Allstate Insurance Review (Rates, Coverage + More)
This Allstate home insurance review is packed with information to help you understand and find the right insurance coverage for your situation. You can also learn about the history of Allstate, what the insurance rating experts think about the company, and what kind of homeowners and renters insurance they offer.
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Daniel Walker
Licensed Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Jun 28, 2022
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UPDATED: Jun 28, 2022
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance providers please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
Allstate Insurance Overview | Details |
---|---|
Year Founded | 1931 |
Current Executives | Chairman, President, & CEO – Thomas J. Wilson |
Number of Employees | 45,420 |
Total Sales/Assets | $112,249,000,000 |
HQ Address | 2775 Sanders Rd. Northbrook, IL 60062 |
Phone Number | 1-800-255-7828 |
Company Website | www.allstate.com |
Premiums Written | $33,251,176,000 |
Loss Ratio | 57.67% |
Best For | Discounts, first time homebuyers, homesharing hosts, young parents, cheap rates |
Has there been a theft in your home? Was your roof just struck by lightning? However the damages happen, natural disaster or otherwise, it’s crucial to have a home insurer you can rely on. But when there are so many agencies to choose from, finding the right home insurer can seem like a daunting task. How do you know which one to trust?
Luckily, our insurance reviews are here to make things a little easier. In this review, we’ll share everything you need to know about Allstate to help you determine whether it is the right agency for you.
We’ll cover the company’s history, coverage options, claims process, and more. We’ll even walk you through how to get a quote on Allstate’s website. If you’re ready to compare insurance quotes now, you can get started by entering your ZIP code above.
Allstate Ratings
When it comes to home insurance, it’s important to select a provider you trust. Taking a look at a company’s ratings can be a great way to learn more and narrow down your search.
The table below provides an overview of the scores given to Allstate by the nation’s top insurance rating agencies. These scores will provide a better idea of the quality of Allstate’s service and reputation.
Ratings Agency | Rating |
---|---|
A.M. Best | A++ |
Better Business Bureau | A+ |
Fitch Ratings | A- |
J.D. Power | 3/5 (Home Insurance Study) 3/5 (Property Claims Study) |
Moody's Rating | Aa3 |
NAIC Complaint Index | 0.84 |
S&P Rating | A- |
As you can see, Allstate has received a positive rating from the majority of these agencies. Let’s break down the ratings further.
A.M. Best
Founded in 1899, A.M. Best is an international credit rating agency that specializes in rating a company’s financial security. Because of A.M. Best’s longevity and accuracy, it is one of the world’s most trusted resources for measuring a company’s creditworthiness and stability.
A.M. Best has awarded Allstate a rating of A++, the highest possible rating. It means that Allstate is a financially stable company with a superior ability to meet its ongoing insurance obligations.
Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Founded in 1912, Better Business Bureau’s mission is to measure a company’s trustworthiness and marketplace behavior.
When rating a company like Allstate, BBB considers factors like a company’s transparency, responsiveness, and marketplace track record. BBB also reviews customer complaints when rating a company.
Allstate was given an A+, the agency’s highest possible rating.
This means that Allstate has a very low volume of unanswered or unresolved customer complaints.
It also means that Allstate receives a low volume of customer complaints in general. In the last three years, there have been 1,375 Allstate customer complaints filed through BBB.
Moody’s Agency
Moody’s is an international agency that rates a company’s creditworthiness. Creditworthiness is the measure of how well a company can pay off its debts. Since its founding in 1909, Moody’s mission has been to quickly and accurately analyze the events of our evolving economy.
Allstate received a rating of Aa3 from Moody’s, the agency’s fourth-highest rating. A rating of Aa3 means Allstate is a high-quality company within the global marketplace and subject to very low credit risk.
Standard & Poor’s (S&P)
Standard & Poor’s is one of the oldest credit rating agencies in the world. Since 1860, S&P has been conducting financial research about the world’s companies and government entities. Today, S&P’s 1,500 credit analysts have collected 135 billion data points in 128 countries.
