Allstate Car Insurance Review (2024) (2024)

Allstate car insurance is a leading car insurance provider that offers national coverage. You may even be familiar with the company’s tagline, “You’re in good hands.” In this Allstate insurance review, learn more about the company before buying a policy.

What is Allstate auto insurance?

You may be familiar with the name Allstate, but maybe not with how deep the company’s roots go. In fact, executives of Chicago-based department store Sears, Roebuck and Co. founded the insurance company in 1931. During this time, many Americans were dealing with the financial fallout of the Great Depression.

After offering its first car insurance policy for an annual cost of $41.60, the company grew and had 4,217 auto insurance policies at the end of its first year in business. Its household slogan — “You’re in good hands” — has been around since 1950.

As of 1960, Allstate started offering discounts on auto insurance for good drivers. In 1968, Allstate worked with government officials and people in the auto industry to make seat belt usage a requirement. In 1993, Sears spun off Allstate as an independent operation.

In 2010, Allstate brought innovation to the industry by launching its Drivewise program and using telematics devices to track driver behavior and mileage. Four years later, the company launched the first-ever insurance telematics mobile app.^[1]

Most recently, Allstate joined other major insurers in refunding some auto premiums to its customers during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Aside from auto insurance, Allstate is a comprehensive insurance provider and also offers home insurance, renters insurance, term life insurance, and more. So if you need multiple insurance products and would like to benefit from a bundling discount, Allstate may be a good option.

“One of the benefits of Allstate is that it is a major insurance company with coverage in many states. This means that you can relocate and easily keep a policy through Allstate,” explains Jesse Cunningham, an independent licensed insurance agent and agency owner at Bauple.com.

How does Allstate auto insurance work?

Allstate offers many different types of insurance, including car insurance. If you purchase a policy with the company, you’ll pay a premium to maintain your coverage.

Factors that will influence that premium include your previous driving history, where you live and any safety/crime risks, the type of vehicle you drive, your gender, and potentially your credit score.^[2] If you’re involved in an accident and you need to file a comprehensive or collision claim, you’ll pay a deductible before your benefits can kick in.

Allstate auto insurance coverage

You can find insurance policies from Allstate auto insurance to fit your needs and stay fully protected. Here’s a breakdown of the coverage options the company offers:

• 

  Liability coverage

  This coverage applies to your liability in the event of injury or death or if you damage another person’s vehicle and you’re at fault. It protects you when you accidentally harm others, but unfortunately, it doesn’t cover any property or vehicle damage, or injuries for yourself.

• 

  Collision coverage

  If you’re in a collision with another vehicle or an object such as a street light or pole, collision coverage can pay for the costs related to your damage. Collision also covers rollover accidents and pothole damage.

• 

  Comprehensive coverage

  If you want to fill the gap and include other types of damage to your vehicle, such as from a fire, theft, vandalism, weather hazards, cracked windshields, or pesky debris on the highway, comprehensive coverage has you covered. This ensures you’re protected in a variety of non-collision scenarios.

• 

  Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

  Getting into an accident with a driver who has inadequate or no car insurance could be a major hassle. With uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, you’ll get help with expenses if the other party is at fault and without coverage. This can be a much-needed safeguard in the unfortunate event you’re in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have car insurance. Uninsured motorist coverage can also pay in the case of a hit-and-run accident.

• 

  Medical payments coverage (MedPay)

  This coverage is for you and any passengers in your vehicle if you’re injured in an accident, and it helps with medical payments.

• 

  Personal injury protection (PIP)

  Similarly, personal injury protection can offer additional coverage if you’re hurt from a qualified accident. This may cover part of your income or childcare expenses and more.

Additionally, Allstate offers some different coverages, including:

• Roadside assistance: If you’d like to be protected if you get a flat tire or if your car dies and you need a jump start, roadside assistance coverage is a good idea.

• Personal umbrella policy: This option provides higher limits of coverage than what’s traditionally offered with liability coverage. So if you want more protection, this can cover you with higher limits.

• Rental reimbursem*nt coverage: If your vehicle is getting repaired after an eligible and covered accident, this can help reimburse the cost of a rental car while you’re without a car.

• Accident forgiveness: This optional coverage can keep your premium stable following your first at-fault accident. You'll generally need to be a good driver with no recent at-fault accidents to be eligible for this coverage.

• Gap coverage: Guaranteed asset protection coverage can help pay off a car loan or lease if your vehicle is totaled and the insurance payout is less than your outstanding loan or lease balance.

How to get a car insurance quote from Allstate

It’s possible to get a quote through the Allstate website or one of the company’s exclusive or independent insurance agents. But there’s another easy option that helps you compare Allstate with other insurance providers. You can use an online quote-comparison tool like Insurify. Simply input your ZIP code and provide information about your vehicle, miles driven, and personal information to get quotes from various providers, including Allstate.

That way, you can see prospective quotes from Allstate car insurance alongside other reputable insurers to make sure you get the best rate.

Allstate car insurance cost by state

Most states have minimum car insurance requirements for drivers. The type of coverage that’s required and where you live can affect your car insurance rates. Below are some example states and the average monthly rate for Allstate full-coverage and liability-only insurance in each state.

Allstate auto insurance rates by driving history

Your driving history is a primary factor that affects your car insurance rates. A history of speeding tickets or at-fault accidents can raise your premiums.

