Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
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CNET editors independently choose every product and service we cover. Though we can't review every available financial company or offer, we strive to make comprehensive, rigorous comparisons in order to highlight the best of them. For many of these products and services, we earn a commission. The compensation we receive may impact how products and links appear on our site.
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We are an independent publisher. Our advertisers do not direct our editorial content. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in editorial content are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the advertiser.
To support our work, we are paid in different ways for providing advertising services. For example, some advertisers pay us to display ads, others pay us when you click on certain links, and others pay us when you submit your information to request a quote or other offer details. CNET’s compensation is never tied to whether you purchase an insurance product. We don’t charge you for our services. The compensation we receive and other factors, such as your location, may impact what ads and links appear on our site, and how, where, and in what order ads and links appear.
Our insurance content may include references to or advertisements by our corporate affiliate HomeInsurance.com LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 8781838). And HomeInsurance.com LLC may receive compensation from third parties if you choose to visit and transact on their website. However, all CNET editorial content is independently researched and developed without regard to our corporate relationship to HomeInsurance.com LLC or its advertiser relationships.
Our content may include summaries of insurance providers, or their products or services. CNET is not an insurance agency or broker. We do not transact in the business of insurance in any manner, and we are not attempting to sell insurance or asking or urging you to apply for a particular kind of insurance from a particular company.
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Our Editorial Mission
In a digital world, information only matters if it's timely, relevant, and credible. We promise to do whatever is necessary to get you the information you need when you need it, to make our opinions fair and useful, and to make sure our facts are accurate.
If a popular product is on store shelves, you can count on CNET for immediate commentary and benchmark analysis as soon as possible. We promise to publish credible information we have as soon as we have it, throughout a product's life cycle, from its first public announcement to any potential recall or emergence of a competing device.
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Allstate comes with terrific car insurance options. Just don't mind the price tag.
Written by
Peter Butler
Peter ButlerWriter
Peter is a writer and editor for the CNET How-To team. He has been covering technology, software, finance, sports and video games since working for @Home Network and Excite in the 1990s. Peter managed reviews and listings for Download.com during the 2000s, and is passionate about software and no-nonsense advice for creators, consumers and investors.
We handpick the products and services we write about. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Our content is backed by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our Insurance Disclosure.
Insurance Disclosure
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
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Advertiser Disclosure
CNET editors independently choose every product and service we cover. Though we can't review every available financial company or offer, we strive to make comprehensive, rigorous comparisons in order to highlight the best of them. For many of these products and services, we earn a commission. The compensation we receive may impact how products and links appear on our site.
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How we make money
We are an independent publisher. Our advertisers do not direct our editorial content. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in editorial content are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the advertiser.
To support our work, we are paid in different ways for providing advertising services. For example, some advertisers pay us to display ads, others pay us when you click on certain links, and others pay us when you submit your information to request a quote or other offer details. CNET’s compensation is never tied to whether you purchase an insurance product. We don’t charge you for our services. The compensation we receive and other factors, such as your location, may impact what ads and links appear on our site, and how, where, and in what order ads and links appear.
Our insurance content may include references to or advertisements by our corporate affiliate HomeInsurance.com LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 8781838). And HomeInsurance.com LLC may receive compensation from third parties if you choose to visit and transact on their website. However, all CNET editorial content is independently researched and developed without regard to our corporate relationship to HomeInsurance.com LLC or its advertiser relationships.
Our content may include summaries of insurance providers, or their products or services. CNET is not an insurance agency or broker. We do not transact in the business of insurance in any manner, and we are not attempting to sell insurance or asking or urging you to apply for a particular kind of insurance from a particular company.
OK
Our Editorial Mission
In a digital world, information only matters if it's timely, relevant, and credible. We promise to do whatever is necessary to get you the information you need when you need it, to make our opinions fair and useful, and to make sure our facts are accurate.
If a popular product is on store shelves, you can count on CNET for immediate commentary and benchmark analysis as soon as possible. We promise to publish credible information we have as soon as we have it, throughout a product's life cycle, from its first public announcement to any potential recall or emergence of a competing device.
How will we know if we're fulfilling our mission? We constantly monitor our competition, user activity, and journalistic awards. We scour and scrutinize blogs, sites, aggregators, RSS feeds, and any other available resources, and editors at all levels of our organization continuously review our coverage.
