Allstate Insurance: Is it the Best Choice for Car Insurance?

Founded in 1931 during the Great Depression, Allstate initially began as a mail-order company offering auto insurance policies. Allstate agents started working out of Sears department stores in 1934, and the company steadily expanded before becoming publicly traded in 1993. Today, Allstate not only offers a full suite of insurance products, from home and condo to life and identity protection insurance.

Allstate is known for its “You’re in good hands” tagline and has earned a reputation as a trustworthy insurer. The company not only offers drivers the ability to get quotes and purchase car insurance entirely online, but local agents continue to offer personalized support.

Is Allstate a Good Choice for Car Insurance?

Allstate offers a diverse selection of insurance options that make it an appealing, one-stop solution for many shoppers. Allstate offers auto, home, life, identity protection, phone protection, and property insurance, and additional coverage options like business and event insurance make it ideal for professionals. The company is popular among many types of drivers, including high-risk drivers and those who need SR-22 certificates.

Drivers can also enjoy plenty of discounts with Allstate, as well as programs like Drivewise and Milewise that can help them save even more. Paired with Allstate’s excellent and flexible policy customization options, most drivers are likely to find a policy that fits their needs and budget with Allstate.

Where Allstate stands out

Allstate’s insurance coverage offerings are some of the best in class. Not only can you get traditional coverages like auto, home, and condo insurance, but Allstate also offers unique coverages like phone, pet, travel, and event coverage. It also offers a retirement and investment program that can help customers in any life stage.

Where Allstate falls short

While Allstate programs like Drivewise and Milewise offer drivers helpful ways to save money, the mobile app’s driver tracking capabilities clearly need improvement. Many drivers described using the app for driving tracking as highly frustrating and inaccurate.

Allstate could also improve its customer service and claims process.

Allstate is best for drivers who…

Allstate is a great choice for shoppers who are looking for a convenient, one-stop solution to all their insurance needs. Allstate’s prices are competitive, and taking advantage of options like bundling discounts or the Drivewise program can help drivers save more. Allstate also offers plenty of discounts, so drivers can get affordable coverage for not only their car but also their home, life, and other insurance needs.

Allstate Reviews: What Real Customers Are Saying

Allstate has somewhat mixed reviews from its customers. Like many large insurance companies, Allstate scores relatively low across some of the most popular online review platforms.

Among a handful of the web’s most popular review sites, Allstate scores no higher than a 3.2 out of 5. But it’s worth mentioning that this trend is common across the industry, and several of Allstate’s closest competitors receive similar scores.

Many of the negative reviews outline a tiresome claims process that leads to lots of denied claims.

Other customers complain about extravagant rate hikes, even for longtime policyholders. The user featured in the review below claimed to be a customer for 40 years before experiencing a 50% rate increase at renewal.

Still, Allstate boasts plenty of satisfied customers. Many rave about great rates and excellent service, like the reviewer below.

And despite the low scores, Allstate fares relatively well when it comes to the total number of customer complaints. The company scores a 1.71 on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) company complaint index. While that number indicates 71% more complaints than average, it’s below other large insurers like GEICO (1.88), Progressive (1.97), and State Farm (2.03).

While Allstate receives generally positive feedback from customers — most of which note responsive and helpful agents — the company also has plenty of complaints, like those outlined below.

How Much Is Allstate Car Insurance?

The national average for car insurance through Allstate is $199 per month. That said, Allstate’s rates can vary dramatically depending on factors like age, location, driving history, credit rating, and more.

Allstate’s national average rates

Most states require you to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage, which helps cover expenses resulting from an accident that you caused. Many drivers may want to upgrade to full coverage, which usually includes collision and comprehensive policies. A full-coverage policy helps cover not only your liability but also damage to your vehicle that an accident or another event caused.

The average Allstate policyholder pays $109 per month for liability insurance or $290 per month for full coverage.

Allstate rates for teens and young drivers

Teens pay some of the highest car insurance premiums, mostly because they have limited experience driving. That minimal experience means teens are at an increased risk of getting into a car accident, and insurance companies charge higher premiums as a result. Luckily, if drivers maintain a clean driving record, their car insurance prices start to drop when they turn 25.

Allstate has some of the more affordable rates amongst the nation’s top insurance companies for teens. 18-year-old drivers pay $243 per month for liability and $655 per month for full coverage, on average.

By the time they turn 25, those rates drop to just $87 and $247 for liability and full coverage, respectively.

Allstate rates for adult drivers

Car insurance rates continue to decrease as you age, as long as you maintain a clean driving history.

