Kemper vs Nationwide: which is better for car insurance in 2026?
Across our six scoring categories, Kemper comes out ahead in 1, Nationwide in 4, with 1 too close to call. Nationwide edges the weighted overall score by 1.1 of a point, on the strength of complaint record, financial strength, discounts, digital experience. That is not a reason to skip Kemper: it scores higher on price, and a quote that comes in lower beats a review that scores higher. Nationwide is the safer default; Kemper is worth a quote if you are among drivers turned down elsewhere because of their record or credit.
Kemper vs Nationwide, side by side
Sources: average premiums from NerdWallet's August 2026 rate analysis (Quadrant Information Services), for a 35-year-old driver with a clean record and good credit in a 2023 Toyota Camry LE at 12,000 miles a year, 100/300/50 limits with $1,000 deductibles — national average $2,356. Claims satisfaction from the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study (segment average 700). Complaint record from NerdWallet's analysis of NAIC complaint data, 2022–2024. Financial strength from AM Best. Discounts and app data from each carrier's published pages and the Apple App Store / Google Play, retrieved August 2026. Updated August 2026.
Category by category
Price
Kemper aheadKemper averages $2,422/yr for full coverage against Nationwide's $2,671/yr — about $249 a year, or 20.8 dollars a month, in Kemper's favor for this profile.
$2,422 a year for full coverage on our standard benchmark, 3% above the national average — but Kemper's actual customers are drivers who would pay far more, or be refused outright, almost anywhere else.
$2,671 a year for full coverage, 13% above the national average. Nationwide is not a discount carrier.
Claims satisfaction
Too close to callNeither pulls ahead on claims satisfaction: Kemper posts Not rated and Nationwide 729/1,000, a difference too small to choose on.
Not in the J.D. Power claims study, which samples only the largest insurers.
729 out of 1,000, fourth in the J.D. Power 2025 study and 29 points above the segment average.
Complaint record
Nationwide aheadNationwide takes complaint record on Fewer than expected against Kemper's Far more than expected.
Far more complaints than expected for its size. Non-standard carriers tend to run high on this measure, which is context rather than an excuse.
Fewer complaints than expected for its size.
Financial strength
Nationwide aheadNationwide takes financial strength on A against Kemper's A-.
AM Best A- (Excellent). Parent Kemper Corporation is publicly traded.
AM Best A (Excellent).
Discounts
Nationwide aheadNationwide takes discounts on 10 published against Kemper's 6 published.
A shorter list than standard-market carriers, plus Kemper Co-Pilot telematics with a 10% signup discount.
Ten published discounts, with bundling stated at an average of $1,032 saved on home and auto together.
Digital experience
Nationwide aheadNationwide takes digital experience on 4.69 iOS / 4.5 Android against Kemper's 2.44 iOS / 3.6 Android.
2.44 on the App Store and 3.6 on Google Play. The current app relaunched in mid-2026, so those scores reflect a new listing rather than a settled one.
4.69 on the App Store and 4.5 on Google Play. Nationwide also won J.D. Power's usage-based insurance segment for the third year running in 2026.
So which one?
Pick Kemper if…
- You are among drivers turned down elsewhere because of their record or credit.
- Price is your first filter — Kemper averages $2,422/yr for full coverage on our benchmark profile.
- Availability fits: 38 states, specialising in non-standard auto.
Pick Nationwide if…
- You are among drivers who want good claims handling without an agent-only model.
- You want the lower complaint record — Nationwide sits at Fewer than expected.
- Financial strength is a priority; Nationwide holds A from AM Best.
- You expect to stack discounts — Nationwide's lineup is the broader of the two.
Kemper vs Nationwide, answered
The questions people ask before switching between these two.
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