How Kemper undervalues claims
Valuation engine: CCC ONE Market Valuation
- Kemper uses CCC ONE and is known for slower response times than peer carriers — written demands tighten the timeline.
- Kemper frequently issues lowball first offers and resists upward revision without third-party documentation.
- Kemper rarely inspects vehicles in person, relying on claimant photos for condition adjustments.
- Independent appraisals with citable comps consistently improve Kemper settlements by $1,500+.
Maryland laws on your side
Appraisal clause
Maryland auto policies include the binding appraisal clause.
Sales tax & title fees
Insurers must include the 6% vehicle excise tax and title fees in the settlement.
Diminished value
Maryland permits third-party DV; first-party limited.
Statute reference
COMAR 31.15.07 (Unfair Claims Settlement Practices).
How Kemper calculates ACV in Maryland
In Maryland, Kemper runs every total-loss valuation through CCC ONE Market Valuation. The system pulls roughly 9 "comparable" listings within a 155-mile radius of your ZIP code, then applies a base value before stacking deductions. For Maryland claims, Kemper adjusters tend to subtract $1,400–$2,100 as a "condition adjustment" based on photos rather than an in-person inspection, and they almost always omit factory option packages (navigation, premium audio, tow package, advanced safety) that boost ACV in the Maryland private-party market. Insurers must include the 6% vehicle excise tax and title fees in the settlement, but Kemper's first offer in Maryland frequently leaves that line item blank until you push back. The comp radius, the condition deduction, and the option-package omission are the three places where Maryland drivers consistently recover thousands once an independent appraiser re-runs the numbers.
Maryland case study: +$3,120 on a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee
A metro Maryland client came to us after Kemper offered $11,250 on a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee totaled in a rear-end collision. The CCC ONE Market Valuation report pulled comps from outside the local market and missed two factory option packages. We rebuilt the valuation using Maryland-specific dealer asking prices, corrected the mileage adjustment, and added the omitted options. Kemper revised the offer to $14,370 — a $3,120 increase — within 15 days, without invoking the appraisal clause. Representative example; outcomes vary by VIN, condition, and policy language in Maryland.
Case details have been generalized to protect client privacy.