By the time you turn 40, you can expect to pay about $84 per month for state minimum liability insurance with Allstate or $222 per month for full coverage.

Allstate rates for seniors

While car insurance rates remain low while drivers are in their forties and fifties, once drivers turn age 65, their rates may start to increase again. These higher rates reflect the fact that seniors’ reflexes slow as they age, increasing their chances of getting into an accident.

Drivers around retirement age see their average rates increase by around 5% for liability insurance, but they may find even cheaper average rates for full coverage.

Allstate rates after an accident

Being at fault for a single-car accident can cause your car insurance rates to increase significantly. While rates can sometimes double for a serious accident, Allstate’s rates show a fairly minor increase, indicating that Allstate may be a good choice for drivers with a single accident on their driving history.

Allstate drivers with a clean record pay just $85 per month, on average, for liability insurance, but if they cause a collision, those average rates increase by almost 50%. Similar increases can be seen for full coverage, as well.

Allstate rates after a speeding ticket

Speeding tickets and other moving violations can indicate a driver is making risky decisions behind the wheel, so even a single ticket can increase your car insurance premiums.

Allstate policyholders typically see an average rate increase of around 16% after getting a speeding ticket. The company’s premiums of less than $100 for liability coverage after a ticket are extremely competitive when compared to the rest of the industry.

Allstate rates after a DUI

Insurance companies see DUIs as serious offenses that indicate high-risk driving behavior. As a result, you can expect a steep increase in your rates after a DUI.

Allstate’s average rates increase by around 45% if you are convicted of a DUI. These rates are highly competitive, but companies like State Farm and Progressive offer even more affordable rates for drivers with a DUI on their record.

Allstate rates for drivers with bad credit

Many insurance companies (but not all) review your credit rating when calculating your premium. Companies usually consider a poor credit rating as an indicator you’re less likely to pay your bill on time. This can lead to higher rates because of the extra risk involved.

Drivers with Allstate can expect to pay higher rates if they have a poor credit score. In fact, rates nearly double for drivers with poor credit scores compared to those with excellent scores.

Allstate rates by state

Several factors impact car insurance premiums from state to state, including minimum coverage requirements, population density, cost of living, and more.

You can find the average rates for Allstate in your state in the table below:

Some states — like Iowa, Maine, and Vermont — have extremely affordable car insurance rates, while states like New York can sometimes pay up to four times as much.

Allstate’s rates compared to top competitors

Allstate offers highly competitive rates when compared to its competitors. Let’s check out how it compares for both liability and full coverage policies.

Of the six insurance companies listed above, Allstate’s liability rates tie for the third-most-affordable price, just behind State Farm and GEICO. Allstate’s full-coverage policies are the most expensive, costing $20 more per month than GEICO.

Allstate Car Insurance Discounts

Allstate offers 13 discounts to help customers save money:

• New car
• Smart student
• Anti-lock brake
• Anti-theft
• EZ pay plan
• Multiple policy
• Allstate eSmart discount (for paperless billing)
• Early Signing discount (for buying a policy seven or more days before it becomes effective)
• FullPay discount (for paying the entire policy amount in full)
• Responsible payer
• Safe driving club

Many of these discounts are easy to qualify for. Signing up for paperless billing or paying a policy in full can help drivers save. Those who haven’t received a cancellation notice for non-payment in the past year are eligible for a responsible payer discount. Even driving a vehicle with anti-lock brakes or an anti-theft device can help you save money on insurance premiums with Allstate.

Purchasing an Allstate Car Insurance Policy

Allstate’s online quote process is user-friendly and takes less than 10 minutes to complete. The company offers bundling with home, renter’s, condo, motorcycle, off-road, and term life insurance, and you can even choose the bundle that you want from the very beginning of the quote process.

To get started, Allstate asks you for some basic personal information, including your mailing address. The quote form requires both an email address and a phone number, and you have to check a box giving Allstate permission to call you before you can progress to the next page.

Next, Allstate asks for information about your vehicle, including its year, make, and model.

Entering information about your vehicle usage is easy. Allstate allows you to put in a flat mileage rate per year rather than having to estimate mileage per month. You will also need to specify whether you own, lease, or finance the vehicle.

Allstate’s system automatically identifies safety features that are eligible for a discount based on the information you enter. It also gives you the ability to specify additional safety features to potentially reduce your rates even further.

Next, you’ll need to enter more basic information, including your marital status and whether you own or rent your residence. You’ll also be asked about accidents or violations that have occurred in the past six years.

Adding an incident generates a simple pop-up window. The drop-down menu makes it easy to select an appropriate violation description.

