Allstate Insurance Review – Are You In Good Hands?

Allstate is an American institution. It competes against full-service national insurance companies, including Progressive, Geico, State Farm, Liberty Mutual, Nationwide, and a host of regional insurers.

Like State Farm, it still relies heavily on local agents at a time when other companies have cut costs and premiums with a direct sales model that relies heavily on their online assets.

If you want personalized attention from a local agent or have complex needs that an online self-service system cannot adequately address, Allstate’s approach is excellent. If you are a rigid worker who worries about finding the cheapest insurance possible, this may not be for you.

Allstate Insurance: Products Offered

Allstate started out as an auto insurer, but that’s just one component of its business today.

The company offers a large number of insurance coverage options, in addition to other financial products, in all 50 states, although terms and policies may vary between them.

You can get a quote and buy an Allstate policy directly online or use the website to contact an agent in your area.

Auto insurance (traditional and pay-as-you-go)

The policies auto insurance Allstate meet the required minimum levels of auto insurance coverage in the state.

Allstate offers common types of coverage that include:

• Collision
• Comprehensive
• Responsibility
• Uninsured motorist coverage
• Personal Injury Protection (covering medical payments for injured drivers)

It also offers optional add-ons, such as:

• Coverage for stolen sound systems
• Rental car reimbursement (rental reimbursement)
• Trailer and labor coverage
• New car replacement (for newer vehicles total losses are considered)

Additionally, Allstate offers pay-as-you-go auto insurance, known as Milewise. With Milewise, your total premium is calculated per mile, so you pay less if you drive less. Your premium per mile is based on traditional assessments of your relative risk, such as your age and driving history.

Homeowners Insurance

Allstate homeowners insurance policies provide coverage for your main home, outbuildings or other structures on your property, the contents of your home (with possible exceptions for valuable items, such as jewelry), and expenses you may incur If your home becomes uninhabitable, such as a hotel fees or a temporary residence rental.

You can add liability protection to cover the cost of a lawsuit filed by a guest and medical protection to cover the medical bills of injured guests. Allstate home insurance policies limit these benefits to specific dollar amounts, which vary based on the type of coverage and your preference.

Renters insurance

Allstate offers renters insurance policies that include many of the same coverages as homeowners insurance, including the contents of your rental, expenses incurred if the home becomes uninhabitable, liability protection, and guest medical coverage.

Condominium Insurance

Allstate condo insurance is similar to your homeowners and renters insurance, with condo-specific coverages such as reimbursement for loss assessments, a thorough inspection that your condo association may require after an incident such as a fire or pipeline. busted.

Motorcycle insurance

The policies motorcycle insurance Allstate include the same coverage, at or above the minimum required by the state, their car insurance policies.

It also includes rider-friendly benefits such as a new motorcycle replacement, swapping stolen or totaled bikes for new models, additional payments for mechanics to use genuine parts on all repairs, and cash benefits for your family if you are injured. serious in an accident.

Business insurance

Allstate offers a wide range of insurance policies for business owners, including commercial auto, property and liability policies.

Life insurance

You can buy term life, universal and whole life insurance policies through Allstate.

Boat insurance

Allstate boat insurance policies cover structural damage to your boat, damage to rigging and equipment (including fishing lines and water skis), and costs incurred during and after collisions with uninsured boaters.

If you are at fault in an accident, it also covers your obligations for other parties’ medical expenses and boat and property repairs. These protections apply to US territorial waters within 100 miles of the coast.

RV and RV Insurance

Motorhome and RV insurance covers loss or damage to the contents and physical structure of your motorhome or RV, as well as liability costs if you are at fault in an accident.

Snowmobile, ATV and 4WD insurance

Allstate offers insurance policies for motorized recreational vehicles, including snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and four-wheel-drive (4×4) vehicles.

Like Allstate auto insurance policies, it provides collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, property damage liability, and bodily injury liability.