Allstate received an A- from S&P, meaning that Allstate has a strong capacity to meet its financial commitments but is somewhat susceptible to economic changes.
NAIC Complaint Index
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners oversees company standards and best practices across the United States. NAIC financial reporting works to protect the public interest and facilitate the fair treatment of insurance customers.
The NAIC also aims to support and improve the state regulation of insurance. Similarly to BBB, the NAIC Complaint Index measures the number of complaints a company receives.
Allstate’s complaint index of 0.84 is slightly below the National Complaint Index of 1.00, meaning that Allstate receives a slightly lower number of complaints than expected in today’s market.
Fitch Ratings
Fitch Ratings is a top credit rating agency founded in 1914. Much like Moody’s and S&P, Fitch Ratings forecasts economic changes and provides company risk assessments. The agency also provides its clients with credit solutions.
Allstate’s A- rating indicates that it is a low-risk insurance company but vulnerable to business and economic changes.
J.D. Power
J.D. Power operates a little differently than the other top rating agencies because it uses a representative sample of insurance customer reviews to create company ratings. Researching a company’s J.D. Power rating is a great opportunity to learn about your potential experience as a policyholder.
Allstate received a three out of five from J.D. Power’s Home Insurance Study and Property Claims Study. This means that Allstate customers receive average service and claim satisfaction in comparison to other insurance providers’ customers.
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Allstate History
Allstate was founded in 1931 by General Robert E. Wood, the chairman of Sears, Roebuck and Company. Wood’s original mission was to bring quality insurance and rates to automobile drivers.
Since its formation, Allstate has pioneered insurance initiatives like drive-in claims offices, driver’s education grant programs, and small-car owner discounts.
Allstate introduced a homeowners insurance program in 1957. In addition to standard policies like dwelling coverage and personal property coverage, Allstate offers specialty policies like garden and musical instrument coverage.
Allstate’s now-famous slogan, “You’re in Good Hands,” was conceived in 1950 by a sales manager named Davis W. Ellis. Based on a phrase Ellis had once used to talk about his sick daughter’s physician, and the slogan remains a trademark of Allstate’s advertising.
It’s more than a slogan; early on, our leaders took strong stands advocating causes they believed would strengthen local communities and society. They passed that legacy on, and that social obligation is a foundation of who we are today.
Allstate partners with several charity foundations, including Purple Purse and The National Safety Council. In 2005, Allstate donated over $6 million to help those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Allstate’s Market Share
Between 2016–2018, Allstate’s market share went down from 8.64 percent to 8.36 percent.
Year | Market Share % |
---|---|
2016 | 8.64% |
2017 | 8.44% |
2018 | 8.36% |
Despite less than 10 percent of U.S. insurance sales going to Allstate, it remains the second-largest insurance company in the nation. Its closest competitor, State Farm, has double the market share percentage.
Allstate’s Position for the Future
When considering a company’s status in the global market, it’s important to look to the future as well as the past. So how is the future looking for Allstate?
Although Allstate’s market share has decreased over the past couple of years, the number of direct premiums written has increased.
Allstate’s market share percentage is also around 2–3 percent higher than those of the third- and fourth-most popular insurance companies, Liberty Mutual and Farmers.
Allstate’s Online Presence
Allstate’s company website provides a wealth of information about its claims process. Homeowners can also use the website to research Allstate’s policies, homeowners insurance discounts, and state-specific coverage.
If you’re curious about how much a policy with Allstate costs, you can get a personalized quote on the company website. Though there isn’t a way to speak with an Allstate agent online, the website points you to a company phone number and a directory you can use to find an agent in your area.
Allstate’s Commercials
Allstate is known for its online and television commercials. Its “Allstate Mayhem” commercial series has been running since 2010 and features actor Dean Winters. In the commercials, Winters roleplays a variety of risky scenarios that would benefit from Allstate’s coverage.
