Why Kemper Can't File Your Tennessee SR-22
You've been a Kemper policyholder, your Tennessee license was suspended, and the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security told you that you need an SR-22 certificate to get reinstated. When you called Kemper to request the filing, they told you they don't offer SR-22 services in Tennessee. This isn't a coverage add-on you're missing — Kemper simply doesn't participate in Tennessee's SR-22 filing program at all, regardless of your policy tier or how long you've been a customer.
Tennessee requires SR-22 certification for most driving-related suspensions: DUI convictions, multiple points violations, driving uninsured, and certain reckless driving offenses. The SR-22 isn't insurance itself — it's a state-mandated certificate your insurer files electronically with the state proving you carry at least Tennessee's minimum liability coverage: $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $15,000 property damage. Kemper writes standard and preferred-tier auto policies in Tennessee, but they don't file SR-22 certificates. You need a carrier that does both.
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Get Your Free QuoteTennessee Reinstatement Fee
$65
Tennessee charges a $65 base reinstatement fee after most suspensions under TCA § 55-50-502, payable to the Department of Safety before your license is restored. This fee is separate from any SR-22 filing fee your new insurer charges, which typically runs $15–$50 depending on carrier.
Tennessee Code Annotated § 55-50-502
What Happens to Your Kemper Policy When You Switch
You have two structural options: cancel your Kemper policy outright and move to an SR-22-filing carrier, or maintain your Kemper policy for a vehicle you own while adding a separate non-owner SR-22 policy to satisfy the state's filing requirement. The right choice depends on whether you currently own and drive a vehicle.
If you own the car insured under Kemper and plan to keep driving it after reinstatement, you'll cancel the Kemper policy and replace it with a new policy from a carrier that files SR-22 in Tennessee. Carriers like Geico, Progressive, State Farm, The General, Dairyland, and Bristol West all write SR-22-backed policies in Tennessee. Your new carrier will file the SR-22 certificate electronically with the state within 24–72 hours of policy activation. You cannot let coverage lapse between canceling Kemper and activating the new policy — even a single day without active insurance triggers a new suspension under Tennessee's continuous insurance requirement (TCA § 55-12-139), restarting your entire reinstatement timeline.
If you don't own a vehicle but need SR-22 certification to reinstate your license, you'll purchase a non-owner SR-22 policy. This covers you when driving borrowed or rented vehicles and satisfies the state's SR-22 filing mandate without requiring you to insure a specific car. Non-owner policies typically cost $25–$60 per month in Tennessee and can be written by Geico, Progressive, The General, Dairyland, or GAINSCO. You can keep your Kemper policy active if it insures a vehicle owned by someone else in your household, but the non-owner SR-22 policy must be in your name to meet the reinstatement requirement.
Tennessee's electronic insurance verification system (TIVS) detects lapses within 24 hours. A single-day gap between Kemper cancellation and SR-22 activation triggers a new suspension.
How to Switch Carriers Without a Coverage Gap
Start by requesting quotes from SR-22-filing carriers. Provide your current Kemper policy number, your suspension notice from the Department of Safety, and your driver's license number. Most carriers can generate a quote within 15 minutes and bind coverage the same day. When you receive a quote you're ready to accept, confirm with the new carrier the exact date and time your policy will activate and when they will submit the SR-22 filing to Tennessee. Do not cancel your Kemper policy until you have written confirmation that the new policy is active and the SR-22 has been filed.
Once the new carrier confirms your SR-22 was filed electronically with Tennessee, call Kemper to request cancellation effective the same day your new policy activated. Tennessee law requires Kemper to refund the unearned premium on a pro-rata basis if you cancel mid-term. If your Kemper policy was paid in full for six months and you cancel after two months, you'll receive a refund for the remaining four months minus any cancellation fee Kemper charges, typically $10–$25. Apply this refund toward your first payment with the new carrier.
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SR-22 Filing Duration and Reinstatement Timeline
Tennessee requires you to maintain SR-22 certification for three years after reinstatement for most DUI and uninsured-driving suspensions. This three-year period starts from the date the state accepts your SR-22 filing, not from your conviction date or suspension start date. If your SR-22 lapses at any point during the three-year window — because you cancel your policy, miss a payment, or switch to a non-SR-22 carrier — your insurer is legally required to notify Tennessee within 24 hours. The state will suspend your license again immediately, and you'll start the entire reinstatement process over, including paying another $65 reinstatement fee.
Your suspension period itself depends on the violation that triggered it. Tennessee's standard DUI suspension runs one year for a first offense. Points-based suspensions range from 180 days to one year depending on how many points you accumulated. Uninsured-driving suspensions last until you file proof of insurance plus 90 days. You can begin the reinstatement process as soon as your suspension period ends, but you must have active SR-22 coverage before the Department of Safety will accept your reinstatement application.
If you're eligible for a restricted license during your suspension, Tennessee courts may grant one for work, school, medical appointments, and court-ordered treatment programs. Restricted licenses require SR-22 filing before the court will approve the petition, and most DUI-related restricted licenses also require installation of an ignition interlock device under TCA § 55-10-414. Kemper doesn't file SR-22 certificates, so you'll need to switch carriers before petitioning the court for restricted driving privileges.
Tennessee SR-22 Duration
3 years
Tennessee mandates three years of continuous SR-22 certification for DUI and most uninsured-driving suspensions, starting from the filing date. A single lapse during this period triggers automatic re-suspension and restarts the entire three-year clock, requiring you to pay a new reinstatement fee and file a new SR-22.
Tennessee Code Annotated § 55-12-139
Cost Comparison: Kemper vs SR-22 Carriers in Tennessee
Kemper positions itself as a standard-tier carrier with competitive rates for clean-record drivers. If your suspension resulted from a DUI or multiple violations, you're no longer in Kemper's target risk tier, and even if they offered SR-22 filing, your renewal premium would likely increase 60–120% at your next policy term. SR-22-filing carriers price suspended-driver policies based on your violation type, suspension length, and prior insurance history. Expect monthly premiums between $95 and $180 for minimum-liability SR-22 coverage in Tennessee, compared to the $70–$110 you may have paid Kemper before your suspension.
Non-owner SR-22 policies cost less because they don't insure a specific vehicle. Monthly premiums typically range from $25 to $60 in Tennessee, depending on your violation and how recently the suspension occurred. The General, Dairyland, and Bristol West specialize in non-owner SR-22 policies and can often bind coverage the same day you apply. These carriers also offer standard vehicle policies if you purchase or lease a car during your three-year SR-22 period, allowing you to convert your non-owner policy to a standard policy without restarting your SR-22 filing clock.
Next Steps: Compare SR-22 Carriers and Avoid Lapses
Request quotes from at least three SR-22-filing carriers before canceling your Kemper policy. Geico, Progressive, and State Farm offer online quoting tools that can generate SR-22 rates in under 10 minutes. The General, Dairyland, and Bristol West specialize in high-risk and suspended-driver coverage and may offer better rates if your suspension resulted from a DUI or multiple violations. Provide each carrier with your Tennessee suspension notice, your current Kemper policy details, and the date you plan to switch coverage. Confirm that the new carrier will file your SR-22 electronically with the Tennessee Department of Safety on the same day your policy activates, and get this confirmation in writing before you cancel Kemper. Once your new policy is active and the SR-22 is filed, contact Kemper to cancel your old policy effective the same day to avoid paying for overlapping coverage.