Homeowner’s insurance

Like homeowners insurance, homeowners insurance offers protection for the main building of a rental property, attached structural elements such as porches and decks, and outbuildings on the property such as garages and sheds.

If the covered building is rendered uninhabitable by fire or other disaster, Allstate homeowners insurance policies can pay up to 12 months of lost rent, depending on your coverage options.

Pet health insurance

Allstate offers pet health insurance policies in partnership with Embrace Pet Insurance Agency .

These pet health insurance policies come in two forms: Accident Only and Accident and Illness.

Accident Only covers treatments and procedures related to accidental incidents only, such as vehicle collisions and foreign body ingestion.

Accidents and illnesses cover treatments and procedures related to most diseases, including cancer and many inherited conditions.

Cats and dogs under the age of 14 are eligible for new accident and illness policies. Those over the age of 14 and those with certain chronic conditions like diabetes and IVF are limited to accident-only policies.

Retirement and savings products

Allstate offers a range of savings and retirement products, including annuities (traditional, fixed , variable, and index or equity linked).

It also offers individual retirement accounts (IRAs), including the traditional IRA , the IRA Roth and IRA rollover, all of which may contain mutual funds , stocks, bonds , CDs and annuities Allstate.

In addition, it offers 529 college savings plans and mutual funds.

Allstate is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) , which provides up to $ 500,000 in coverage for the cash and securities you have in these accounts in the event the company files for bankruptcy and liquidates its assets.

Supplemental health insurance

Allstate supplemental health insurance policies cover expenses that typical policies don’t cover.

This includes ambulance bills, transportation to the hospital for ongoing treatment, major surgeries that require significant out-of-pocket costs, and long-term disability payments that make up for lost wages.

Personal umbrella protection

Personal Umbrella Protection (PUP) can provide additional protection if you reach the coverage limits of your auto or homeowners insurance policy.

For example, if you are at fault for an accident that seriously injures a highly paid driver, for example a surgeon or a C-level executive, who sues you for months or years of lost wages, your PUP plan may cover the costs of the resulting agreement or judgment.

Additional characteristics

In addition to these products, Allstate’s salient features include:

Drivewise

Allstate Drivewise® is a cost-cutting feature that benefits cautious drivers with Allstate auto insurance. After registering, you will need to install a monitoring device in your car that measures your driving habits.

The device pays particular attention to speed, frequency and timing, as well as braking time, to get an idea of ​​the risk behind the wheel. Based on this information, Allstate may reduce your premiums by 40% or more each billing cycle, according to Allstate.

Drivewise also comes with a free crash detection feature. When the app suspects that you have been involved in an accident as a driver or passenger, it sends a notification to your phone offering help.

Your premiums cannot increase as a result of Drivewise. At worst, you don’t see any savings. You can access your Drivewise data at any time through your Allstate auto insurance account online.

Accident forgiveness

In exchange for an additional premium payment, this optional car insurance add-on prevents your rates from increasing after an accident that results in a claim, even if you are at fault.

Insurance discounts

Allstate policyholders can qualify for dozens of additional policy discounts, many of which only apply to Allstate auto insurance policies. Popular discounts include:

• Deductible rewards, which reduce your deductible by $ 100 for each year without claims (up to $ 500)
• Premium discounts of up to 10% for completing a defensive driving course
• A 35% discount on the premium after five years without infractions or accidents.
• A good student discount that reduces premiums by up to 20% for students who maintain a B grade average or better.
• Early Signing Discount, which lowers your premiums when you sign your policy renewal at least seven days before it takes effect
• Paperless Discount (ePolicy), which lowers your premiums when you agree to receive all policy documents and communications electronically

These insurance premium discounts are subject to change at Allstate’s discretion and may not be available to all policy applicants.

Policy Packages

Allstate offers specific policy packages (multi-policy discounts) that can generate additional savings.

For example, group your car insurance and insurance homeowner reduce your insurance rate up to 25%, although this figure is subject to change at the sole discretion of Allstate.