Here’s a popular example:
Allstate’s official spokesman is Dennis Haysbert. His Allstate campaign has been running since 2004 and carries a more serious tone than “Allstate Mayhem.” Haysbert is known for asking “Are You In Good Hands?” at the end of each commercial.
Allstate often holds one of the Super Bowl’s prized advertising spots and has been the official sponsor of the Sugar Bowl since 2007.
Allstate in the Community
Youth empowerment is a core mission for the Allstate Foundation, and a variety of charitable initiatives are sponsored to further this cause.
Good Starts Young is a school program that fosters emotional health and leadership skills in youth communities, and WE Charity educates young people about leadership and community service.
Another social issue that is important to Allstate is domestic violence. The Allstate Foundation’s Purple Purse initiative works to educate and shelter victims of domestic abuse.
Purple Purse also partners with nonprofits across the country to raise awareness, conduct research, and encourage conversations about domestic violence.
Since 2005, Allstate Foundation Purple Purse has been committed to raising awareness for domestic violence and financial abuse as a prevalent — and often misunderstood — issue in our society today.
Only after we recognize and understand the problem can survivors receive the help and healing they need. So Purple Purse began gathering support for hundreds of national, state and local domestic violence organizations.
Allstate has also developed programs to train and equip nonprofit leaders. The Allstate Foundation Nonprofit Leadership Center is an online and in-person program that provides free curriculums to nonprofit professionals.
Lastly, Allstate encourages its employees to volunteer and affect change in their local communities. Allstate employees across the country contribute to organizations like the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the LA Opera Zarzuela Project, and the Berwick Area YMCA.
Allstate’s Employees
Employees are the heart of every company, so it’s important we consider employee experience when reviewing Allstate. Here’s what we learned when we researched employee statistics and history at Allstate.
Age of Employees & Tenure
According to PayScale, the average age of Allstate employees is 35 and the average tenure is 2.9 years. This number is comparable to State Farm’s average tenure of three years and Liberty Mutual’s tenure of 3.8 years. The average pay for an Allstate employee is $40,300 a year.
Employee Experience
Allstate’s profile on Glassdoor comprises over 5,000 employee reviews and a cumulative rating of 3.4 stars.
Fifty-seven percent of Allstate reviewers would recommend the company to a friend and 71 percent of reviewers say they approve of Allstate’s CEO, Thomas J. Wilson.
Although there are mixed reviews of the company’s benefits package, many employees have written that they enjoy their coworkers.
Employees also have divided opinions about work-life balance; some employees have written that the company offers a good work-life balance, whereas others have complained about long hours and low pay.
Awards & Accolades
As a leader in the homeowners insurance industry, Allstate has received many awards and accolades over the years. Here are a few notable honors:
Allstate Awards & Accolades | Year Awarded |
---|---|
Corporate Equality Index Rating – Human Rights Campaign | Since 2009 |
One of the World's Most Ethical Companies – Ethisphere Institute | Since 2015 |
Top 25 Best Places to Work for New Grads – Symplicity Corporation | 2017 |
Top 50 Companies for Diversity (16-time award winner) – DiversityInc | 2019 |
Top Corporation for Women Business Enterprises (silver level) – Women Business Enterprise National Council | 2019 |
Military Friendly Employer Gold Award (four-time winner) – The Military Friendly Company | 2020 |
Allstate is notably committed to diversity and empowering women in the workplace.
Allstate Cheap Home Insurance Rates
Now that we’ve given you an overview, let’s talk about Allstate’s insurance policies and rates. Because the home insurance market is so competitive, it can be hard to figure out which provider best suits you and your home. Fortunately, we’ve researched so you don’t have to.
In this section, we’ll break down Allstate’s different coverage plans and provide sample rates, discount information, and program comparisons to top competitors.
Allstate Availability
Allstate offers homeowners insurance in all 50 states. This means that no matter where you are located, you are never far from a local agent. Allstate’s nationwide availability also makes it easier to keep your coverage when you move. Coverage options can vary depending on location, so don’t forget to ask your local agent about state-specific policies.
