Allstate Auto Insurance Guide [Everything You Need]

Allstate is, at this point, perhaps best known not for its insurance policies but for its insurance commercials.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFFatUJPDUk&list=PLuJ9jidSCLvDzt6Kto_RSUIWzlKi3V3oI&index=10&t=0s

It’s this sort of cleverness that boosted Allstate from a by-post insurance company to its spot among the top 10 insurance providers in the United States. Nowadays, Allstate’s car insurance policies are as likely to make headlines as their corporate volunteerism and drive to make the world a better place.

When you’re shopping for a car insurance policy, it’s good to know who you may be working with and what car insurance you need to comply with state laws. To make your life a little easier, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about Allstate here so you can look past the funny commercials and get into the heart of the company’s goals.

Want to start comparing auto insurance rates? You can use our FREE online tool to find the best rates for your car.

Ratings

The financial and satisfactory ratings of a car insurance company like Allstate not only contribute to its reputation across the nation. A car insurance company with high financial status and a reasonable record of customer support is one that you can be sure will look out for you after an accident.

Financial Ratings

As the table above indicates, Allstate ranks reasonably well across these four independent agencies, though it doesn’t stand out much from the rest of the auto insurance crowd.

It’s worth noting that Moody’s score of A3 indicates reasonable quality of service with low credit risk.

NAIC Complaint Index

While complaints don’t make or break a company, they can tell you a lot about how a company is able to treat its consumer audience. That’s what makes Allstate’s lower NAIC complaint index so notable.

JD Power

According to J.D. Power’s 2018 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study, Allstate ranked below average for its satisfying customer service, falling among “the rest” in terms of car insurance providers available to United States residents.

Consumer Reports

You’ll note that out of all the claims handling services Allstate has to offer, none of them fall below the consumer reports ranking of “very good,” meaning that your service will be in – pardon the pun – good hands.

Allstate History

Founded in 1931, Allstate remains the largest publicly held personal lines insurer in the Untied States. Once helmed by Sears, Roebuck, & Co’s President and Board Chairman, Robert E. Wood, it now serves as the fourth largest car insurance provider by market share in the United States.

That’s quite a jump from the company’s original goal of selling insurance by mail.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pxGgzcC9cc

From going international in the 70s, going independent in the 80s, and hitting its 75th anniversary in the mid-2000’s, Allstate’s cleverness and drive to work for the public has set it apart from its insurance peers.

Let’s take a deeper dive into Allstate’s operations and see not only how the past few years have treated the company but what their ambitions are for the future.

Market Share

You’ll notice that over the past few years Allstate has experienced a minor percentage of loss in its market ratio. This doesn’t reflect an overall negative in the financial state of the company, as you can rely on Allstate to pay out your auto insurance claims.

It does suggest, though, that Allstate has seen an increase in the number of claims its had to file over the past few years.

Business Model

Allstate is an agent-based company. You have the opportunity to purchase coverage and to file claims online while working with Allstate, but your purchase will be overseen and your policy monitored by a local agent.

Allstate also collaborates with a number of national vendors to bring quality training, goods, and services to its employees and consumers. These partnerships range a number of industries, including:

• Accounting
• Administrative and Call Center Services
• Consulting Services
• Education and Training
• Inspections and Screenings
• Insurance Claim Related Services
• Marketing and Advertising
• Paper and Printing
• Relocation and Subscription Services
• Technology
• Telephone and Communications
• Travel
• Workforce Solutions

Advertising

Allstate has made waves with its clever and dry commercials, which feature Dean Winters playing the personification of “Mayhem.”

In addition to these successful commercials, Allstate has also brought in Dennis Haysbert as their spokesperson, presenting a less humorous but equally compelling take on the importance of securing the right kind of insurance for your car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO6wHlWyJ2E

Investment in the Community

Allstate prides itself on making a difference in local communities. That’s why its Helping Hands volunteer program transforms the company into more than just another insurance provider. These Allstate representatives encourage local thinking and strive to make the communities they operate in a better – and safer – place to live.