A life and auto insurance package also offers savings, but Allstate doesn’t say how much. Other packages, such as renters auto insurance, may also be available in your area.

Allstate Motor Club

Similar to AAA, Allstate Motor Club is a wide-ranging motor club offering two optional levels of service:

• Advantage on the road . For around $ 7 to $ 9 each month, you get 24-hour roadside assistance (up to $ 100 in expenses incurred), trip interruption coverage (a form of travel insurance) up to $ 750, bond coverage of up to $ 500 arrest and 25% discount CARFAX history reports that you order as an active member. 
• Elite on the road . For about $ 12 to $ 14 per month, you get $ 250 in roadside assistance, $ 250 in road hazard coverage, $ 1,500 in trip interruption coverage, $ 2,000 in arrest bond coverage, security service. 24/7 concierge, auto repair referrals, and free CARFAX reports. This plan includes coverage for motorcycles and recreational vehicles, as well as passenger cars and trucks.

All of these coverage levels may vary by state, so read the fine print before signing up.

In addition to driving-related benefits, Allstate partners with tens of thousands of convenience stores, restaurants, retail stores, recreational attractions and other businesses across the country to offer discounts to Motor Club members.

Online quotes

You can get a quote online for almost all Allstate insurance policies except business plans.

The quote creation feature guides you through the process, which you can interrupt at any time to speak with an agent. If you do not complete your application, you will receive a call within one day.

Claims processing and support

You can file claims online and by phone. You don’t need an online account to apply, but you do need one to track the status of your claim without calling.

Regardless of how you file a claim, Allstate recommends that you notify your local agent immediately after filing.

Claim satisfaction guarantee

Allstate relies on its claims expertise so much that it offers a Claims Satisfaction Guarantee , which removes your auto policy premium for up to six months if it finds the claims process unacceptable for any reason.

Allstate intends to have a “no questions asked” policy here. According to Allstate, the Claims Satisfaction Guarantee is unique among US insurers.

To obtain the credit, you must mail a letter to the Allstate office in Roanoke, Virginia, within 180 days of the accident, explaining why you are not satisfied with the outcome.

The credit only applies to claims Allstate pays, so you cannot complain about a denied claim. Please read the fine print as terms may vary by state.

Local network of insurance agents

Allstate has a large network of local agents who exclusively sell your policies.

Not all agents sell all types of insurance, but each has a dedicated web portal with an Allstate root domain and a standardized design, making it easy to compare capabilities and specialties.

Online account management portal

Even if you prefer to work with an agent, you can access your account online and view details about your insurance products, recent statements, pending claims, and other important information.

Advantage

Allstate’s top benefits include the Drivewise app, a new car discount, Allstate Motor Club (a great alternative to AAA), and a dense network of local agents.

1. Informative and easy-to-use Drivewise app

Allstate’s Drivewise feature is similar to Progressive’s Instant Discount . Both require you to install a monitoring device in your car and provide safe driving discounts of up to 30%. However, Snapshot is lacking in a couple of ways.

For one thing, Snapshot only monitors your driving for six months. After that, your savings are permanently locked.

Because you can use Drivewise for as long as you want, you can save even more as you become a more experienced and safer driver, which is statistically likely, over the years.

Also, you can’t see the data that Snapshot collects in real time, only the projected premium savings based on your driving to date.

With Drivewise, you can log into your account at any time and view detailed reports, even if and when you drove too fast, braked too hard, or logged too many miles in one day.

2. One-time discount for new cars

When you insure a new or near-new car with Allstate, you’re eligible for a discount of up to 30%.

Although other insurance companies, including Progressive and Liberty Mutual, offer discounts for certain safety features that come standard on new cars, such as anti-theft devices and airbags, none offer discounts simply because your vehicle is new.

3. Integral motor club

Many insurance companies offer roadside assistance, emergency towing, and other basic services for auto policyholders, but none can match the depth of Allstate Motor Club’s offerings.

