Pros
- Versatile coverage options
- Easy-to-navigate claims processing
- Several discounts available
Cons
- Potentially higher premiums
- Mixed customer service reviews
Known for its range of coverage options, discounts, and innovative services, Allstate is a prominent auto insurance provider in the United States. Here, we’ve provided an in-depth look at the company’s offerings, including advantages, potential drawbacks, and overall customer experience. Whether you’re a new policyholder or considering a switch, this review will help you make an educated decision about your auto insurance needs.
Allstate auto insurance offers various coverage options, streamlined claims processing, and numerous discounts for eligible drivers. Flexibility in coverage plans and user-friendly technology, such as the Drivewise program, generally boost Allstate’s overall customer satisfaction rating.
However, some drawbacks include comparatively higher premiums and mixed reviews regarding customer satisfaction. Prospective policyholders need to weigh these factors based on their specific needs and preferences.
To help you make an informed choice on your auto insurance provider, we have analyzed Allstate’s strengths and weaknesses below, weighing the benefits and drawbacks of their policies and services.
Wide range of coverage options: Allstate offers diverse coverage options, allowing customers to tailor their policies to their specific needs. While their initial quote provides bodily injury and property damage liability and options for collision and comprehensive coverage, adding additional coverages for rental reimbursement, roadside coverage, auto replacement protection, and more is possible.
High claim satisfaction ratings: With an impressive J.D. Power rating of 882, Allstate surpasses major competitors like Geico, Progressive, and Liberty Mutual in customer satisfaction, reflecting efficient and reliable claims processing.
Various discounts: Allstate provides multiple discounts, offering policyholders opportunities to reduce premiums by promoting safe driving, rewarding vehicle safety features, and incentivizing policy bundling.
Potentially higher premiums: Allstate’s premiums can be significantly higher than those of competitors. For instance, Allstate quoted us a biannual premium of $1,144, while competitors like Geico and Progressive quoted a lower rate. In addition, the standard deductible is $1,000, which can be cost-prohibitive for some policyholders. While it can be adjusted in exchange for a higher monthly premium, this may not suit everyone’s financial circumstances.
Mixed customer service reviews: Customer feedback on Allstate’s service is mixed. While some policyholders report positive experiences, others express frustration over claims approval difficulties, which could be a concern for those prioritizing efficient service and communication.
Auto insurance is a competitive industry, meaning pricing and deductible structures can be pivotal factors in selecting the proper coverage. The table below provides a comprehensive comparison that assesses Allstate’s premium prices and deductibles against its major competitors.
Allstate offers several discounts that can help policyholders save on their auto insurance premiums, including the following:
Multiple policy discount: When you bundle your auto insurance with another policy, such as home or renters insurance, you can receive a discount on both policies. Bundling typically results in significant savings.
New car discount: If your vehicle is brand new, you may qualify for a new car discount. This discount acknowledges the reduced risk associated with new vehicles.
Smart student discount: Unmarried students under 25 with a GPA of 2.7 or higher can enjoy lower rates, rewarding academic excellence and responsible behavior.
Payment qualifying discounts: Allstate offers multiple discounts related to payment habits. These include discounts for setting up auto-pay, not missing a payment for an entire year, or paying your policy in total upfront.
Safe Driving Club: Allstate’s Safe Driving Club is an innovative program that uses technology to monitor and reward safe driving habits. Safe drivers can earn discounts and rewards through this program.
Discounts for vehicle safety features: Equipping your vehicle with safety features like anti-lock brakes or an anti-theft device can lead to lower premiums, reducing the risk of accidents and theft.
While Allstate lacks transparency into the specifics of these discounts, namely, how much a driver can expect to save on their premiums, they make Allstate an appealing option for those looking to save money while still enjoying comprehensive coverage and the benefits of responsible driving and payment practices.
Allstate offers a comprehensive array of auto insurance coverage options, ensuring that policyholders can tailor their protection to their unique needs and circumstances. These options include the following:
Collision coverage: This covers damage to your vehicle in the event of a collision with another vehicle or object. It can help pay for repairs or even a replacement if your car is totaled.
Comprehensive coverage: Comprehensive insurance protects your vehicle from non-collision-related incidents, such as theft, vandalism, natural disasters, or hitting an animal.
Liability coverage: Liability insurance is mandatory in most states and covers bodily injury and property damage you may cause to others in an at-fault accident. It helps protect you from legal and financial liabilities.
Medical payments coverage: This coverage pays for medical expenses for you and your passengers resulting from an accident, regardless of fault. It can include hospital bills, doctor fees, and even funeral expenses.
Personal injury protection (PIP): PIP goes beyond medical payment coverage, offering more extensive benefits, including lost wages and essential services if you cannot perform daily tasks due to an accident.
Personal umbrella policy: This supplemental coverage goes above and beyond your standard policy limits, providing additional liability protection if you’re involved in a severe accident or face a lawsuit that exceeds your fundamental coverage limits.
