Allstate Car Insurance Review

About Allstate Insurance

Founded in 1931, Allstate has grown to become one of the largest auto insurers in the world.

Allstate offers its car insurance using a network of local agents, which allow them to provide customized insurance coverage for every client.

They are currently available throughout the country, serving more than 16 million American households.

What Car Insurance Coverages Does Allstate Offer?

Allstate offers a wide range of car insurance options, both standard and optional. Their standard coverage policies include:

Bodily Injury Liability

If you are at-fault for a car accident that results in injuries to another person, then this coverage will help to pay for the other party’s medical expenses.

Bodily injury liability coverage will cover medical expenses, compensation for lost income and wages, and legal fees. It may also pay for the third party’s funeral expenses.

You should note that bodily injury liability will only pay for the driver and passengers in the other car or pedestrians. In short, it will not cover you or your passengers.

Bodily injury liability insurance is subject to per-personal limits and per-accident limits. The limits refer to the amount that Allstate will pay for each person injured in a car accident and the total amount per accident.

Property Damage Liability

Property damage liability is an Allstate car insurance coverage, which will help to pay damage caused to another person’s vehicle or property.

So, if you cause a car accident and you damage another person’s car or property, then your Allstate property damage liability coverage will help to take care of the repair or replacement expenses.

Allstate’s property damage liability insurance helps to cover the following:

• Vehicle repair or replacement
•  Damage to structures like storefronts and homes
• Repair or replacement of stationary objects like mailboxes, fences, street signs and guardrails

Collision Coverage

If your car is damaged after hitting another vehicle or object, then Allstate’s collision coverage will help to repair or replace it.

Collision coverage will help to repair or replace your vehicle if it’s involved in a collision with another vehicle, a collision with an object such as a tree or fence and a single-car accident such as rolling or falling over.

However, Allstate’s collision coverage will not cover damage to your vehicle caused by theft, or vandalism or hail, damage to another party’s vehicle or medical bills.

Allstate’s collision coverage comes with a deductible, which is the out-of-pocket amount that you should pay before your insurance coverage kicks in to help pay for your claim.

Comprehensive Coverage

Allstate also offers comprehensive car insurance, designed to provide coverage beyond what collision coverage provides. With this insurance coverage, your car will be covered from damaged caused by:

• Vandalism
• Theft
• Fire
• Falling objects
• Natural disasters like tornadoes, hail and hurricanes
• Hitting a wild animal

Civil disturbances like riots that cause damage or destruction to your vehicle

Allstate’s comprehensive coverage also has a limit, which is the maximum amount they will pay you toward a covered claim. The limit is equal to your car’s actual cash value.

For instance, if your car is totaled due to damage caused by fire, then Allstate will reimburse you for your vehicle’s depreciated value, minus the deductible.

So, in case you want to replace your totaled car with a newer make, then there is a high chance that you will have to top up the reimbursement that you have received from Allstate.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

You may sometimes be involved in a car accident where the other party doesn’t have enough car insurance or any at all. And this is where uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage comes in.

Allstate’s underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage will help to pay for damage caused to your vehicle as well as medical expenses caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver.

Similar to liability insurance, Allstate’s underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage is broken down into two types. These are property damage coverage and property damage coverage.

Uninsured motorist coverage is a requirement in 22 jurisdictions while underinsured motorist coverage is mandatory in 14 states.

Hence, if you live in a state where underinsured and uninsured motorist insurance is mandatory, then you will have to add it to your Allstate car insurance policy.

Medical Payments Coverage

Also known as MedPay, medical payments coverage is a type of car insurance that will cover you and your passengers if you are involved in a car accident, regardless of whether you were at fault or not.

This Allstate car insurance coverage will also reimburse you if you are involved in a car accident while riding as a passenger in another person’s vehicle or when you are injured as a bike rider, pedestrian or while traveling using public means.

