Allstate Car Insurance

10 Key Takeaways With Short Answers 💡

Who is cheaper, Allstate or GEICO? GEICO is cheaper for the vast majority of drivers. Allstate averages roughly $168/month while GEICO averages $127/month for comparable coverage — a difference of nearly $500/year.

Which insurance company is Allstate? Allstate is the fourth-largest property-casualty insurer in the U.S., publicly traded on the NYSE (ticker: ALL), headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, with a 10.2% auto insurance market share.

Who is the best car insurance? For 2026, Erie Insurance topped J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction in multiple regions, American Family ranked best overall at Yahoo Finance, and USAA leads for military families. Allstate did not win any category.

Who owns Allstate? Allstate Corporation is an independent, publicly traded company — not owned by any parent. It owns subsidiaries including National General, Esurance (now folded in), and several specialty brands.

Does Allstate cover windshield replacement? Yes, under comprehensive coverage. Repairs are typically covered with no deductible. Full replacement requires your comprehensive deductible unless you’re in Florida, Kentucky, or South Carolina (where windshield deductibles are waived by state law).

Does Allstate have roadside assistance? Yes — three ways: as a policy add-on (~$25/year), as a standalone Motor Club membership ($59-$89/year), or on a pay-per-use basis ($154+ per tow).

Does Allstate have accident forgiveness? Yes, but only through upgraded Gold or Platinum YourChoice Auto plans at additional cost. Gold forgives one accident every three years. Platinum forgives unlimited accidents but costs significantly more. Not available in California.

How many accidents before Allstate drops you? There’s no published number. Allstate reserves the right to non-renew any policy where driving behavior is deemed unacceptably risky, typically after two or more at-fault accidents within three years, though this varies by state.

Is GEICO or Allstate better overall? GEICO wins on price, complaint volume, and financial strength rating (A++ vs. A+). Allstate wins on local agent access, bundling, gap insurance, and telematics satisfaction.

Where does Allstate rank among the best? Allstate ranks tied for No. 6 in U.S. News ratings (3.8/5), is the most expensive of the ten largest insurers according to The Zebra, and scores below average on J.D. Power claims satisfaction.

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🏢 Allstate Is the Fourth-Largest Insurer in America — Here’s What That Actually Means for You

When people ask “which company is Allstate?” they’re usually trying to figure out whether it’s a subsidiary of something bigger, how stable it is, and whether its size translates into good service. Here’s the full corporate picture.

📊 Corporate fact	Details
🏛️ Full name	The Allstate Corporation
📅 Founded	1931 (as part of Sears, Roebuck & Co.)
🏢 Independent since	1995 (IPO on NYSE)
📍 Headquarters	Northbrook, Illinois (sold HQ building in 2022)
💰 2024 revenue	$66.2 billion
💵 2025 net income	$10.2 billion (recovered from back-to-back losses in 2022-2023)
📈 Stock ticker	NYSE: ALL
🚗 Auto market share	10.2% (#4 behind State Farm, Progressive, GEICO)
⭐ AM Best rating	A+ (Superior)
👥 Households served	16+ million
🏢 Subsidiaries owned	National General, Esurance (now integrated), Encompass
🔄 Major divestitures	Sold life insurance to Blackstone (2021, $2.8B), sold employer benefits to StanCorp (2025, $2B)

Allstate is not owned by any parent company. It’s a fully independent, publicly traded corporation — which means its obligations run to Wall Street shareholders first. This is a fundamentally different structure than State Farm (a mutual company owned by its policyholders) or GEICO (a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway). That structural difference shapes everything from pricing strategy to claims handling philosophy.

Why this matters to you: When Allstate posts $10.2 billion in net income, that profit goes to shareholder dividends and stock buybacks. When State Farm posts $12.9 billion, it returned $5 billion directly to policyholders in 2025. The corporate structure doesn’t automatically make one company worse than the other, but it does create different incentive structures that influence how aggressively claims are managed and how quickly rate reductions are passed along.

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💵 GEICO Is Cheaper Than Allstate for Nearly Every Driver Profile — and the Gap Is Significant

This is the single most-searched comparison in auto insurance, and the data consistently points in one direction.