The trip interruption and detention bond coverage features are particularly useful for travelers stuck far from home. Plus, the myriad discounts at retailers, restaurants, and other businesses rival AAA’s .

4. Guarantee of satisfaction of unique claims

While Allstate offers financial incentives to avoid claims altogether, its Claim Satisfaction Guarantee can save you hundreds of dollars if a claim goes wrong.

While other insurers tout their overall claim satisfaction rates, none are willing to back them up with significant premium credit.

5. Attentive and knowledgeable local agents

Allstate’s dedicated local agent network is extremely well developed and the company strives to direct business to individual agents.

If you have complex needs that cannot be handled online, you can visit the agency websites and see exactly what services they offer, what kind of experience they have, and how long they have been in business.

That’s especially helpful for business owners who may need to protect vehicle fleets, expensive inventory, and multiple properties, all while dealing with complex liability issues.

State Farm and Nationwide also have strong agent networks, but many popular insurers do not.

For example, Progressive’s agent network seems like an afterthought. Each participating agency appears responsible for designing and maintaining its own website, and many of them sell insurance from multiple providers, without offering special treatment for Progressive clients.

When you can simply buy a policy and file a claim online, there is no incentive for you to deal with such an agency. On the other hand, you can always contact your local Allstate agent with detailed questions about your policy and rest assured that you will get an answer.

It is a good resource to have in an increasingly impersonal world.

Disadvantages

Allstate’s biggest drawbacks include pressure to buy through an agent, an outdated website, the absence of human health insurance, and the absence of an on-site insurance rate quote comparison with other insurers.

1. Pressure to buy through an agent

A major drawback of the Allstate agent network is a website that is somewhat hostile to self-service customers.

Although you can get a quote and buy many types of policies online, almost every page on the Allstate website asks you to call or email a local agent for more information or to complete a transaction.

In some cases, clicking a website tab takes you to a page that provides little or no information other than “Want more information? Contact an Allstate insurance agent today.” After a while this gets annoying, especially if you are trying to compare policies from various providers.

2. The website is not very optimized for mobile devices

The Allstate website also has user experience issues, including dense text, wide scrolling, and small link buttons. These issues are especially noticeable on the sales side of the site, which you would think the company would want to be as user-friendly and intuitive as possible.

That’s in stark contrast to Nationwide and Esurance, whose sites feature large font text, large images and buttons, and a quote creation interface that’s easy to use on a mobile device.

3. Without primary health insurance

Allstate offers many insurance options, including family options like auto insurance policies and slightly less common types like pet health insurance.

However, for such a large and seemingly comprehensive company, you have a glaring omission: There are no primary health insurance plans for humans. Allstate supplemental health insurance policies do not meet the minimum coverage requirements of the Affordable Care Act .

If you don’t have or can’t get health insurance through your employer, you should look elsewhere, even if you have other coverage through Allstate.

Some major insurers, including State Farm, offer direct access to individual health insurance plans and health savings accounts.

Others, like Progressive, have online portals that allow you to search for plans from other providers. For example, Progressive’s eHealth insurance claims to offer 13,000 different policies across 180 insurers.

4. Some types of minor insurance are missing

Aside from health plans, Allstate covers all major insurance bases, particularly auto, life, and homeowners plans.

However, some types of coverage that many people consider important are missing, including flood insurance and classic car insurance. Progressive offers these, plus Segway insurance if that’s your thing.

5. No comparison of quotes on the site

The Allstate website does not allow you to compare its quotes with those of other auto insurance companies. Rather, Esurance and Progressive do. You can also use a third-party quote finder like Netquote , although its results may be less accurate.

Final word

The American insurance industry is a competitive business. As long as you’re willing to get multiple quotes and read each provider’s fine print carefully, that’s good news.

Allstate may have a storied history, a great marketing campaign, and a full suite of services, but it can’t be everything to everyone.

It lacks some plans that other insurance providers easily offer, it doesn’t allow you to compare your quotes with others, and its website is often frustrating. As in any competitive market, insurance is worth shopping around for.