Allstate Compared to the Top 10 by Market Share
As the second-largest insurance provider in the nation, Allstate owns almost 9 percent of the insurance market. Here’s a look into how Allstate compares to other top insurance companies.
Company | Direct Premiums Written ($) | % Market Share |
---|---|---|
State Farm | $18,177,462,000 | 18.40% |
Allstate | $8,262,445,000 | 8.36% |
Liberty Mutual | $6,655,452,000 | 6.74% |
USAA | $6,170,558,000 | 6.24% |
Farmers | $5,795,044,000 | 5.86% |
Travelers | $6,170,558,000 | 3.81% |
American Family | $3,276,280,000 | 3.32% |
Nationwide | $3,184,627,000 | 3.22% |
Chubb | $2,832,082,000 | 2.87% |
Erie | $1,675,976,000 | 1.70% |
Though Allstate is the second-largest insurance company, it has less than half of the market share that its biggest competitor, State Farm, has.
Allstate Sample Rates
So how much does Allstate’s home insurance cost?
Though rates vary depending on factors like location and home value, these sample rates from the California Department of Insurance can give you a sense of Allstate’s policies.
The below rates were based on homes between one to three years old in Pasadena and calculated using a $1,000 deductible.
Dwelling Coverage Amount | Allstate Rate |
---|---|
$200,000 | $421 |
$350,000 | $734 |
$500,000 | $1,047 |
According to NAIC, the average insurance rate for a California home with $200,000 to $299,000 of dwelling coverage was $695 in 2017. The average insurance rate for a California home with dwelling coverage of $500,000 or more was $1,643.
Coverage Offered
Whether you’re buying an urban condo or renting a beach house, insurance coverage can save you significant time and money if your property suffers damage or loss. No matter what type of coverage you need, Allstate can help you get the right policy for your living situation.
Homeowners, renters, condo owners, mobile homeowners, and landlords all require their own policies. There are even special insurance policies for historic homes.
The most common policy for single-family households is the HO-3 homeowners policy. This is an all-perils policy, meaning it provides coverage for everything except perils explicitly excluded in the policy. The HO-3 policy is one of several Allstate policies we will review in this section.
Allstate’s Policy Types
Allstate offers policies for homeowners, condo owners, renters, mobile homeowners, and landlords. Here’s a breakdown of each different type of policy.
Homeowners
Since Allstate is the second-largest insurance company in the nation, its homeowners insurance plan is competitive and comprehensive. In addition to offering standard dwelling coverage, Allstate also offers optional personal property coverage, liability protection, guest medical protection, and special-circumstance coverage.
Because Allstate’s homeowners coverage is so extensive, the company encourages homeowners to design their ideal policy with an Allstate agent.
We’ll take an in-depth look into Allstate’s standard homeowners policy in a bit.
Condo
Allstate offers similar coverage to condominium owners. However, there are unique factors that impact a condo owner’s choice of coverage. A condo owner may be held liable for shared space within their building or may not be liable for property that is insured by their condo association.
Condo owners should choose coverage that compliments their condo association’s insurance policy. Luckily, Allstate provides condo owners with a lot of flexibility.
The standard condo policy comes with liability coverage, personal property coverage, guest medical coverage, building property protection, and additional living expenses coverage. Condo owners can pick and choose from a variety of optional coverages including:
- Water backup coverage
- Loss assessment coverage
- Extended protection coverage
- Building code coverage
Renters
If you’re renting a home or apartment, you’re probably somewhat covered by your landlord’s insurance policy. However, you may want to take further steps to ensure your possessions are protected from perils like theft and flood.
Allstate’s renters insurance policy offers personal property coverage, living expenses coverage, guest medical coverage, and identity restoration coverage.
Allstate also offers liability coverage that will protect you from being held responsible for a guest’s legal or medical expenses. If your location or lifestyle pose a special risk, Allstate offers extra coverages like flood insurance and personal umbrella insurance.