The last page of the quote process focuses on information about your current auto insurance, including the company name, length of the policy, and your existing bodily injury liability limits. Having your current car insurance policy handy will make navigating this page easy.

Once you submit the last piece of information, Allstate’s quote generator takes about 15 seconds to produce your quote.

Allstate does a good job of giving drivers several options, including Basic, Standard, and Enhanced coverage packages. However, the differences between those options aren’t clear at first glance.

For example, the Standard option includes $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident of bodily injury coverage. That increases to $250,000 per person and $500,000 per accident with the Basic option and $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident with the Enhanced option.

But there’s no way to concisely see all of that information at once. Instead, you have to select one option at a time and then scroll down to see the coverages included. It’s unfortunately not the most user-friendly design we’ve seen.

Can you purchase an Allstate policy 100% online?

You can purchase an Allstate policy entirely online — in fact, Allstate strongly encourages it. To the right of your completed quote results is a box that highlights the fact that you’ll get a lower rate by buying the policy online. Unfortunately, Allstate doesn’t provide any additional information on how much those savings actually are.

Once you have your quote, Allstate provides extensive customization options (covered in more detail below). It’s easy to add on coverage, change your coverage limits, and even alter deductibles. Those changes are immediately reflected in your policy premiums, making for an effective and user-friendly self-serve policy customization process.

With your policy customized, you can check out and purchase your new policy without leaving the site.

Allstate Car Insurance Coverage Options

Allstate offers a varied selection of coverages during the quote process, including:

• Bodily injury liability
• Optional bodily injury to others
• Property damage liability
• Personal injury protection
• Medical payments
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist
• Identity theft
• Death indemnity
• Collision or limited collision
• Collision deductible waiver
• Comprehensive or comprehensive with full glass
• Transportation expense
• Roadside coverage
• Auto replacement protection coverage
• Sound system
• Portable electronics and media
• Comprehensive for custom equipment
• Ride for hire endorsement
• Collision for custom equipment

Some of these coverage options are worth highlighting. For example, the ride-for-hire endorsement makes Allstate a practical choice for drivers who are also using their vehicles for ridesharing platforms like Uber and Lyft.

Allstate also offers coverage for portable electronics and media, like CDs or items used with a sound system, as well as coverage for sound systems themselves. Identity theft coverage can also help to cover expenses if the driver experiences identity theft.

Many of the big insurance companies don’t typically offer these types of coverage, which makes Allstate stand out by allowing drivers to truly tailor their insurance policies to their needs.

Allstate also does a great job of explaining the different types of insurance coverage available. As you scroll down on your quote, you can click on the different coverages and read a brief description of what each one means. But a more detailed description — or even a video — would be helpful, especially for drivers shopping for car insurance for the first time.

While the coverage descriptions may be lacking, Allstate does an excellent job of letting you customize your insurance policy online. Clicking on most of the coverage options gives you the ability to choose a different deductible or coverage amount. You can also see exactly how those changes will affect your premium, letting you choose the coverage that both suits your needs and fits your budget.

Allstate’s Other Insurance Offerings

In addition to car insurance, Allstate offers an extensive selection of other types of insurance products, including:

• Auto
• Home
• Motorcycle
• ATV/off-road
• Renters
• Term Life
• Condo
• Business
• Identity protection
• Phone protection
• Personal umbrella policy
• Retirement
• Health, including short-term medical, accident, critical illness, dental, and Medicare insurance
• Pet
• Voluntary employee benefits
• Event
• Travel

Thanks to its comprehensive selection of insurance products, Allstate can act as an all-in-one coverage solution for not only both individuals and businesses alike.

Insurance products like its phone protection — which covers expenses resulting from issues like cracked screens, battery failure, liquid damage, and more — are somewhat unique. Such options make Allstate an appealing option for those who want to be able to purchase all of their insurance coverages from one company.

Rating Allstate’s Customer Service

Allstate customer service is available 24/7 by phone. We called on a Thursday afternoon and were connected to an agent after less than five minutes of hold time.

Customer service is also available through Allstate’s online chat. We tried to use the chat function, but the entire platform seems like it’s powered by an automated AI system.

While the chat did respond to our request for help paying a bill, we never managed to get to the option to connect to an actual human. The chat can be helpful for some basic and standard requests, but anything needing true human support would require a phone call.

What to Know About the Allstate Claims Process

Allstate advertises “fast, fair, and hassle-free claims support.” Customers can file a claim by calling 1 (800) 255-7828. They can also file online or by using the mobile app.

Once customers have filed a claim, they will need to have the damage to their vehicle inspected. They can bring the vehicle to a shop in the Allstate Good Hands Repair Network. Those shops have been chosen based on the quality of work that they provide.