Since 2011, the company cites 1 million volunteer hours as committed by 78,000 agent and employee volunteers.

https://youtu.be/2heSVruRZtc

The company strives to “bring out the good” in the communities it operates in. Thus far, Allstate’s made strides to lessen its carbon footprint, bring more women to the field of science, and to eliminate the prison pipeline.

Allstate’s Position for the Future

According to the Insurance Information Institute, Allstate is listed as fourth among the top 10 Writers of Property/Casualty Insurance by Direct Premiums Written in 2017 with a market share of 4.9 percent.

The company also ranks as the fourth largest automobile insurance providers in the United States.

In moving forward, the company has established a “customer focus” designed to reinvent the ways it protects its

clients and to put it one step ahead of its auto insurance peers.

Among its desired trends for the future, Allstate notes that, as a company, it should, “Be curious. Look at trends outside [the company] and the insurance industry for opportunities to innovate.”

Availability by State

Allstate’s auto insurance policies are available in all 50 states.

Coverage Offered

Bodily Injury Liability

This coverage will protect you from any medical costs, loss of income, or the funeral expenses of other people involved in a covered car accident.

Property Damage Liability

This coverage will protect you from having to pay for the repair or replacement of another driver’s car.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist

If you happen to get into an accident with a driver who has little or no insurance, this coverage will help you cover repairs, expenses, and other damages that may have arisen due to the accident.

Collision Coverage

This coverage pays for damage done to your car should you happen to collide with another vehicle or a building, tree, bridge, or other objects.

Comprehensive Coverage

Pays for the damage done to your car by an event other than a collision, such as theft, fire, storm, or an accident involving an animal.

Automobile Medical Payments (Personal Injury Protection)

This coverage will help cover your medical costs or funeral expenses if you’ve been injured in a covered accident.

Towing and Labor Costs

Any towing or basic roadside assistance expenses will be covered for you should you need to call for help while on the side of the road.

Rental Reimbursement

If you happen to need to rent a car while yours is being repaired, then this coverage will see to it that you’re repaid for the amount of money you had to spend on your rental for up to 30 days of renting.

Sound System Coverage

If you purchase a new sound system – or even want to protect the one you currently have in your car – you can purchase this coverage in order to keep your investment safe from theft.

Allstate Discounts and Programs

The availability of discounts through Allstate will help you save money in the long run. You’ll also be able to take advantage of discounts offered specifically within the state of Florida, should you choose to work with this provider.

Paperless/Auto Billing (EZ Pay Plan)

If you set up automatic withdrawals to pay for your premium on a monthly basis, then you can save up to 5 percent on your Allstate auto insurance policy.

Anti-lock Brakes

If your car has anti-lock brakes equipped or if you have them installed, you can save up to 10 percent on your car insurance policy through Allstate.

Anti-Theft

Similarly, installing anti-theft devices on your car can save you 10 percent on your policy of choice.

Early Signing

When you sign for your policy seven days before it goes into effect, you can save 10 percent on your car insurance policy of choice.

Full Pay

If you pay for your premium up front, then you have the chance to save 10 percent on your policy overall.

Multiple Policies

If you take on multiple policies through Allstate, you have the chance to bundle your purchases.

• Bundling auto and home saves you 10 percent on auto and 25 percent on home
• Bundling auto and life also saves you 10 percent on your car insurance

Paperless Documents (eSmart Operations)

If you opt to view all of your car insurance documents online instead of taking paper copies, then you can save 10 percent on your premium.

New Vehicle

If your car happens to be of the current model year or of one year prior, and you’re its first owner, then you have the chance to save up to 15 percent on your car insurance policy through Allstate.

Safe Driver

When you participate in Allstate’s Drivewise plan, you can get a 3 percent discount off of your auto insurance policy. In order to participate, you need to:

• Keep your driving speed below 80 mph
• Limit your late night trips
• Limit hard braking

Good Student

If you are a full-time student with good grades, or you’ve successfully completed a teenSMART driver education program, then you have the chance to save up to 35 percent on your car insurance policy.

You can receive the same discount so long as you’re under the age of 25, unmarried, and live within 100 miles of where your car is regularly parked.

Compare quotes from the top car insurance companies and save!