👤 Driver profile	🟦 Allstate avg/month	🟩 GEICO avg/month	💰 Annual savings with GEICO
🧑 Clean record, full coverage	~$168	~$127	~$492
👨 Male, age 16 (teen)	~$910	~$445	~$5,580
👩 Female, age 35, married	~$155	~$105	~$600
👴 Age 60, married	~$130	~$95	~$420
⚠️ After speeding ticket	~$200	~$125	~$900
🔴 After at-fault accident	~$290	~$185	~$1,260
📉 Bad credit score	~$350	~$250	~$1,200
🚗 Liability only	~$107	~$92	~$180

The gap is most dramatic for young drivers and high-risk profiles. GEICO charges $445 to insure a teen male while the Allstate price jumps to $910 — a $465 monthly difference that could be a dealbreaker for families. For clean-record adults, the gap narrows but Allstate still trends higher.

When Allstate can actually be cheaper: There are specific scenarios where Allstate competes or wins on price. If you bundle home and auto (Allstate’s strongest advantage — up to 25% savings), have a perfect Drivewise telematics score, qualify for multiple stacking discounts (paid-in-full, early signing, anti-theft, defensive driving), and carry Allstate home insurance already, the total cost across all policies can sometimes undercut GEICO, which doesn’t sell its own homeowners insurance.

⚖️ Factor	🟦 Allstate advantage	🟩 GEICO advantage
💵 Base rates	❌ Higher across most profiles	✅ Lower for most drivers
🏠 Bundling home + auto	✅ Strongest bundling savings	❌ No own home insurance
📱 Digital experience	Good (84% satisfaction)	✅ Best-in-class app
👤 Local agents	✅ ~6,000 agents nationwide	❌ Minimal agent network
⭐ AM Best rating	A+ (Superior)	✅ A++ (Superior — highest possible)
📋 NAIC complaint ratio	❌ 1.45-2.45 (above average)	✅ 0.55 (below average)
🛡️ Gap insurance	✅ Available	❌ Not offered
🔧 Telematics satisfaction	✅ Drivewise scores higher (J.D. Power)	DriveEasy scores lower

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🏆 The Best Car Insurance Isn’t Allstate — Here’s Who Actually Wins in 2026

Every major ranking organization evaluated for 2026 tells a consistent story: Allstate is a competent mid-tier insurer that doesn’t win any major category.

🏆 Category	Winner (2026)	Allstate’s ranking
⭐ Best overall (Yahoo Finance)	American Family (5 stars)	Not in top 3
⭐ Best overall (The Zebra)	Acuity, Amica, Erie	Mid-tier
💵 Best for affordability (CNBC Select)	Nationwide	Not in top 3
💵 Cheapest rates (NerdWallet, Feb 2026)	Travelers	Among the most expensive
😊 Best customer satisfaction (J.D. Power)	Erie Insurance (multiple regions)	Won in some regions, lost in others
🛡️ Best claims experience (J.D. Power)	Erie Insurance (#1 nationwide)	Below average (824/1,000 auto claims)
🎖️ Best for military families	USAA	Not eligible to compete
📱 Best digital experience	GEICO / Progressive	Above average (84%)
🏠 Best for bundling	Allstate	✅ Wins this category
🔧 Best for high-risk drivers (CNBC)	Dairyland	Extremely expensive for high-risk

The uncomfortable truth: The companies that consistently rank highest for customer satisfaction — Erie, Amica, USAA, NJM — are either regional carriers or restricted to specific demographics. Among nationwide carriers available to everyone, State Farm, GEICO, and Progressive generally outperform Allstate on both price and satisfaction. Allstate’s genuine competitive edge is bundling and its agent network, not its overall value proposition.

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🔧 Allstate Covers Windshield Replacement — But the Deductible Trap Gets Most People

This is one of Allstate’s better coverage areas, but there’s a critical distinction between repair and replacement that costs consumers hundreds of dollars unnecessarily.

