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Allstate was founded in 1931 as part of Sears but has operated as an independent insurance company since 1993. The insurer offers many insurance products, as well as retirement and investment services.
If you're searching for a new insurance policy for your car or for other reasons, here's what to know about Allstate before you apply.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Wide range of insurance products and coverage options | Below-average customer satisfaction in most regions |
| Several additional discounts and perks for customers | |
| Wide network of local agents |
| Allstate Customer Service 800-255-7828 |
Experian Review
Allstate is the fourth-largest auto insurer in the U.S., according to the Insurance Information Institute. The company offers products in all 50 states and can protect your vehicles, home, personal belongings, life, identity, business and more.
The insurer's wide network of local agents makes it easy to get the help you need in person, and customers can take advantage of several discounts and other benefits. However, Allstate has below-average J.D. Power ratings for its purchasing experience and claims processing, and relatively low overall satisfaction ratings in many regions.
If you're considering a new insurance policy, here's what to know about what Allstate has to offer.
What Car Insurance Coverage Does Allstate Offer?
Allstate provides all the standard coverage options you would expect from an auto insurer, as well as some additional features that can make it worth your while.
But choosing the right coverage, including how much, can be challenging. Unlike some other insurers, Allstate doesn't provide an online calculator you can use to find the right amounts for you.
As you request a quote, consider your own financial situation and determine how much you might be able to afford if you get in an accident. Also, consider your budget and how much coverage you can afford while maintaining an affordable monthly premium.
Here are the coverage options that are available to you through Allstate:
Liability Coverage
Allstate offers standard liability coverage that can protect you if you cause an accident and someone else is hurt or killed, or someone else's property is damaged.
Most states require drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage, but it's generally a good idea to purchase more than what's required. Talk with an agent to get an idea of how much you might need.
Vehicle Coverages
You can purchase both collision and comprehensive coverage with an Allstate policy. With collision coverage, you'll be protected against damage to your vehicle if it gets in an accident with another vehicle or object. Comprehensive coverage will insure you against other types of damage, such as from hail, vandalism, theft, fallen trees and more.
Instead of purchasing a specific amount of coverage with these options—your coverage will be based on the value of your vehicle—you'll choose how much you want to pay out of pocket when you file a claim in the form of a deductible.
Neither collision nor comprehensive coverage is required by law, but if you've financed your vehicle, your lender may require it. Even if you own the car outright, it may be a good idea to have it in case you can't afford to fix or replace your vehicle if it's damaged or totaled.
If your car is two model years old or newer, you can also purchase an optional new car replacement add-on. With this feature, if your vehicle is totaled, you'll receive enough money to purchase a new car instead of one based on the depreciated value of your totaled one.
Medical Coverage
Depending on your state of residence, you may have to purchase medical payments coverage, personal injury protection (PIP) or both. Both are offered in states where they are not required as well, so check before you apply to determine whether you need it.
With medical payments coverage, you can get assistance with medical bills for both you and your passengers. PIP, on the other hand, may cover additional expenses, such as child care expenses, lost wages, funeral expenses and more.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
In rare cases, you may get in an accident where another driver is at fault, and they either don't have car insurance or they don't carry enough coverage to pay your expenses. Depending on where you live, this coverage may be required.
Other Optional Coverages
In addition to the standard coverage types, Allstate also offers a handful of add-ons that can provide even more protection for your car:
- Rental reimbursement coverage: If you get in a covered accident, this protection will pay for some or all of your rental car or other transportation expenses, though it may be subject to limits.
- Roadside coverage: If you have car trouble, Allstate can provide some help with towing, tire changes, jump-starts, lockouts and fuel delivery.
- Sound system insurance: This coverage can replace stolen or damaged speakers, speaker components and other sound system equipment in your vehicle.
- Accident forgiveness: With this optional coverage, your rate won't go up if you get in an accident, even if you were at fault.
Allstate also provides insurance protection for classic cars and for travelers who are planning to drive their vehicle to Mexico, where their U.S. policy won't cover them. Some of the policies listed above aren't available in every state.
Other Vehicle Policies
While Allstate's vehicle insurance policies are primarily held to cover autos, insurance policies for several other vehicle types are also offered, including:
- Motorcycles
- Boats
- Motorhomes
- Snowmobiles
- ATVs
How to Save on Auto Insurance With Allstate Discounts
Auto insurance companies typically provide a lot of discounts to incentivize consumers to sign up, and Allstate is no different. Depending on you, your vehicle, your driving habits and other factors, here are the discounts you may be able to score with the insurance company:
- Vehicle discounts: You can save if the car you're insuring is the most-recent model year or one year old. You can also reduce your rate with a vehicle that has certain safety features, such as anti-lock brakes and an anti-theft device.
- Policy discounts: Not only can you get a reduced rate with more than one vehicle on your policy, but you can also save if you bundle your auto policy with a homeowners, renters or life insurance policy.
- Payment discounts: You can stack discounts based on how you pay. For example, you'll get one if you set up automatic payments and another if you pay your policy in full each period. You'll also get some savings if you haven't had an insurance policy canceled due to nonpayment in the past year.
- Student discounts: If you're unmarried and under 25, you may be able to save if you meet at least one of three requirements: Maintain a B- grade point average, complete the teenSMART driver education program or attend school at least 100 miles away from where your car is garaged.
- Early signing discount: Don't wait until the last minute to replace your current policy. If you sign a new policy with Allstate seven or more days before it becomes effective, you can get a discount. You'll also get some savings if you sign up for paperless documents.