But you're the final judge. We ask that you inform us whenever you find an error, spot a gap in our coverage, or have any other suggestions for improvement. Readers are part of the CNET family, and the strength of that relationship is the ultimate test of our success. Find out more here.
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Originally founded by Sears, Roebuck, and Co. in 1937, Allstate services nearly 16 million customers across the US, making it one of the largest insurers in the country. The auto insurance giant currently ranks fourth in the country in terms of total market share, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The carrier doesn't just handle car insurance though, It also provides motorcycle, boat and pet insurance. Allstate can be found in all 50 states plus Washington, DC.
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Allstate provides a long list of auto coverage options as well as a hearty collection of possible discounts, but, according to Bankrate, Allstate's premiums are higher than most other insurance carriers that CNET has reviewed. It also ranks below average in customer satisfaction and received a low rating from repair professionals.
Allstate is available in every US state and Washington, DC. Along with insuring your automobile, you can also insure your house, rental, condo or even your phone, while receiving a discount for bundling policies.
The insurance carrier provides a wide range of insurance add-ons that can protect your car's sound system, reimburse rental cars and provide free roadside assistance. It also doles out bonuses every six months to drivers enrolled in its Safe Driving Club.
Allstate offers a long list of additional discounts, including paperless, automatic payment, multiple insurance policies, good student and new car discounts. And all members can use roadside assistance (for a fee), whether or not it's part of their policy.
Cons of using Allstate
Allstate's high premiums are its most obvious downside. It's hard to beat low cost, and Allstate doesn't have that right now.
Almost all of the extra protections and benefits at Allstate -- such as new car replacement or accidental forgiveness -- come with additional costs. The insurance giant has many discounts, but not many extra services for free.
Allstate insurance cost
Allstate currently offers some of the highest premiums out of the auto insurance providers that CNET's reviewed. With an annual average full coverage rate of $2,438 for drivers with clean histories, Allstate's rate is more than double that of some competitors and hundreds more than the national average, according to research conducted by Bankrate.
Minimum coverage per year at Allstate costs $558, a bit higher than the industry baseline of $545. A healthy list of discounts can bring down those costs, but Allstate's base rates are consistently higher than competitors' right now.
Allstate Premium Prices
Allstate average annual full coverage premium
National average annual full coverage premium
Clean driving history
$2,438
$1,771
One speeding ticket
$2,893
$2,138
At-fault accident
$3,149
$2,531
Adding teenage driver
$3,639
$3,852
Allstate coverage options
Allstate provides all of the other major coverage types generally provided by auto insurers with a few additional options. Here is a list of the possible protections at Allstate:
Bodily injury liability protection: This standard insurance coverage is required in most states. It covers bodily injuries caused by the at-fault policyholder or other drivers listed on the policy.
Property damage liability protection: This insurance coverage is required in all US states where insurance is required. It covers damage to another person's or organization's property that is inflicted by any insured drivers. It's mostly used for damage to other cars, but it can also cover property like buildings, trees, fences or mailboxes.
Personal injury protection: This protection covers medical costs and lost wages of the driver and passengers of the policyholder's car if injury occurs, regardless of fault. It can also cover funeral expenses and essential services like childcare or dog-walking that may be required because of physical injury. PIP is required in 14 states.
Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage: This coverage pays for medical expenses for you and your passengers, up to the policy's limits, when an uninsured or underinsured motorist causes an accident. Insurance carriers are required to offer this coverage in all states, but the consumer may have the option to decline the coverage. Uninsured motorist property damage is available in some states to help cover repairs to your vehicle if damaged by an uninsured driver.
Medical payments: This protection, which is similar to PIP and commonly known as Med Pay, covers medical costs of the insured drivers and their passengers up to the policy limit, regardless of fault. Unlike PIP, Med Pay doesn't cover lost wages or essential services. Med Pay is optional in most states, and required in a few.
Collision coverage: This fundamental protection covers damage to your vehicle that resulted from a collision between your car and another car or an object.
Comprehensive coverage: This protection covers damage to your car caused by events other than collisions, such as thefts, vandalism, fires or natural disasters.