These violations or infractions can look like an added risk to your insurer, so your rates will go up. The table below shows how differences in driving history affect Allstate coverage rates for both full-coverage and liability-only policies. For example, drivers with a DUI pay about 66% more per month for full-coverage insurance than motorists with a clean driving record.

Allstate car insurance cost by age

Age is also a risk factor that car insurance companies consider when setting rates. Certain age groups, such as teen drivers, tend to be at greater risk, which can mean higher premiums.^[3] The table below illustrates how age can drastically affect car insurance rates. For example, an 18-year-old driver insured by Allstate will pay about 101% more for car insurance than a driver in their 70s.

Allstate car insurance discounts

Another way to save on car insurance is by qualifying for certain discounts. The good news is that Allstate offers various discounts, which can help reduce the overall cost of the policy. Allstate discounts include:^[4]

• New-car discount: If you purchase a brand-new car within the current calendar year or the previous year, you may qualify for this discount.

• Multiple-policy discount: If you bundle your insurance and have more than one insurance policy with Allstate, you’re eligible for a multi-policy discount.

• Early signing discount: If you’re able to sign your insurance policy paperwork seven days before the effective date, you can qualify for this discount.

• FullPay discount: If you’re financially able to pay for your policy up front and in full, you can qualify for this discount.

• Smart student discount: If you meet certain requirements, such as keeping a 2.7 GPA or higher, or partake in the teenSMART driver program, you may be eligible for this discount. To qualify, students must be under the age of 25 and not married.

• Anti-lock brake discount: Safety can help you score savings. If you have antilock brakes on your vehicle, you may be eligible for this discount.

• Anti-theft device discount: Having an anti-theft device in your vehicle can help add extra precautions and can lead to savings with this discount.

• EZ pay plan discount: If you set up automatic payments for your car insurance premiums, you can qualify for this discount.

• Allstate eSmart discount: If you save on paper, you can save money. Sign up for paperless and get an e-policy instead to score this discount.

• Responsible payer discount: If you make payments on time and haven’t had a cancellation notice for nonpayment in the past year, you can qualify for this discount.

• Safe-driving club: If you meet certain requirements that are considered part of safe driving, you may qualify for this discount.

  See Also

  Allstate Car Insurance Review for 2022 - Kelley Blue Book

Allstate Insurance bundling options

Bundling your insurance policies — having several policies with one insurance provider — is one way to lower the cost of car insurance.

Allstate’s bundling packages include:

• Home insurance and auto insurance

• Renters insurance and auto insurance

• Renters insurance and motorcycle insurance

You may be able to get a discount of up to 25%, though that can vary, when you bundle a home and auto policy, according to the company website.

Allstate customer reviews and ratings

Read reviews from verified Allstate customers.

Allstate has an A+ (Superior) rating with AM Best. The company has 3.8 out of 5 stars for auto insurance on ConsumerAffairs.

Allstate ratings

Here’s how some rating sites rank Allstate:

• ConsumerAffairs: 3.8 out of 5 stars

• Trustpilot: 1.3 out of 5 stars

• Sitejabber: 1.42 out of 5 stars

Allstate vs. other insurance providers

Consumers have a multitude of options to consider when shopping for car insurance. This can be good news, but it also means the market is highly saturated with a lot to wade through. Below, we compare Allstate to other car insurance providers.

Allstate vs. Farmers

Farmers is another auto insurer providing a range of insurance products. Farmers offers some unique additional coverage options compared to Allstate, including customized equipment coverage, spare parts coverage, original equipment manufacturer coverage, and more.

Farmers may have higher rates than Allstate, with an average cost of $249 per month for full coverage and $112 for liability only, based on Insurify data. Allstate has an average of $138 per month for full coverage and $63 per month for liability-only coverage.

Allstate vs. GEICO

GEICO has similar coverage options to Allstate. One optional coverage that’s unique is mechanical breakdown insurance, which can lower the cost of potential repairs. GEICO's national average for full coverage is $121 per month. Its monthly liability average is $55.

Allstate vs. State Farm

State Farm offers insurance products and other financial services. Similar to Allstate, State Farm has bundling options. The company offers most of the same coverage options as Allstate, and both insurers offer rideshare insurance. One difference is that you may be able to get lower rates through State Farm. The company's average monthly cost for liability insurance is $55 per month and for full coverage the average cost is $119 per month (compared to $63 and $138, respectively, for Allstate).

More about Allstate Insurance

Allstate has a long history and has received some awards and recognition over the years. As of 2020, Allstate was named one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies. In the same year, it was also on Forbes’ list of America’s Best Employers for Diversity.

Allstate pros and cons

It’s important to consider some of Allstate’s pros and cons before settling on a policy.

Filing an auto insurance claim with Allstate

If you get into an accident or have a qualified incident occur, you’ll need to file a claim with Allstate to access your benefits. You’ll need an Allstate account, and you can file a claim with Allstate online or through its mobile app. You can also call and speak to an agent if you prefer filing a claim over the phone.

Allstate Insurance FAQs

1. Allstate. "The story behind the good hands."
2. Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Teen Drivers and Passengers: Get the Facts."
4. Allstate. "Car Insurance Discounts."

Melanie Lockert is the founder of the blog and author of the book, "Dear Debt." Through her blog, she chronicled her journey out of $81,000 in student loan debt. Her work has appeared on Allure, Business Insider, Credit Karma, Fortune, and more. She is also the co-founder of the Lola Retreat and host of the Mental Health and Wealth show podcast. She lives in Los Angeles and enjoys jazz music, traveling, coffee, and spending time with her two cats and partner.