- Safe driving: Meeting Allstate's safe driving requirements could spell big savings.
It's important to note that some discounts may be available in some states but not in others, so check with an Allstate agent to find out what's available for you.
In addition to getting discounts, you can also save on car insurance by shopping around and comparing rates from multiple insurers before you settle on one.
Also, reducing coverage amounts and increasing deductibles can help you lower your premiums. Just try to avoid skimping on coverage to the point where it could financially devastate you if you end up needing it.
Allstate Offers Rideshare and Teen Driver Insurance
If you're driving for a rideshare company like Uber or Lyft, your personal auto insurance policy won't protect you while you're doing your job. With Allstate, you can purchase rideshare insurance to make sure you're covered at all times.
The insurer also offers teen insurance coverage, but other than the potential student discounts, it doesn't seem to be different than a traditional auto policy you can get from any insurer.
How to Get a Quote From Allstate
You can request a quote from Allstate online, over the phone or in person through a local Allstate agent. The insurer has a wide network of agents in every state, which can be appealing for people who prefer face-to-face interactions.
Requesting a quote takes about 10 minutes online, and you'll need to provide several pieces of information about yourself, others on your policy and your vehicles to get a rate, including your:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Gender and marital status
- Address
- Contact information
- Vehicle's year, make and model
- Purchase date and ownership of the vehicle
- Primary use and miles driven
- Employment status
- How long you've had a drivers license
- Whether you've had accidents or violations in the last five years
During the process, Allstate will show you which discounts you qualify for and how much they're saving you. Then you'll receive a quote with some options to customize your coverage and premiums based on your needs.
Once you accept a quote and proceed, Allstate will review your driving record and other factors to finalize your price, which you can choose to accept or not.
According to J.D. Power, Allstate's purchasing experience is about average compared with other large insurers.
How Allstate's Auto Insurance Claims Work
According to J.D. Power, Allstate ranks low in auto claims satisfaction compared with its peers. You can file a claim online, over the phone or via the Allstate mobile app.
You'll start by reporting information about the accident, and you'll receive a claim number so you can easily track your claim. With the mobile app, you can take photos of the damage and upload them through the QuickFoto feature.
Allstate will help you assess the situation and provide an estimate, then guide you through the repair process or cut a check if your car is totaled.
Unique Mobile App Offers Personalized Feedback
The Allstate mobile app, which is available for iOS and Android, allows you to manage your policy, access digital ID cards, pay your bill, request roadside assistance and more.
You can also use the app to manage your Drivewise account. Drivewise tracks your driving habits and gives you information about each trip, along with feedback on how to drive more safely. What's more, you'll get a discount just for signing up, cash back for safe driving and the chance to earn more rewards when you complete safe driving challenges.
The feature runs in the background on your phone, so you just have to activate it once, and you're on your way to getting extra benefits.
Allstate Insurance Consumer Rewards
The Drivewise program gives you an opportunity to cash in on your safe driving habits. For example, if you complete 10 safe trips where you don't drive too fast or brake too quickly, you'll get 200 points. You'll also get 200 points each for three consecutive days with no sudden braking or fast driving, which can help you be more mindful of how you drive on a regular basis.
Once you've earned enough rewards to redeem, you'll have several options from which to choose, including:
- Travel
- Gift cards
- Merchandise
- Daily deals
- Magazines
- Auctions
- Sweepstakes
- Local offers
Also, if you sign up for the Deductible Rewards program, you'll automatically get $100 off your deductible the next time you file a claim, plus an additional $100 off for every year that you continue to drive safely, up to $500 total.
As for customer satisfaction as a whole, Allstate is ranked No. 1 in Florida and No. 3 in the Southwest, but below the industry average in many other regions, according to J.D. Power.
Can an Auto Insurance Quote Affect Your Credit?
Applying for auto insurance will result in a soft inquiry on your credit report, which won't impact your credit score like a hard inquiry when you apply for credit. This inquiry is typically made to create a credit-based insurance score for you.
Insurers like Allstate use this score to help determine your rates. However, it's generally not used as the sole reason to deny you coverage or hike your rate, and the practice is banned in some states.
That said, having great credit could potentially improve your chances of qualifying for lower premiums.
Allstate Homeowners and Life Insurance
Homeowners insurance and life insurance policies are also available through Allstate, and you can save when you bundle them with your auto policy—the same goes with a renters insurance policy.
Allstate homeowners insurance can protect your home from things like theft, fire and smoke, frozen plumbing, water damage and more.
The company's agents can also sell various forms of life insurance, including term, whole life, universal life and variable universal life. Do your research on the different types of life insurance to make sure you find the right fit for you.
Additional Insurance Coverage
While auto insurance is a necessity for many, Allstate offers many other insurance products that may be pertinent to your situation. They include:
- Condo insurance
- Landlord insurance
- Business insurance
- Identity theft insurance
- Pet insurance
- Event insurance
- Umbrella insurance
Is Allstate Right for You?
Allstate offers a wide range of coverage options for your vehicle and many other areas of your life. The insurer's rewards program can be a great way to get some value back on your policy as you practice safe driving skills. However, it's important to make sure the full package, including pricing, customer satisfaction and coverage are the right fit.
As with any financial product, it's a good idea to take some time to research several options and compare them to get the most value for your dollars.
Insurance coverage availability, discounts, limits and other details may vary by state and other factors.