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Availability of Coverage

Though its ratings seem to vary, Allstate – unlike some car insurance providers – makes it policies available in all 50 states.

While some of the aforementioned discounts may not be available everywhere you go, you will be able to reach out to an Allstate representative and secure the auto insurance coverage you need in order to comply with your state’s minimum required coverage.

Comparison of Annual Average Rates vs Competitors

That said, how does Allstate stack up when compared to the other car insurance providers that operate nation-wide? Take a look below and see how your rates could vary based on your demographic, driving record, chosen level of coverage, credit history, commute, and the make and model of your car.

Average Annual Premium by Demographic

Car insurance myth would have you believe that men pay more for their coverage than their female counterparts. Well, you better call Adam and Jamie, because we’re here to bust some myths.

The top ten insurance providers in the United States more frequently charge female drivers more for their premiums than male drivers. The only exception to this rule – most of the time – is when the driver in question is a teenager. Teenage drivers are charged significant more for their coverage simply due to their lack of experience on the road.

Comparatively, drivers who have had more time to practice their driving see a bit of variety in their rates. For Allstate, specifically, the difference in car insurance rates between the two genders at 35 is a mere $33.

Average Annual Premium by Driving Record

Your driving record is also going to impact the rate that any insurance provider is able to offer you.

Across the ten most lucrative car insurance providers in the United States, there’s distinct variation in the amount your rate will rise based on your driving history. Allstate makes a fierce point with its premiums, though.

For drivers who take the risk of driving while drunk, Allstate’s annual rates shoot up by nearly $3,000. If you happen to get into an accident, that rate will increase by $1,000. If that monetary demand isn’t motivation to drive a little more cautiously, who knows what will be?

Average Annual Premium by Coverage Level

The amount of coverage you choose to protect yourself with will also contribute to the car insurance rate your provider will offer you.

There isn’t so much variation in Allstate’s rates, here. The fluctuations tend to stay between $500, depending on your preferred coverage level.

Average Annual Premium by Credit History

Your credit history reflects your ability to pay back any fees that you’ve been charged in the past. Naturally, a car insurance provider wants to ensure you’ll be able to pay them your premium. As such, your credit history and score come into play when a provider determines the rate they can offer you.

If you have poor credit, Allstate’s premiums can grow significantly more expensive than those of other companies (save Liberty Mutual). The difference between the rates available to drivers with good credit and those with poor credit at Allstate comes in at a near $2,500.

Average Annual Premium by Commute

If you happen to drive a little more than other folks over the course of a year, your insurance provider may charge you more for your premium. Why? Because as you spend more time on the road, you put yourself at greater risk for an accident.

Allstate doesn’t vary its premiums by commute too much. The difference for drivers travelling 6,000 miles a year and 12,000 miles a year only comes to about $100.

Average Annual Premium by Make and Model

You’d suspect that car insurance providers would charge sports car owners more for their insurance than they would someone driving a junker. Make and model play more of a role in your annual premium, though, than you might anticipate.

Allstate, as you can see, does vary its costs based on both of these factors. Newer cars from more recent years are going to cost more to insure. Likewise, cars with more features, like a Ford F-150 Lariat SuperCab, are going to run you a pretty penny.

You might not expect flatbed trucks to boost your car insurance rates. However, flatbed trucks are among the most common cars to be stolen by thieves across the United States. While a higher rate isn’t fun, Allstate’s boosted annual premium represents the company’s desire to protect your car from all sorts of damaging forces, including thieves.

How to File a Claim with Allstate

By Phone

Call 1-800-ALLSTATE (1-800-255-7828) to file and track your claim.

By App

Take advantage of the Allstate Mobile App in order to start a claim and track it no matter where you are.

By Online Claim Form

Log in to your Allstate Online Account to file and track your claim.

In Person

You can find an agent near you to help you file an auto claim. You can then proceed to track your claim online or through any of the aforementioned means.

Website Structure

Allstate allows its drivers to access all of its agents and claims information through a fully-functional website. The homepage breaks consumers’ needs down by category and offers immediate access to agents located at outlets nearby.

Now, the site doesn’t make it too easy to access information about its history and preferred operations. However, if you’re looking for a quote, you’ll be right at home.

