Kemper vs State Farm: which is better for car insurance in 2026?
Across our six scoring categories, Kemper comes out ahead in 0, State Farm in 5, with 1 too close to call. State Farm edges the weighted overall score by 1.5 of a point, on the strength of price, complaint record, financial strength, discounts, digital experience. That is not a reason to skip Kemper: it scores higher on none of our categories, though it may still quote you less, and a quote that comes in lower beats a review that scores higher. State Farm 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 State Farm, 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
State Farm aheadState Farm averages $2,065/yr for full coverage against Kemper's $2,422/yr — about $357 a year, or 29.8 dollars a month, in State Farm'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.
At $2,065 a year for full coverage, State Farm sits about 12% under the national average — competitive, but not the cheapest of the national carriers.
Claims satisfaction
Too close to callNeither pulls ahead on claims satisfaction: Kemper posts Not rated and State Farm 716/1,000, a difference too small to choose on.
Not in the J.D. Power claims study, which samples only the largest insurers.
716 out of 1,000 in the J.D. Power 2025 claims study puts State Farm comfortably above the 700-point segment average, and ahead of every other insurer in the top four by market share.
Complaint record
State Farm aheadState Farm takes complaint record on About the expected number 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.
State Farm draws about the number of complaints its size predicts. For the largest personal auto insurer in the country, average is a more meaningful result than it sounds.
Financial strength
State Farm aheadState Farm takes financial strength on A++ against Kemper's A-.
AM Best A- (Excellent). Parent Kemper Corporation is publicly traded.
AM Best's top rating, A++. State Farm is a mutual company owned by its policyholders, with no shareholders to pay.
Discounts
State Farm aheadState Farm takes discounts on 11 published against Kemper's 6 published.
A shorter list than standard-market carriers, plus Kemper Co-Pilot telematics with a 10% signup discount.
Eleven published discounts, including a 25% good-student discount and up to 40% off medical coverage for passive restraints. Drive Safe & Save pairs the app with a mailed Bluetooth beacon.
Digital experience
State Farm aheadState Farm takes digital experience on 4.79 iOS / 4.6 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.
4.79 on the App Store and 4.6 on Google Play across 1.7 million combined ratings — consistently strong on both platforms, which is rarer than it should be.
So which one?
Pick Kemper if…
- You are among drivers turned down elsewhere because of their record or credit.
- Availability fits: 38 states, specialising in non-standard auto.
Pick State Farm if…
- You are among drivers who want a local agent rather than an app.
- Price is your first filter — State Farm averages $2,065/yr for full coverage on our benchmark profile.
- You want the lower complaint record — State Farm sits at About the expected number.
- Financial strength is a priority; State Farm holds A++ from AM Best.
Kemper vs State Farm, answered
The questions people ask before switching between these two.
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