What You Should Know

• Alliance United Insurance was purchased by Kemper Auto in 2015
• Kemper honors roadside assistance plans that were purchased when Alliance United was still in operation
• Information on roadside assistance plans with Alliance is difficult to find online

It can be extremely stressful to be in a situation where your vehicle will not get you where you need to go. In some cases, this may look like a flat tire. At other times, maybe your car broke down or ran out of gas.

Regardless of the reason, being stranded on the side of the road in your car is never an ideal situation. This is why many people turn to roadside assistance plans.

With roadside assistance, you are able to get help quickly and efficiently. And because you pay for the assistance ahead of time, the aid you receive could sometimes be at no additional cost.

While Alliance United Insurance was a company that once offered roadside assistance plans and car insurance in California, the company was bought out in 2015 and is now owned and operated by Kemper Auto.

Through Kemper Auto, any roadside assistance plans purchased with Alliance are still honored. But the company no longer issues roadside assistance plans today.

What is roadside assistance?

If you get in a situation in which you are stranded and your car is no longer operable, a roadside assistance plan is often an option when it comes to quick help.

Roadside assistance is a service many companies offer. With a roadside assistance plan, you can often receive a battery jump-start, get additional fuel, and even get towed to a mechanic shop.

Some of the most common things included in a roadside assistance plan include:

• Towing
• Wenching
• Fuel services
• Flat tire replacement
• Jump-starts
• Minor mechanical assistance
• 24/7 accessibility

For some more robust roadside assistance plans, you may be able to get a rental car and even a place to stay. Because roadside assistance plans vary from one company to the next, it's a good idea for you to shop around and compare options based on what you need.

What is included in Alliance United Insurance roadside assistance?

As stated previously, Alliance United Insurance is no longer in business. Kemper Auto — the company that acquired Alliance in 2015 — continues to honor roadside assistance plans purchased with the company. But it does not seem like Kemper sells current roadside assistance plans.

The Kemper Auto website is extremely sparse. While there is some information with regard to phone numbers to call in case of an emergency, there is not a discussion on Alliance United Insurance coverages or potential roadside assistance options.

Who offers the best roadside assistance plans?

The most notable and infamous roadside assistance option in the U.S. is AAA. AAA was among the first companies to begin offering this type of coverage, and the company has millions of customers who utilize its roadside assistance options today.

Other popular companies that offer roadside assistance include:

• Progressive
• Better World Club
• USAA
• GEICO
• CARCHEX
• Allstate
• AARP
• OnStar
• American Express
• Blink
• Good Sam

All of the companies listed above offer options when it comes to roadside assistance. A basic plan will cost less per month or annually, while a more comprehensive plan will cost significantly more when it comes to your monthly payment.

For instance, AAA offers three tiers of membership — basic, plus, and premier. With a basic plan, you can only be towed three miles, while with a premier plan, you can be towed up to 200 miles.

Similarly, the basic plan does not reimburse for the use of a rental car, while the premier option does.

AAA roadside assistance offers battery boosts, fuel deliveries, vehicle lockout services, and much more. And for virtually every one of these options, there is a significant difference between the three tiers.

The difference is extremely apparent when you view the cost of the three memberships. A basic roadside assistance plan with AAA is $59 a year. Meanwhile, a plus plan is $89 annually, and a premier plan is $119 annually.

How much is roadside assistance with Alliance?

Because Kemper Auto does not publish much information with regard to Alliance accounts, there's no way to know how much people paid for a roadside assistance plan with the company.

In general, roadside assistance plans start at around $45 annually. In a lot of cases, this fee goes up after the first year or two, regardless of the company you've chosen for coverage.

Some car insurance companies offer roadside assistance at a discount for people who also purchase a car insurance policy with the same company. While this may be an excellent incentive, you should never purchase a bundled policy like this until you've done your research and compared prices.

For more inclusive roadside assistance plans, it's not uncommon to pay well over $100 annually — sometimes even $30-$50 per month — for coverage. A lot of the difference in prices is due to location.

Can I make an Alliance United roadside assistance claim online?

There is no way to make a claim with Alliance United online. Based on the Kemper Auto website, there is no Alliance United insurance login that customers can use to make roadside assistance claims, nor is there an Alliance United Insurance roadside assistance phone number.

If you have an Alliance United roadside assistance plan, you will need to call the former Alliance United Insurance customer service department using the former Alliance United Insurance phone number, which now belongs to Kemper.

If you want to make payments on your policy, the Kemper Auto website does allow you to call their number (formerly the Alliance United Insurance payment phone number) in order to successfully make your monthly or annual payments.

What's the bottom line?

When it comes to roadside assistance, you have a lot of options. Unfortunately, Alliance United Insurance is no longer an option for most people. Unless you already own a car insurance policy or roadside assistance plan, there is no way for you to purchase one with Alliance.

If you feel like you are starting from square one with regard to finding the right roadside assistance plan, don't be discouraged. Take your time and do a bit of research to see who offers roadside assistance in your area and how much a roadside assistance plan typically costs.

As you shop and compare prices, don't hesitate to reach out to a company if you want additional information on their roadside assistance options.