Roadside coverage: Roadside insurance protection includes basic repair assistance such as tows, jump starts, tire changes or unlocking. It's available to all Allstate members on a pay-per-use basis, starting at $119 for a tow, and it's included at no additional cost with a policy add-on service that starts at $25 per vehicle.
Rental reimbursement: If your automobile is totaled or needs repair because of a covered claim, this insurance protection will cover the cost of a necessary rental vehicle up to the policy limit.
Ride for Hire: Insurance policies for ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft only provide coverage when there is a passenger in the car. Ride for Hire, Allstate's additional rideshare insurance, adds coverage when you're waiting for a customer or otherwise driving your rideshare vehicle solo.
Allstate discounts
Allstate offers a bevy of discounts for its auto insurance, from breaks for good students to bonuses for paying your premium in full or setting up automatic payments.
These discounts can help reduce the cost of your auto insurance bill, though the exact savings aren't advertised.
Anti-lock brake discount
New car discount
Anti-theft device discount
Automatic payment plan discount
Multiple policy discount
Homeowner discount
Paperless documents discount
Early signing discount
FullPay discount
Responsible payer discount
Safe driver discount
Smart student discount
Drivewise policy credit
Allstate members who participate in the Drivewise or Milewise programs are also eligible to enroll in Allstate Rewards, an incentive program that gives points back for safe driving. Those points can be redeemed for merchandise, gift cards or travel items such as car rentals and hotels.
You'll also find this insurance provider near the bottom of major auto insurance carriers in the Crash Network Repair Guide ratings. Based on responses from car repair professionals who work with insurance companies, the guide awarded Allstate a D+ grade in its latest Insurer Report Card.
When it comes to average customer complaints, Allstate doesn't fare much better. Its NAIC complaint index of2.70 means that the auto insurer receives nearly three times more complaints than the industry average.
Allstate Customer Satisfaction and Complaints Scoring for 2022
A.M. Best
A+
J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction
870 out of 1,000
NAIC Complaint Index
2.70
Drivewise telematics program
Like most other major auto insurance carriers, Allstate provides a telematics program called Drivewise that monitors driver and car behavior through Allstate's mobile app. Drivewise gauges safe driving habits, as well as provide features including automatic crash detection and reporting, trip data and personalized feedback on your driving. If you'd prefer to keep the details of how, when and where you use your car private, Drivewise is not for you.
If the app measures positive driving behaviors, you'll get a discount on your insurance premium. Drivewise offers an initial percentage off your rate when you sign up, then another discount after six months, depending on how you drive.
Milewise pay-per-mile program
Allstate's Milewise program puts a spin on auto insurance premiums by charging drivers a lower daily base rate combined with a per-mile fee. If you are an infrequent or low-mileage driver, Milewise could provide an easy way to save money on premiums.
With Milewise, drivers get the exact same coverage as with a standard payment policy, but only pay a variable premium based on how much they drive. Like Drivewise, you can manage your Milewise account and track your miles using the Allstate mobile app.
Milewise is currently available in 22 states and US territories:
Arizona
Delaware
Florida
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Missouri
New Jersey
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Texas
Virginia
Washington
Washington, DC
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Other Allstate features we like
Allstate's Deductible Rewards program takes $100 off a policy deductible for every year with no accidents, up to a maximum deductible discount of $500. Allstate also offers an accidental forgiveness add-on that will keep your premiums the same and retain your discounts even if you are responsible for an accident. And with Allstate's new car replacement add-on service, if a car less than two years old is totaled, Allstate will cover the complete cost of a comparable new car.
Methodology
CNET reviews insurance carriers and products by exhaustively comparing them across set criteria. For auto insurance, we examine average annual premium rates for full coverage, consumer complaints, collision repair scores, the carrier's financial strength, auto claims satisfaction and overall customer satisfaction. Our data comes from a multitude of sources.
Auto insurance rates come from Bankrate, which gathers data using Quadrant Information Services. We also use both J.D. Power annual surveys that collect data on customer auto claims satisfaction and overall customer satisfaction.
Consumer complaints are taken from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which collects consumer complaints across states, indexing complaints on a scale that takes into account the industry average. We collect the financial strength rating of each carrier from the A.M. Best Rating. Lastly, we collected collision repair scores from the Crash Network Insurer Report Card, which collects data from collision repair professionals, including mechanics, to gauge the quality of collision claims service from insurance carriers.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.