Kemper No Longer Files SR-22 in Washington
You lost your Washington license, the Department of Licensing reinstatement letter says you need SR-22 insurance, and you remember Kemper from years ago — but Kemper exited the Washington personal auto market in 2023. They no longer write new policies, renew existing policies, or file SR-22 certificates in the state. If your suspension happened after that exit, Kemper cannot help you meet your filing requirement.
This matters because many suspended drivers assume their previous carrier will pick them back up once they're ready to reinstate. Washington's SR-22 requirement lasts 3 years from the date DOL receives your first filing, and only carriers actively licensed to write personal auto in the state can submit the certificate. Kemper's exit left a carrier gap for drivers who had relied on them for non-standard coverage in the past.
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Get Your Free QuoteWA SR-22 Filing Duration
3 years
Washington requires continuous SR-22 coverage for 3 years from the date the Department of Licensing receives your initial certificate. Any lapse triggers immediate suspension and restarts the 3-year clock from the new filing date.
RCW 46.29.090, Washington DOL
Why Carriers Exit and What That Means for SR-22 Filers
Kemper's exit was not unique to Washington. The carrier withdrew from multiple states between 2022 and 2024 as part of a broader underwriting pullback in personal auto lines. When a carrier exits, it stops writing new business, non-renews all existing policyholders at their next renewal date, and ceases all state filings including SR-22 certificates.
For suspended drivers, this creates a structural problem: SR-22 is not a standalone product. It's a certificate attached to an active liability policy. If the carrier no longer writes policies in your state, they cannot file your SR-22 even if you held coverage with them before. You need a carrier currently licensed and actively underwriting in Washington.
The DOL does not care which carrier files your SR-22. They care that a licensed carrier files it and that coverage remains continuous for the full 3-year period. Switching carriers mid-filing is allowed — you just cannot let coverage lapse during the transfer.
Kemper cannot file SR-22 in Washington as of 2023. Suspended drivers must place coverage with a carrier currently writing personal auto in the state.
Which Carriers Write SR-22 for Suspended Drivers in Washington
Bristol West, Dairyland, Geico, National General, Progressive, State Farm, The General, and USAA all file SR-22 certificates in Washington and accept applications from drivers with suspended licenses. Bristol West, Dairyland, and The General specialize in non-standard risk and actively seek post-DUI and post-suspension business. Geico and Progressive write across standard and non-standard tiers; both file SR-22 and accept suspension histories but tier pricing based on violation severity and time since reinstatement. State Farm files SR-22 but typically reserves post-suspension acceptance for drivers with minimal additional violations. USAA requires military affiliation but writes SR-22 for eligible members.
National General (now part of Allstate's non-standard division) writes post-suspension SR-22 but availability varies by county. If you need non-owner SR-22 — because you sold your vehicle during suspension or never owned one — Dairyland, Geico, Progressive, The General, and USAA all offer non-owner policies with SR-22 filing. Non-owner coverage satisfies Washington's SR-22 requirement without requiring vehicle ownership, and monthly premiums typically run $40–$70 depending on your violation history.
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How to Switch from Kemper to an Active Carrier Without Lapse
If your suspension predates Kemper's exit and you still hold an active Kemper policy with SR-22 on file, you received a non-renewal notice before your policy expired. Washington law requires 45 days' written notice before non-renewal. That notice window gave you time to secure replacement coverage before your Kemper SR-22 lapsed.
The critical step: your new carrier must file the replacement SR-22 certificate with DOL before your Kemper policy end date. Even a single day without active SR-22 on file triggers immediate suspension and restarts your 3-year filing clock from zero. When you bind a new policy, confirm with the new carrier that they will file the SR-22 the same day the policy becomes effective. Most carriers file electronically within 24 hours, but paper filers can take 5–7 business days.
If you already let your Kemper SR-22 lapse and your license suspended again, the reinstatement process starts over: pay the $75 DOL reinstatement fee, secure a new SR-22 policy from an active carrier, wait for DOL to process the filing (typically 3–5 business days), then visit a licensing office to confirm reinstatement and pay any additional cause-specific fees. The new 3-year SR-22 period begins the day DOL receives the replacement certificate.
WA Reinstatement Base Fee
$75
Washington charges a $75 administrative reinstatement fee for most suspension causes. Additional fees stack for DUI-related suspensions (alcohol information school completion, ignition interlock compliance fee) and habitual traffic offender designations.
Washington DOL fee schedule
What Happens If You Cannot Find Coverage
If multiple carriers decline your application — common for drivers with recent DUI plus additional violations, or habitual traffic offender status — Washington does not operate an assigned-risk plan for SR-22 filers. You must continue applying until a non-standard carrier accepts you. Bristol West, Dairyland, and The General have the broadest post-suspension acceptance criteria in the state.
Some suspended drivers assume they can delay insurance until reinstatement. That does not work in Washington. DOL will not process reinstatement without an active SR-22 already on file. You cannot reinstate first and find coverage later — the SR-22 must precede reinstatement, and coverage must remain continuous for 3 years after.
Get SR-22 Coverage from Carriers Writing in Washington Today
Kemper's exit closed one pathway, but eight active carriers write SR-22 business in Washington right now. Rates vary by $80–$140/month depending on your violation history, the time since suspension, and whether you need owner or non-owner coverage. Comparing quotes from multiple non-standard carriers typically surfaces at least two acceptance offers.
Start with carriers that specialize in post-suspension business: request quotes from Bristol West, Dairyland, and The General first. If those carriers decline or quote above $180/month, add Geico, Progressive, and National General to your comparison. Every day without SR-22 on file extends your suspension and pushes your reinstatement date further out. Secure coverage, confirm the carrier filed your SR-22 with DOL, then begin the 3-year clock.