may be eligible for a discount. |
Safe and Sound Discount | Available with Kemper Direct. You qualify if you have two or more drivers on your policy and all drivers have gone without accidents or tickets for three years and have also been continuously covered by insurance for 12 months.
|
Bundle Discount
| Bundle multiple lines of coverage, like home and auto, with Kemper to qualify. |
Multi-car Discount | Your rates may be discounted when you have more than one vehicle on your policy.
|
Network Discount | If you are insured by Kemper Direct, you can save 10% on your rates by referring a friend to Kemper Direct.
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Free-a-Tree Discount | Opt for paperless documents and sign up for automatic payments with Kemper Direct for this discount.
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Prior Insurance Discount | You qualify for the prior insurance discount when you show that you've kept your car insurance in force without lapses.
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Safe Vehicle Discount | Vehicles equipped with anti-theft devices or airbags may qualify for the safe vehicle discount.
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Paid-in-Full Discount | You qualify for a discount by paying for the full policy term upfront.
|
Residence Discount | Homeowners or renters who have a renters policy qualify for a discount.
|
Retro Loyalty Discount | Kemper Direct offers you a discount for switching from another carrier. The discount is based on how long you were with the other carrier. |
Table data source: Kemper
Kemper Insurance FAQs
How do I file a claim with Kemper?
Kemper accepts claims online here. You can also call a claims representative at 866-536-7376.
What information do they use to set my premiums?
Every auto insurer has its own underwriting practices. Kemper considers your age, the type of vehicle you drive, the coverage limits you are requesting, where you live, your personal driving record, the laws in your state, and your insurance score. Insurance score is based on your credit history.
Where should I take my car to get fixed?
After your car is damaged, your first step is to report a claim. You'll then take your vehicle to a Kemper Repair Network facility; you can search for one by zip code or address on Kemper's website.
Kemper Resources
Kemper's online resources for customers are minimal, but include a few articles geared towards drivers along with an agency finder, plus access to the NHTSA guidelines for choosing a child's car seat.
Driver tips
Download Kemper's safe driving tips and this how-to article on winterizing your car.
Agency finder tool
You can locate an independent insurance agent near you using this online tool.
NHTSA car seat recommendations
Access the NHTSA car seat guidelines to understand what type of seat your child needs based on her or her age.
- Equities News. (n.d.). Kemper Corporation (KMPR) soars 4.54% on July 08. Retrieved October 26, 2020, from https://www.equities.com/news/kemper-corporation-kmpr-soars-4-54-on-july-08
- Personal auto insurance. (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2020, from http://www.kemper.com/wps/portal/Kemper/Home/InsuranceOptions/vehicle/Auto/lp_auto
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