Allstate offers a range of additional coverage options that cater to specific needs and situations, enhancing the flexibility and protection of your auto insurance policy.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Protects you in an accident with a driver who lacks insurance or has insufficient coverage. It ensures that your medical expenses and vehicle repairs are still covered.
Roadside Coverage: Allstate’s Roadside Assistance provides peace of mind with towing, jump-starts, and lockout assistance, helping you out in unexpected breakdowns or emergencies.
Rental Reimbursement Coverage: This option covers the cost of a rental car while your vehicle is in the shop for covered repairs due to an accident.
Insurance for Teen Drivers: Allstate recognizes the unique needs of teen drivers and offers programs like Drivewise and TeenSmart to encourage safe driving habits and provide potential discounts for young drivers.
Rideshare Insurance: Allstate also caters to rideshare drivers, filling the coverage gaps between personal and commercial policies. It ensures you’re protected during rideshare activities, such as with Uber or Lyft.
These coverage options demonstrate Allstate’s commitment to accommodating diverse circumstances that competitors may not cover while protecting policyholders from various risks and unexpected situations.
Allstate’s auto insurance consumer experience offers a mixed but regionally distinctive performance. In the 2023 Auto Insurance Satisfaction study by J.D. Power, Allstate ranked 7th out of 10, placing it below the industry average. However, it’s essential to note that Allstate’s performance varies by region, with higher rankings in the southeast and north-central United States, as well as in New England and New York.
The consumer experience is evaluated based on several critical factors, including:
Digital Tools: Allstate has made strides in improving the digital experience for its customers. Their online and mobile app tools provide easy access to policy information, claims filing, and driving behavior monitoring through programs like Drivewise.
Claims Process: Allstate’s claims process is relatively efficient, earning an 8th place out of 26 in the J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. Timely and straightforward claims handling is essential for customer satisfaction, and Allstate’s performance in this area is notable.
Customer Service: Customer service at Allstate is primarily delivered through its network of exclusive agents, offering personalized assistance and expert guidance. This hands-on approach can be positive for those who prefer a more personal touch in their insurance experience.
While Allstate’s national ranking falls below the industry average, its regional variations suggest that the quality of customer experience can differ significantly based on your location. The company’s investment in digital tools and efficient claims processing contributes to a more streamlined experience for policyholders. Additionally, the local touch provided by its agent network may appeal to those who value personalized support in their insurance experience.
Allstate offers auto insurance coverage in all 50 states, including Washington, D.C.
The cost of Allstate auto insurance can vary widely depending on factors like coverage, location, and individual circumstances. For a four-door sedan, Allstate gave us a sample quote of $1,144 for a six-month premium (approximately $191 per month) with a $1,000 deductible, which is relatively high compared to its competitors. On average, auto insurance with Allstate may range from around $800 to $2,500 per year, but this range can differ significantly based on the specifics of your policy and location.
To purchase Allstate car insurance, follow these steps:
Visit Allstate’s website and use their online tools to get a quote. Alternatively, you can contact your local Allstate agent for personalized assistance. They can guide you through the process and answer your questions.
Carefully review policy options, including coverage types, deductibles, and additional features. Then, tailor your policy to meet your needs, whether it’s comprehensive coverage or specialized protection.
Choose a payment plan that works for you, including monthly, biannual, or annual payments. Remember that Allstate offers a discount for individuals who pay in full.
Once your payment is processed, you’ll receive your proof of insurance. Keep this document handy – with a physical copy in your car or properly saving the document on your phone – for easy access.
Expertise’s car insurance rating methodology takes into account the following details about each company:
Financial strength: This category examines a company’s ability to pay future claims based on assessments from independent agencies like AM Best and Demotech. Companies with a higher score than these third-party companies ranked higher in this category.
Customer satisfaction: Our team examined https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2023-us-auto-claims-satisfaction-study, which provides an analysis of customers’ perceptions and expectations of their insurer’s performance throughout the entire claims experience. Companies that ranked higher on J.D. Power’s list scored higher in this category.
Coverage availability: Our team examined state availability for each company and rated companies with more availability higher than competitors.
Consumer experience: For this category, our team reviewed each company’s website, mobile app, quote tool, and customer service availability.
Consumer complaints: Our team reviewed complaints to state regulators as reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size or share of total premiums in the industry. The NAIC assigns a median complaint ratio of 1.0. Companies with an NAIC complaint score of less than 1 scored higher in this category.
Premium cost: This category assesses homeowners insurance costs based on the quotes we gathered from each company for a four-door sedan with no accidents in the past five years. Companies that provided lower quotes scored higher in this category.
To score companies in these categories, we collected data points from the companies' websites, company representatives, state regulator data, and third-party analyses.
These data points were then compared against each other and given a star rating score, where one star represents a poor rating and a five-star score represents an excellent rating. To calculate the star rating, we looked at each company’s total weighted score, divided by the maximum score, and multiplied by five.
Our ratings are weighted based on our editorial opinions. We use the following weightings for our homeowner’s insurance company ratings:
Financial strength (20%)
Customer satisfaction (15%)
Coverage availability (10%)
Consumer experience (20%)
Consumer complaints (15%)
Premium cost (20%)
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