🔍 Windshield scenario	Coverage?	Deductible?	⚠️ What to know
🔨 Small chip repair (1-3 chips, under 6 inches)	✅ Covered under comprehensive	$0 deductible (waived for repairs)	Safelite is Allstate’s only national partner
🔨 Full replacement (4+ chips or cracks over 6 inches)	✅ Covered under comprehensive	Your standard deductible applies (often $500-$1,000)	May cost less to pay out of pocket
💥 Windshield cracked in collision	⚠️ Covered under collision	Collision deductible applies	Higher deductible; rate increase possible
🌪️ Windshield damaged by weather/debris	✅ Covered under comprehensive	Comprehensive deductible applies	No-fault claim; minimal rate impact
📋 Liability-only policy	❌ Not covered	N/A	You pay everything out of pocket

The state law advantage most people miss: If you live in Florida, Kentucky, or South Carolina, you will not need to pay your deductible for windshield replacement or repairs. Additionally, insurers in Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York must offer a “full glass coverage” option that allows customers to choose a $0 deductible for glass claims.

💡 Pro tip: If your comprehensive deductible is $500 and the replacement costs $350, don’t file a claim — you’ll pay the full cost anyway and the claim goes on your record. If the replacement costs $800, filing makes sense because you save $300 after the deductible. Always get a quote from the glass shop before deciding whether to involve insurance. Windshield repairs (chips) are almost always free through insurance and don’t count against your claims history the way replacements can.

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🚗 Allstate Has Three Levels of Roadside Assistance — and the Differences Are Enormous

Most people think roadside assistance is a simple add-on. Allstate actually offers it through three completely different channels, each with different pricing, coverage limits, and eligibility rules.

🔧 Roadside option	Annual cost	Towing limit	Service calls/year	Who can use it	🎯 Best for
📋 Policy add-on	~$25/vehicle/year	~10 miles	Per policy terms	Allstate policyholders only	Cheapest option if already insured
🟡 Motor Club: Roadside Assist	$59-$73/year (1st year)	10 miles	Up to 7	Anyone (no Allstate policy required)	Budget-conscious non-policyholders
🟢 Motor Club: Roadside Advantage	$89/year (1st year)	10 miles	Up to 5	Anyone	Mid-tier with trip reimbursement
🔵 Motor Club: Roadside Elite	$164/year (1st year)	100 miles	Up to 5	Anyone	Long-distance towing needs
💳 Pay-per-use	$154+ per tow	Varies	Unlimited (you pay each time)	Anyone	One-time emergency only

Services included across all plans: towing, flat tire change (you provide the spare), jump starts, lockout assistance, fuel delivery (you pay for the fuel itself), and winching service.

Services not included: the actual cost of fuel, replacement batteries, new tires, or mechanical repairs. Roadside assistance gets you off the side of the road — it doesn’t fix the underlying problem.

The 10-mile towing trap: All plans except Roadside Elite limit you to 10 miles of free towing. If the nearest repair shop is 15 miles away, you’re paying for those extra 5 miles out of pocket. In rural areas, 10 miles may not even reach the closest town. If you frequently drive in remote areas, the Elite plan’s 100-mile limit or AAA’s 100-200 mile towing (depending on plan) may be worth the premium.

Allstate vs. AAA comparison:

📊 Feature	Allstate Roadside Advantage	AAA Classic	AAA Plus
💰 Annual cost	$89 (1st year)	~$65/year	~$110/year
🚛 Towing limit	10 miles	5 miles (then ~$4/mile)	100 miles
📞 Service calls/year	5	4	4
👥 Household members	1 free + $45/year for additional	$34-$56 per associate	Same
🏨 Travel discounts	Yes	Extensive (hotels, car rental, etc.)	Same
🔋 Battery service	Jump start only	Jump start + battery delivery/install	Same
🔒 Locksmith	Service provided	Up to $50 in locksmith services	Up to $100

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🛡️ Allstate’s Accident Forgiveness Is Real — But It’s Locked Behind a Paywall Most Drivers Don’t Expect

The Mayhem commercials make accident forgiveness sound like a standard Allstate feature. It isn’t. Here’s the complete breakdown of how it actually works.