Alternatively, drivers whose vehicles have minor damage can use Allstate’s QuickFoto Claim option. Once drivers have filed a claim, they will receive a link by text or email to access the QuickFoto Claim feature. They can also log into their Allstate mobile app. Drivers need to take photos of the damage and submit them for review. Once the images are reviewed, drivers will receive an estimate.

While Allstate promotes its claims process as being hassle-free, many customer reviews tell a different story. The majority of claims-related reviews on sites like Trustpilot and ConsumerAffairs describe significant issues and delayed claims processes.

Several customers on ConsumerAffairs described issues with a lack of communication from the claims department and issues with denied claims.

Bottom Line: Is Allstate Car Insurance Right for You?

Every auto insurance company has its fair share of pros and cons, including Allstate. It’s always important to consider what you need in a car insurance company prior to switching.

So, is Allstate the right company for you? Let’s find out where it shines, as well as the areas that might make you consider a different company.

More About Allstate

Founded: 1931

Available in: All 50 states

Ownership: Public (NYSE: ALL)

Average premium: $199 per month

Mobile app: Android, iOS

Customer service: Chat 24/7, phone 1 (800) 726-6033

Claims: 1 (800) 255-7828

Primary competitors: Progressive, Liberty Mutual, State Farm Insurance, Travelers, Farmers

In addition to its large selection of insurance products, Allstate offers retirement and investment planning services. The free Allstate My Money tool is an online platform that helps you manage investments, set financial goals, track your investment progress, keep track of expenses, and more.

You can even consult with an Allstate Personal Financial Representative for extra help managing your finances. According to Allstate’s website, working with an Allstate Personal Financial Representative means that you will have access to some of the most well-known financial companies, including Fidelity Investments, Prudential, Lincoln Financial Group, and more.

The Allstate My Money tool can be helpful for those in different life stages, including starting a career, growing a family, nearing retirement, and during retirement.

Allstate Drivewise

Allstate Drivewise is a telematics program that rewards safe drivers with credits on their car insurance. Allstate offers a credit for activating Drivewise in the Allstate mobile app. Then, as you continue to use the app, you can get a policy credit for every six months of safe driving habits.

The app monitors factors including speed, stopping, and the times when drivers are on the road. Allstate considered driving between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. on weekends to be high-risk.

The app also monitors how often drivers use their phones while behind the wheel. It’s equipped with a crash detection feature that will send drivers a notification if they have been in an accident. Drivers can use that notification to call 911, request roadside assistance, tell Allstate that they are okay or it was a false alarm, or even start a claim.

Drivers can access insights into their driving as well as real-time audible alerts through the app. Personalized feedback helps drivers improve their safety on the road. You can even choose to complete safe driving challenges to earn extra rewards points. However, Allstate doesn’t specify how large the policy credits can be for drivers who use the Drivewise program.

Customer feedback for the Drivewise program on the iOS and Android mobile app pages is mixed. Some customers praise the program for giving them the ability to earn rewards for safe driving. However, the majority of the feedback highlights issues with the app’s functionality.

Multiple reviewers describe issues with the app reporting them as driving much faster than they actually do, even when on cruise control. Others report problems with the app not tracking many of the trips they drive or of the app tracking trips when the phone owner is a passenger in someone else’s vehicle.

Several users on Reddit simply claim the savings aren’t worth the trouble, especially if you drive often. Some even claimed their rates skyrocketed after using the program, even though Allstate claims Drivewise won’t raise your rates.

Allstate Milewise

Allstate Milewise is a pay-per-mile insurance program that may be ideal for people who drive fewer than 10,000 miles per year. For example, stay-at-home parents, people who work from home, and retirees may be able to save money by choosing this program instead of a traditional car insurance policy.

The program bases a driver’s premium on their personal driving habits. Drivers pay a daily rate that is adjusted every six months. They also pay a per-mile rate that is adjusted weekly, using driving data that has been gathered during the previous four weeks with the Allstate mobile app.

Additionally, Milewise gives drivers control over how they are billed. For example, if you choose the Pay-Per-Mile option, you’ll pay a daily rate plus a per-mile rate on the days you drive. You also have the ability to choose an Unlimited vehicle option where you’re charged a daily rate, no matter how many miles you drive.

The Milewise program uses the Allstate mobile app to track driving habits. Much like Drivewise, the app monitors factors such as braking, speed, and the time of day when you’re on the road.

You can also access your policy details through the app and can track your per-mile rate each week. The app also lets you review weekly spending.

