Allstate Insurance Review (2021)
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Allstate is one of the most recognizable insurance companies in the country, offering a wide range of insurance coverage for drivers, homeowners and renters.
Products Reviewed
Best if
- You're willing to sacrifice cheap rates for a large network of agents.
- You want easy, online tools to access your account.
- You already qualify for several discounts.
- You want affordable home insurance rates.
Worst if
- You're looking for the most affordable auto insurance rates.
- You had an accident or traffic violation in the last few years.
- You prefer an insurer that caters to your local market
Introduction
Allstate offers a large variety of insurance coverages, including auto, home and renters insurance, but at a high price. With one of the most expensive car insurance rates, Allstate is not ideal for drivers seeking the cheapest premiums. However, if you manage to qualify for some of its substantial and diverse array of discounts, you may be able to receive coverage at an affordable and much cheaper cost.
Given that Allstate is one of the largest insurance companies in the country, with over 11,900 agents, it's no surprise that it's very easy to file a claim and see a representative face to face.
Drivers looking for Allstate insurance will have little trouble finding basic coverage. Allstate is available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. However, if you're looking for pay-per-mile car insurance or rideshare insurance, you should know that these policies have not been rolled out in every state yet.
Auto Insurance
Allstate at a glance
Has a large network of agents that allows you to obtain personalized service.
Offers various payment plans for drivers who need flexible payment schedules.
Includes an accident forgiveness program that protects you from price increases following a driving incident.
Allstate's rates are more expensive compared to competitors
If you qualify for only a few discounts with Allstate, your rates might be quite expensive. Our analysis showed that out of the six biggest widely available insurers, Allstate had the most costly rates, on average, for car insurance coverage. In fact, we found that the companies with the most competitive prices were State Farm and Progressive.
After a traffic incident, GEICO increases rates the most dramatically out of the biggest car insurance companies. However, Allstate is not too far behind, and has post-incident rates that are almost as expensive as GEICO's.
| Company | Clean record | After DUI | After accident | After speeding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $128 | $180 | $156 | $144 |
| Progressive | $169 | $223 | $260 | $218 |
| Nationwide | $195 | $366 | $266 | $253 |
| GEICO | $208 | $475 | $332 | $253 |
| Allstate | $222 | $412 | $331 | $260 |
| Note: Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | ||||
Compared to its biggest competitors, Allstate's rates for young drivers lean on the expensive side. According to our analysis, Allstate had the second-highest rates for 16-year-old drivers and the third-highest rates for 18- and 20-year-old drivers.
| Age | 16 | 18 | 20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $823 | $595 | $319 |
| GEICO | $692 | $560 | $310 |
| Nationwide | $728 | $710 | $371 |
| Progressive | $871 | $706 | $272 |
| State Farm | $471 | $367 | $213 |
| Note: Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | |||
You can find unique coverage options through Allstate that are not available from most competitors
You can purchase these standard additional coverages through Allstate, including:
| Allstate add-on coverages | Sample cost of coverage |
|---|---|
| Gap/lease coverage | A few more dollars to your monthly premium. |
| Rideshare insurance | Varies depending on limits and the type of coverage you need but can be for as little as pennies per day. |
| Classic car insurance policy | Varies depending on your car model and "agreed value". |
| Sound system insurance | Check with Allstate. |
| Your insurance cost is your base daily rate in addition to the per-mile rate you accumulate when you drive. | |
| Rental car reimbursement coverage | Check with Allstate. |
| 24-Hour Roadside Assistance | Adding basic roadside assistance to your existing policy costs about $25 annually per car. However, if you become a member of the Allstate Motor Club, you will pay around $100 to $185 per year for all members of your household. |
In order to receive an exact estimated cost of car insurance, you'll have to contact an agent from Allstate and discuss your coverage needs. Allstate is a worthwhile option for drivers looking for uncommon coverages like rideshare insurance or classic car insurance.
Discounts on Allstate car insurance
Like many large insurance companies, Allstate offers a wide array of car insurance discounts that can potentially help offset its high rates. In addition to offering savings to young drivers, Allstate also has discounts the average driver can take advantage of right now. This includes savings for customers who pay their policy all at once or sign up to go paperless.
Allstate auto insurance discounts include:
Young driver
- New car: for drivers who have a model of their car that was produced within the last year or are the car's first owners.
- Smart student: only for unmarried customers under the age of 25. You must have a GPA of 2.7 or above, complete a teenSMART education program or attend a school 100 miles away from where your car is housed.
Safe driving
- Anti-lock brakes or anti-theft technology: installing an anti-lock or anti-theft device indicates to your insurer that you're taking precautions to minimize the need to file a claim.
- Safe driving club: if you meet the Allstate criteria for a safe driver, you can qualify for significant savings.
Additional discounts
- Multi-policy or bundling: having more than one policy under Allstate or bundling your car insurance with other insurance coverage that Allstate offers.
- Early signing: if you can't wait to switch and decide to sign onto an Allstate policy seven or more days before your policy is set to take effect.
- Payment: drivers who pay their policy in full, up front, can qualify for some savings.