📋 Plan level	Accident forgiveness included?	How it works	Qualification	Cost	⚠️ Limitations
🔘 Silver (Standard)	❌ No accident forgiveness	Rates increase after any at-fault accident	Default plan	Base premium	One accident raises rates ~$100/month on average
🟡 Gold (YourChoice Auto)	✅ One accident forgiven every 3 years	First at-fault accident on the policy is forgiven per policy, not per driver	3 years accident-free	Higher premium than Silver	Second accident on same policy not forgiven; shared across all drivers
🟣 Platinum (YourChoice Auto)	✅ Unlimited accident forgiveness	All at-fault accidents on the policy are forgiven	No waiting period — starts immediately	Highest premium tier	Allstate can still non-renew if driving behavior is deemed too risky

Gold-level Allstate accident forgiveness applies to one at-fault accident per policy every three years, while Platinum-level accident forgiveness is not limited to a certain number of accidents.

The critical detail about Gold: Forgiveness is per policy, not per driver. If you have three drivers on one Gold policy and driver A has an at-fault accident in January, that forgiveness is used up. If driver B has an accident in March, the second accident is not forgiven and rates increase for the entire policy. The three-year clock resets from the date of the forgiven accident.

The Platinum loophole: Platinum customers cannot be downgraded from a Platinum policy to a lower level, but Allstate reserves the right to not renew the policies of customers whose driving habits suggest that they are unacceptably risky to insure. Unlimited forgiveness doesn’t mean unlimited tolerance. If you’re causing accidents every few months, Allstate will simply choose not to renew your policy when the term expires.

Not available in California: Due to state regulations that prohibit insurers from charging higher premiums for optional accident forgiveness programs, Allstate does not offer Gold or Platinum plans in California.

Bonus feature on Gold and Platinum: Both tiers include Deductible Rewards — your collision deductible drops by $100 on enrollment day and another $100 for every 12 months without a chargeable accident. A driver who goes four years without an accident could reduce a $500 deductible to $100.

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🔴 How Many Accidents Before Allstate Drops You? There’s No Magic Number — But Here’s What Actually Triggers Non-Renewal

This is the question Allstate deliberately doesn’t answer publicly, and for good reason: the decision is made on a case-by-case basis using internal underwriting algorithms. But based on state insurance regulations, industry patterns, and consumer reports, here’s what we know.

⚠️ Risk factor	Likely outcome with Allstate
1 at-fault accident (minor)	Rate increase of ~$100/month; policy renewed
1 at-fault accident (major/injury)	Significant rate increase; policy likely renewed
2 at-fault accidents within 3 years	Substantial rate increase; possible non-renewal depending on state
3+ at-fault accidents within 3 years	High probability of non-renewal at policy term end
1 DUI/DWI	Major rate increase (~90%+); policy may or may not be renewed
2+ DUIs within 5 years	Almost certain non-renewal
Combination of accidents + violations	Highest risk of non-renewal; evaluated holistically
Comprehensive claims only (weather, theft)	Generally no non-renewal risk; minimal or no rate impact

What “non-renewal” vs. “cancellation” means: Allstate cannot typically cancel your policy mid-term except for non-payment of premium, fraud, or license suspension. What they can do is choose not to renew when your 6-month or 12-month term expires. Most states require 30-60 days written notice of non-renewal, giving you time to find replacement coverage.

State laws matter enormously: Some states (like New York and California) have strict consumer protections that make it harder for insurers to non-renew policies. Others give insurers more latitude. In North Carolina, for example, the state operates a reinsurance facility that ensures high-risk drivers can still obtain coverage even after being dropped by private insurers.

💡 Pro tip: If Allstate non-renews your policy, don’t panic — but act immediately. You’ll need to secure replacement coverage before your current term expires to avoid a lapse. Check your state’s assigned-risk pool or residual market if private insurers won’t cover you. Many states also prohibit insurers from using comprehensive claims (weather damage, animal strikes, theft) as grounds for non-renewal, so always verify whether the claims on your record are “chargeable” or not.