Allstate’s medical payments insurance will cover:

• Hospital visits
• Doctor visits
•  X-rays
•  Surgeries
•  Professional nursing service and care
• EMT and ambulance fees
• Prostheses

Considering that medical payments coverage extends to pedestrians who may be injured during a car accident, it may prove more useful in urban areas where there are higher rates of pedestrian accidents.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

If you sustain injuries after a car accident, then PIP will help to pay for your hospital bills, medical bills as well as other costs that may not be covered under your health insurance.

Personal injury protection will cover medical expenses, lost wages and income, extended household services, child-care expenses and funeral expenses.

Hawaii, Florida, Kentucky, Kansas, Michigan, New Jersey, Minnesota, Utah, Dakota and Pennsylvania require personal injury protection.

Therefore, if you live in any of the above states, then Allstate will add PIP to your car insurance policy.

Optional Coverages

Apart from the standard coverages, Allstate also offers plenty of optional and specialty coverages. Some of its optional coverage includes:

Roadside Coverage

If your car breaks down when you are on the road, then Allstate’s roadside assistance coverage can help to cover the costs.

With Allstate’s roadside assistance, you will be covered for things like towing, tire changes, lockouts, jump-starts, and fuel delivery.

This coverage is available on a pay-per-use or membership basis. Pay-per-use is available to all drivers, whether you are an Allstate car insurance policyholder or not.

The amount of money you will pay per use will depend on the service you will receive. For example, it will cost you $119 for a five-mile tow. Any tow above five miles costs approximately $4.25 per mile services like fuel delivery or jump-start will cost you $79 per service.

Just like pay-per-use, membership plans are available to all drivers, regardless of whether you are an Allstate customer or not.

With the membership plan, you will receive 24/7 roadside assistance, regardless of where you are. Packages start from $7.

If you are an Allstate car insurance policyholder, then it will cost you $2 per month when you add the roadside assistance coverage to your existing policy.

Rental Reimbursement Coverage

Allstate’s rental reimbursement coverage will help to pay for transportation expenses when your vehicle is being repaired for a covered claim. It will help to pay for a rental car, cab rides or bus fare.

As much as this coverage is optional, it will come in handy if you will be without your car for a longer duration. With Allstate’s rental reimbursement coverage, you will avoid the inconvenience of having to stay without a car and avoid costly rental car fees.

However, rental reimbursement coverage comes with limits. The limits will include the maximum amount of money that Allstate will pay for your rental costs as well as the maximum number of days you can use the rental car.

For example, your Allstate rental reimbursement coverage may come with a $30 daily limit and 30-day usage limit. In such a situation, Allstate will only reimburse a maximum of $30 per day towards your rental car fees, for up to 30 days.

If you exceed the limits, then you will have to pay out of pocket for the additional expenses. Furthermore, things like fuel are not covered under the rental reimbursement coverage.

Sound System Insurance

If you have installed a state-of-the-art sound system in your car, then Allstate’s sound system insurance can help to protect it. This coverage will reimburse and help you to repair or replace your car’s sound system if it’s damaged, stolen or vandalized.

Travel to Mexico Car Insurance

If you are planning a trip to Mexico, then it’s highly likely you will need additional car insurance coverage, beyond what your domestic policy offers.

And this is where Allstate’s travel to Mexico car insurance comes in. This Allstate car insurance covers the following:

•  Physical damage and theft
• Property damage and bodily injury for up to $500,000
• Medical payments for you and your passengers
• Loan or lease pay off for a totaled car
• Gap coverage
• Medical evacuation
• Roadside assistance

Whether you intend to be in Mexico for a few days or you will be there for a couple of months, you can customize your Allstate travel to Mexico car insurance policy depending on the length of your stay.

However, you should keep in mind that for you to get coverage on the Mexico policy, you must have a corresponding domestic car insurance coverage.

For example, if you want to add collision coverage to your Mexico policy, then you must have collision coverage on your U.S car insurance policy.

