Auto Insurance Comparison

Auto-Owners vs Kemper

Side-by-side comparison of Auto-Owners vs Kemper auto insurance — ratings, cost, coverage, customer experience, pros, cons. No sales pitch, just the research.

Read the full reviews: Auto-Owners →Kemper →
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Quick verdict

Auto-Owners comes out clearly ahead Kemper in our overall scoring — but each carrier wins on different dimensions. See the breakdown below before deciding.

Head-to-head

Overall scores, key facts, and what each is known for.

 
Auto-Owners
Kemper
Overall score
4.05 /5
Highest overall
3.55 /5
Best for Auto-Owners is one of those carriers you might not have heard of unless your independent agent recommended it Kemper is a diversified carrier with a major non-standard auto presence and several specialty sub-brands
Read full review Auto-Owners review → Kemper review →

Rating breakdown

How each carrier scores on the dimensions we weight.

Category Auto-Owners Kemper
Customer experience 4.40 3.30
Coverage breadth 4.30 3.60
Affordability 3.50 3.70

Pros and cons, side by side

What each carrier wins on, and where each one falls short.

Auto-Owners

Full review →

Pros

  • Consistently among the top-rated carriers for customer satisfaction in J.D. Power studies
  • Strong claims-handling reputation with low complaint volumes
  • Competitive pricing in the 26 states where it operates
  • Deep agent relationships — every quote runs through a local independent agency

Cons

  • Agent-only distribution — no online quoting, no direct-to-consumer purchase
  • Limited geographic footprint — only available in 26 states, primarily Midwest and Southeast
  • Less brand recognition than national carriers, which can matter for some shoppers

Pros

  • Strong specialty positioning for non-standard auto and Hispanic-market customers
  • Quick online quoting with bilingual service in key markets
  • Backed by parent company financial strength
  • Accepts SR-22 and high-risk profiles

Cons

  • Kemper does not have a telematics program. 
  • Kemper does provide a mobile application, but its capabilities are restricted, and its website is sparse.

Coverage at a glance

What each carrier offers in standard policies.

Auto-Owners

Kemper

The bottom line

Auto-Owners

If you live in Auto-Owners' footprint and prefer agent-based service, it's one of the most underrated carriers in the market. If you need 50-state availability or prefer online self-service, look elsewhere.

Read the full Auto-Owners review

Kemper

Kemper makes sense for non-standard risk or Spanish-language service needs in its core states. For standard-risk shoppers, mainstream carriers typically price more aggressively.

Read the full Kemper review

Before you decide

Rankings are a starting point — your profile decides the rest.

These scores reflect our editorial research across cost, coverage, and customer experience. The right carrier for you still depends on your record, location, and vehicle, so read the full reviews before you commit.