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Who is cheaper, Allstate or GEICO? GEICO is cheaper for the majority of drivers across virtually every profile category. The gap ranges from roughly $15/month for clean-record seniors to over $465/month for teen drivers. Allstate can occasionally compete or win when heavy bundling discounts, Drivewise telematics savings, and multiple stacking discounts are applied — but those scenarios are the exception, not the rule. Always get quotes from both companies for your specific situation, because individual factors like ZIP code, vehicle type, and credit score create significant variation from averages.

Which insurance company is Allstate? Allstate is the fourth-largest property-casualty insurer in the United States, operating as an independent publicly traded corporation (NYSE: ALL). It was founded in 1931 as part of Sears, Roebuck & Co. and became independent through an IPO in 1995. The company owns subsidiaries including National General and the former Esurance brand. Allstate is not owned by any parent company and is not affiliated with GEICO, State Farm, or any other major insurer.

Who is the best car insurance company? There is no single “best” company — it depends on what you prioritize. For customer satisfaction, Erie Insurance dominated the 2025 J.D. Power study, winning in multiple regions. For affordability, Travelers and Nationwide often rank cheapest in 2026 analyses. For military families, USAA is unmatched. For digital experience and discount variety, GEICO leads. Allstate’s strongest category is bundling home and auto insurance. The best approach is to compare at least three quotes for your specific profile every 12 months.

Who owns Allstate car insurance? Nobody owns Allstate — it owns itself. The Allstate Corporation is an independent, publicly traded company. Its shares are owned by institutional and individual investors who buy stock on the New York Stock Exchange. This makes it fundamentally different from GEICO (owned by Berkshire Hathaway), Esurance (now owned by Allstate itself), or State Farm (a mutual company owned by its policyholders). Allstate’s CEO and board of directors answer to shareholders, not policyholders.

Does Allstate cover windshield replacement? Yes, if you carry comprehensive coverage. Minor chip repairs are typically covered with no deductible through Allstate’s national partner, Safelite. Full windshield replacement is covered but requires you to pay your comprehensive deductible (commonly $250-$1,000) unless you live in a state that mandates deductible-free glass replacement (Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina) or you’ve purchased a zero-deductible glass option available in Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York.

Does Allstate have roadside assistance? Yes, in three forms. The cheapest is a policy add-on starting around $25/year per vehicle. The standalone Allstate Motor Club offers two membership tiers ($59-$89/year for the first year) available to anyone, even non-Allstate policyholders. There’s also pay-per-use service starting at $154 per tow. All plans include towing, flat tire changes, jump starts, lockout assistance, and fuel delivery. The key difference between plans is towing distance: most plans cover only 10 miles, while the Roadside Elite plan covers 100 miles.

Does Allstate have accident forgiveness? Yes, but only through Gold or Platinum YourChoice Auto plans — not on the standard Silver policy. Gold forgives one at-fault accident per policy every three years (requires three years accident-free to qualify). Platinum forgives unlimited at-fault accidents and starts immediately with no waiting period. Both cost more than standard coverage, and neither is available in California. Even with Platinum’s unlimited forgiveness, Allstate can non-renew your policy if your driving pattern suggests unacceptable risk.

How many accidents before Allstate drops you? There is no officially published threshold. Allstate evaluates each policyholder individually based on frequency and severity of claims, driving violations, state regulations, and overall risk profile. Based on industry patterns, two or more at-fault accidents within a three-year period significantly increases the likelihood of non-renewal. Three or more within that window makes non-renewal probable. Comprehensive-only claims (weather, theft, animal strikes) generally do not trigger non-renewal. If Allstate decides not to renew, they must provide 30-60 days written notice depending on your state, giving you time to secure replacement coverage.

Is Allstate worth the higher price? For specific driver profiles, yes. If you bundle multiple policies, use the Drivewise telematics app and score well, value having a dedicated local agent, need gap insurance or Milewise pay-per-mile coverage, and plan to stay long-term to maximize Deductible Rewards, Allstate’s ecosystem can deliver genuine value. For everyone else — particularly price-sensitive drivers, high-risk drivers, and anyone who prioritizes claims satisfaction over features — competitors like GEICO, State Farm, Erie, and Progressive typically offer better value.