Classic Car Insurance

Conventional car insurance may not offer the additional protection that classic cars need. And this is where Allstate’s classic car insurance coverage comes in. Allstate has partnered with Hagerty, to offer specialty insurance coverage for various types of vehicles like:

• Classics and antiques
• Sports cars, race cars and muscle cars
• Modern classics
• Classic SUVs and trucks
• Custom builds as well as vehicles under restoration
•  Modified vehicles
•  Old military vehicles retired fire trucks and antique tractors

Allstate’s classic car insurance also gives you access to Hagerty’s Drivers Club, featuring a roadside assistance program for classic cars.

You will also enjoy Hagerty’s classic car expertise, especially when it’s time to track down some repair parts for your car.

What is the Cost of Allstate Car Insurance?

The average cost of minimum car insurance coverage is approximately $565 per year while full coverage will cost you approximately $1,674 annually.

Allstate car insurance costs approximately $124 per month and $1,488 per year. And if you opt for a 6-month policy, then you will be paying approximately $877.

What Determines the Cost?

As much as Allstate’s car insurance costs approximately $124 per month, your actual quote will depend on various factors. Allstate uses the following factors to determine your auto insurance premiums.

Location

Your zip code is the first thing that Allstate will ask when you request a quote. So, how does your location affect your car insurance rates?

Well, if you live in a highly-populated area, then accidents, as well as insurance claims, are likely to be more prevalent.

So, if you live in an urban area, there is a high chance that your Allstate car insurance rates will be higher compared to someone living in rural areas.

Also, Allstate will use your zip code to determine factors like the rate of car theft in your location, vandalism, damaging weather conditions and other risks associated with insuring you.

However, some states have banned the use of location as a rating factor. For instance, if you live in California, then Allstate will first consider your driving history and record, annual miles driven as well as your driving experience before turning to your geographic location.

Age

Your age will also determine your premiums. Recent statistics show that younger, inexperienced drivers, tend to be easily distracted.

Also, younger drivers are highly likely to be engaged in reckless driving behaviors, making them the riskiest drivers to insure. As you may expect, rates for teenage drivers will be the highest.

Older drivers, especially those above the age of 75, are involved in more accidents, which increases their risk profile.

In short, rates are cheapest for drivers in their 40s and 50s and highest for those below the age of 25.

Vehicle Make and Model

Allstate will also ask you to indicate your car’s make and model when you request a quote. Therefore, the type of car that you drive will also affect your Allstate car insurance premiums.

You may be probably asking yourself why your car’s make and model affects your insurance rates. Just like other insurers, Allstate sets their premiums based on the possibility that a driver of a particular vehicle will be involved in an accident.

So, if drivers of a certain type of car file a higher number of claims compared to other models, then their rates will be higher. For instance, sports cars are more expensive to insure compared to other types, since they are more likely to be involved in accidents.

Furthermore, Allstate will consider how much it will cost to repair your vehicle when damaged during a covered collision. As you may expect, if your vehicle’s repair costs are higher than average, then your Allstate car insurance rates will be higher.

Car theft will also play a role in determining your rates. For instance, cars such as the Honda Civic, Ford Pickup full-size, Chevrolet Pickup full-size, Toyota Camry, Toyota Corolla, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and the Jeep Cherokee tend to be a favorite for thieves.

Therefore, if you are driving any of the above cars, it’s highly likely that your Allstate car insurance rates will be higher.

Use of the Vehicle

Allstate will also ask you how you are using the vehicle. They will want to know whether you use the car for leisure, daily commutes or business.

If you use your car almost every day for commuting to work or school, then you will be considered a riskier driver compared to someone who only drives their car over the weekends.

So, rates for someone who uses their car for daily commuting will be higher than those of someone who only drives their car once in a while.

In addition, if you use your car primarily for business purposes, then you may have to purchase a commercial policy instead of a personal policy. Commercial policies tend to cost more compared to personal policies.

Safety Features

Advanced safety features can protect a car’s occupants during a collision, thus helping to minimize the severity of the injuries.