The Milewise program has received mixed customer reviews. While customers have left positive feedback about the ability to save money on their car insurance, similar to the Drivewise program, there are plenty of reviews highlighting issues with the app. Those issues include problems with inaccurate trip tracking and general difficulty using the app.

Allstate mobile app

The Allstate Mobile App is available for iOS and Android devices. Drivers can use the app to access their insurance policies and ID cards, pay bills, report a claim, and get roadside assistance. The app is also capable of tracking driving behavior for use with the Drivewise and Milewise programs.

While the app has some desirable features, feedback on the app is mixed. The app has a 3.9-star rating out of 5 stars on Google Play, but its rating on the Apple App Store is a much better 4.8 out of 5 stars. While some reviews appreciate the discounts they can get through programs like Drivewise, many describe the app as problematic.
A recent review on the Apple App Store described significant issues with the app, including inaccurate discount reporting and problems with tracking for the Drivewise program.

Popular Allstate alternatives

Not sure if Allstate is the right company for you? See how it compares to some of the other big-time players in car insurance in our head-to-head comparisons:

• Allstate vs. Farmers
• Allstate vs. GEICO
• Allstate vs. Nationwide
• Allstate vs. Progressive
• Allstate vs. State Farm
• Allstate vs. Travelers

Allstate Auto Insurance FAQs

Want to learn more about Allstate? Check out answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the insurance giant.

Does Allstate really have the cheapest insurance?

Allstate offers many customers competitive rates, but no company has the cheapest insurance for every driver. After all, a number of factors — such as your age, driving record, location, and more — affect what you pay for car insurance, and each company uses its own formula to calculate rates.

Still, among other top insurers — such as GEICO, Progressive, State Farm, and Nationwide — Allstate has relatively expensive average rates. The average Allstate policyholder pays $109 per month for a basic liability policy and $290 for full coverage, according to Compare.com data.

Is Allstate a reliable insurance company?

Yes, Allstate is one of the most well-known and reliable insurance companies in the U.S. You can contact Allstate 24/7 and file a claim using the company’s mobile app or online. Reviews are mixed about the company’s customer service and overall responsiveness, but that’s, unfortunately, the case with most insurance companies.

Does Allstate really have the cheapest car insurance?

Your insurance premiums depend on multiple factors, including the value of the vehicle you drive and your driving record. Allstate offers competitive rates, but the best way to find the cheapest car insurance for you is to compare quotes from multiple companies.

Is Allstate good at paying claims?

Allstate promotes an easy and fast claims process. Customer feedback on the process is mixed (as is the case with most car insurance companies). Some customers report having positive experiences, while others describe difficult and drawn-out claims processes.

Is Allstate difficult to deal with?

You can reach Allstate in several ways, including by phone, your local agent, the mobile app, and online. Customer reviews report varying experiences working with Allstate, with some customers being highly satisfied and others describing the company as hard to work with.

How long has Allstate been in business?

Allstate has been in business for nearly 100 years and was founded in 1931.

Data Methodology:

Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance quotes from more than 75 partner insurers in order to compile the rates and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information.

All the rates listed in this article have been collected from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide readers with insights into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.

Rating Methodology:

Compare.com’s mission is to help our readers make more informed decisions when it comes to their personal finances. Our editorial staff has crafted a proprietary, objective rating formula — the Compare.com Rating — to make it easier for our readers to analyze and compare many of the industry’s most well-known insurers. The score you see referenced in this article is based on several factors, including:

• Cost: How the insurer’s average rates compare to its direct competitors and the industry as a whole. This includes available savings opportunities, such as discounts and other factors.
• Customer Satisfaction: How satisfied existing customers are with the service they receive. This includes the insurer’s scores among various third-party studies, such as the J.D. Power U.S. Insurance Shopping and Claims Satisfaction studies, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Complaint Index, among others.
• Ease of Use: How easy it is for policyholders to utilize their policies. This includes mobile app availability, customer service availability, payment flexibility, and other related factors.
• Availability: The overall scope of the company’s insurance offerings. This includes available coverage types, national footprint, and other related factors.
• Industry Reputation: A measure of the insurer’s overall standing within the industry. This includes its AM Best Financial Strength rating, BBB accreditation, and other related factors.

Sources:

1. J.D. Power, “2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study,” accessed February 22, 2024.
2. National Association of Insurance Commissioners, “2019/2020 Auto Insurance Database Report,” accessed February 22, 2024.
3. Better Business Bureau, “Allstate Insurance,” accessed February 22, 2024.
4. Trustpilot, “Allstate,” accessed February 22, 2024.
5. r/personalfinance on Reddit, “Allstate Drivewise Savings?,” accessed February 22, 2024.