Allstate has above-average customer service ratings
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) measures customer complaints based on the rate of formal complaints filed to state regulators. The national median Complaint Index is 1.0. J.D. Power's 2020 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study is measured on a scale of 1,000, with an industry average of 872.
| Agency | Score |
|---|---|
| NAIC Complaint Index (2020) | 0.70 |
| J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study | 876 |
| S&P Financial Strength Rating | AA- |
Home Insurance
Allstate offers affordable rates for home insurance at a customer service rating slightly above its competitors. If you’re looking for a well-known national insurer with reasonable rates, then Allstate might be a good fit.
Home insurance review
You should check out Allstate if you're looking for a national, well-known insurer. Allstate also has cheaper average rates compared to well-known insurers like State Farm and Farmers.
Allstate has a good reputation for customer service. J.D. Power gave Allstate 829 out of 1,000 in its 2020 U.S. Home Insurance Study. The average segment score was 823. Allstate's largest subsidiary has a score of 0.99 on the 2020 NAIC Complaint Index, which means that Allstate receives slightly fewer complaints than the average insurer. If you’re looking for affordable rates and multiple discounts, then Allstate is worth considering.
How much does Allstate home insurance cost?
Allstate offers affordable rates for the average homeowner. If you want the best rates for the coverages you need, you should compare quotes you receive from Allstate to other insurers. Allstate has an average annual rate of $1,714, which is close to the national average of $1,726.
Note: Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary.
Home insurance coverages
Allstate’s standard home insurance policy includes dwelling, personal property, liability and guest medical protection. These coverages protect the structure of your home, the belongings inside your home and yourself if someone is injured in your home.
A standard homeowners policy might not cover all the things you need to protect your home. That's why you have the option to add additional coverages. Allstate’s optional coverages include:
- Personal umbrella policy: protects you against large liability claims when you reach the liability limit on your property policy.
- HostAdvantage: protects your belongings if you're home sharing.
- Manufactured/mobile home insurance: protects your manufactured or mobile home.
Homeowners insurance discounts
Allstate offers a wide range of discounts. For instance, you can save if you purchase a newly constructed home or if you're a recent homebuyer. You can also get a discount if your home has theft or fire protection devices. Other discounts include:
- Multi-policy: save up to 25% when you bundle your home and auto insurance policies.
- Responsible payment: if you have a good history of paying on time and in full, then you may be eligible for a discount.
- Claim free: save up to 20% if you switch to Allstate and don’t have a recent home insurance claim.
- Welcome and loyalty: save up to 10% by switching to Allstate. The savings continues for each year that you remain an Allstate policyholder.
- Easy Pay Plan: save up to 5% if you have automatic payments.
- Early signing: save up to 10% on your premium if you sign up for a new policy at least seven days before your current one expires.
What you need to know about Allstate home insurance:
- With Allstate, you can take advantage of multiple discounts.
- Allstate offers all the standard coverages you would expect to see in a home insurance policy, as well as additional add-ons.
Renters Insurance
Allstate offers standard coverages for renters insurance, as well as optional add-ons. If you have an auto insurance policy with Allstate, then a renters insurance policy with Allstate would be a good fit. According to the company’s website, you may be able to pay just $4 a month for renters insurance if you also have an auto insurance policy with Allstate.
Renters insurance coverages
Allstate’s standard renters insurance policy includes personal property, liability, reimbursed living expenses and guest medical coverage. These coverages protect your belongings inside your rental, help pay for your living costs if a covered loss makes your rented apartment uninhabitable and protects you if someone is injured in your home.
You can also add optional insurance coverages or policies, including:
- Personal umbrella policy: protects you against large liability claims when you reach the liability limits of your renters insurance policy.
- Scheduled personal property coverage: helps protect specific, appraised valuables, such as pieces of jewelry.
- Identity theft: helps pay for the cost of legal fees, lost wages and other costs if your identity is stolen.
Renters insurance discounts
If you purchase a renters insurance policy through Allstate, there are a few ways you can save on your premium.
- Multi-policy: you can save by having renters insurance in addition to your Allstate auto policy.
- 55 and retired: retired renters who are 55 years or older can get up to 25% off their premium.
What you need to know about Allstate renters insurance:
- If you’re retired and over age 55, Allstate would be a good option. Not many competitors offer a discount to retired individuals who are older than a certain age.
- J.D. Power gave Allstate’s renters insurance a score of 841 out of 1,000 for overall satisfaction in its 2020 study, the fourth-highest score.
Methodology
Sample quotes are based on a 30-year-old single male driver with a 2012 Honda Accord LX. Unless otherwise stated, our driver has a clean driving record with no prior insurance. He drives for pleasure up to 13,500 miles annually.
To compare coverages from multiple insurers, we used the same driver profile across the 19 states where Allstate is available. Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary.
For home insurance, we collected quotes for a standard HO-3 homeowners insurance policy. We used the following coverages:
- $275,000 dwelling coverage
- $27,500 other structures
- $137,500 personal property
- $55,000 loss of use coverage
- $100,000 liability
- $5,000 medical payments
- $1,000 deductible