From the get-go, Allstate’s desktop platform tries to make it as easy as possible for you to find affordable car insurance in your area. You can even easily bundle that insurance with home, renters, or term life.

App Structure

Likewise, Allstate makes its claims information, policy documents, and other insurance materials available to drivers through their mobile devices.

The Allstate App, which functions equally well on iOS and Samsung devices, includes:

• Instant Agent Acces
• Digital ID Cards
• Policy Documents
• Claims Management
• The Allstate Drivewise Rewards Program
• QuickFoto Claim
• Roadside Assistance
• Escape Routes (to ease travel in the face of fires or other natural disasters)
• Allstate’s Car Buying Services
• Parking Reminders
• Gas Finder

Allstate prides itself on ensuring that this app is free to use for all of its drivers and even those folks who may just be considering working with the company for the first time. The app is well-organized with a reasonable amount of negative space between each of its features. It’s easier than you might think to submit a claim, pay your bills, or access your digitized documents should you need them on the road.

Pros and Cons

As you can tell, there are a number of benefits to working with Allstate in order to ensure that your car receives the kind of coverage it needs. That said, what does Allstate’s overall image look like?

Pros

• Reasonable financial strength and a likelihood that they’ll see your claims through
• A litany of available discounts
• Encourages online payments through EZ pay plan, FullPay, and eSmart operations
• Offers a number of different avenues through which you can file a claim
• Available all throughout the United States

Cons

• Premiums have been prone to shift and register above car insurance industry averages
• Customer satisfaction is below J.D. Power average

FAQ

How do I get an auto quote?

Allstate provides you with four different ways to receive an auto quote, including:

• By phone, at  1-800-ALLSTATE (1-800-255-7828)
• Via the platform’s mobile app
• Through an online quote form
• By speaking with an agent near you

Allstate makes it easy for you to get a quote on their homepage. Start by choosing “auto” from the available listings:

The platform will ask for basic personal information, including your name and home address.

Once you’ve provided the platform with your personal information, you’ll be invited to identify your vehicles from a detected list or to insert that information manually.

You’ll then be asked about the different members of your family who might have access to your car and who, specifically, you want to cover with your policy.

Finally, you’ll be invited to choose your level of coverage. From here, Allstate will be able to send you a customized quote.

What is GAP insurance?

GAP insurance is an optional form of car insurance coverage that can help you cover the “gap” between the amount you owe on your car and the amount the car is actually worth, or its actual cash value (ACV).

Should you get in an accident, you’ll be able to use GAP insurance to cover the difference between the amount of money your car is worth now that it’s been damaged and the amount of money you may still owe on an auto loan.

What is an SR-22?

An SR-22 is a certificate of insurance or a form of financial responsibility. This vehicle liability insurance document is only required of drivers who insurance companies like Allstate consider to be “high-risk.”

You’ll be considered a high-risk driver if you have an abnormal number of points registered to your driver’s license or if any of the following apply to you:

• You’ve been convicted of a traffic-related offense, like a DUI
• You’ve been in an uninsured car accident and had your license revoked
• You’ve had your license revoked for any other reason

What happens if I’m involved in an accident in another state?

Because Allstate operates in all 50 states, you won’t have to worry about losing your coverage while driving in another state. That said, total loss determination will vary based on the laws of the state in which you had the accident, and some types of coverage are not available in every state.

Does my deductible still apply even if I’m not at fault?

You may have to pay your deductible even if you’re not at fault depending on what kind of coverage you have. If there’s a chance that Allstate could recover the amount you paid on your deductible from the person determined to be at-fault in your accident, then the company will do so.

However, if the company does not succeed, you can either choose to try and recover the deductible yourself or pay your deductible as required.

Allstate is determined to encourage safe driving among its clientele and to give back to the communities that its employees and agents work within. As the 4th largest car insurance provider in the United States, Allstate sets an example by showing its peers how to make a difference in the lives of drivers everywhere – on the road and off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXf0GXfaBG0

Want to start saving on your car insurance? Take advantage of our FREE online tool to find some of the best rates for your car.