Also, some features can even prevent an accident from happening or minimize the occurrence of accidents.

Due to such reasons, Allstate offers discounts for safety features installed in a vehicle such as airbags, anti-lock brakes, VIN etching, electronic home devices, passive disabling features, active disabling features and car alarms. And such discounts will lead to lower rates.

Marital Status

Allstate will also request you to indicate your marital status when you request a car insurance quote.

While it may appear discriminatory, married people have been found to have lower accident rates compared to those who are single. And this translates to lower car insurance premiums for married couples.

Furthermore, married couples can also earn discounts when they combine their Allstate car insurance policies, through the Allstate multi-vehicle discount.

However, if you live in Montana, Michigan, Hawaii and Massachusetts, then Allstate will not use our marital status to determine your rates.

Accidents and Moving Violations

Your behavior on the road has a direct impact on your Allstate’s car insurance rates. If you have a history of speeding tickets then your car insurance rates will be higher.

Additionally, if you have serious moving violations on your driving record such as DUI, speeding, or running red lights, then your insurance rates will increase significantly.

On the other hand, if you have a clean driving record, Allstate will offer you better rates. Furthermore, if you have a clean driving record, you may qualify for the company’s Accident Forgiveness program.

Accident Forgiveness is a reward program where Allstate will not raise your car insurance rates if you have been involved in a single accident.

And if you accumulate too many tickets and serious moving violations, then you may be forced into a high-risk insurance policy, which comes at a significantly higher price while offering less than average coverage.

Insurance Coverage History

Allstate will also take into account your previous insurance coverage when determining your rates. For instance, they will ask you to indicate how long you have been with your current insurer.

So, why does your insurance coverage history matter? According to most insurers, if you have a lapse in your insurance coverage, then you are likely to be involved in an accident or even miss payments.

Consequently, your rates will be higher, compared to someone who has a continuous auto insurance history.

Chosen Coverage

As noted earlier, Allstate offers a wide range of auto insurance coverage options. Also, the different coverage options are available at different limits.

Therefore, if you opt for both the standard coverages and the additional coverage options, then your premiums will be higher.

Also, if you choose higher limits, then it means that Allstate is taking on additional risk to provide you with more coverage. As a result, higher limits will lead to higher premiums.

As you can see, several risk factors come into play when Allstate is determining the cost of your car insurance. But in general, the higher the risk that you pose to your insurer, the higher the cost of your Allstate car insurance premiums.

Does Allstate Offer Car Insurance Discounts?

Just like other car insurance companies, Allstate offers its customer several discounts, which can help to lower the cost of car insurance premiums. Here are some of the car insurance discounts that they offer.

New Car Discount

You may qualify for an auto insurance discount when you purchase a new car, through the new car discount.

Allstate’s new car discount is available to people who buy a vehicle in its current model year.

You may also qualify for this discount if your car is a year older than the current model year, as long as you are the first owner.

Multiple Policy Discount

Purchasing more than one insurance policy from Allstate can also lead to some discounts.

For example, if you purchase both your car insurance and homeowners insurance from Allstate, you will get a discount of approximately 10% on your car insurance and up to 25% for your home insurance premiums.

Smart Student Discount

Adding a student to your Allstate car insurance policy can also unlock some discounts, as long as the student is unmarried and under the age of 25.

Allstate offers 3 qualifying options for this discount. First, the student should be studying full-time and earning good grades consistently.

Second, the student has successfully completed the company’s teenSMART driver education program. And third, the student is attending a school that is at least 100 miles away from your location.

Anti-lock Brakes Discount

Anti-lock braking systems prevent tires from locking up when you brake suddenly, thus reducing accidents and injuries. If your car is equipped with these braking systems, then you can qualify for a discount on your Allstate car insurance policy.

Anti-theft Device Discount

If your vehicle has inbuilt anti-theft devices such as steering wheel locks, car key security devices, as well as vehicle tracking and recovery systems, then you may be eligible for a discount.

Reward Programs

Apart from a wide range of discounts, Allstates also runs various reward programs, designed to reward loyal customers and safe drivers. Some of the reward programs that you may qualify for include:

Accident Forgiveness Program

If you are involved in a car accident, there is a high chance that your Allstate car insurance premiums will go up. But if you’ve signed up for the accident forgiveness program, then your rates will not go up, even if you were at fault.

The number of accidents to be forgiven will depend on the package that you’ve chosen. For instance, if you’ve signed up for the Gold package, then you will have one accident forgiven every 3 years.

And if you’ve signed up for the Platinum package, then your car accidents can be forgiven for an unlimited number of times.

Regardless of whether you choose the Gold or the Platinum package, an accident surcharge will not be added to your policy after a forgiven accident.

The cost of the packages will vary by driver and state. Also, you should keep in mind that this program is not available in some states.

Deductible Rewards

Allstate rewards safe drivers in various ways. And one of them is through the deductible rewards program.

Allstate will reduce your deductible by $100 every year you remain accident-free, up to $500. You will receive your first deductible reward of $100 the day you sign up for this program.

Allstate Drivewise Program

Drivewise is a usage-based discount program, where Allstate rewards its policyholders who agree to participate in this program.

You will first have to sign up if you want to participate in this program. Once you sign up, Allstate will monitor your driving habits, either via their mobile app or through a device installed in your car’s diagnostics port.

Some of the driving habits that Allstate monitors through the Drivewise program include your driving speeds, accelerating and braking, as well as the time of the day that you drive.

According to Allstate, participants can earn discounts of up to 40% off their premiums in two ways.

First, if you sign up for the program, you will get a discount of up to 10% off your car insurance premiums. Second, if you exhibit safe driving habits for at least 6 months, then you may qualify for an additional discount.

You can also earn reward points every time you finish a safe driving challenge, which you can then redeem for car rentals, auctions, gift cards, magazine subscriptions, merchandise and hotel rooms, among others.

Unlike other usage-based programs such as Progressive’s Snapshot or Nationwide’s SmartRide, Allstate will not increase your premiums even if you exhibit unsafe driving behaviors such as hard braking.

Allstate Car Insurance Availability

Allstate car insurance is available in all states, including the District of Columbia. Furthermore, they have insurance agents in all states, which means you should be able to find a local agent in your neighborhood.

Allstate Car Insurance Customer Service

Allstate offers several methods that its customers can use to get in touch with them. First, they have a mobile app that customers can use to report a claim, request roadside assistance and pay their bills.

Second, their website has several tools that you can use to pay your bills, file a claim and handle insurance paperwork.

Third, you can get in touch with their customer service representatives by calling them. Their customer service representatives are available via call 24/7.

Fourth, you can connect with Allstate through various social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.

How Does Allstate Car Insurance Compare?

Third-party rating companies collect insurance data and then publish reports on how different insurers perform. So, how does Allstate car insurance rate?

Customer Satisfaction Rating

According to J.D Power, Allstate earned a customer satisfaction rating of 829 out of 1000. Considering the industry average is 835 out of 1000, then their customer satisfaction rating is below average.

Customer Complaint Ratio

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) 2020 complaint ratio report, Allstate scored an average of 2.0, which is double the national median of 1.0.

Financial Strength

AM Best rates insurance companies based on their financial strength. Allstate earned a financial strength rating of A+, which is slightly lower than the highest rating of A++. Their strong financial position is an indication of their ability to meet their policyholders’ payment obligations.

Pros

• Easy and fast to file claims
• A vast network of agents
•  Numerous discounts and generous perks

Cons

• Higher rates than competitors
• Low customer satisfaction rating

Our Take

Allstate is a reliable and good insurance company. It offers a wide range of discounts, an easy claims process and a vast network of agents across all the states.

On the other hand, their poor customer satisfaction ratings and their higher rates may drive some people away.

But overall, it offers ample protection that its customer can rely on when it comes to car insurance.