Mobile Home
Allstate’s mobile home insurance policy does not cover damage caused by floods. Allstate instead recommends purchasing a separate flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program. The company’s policy doesn’t cover the mobile home while it is in transit.
Rental Property
Allstate offers rental property insurance, also known as landlord insurance. This policy covers the primary dwelling and additional structures like garages or fences. It also covers any personal property that is used to service a rental unit.
Landlords can add optional coverages like vandalism coverage, burglary coverage, rental property construction coverage, and building code reimbursement to their standard policy.
Landlords can also purchase landlord liability insurance, which protects a landlord from being held liable if a tenant is injured on the rented property.
Allstate’s rental property insurance will not cover maintenance and equipment breakdowns, shared property, or tenants’ possessions.
Allstate’s Standard Homeowners Policy
As we mentioned earlier, Allstate offers a competitive standard homeowners policy. Let’s take some time to break down every aspect of the coverage.
The core of a standard homeowners policy is dwelling coverage. Dwelling coverage insures the physical structure of your home, protecting it from risks like fire and smoke, explosions, lightning, wind, hail, theft, and vandalism.
Because Allstate’s standard homeowners policy is an HO3, or all perils, policy, it includes protection for other structures, personal property protection, liability coverage, and guest medical protection.
Though dwelling coverage protects the physical structure of your house, it does not cover detached or nearby structures like garages, sheds, or fences. Adding another structure coverage to your standard policy will ensure that all extraneous attaching structures are protected, as well.
You probably care just as much about what’s inside the house as what’s outside of it. Personal property protection helps you replace and pay for belongings if you lose them to perils like theft and damage.
Liability coverage and guest medical protection concern events involving other individuals. Liability protection defends and covers you if you damage someone else’s property. It also defends and covers you if someone who has been injured on your property sues or files a claim against you.
Guest medical protection covers the medical expenses of someone who has been injured on your property.
Here’s a quick and informative video Allstate created to explain homeowners insurance and types of coverage:
Allstate also offers a variety of endorsements that you can add to your standard policy. They include:
- Identity theft restoration
- Water backup protection
- Electronic data recovery
- Musical instrument coverage
- Sports equipment coverage
- Business property coverage
- Yard and garden coverage
- Scheduled personal property coverage
- Green improvement reimbursement
Allstate doesn’t offer endorsement packages but does allow you to increase your coverage with an Extended Protection Amendatory Endorsement (EPAE). An EPAE helps increase coverage limits for multiple protections at once, meaning more of what you own will be insured.
A typical EPAE will increase coverage limits for your dwelling coverage, personal property protection, liability coverage, and living expenses.
Allstate also offers a flood insurance policy and personal umbrella insurance. These are separate home insurance policies so that you can purchase additional coverage if you are at risk of flood or want extra liability coverage.
Allstate’s Bundling Options
If you want to purchase additional insurance through Allstate, you can save money on home, auto, and life insurance by purchasing an insurance bundle.
Allstate offers three major bundles for homeowners:
- The home, auto, and life insurance policies bundle
- The home and auto insurance policies bundle
- The home and life insurance policies bundle
You can also add motorcycle, off-road vehicle, and renters insurance to your Allstate bundle.
Allstate’s Discounts
Allstate offers a variety of discounts, though you’ll have to speak with an Allstate agent if you want to confirm the exact amount you can save on your plan. Let’s take a quick look at the discounts available to home insurance policyholders.
Security Discounts
An easy way to stay safe and earn a discount with Allstate is to install protective devices in your home. You may qualify for a security discount if you have a deadbolt, burglar alarm system, fire extinguisher, smoke detector, sprinkler system, or fire alarm.
Bundling Discounts
Allstate will give you a discount if you bundle your home insurance policy with an auto or life insurance plan. If you choose Allstate’s home, auto, and life insurance bundle, you’ll receive the highest discount on all three policies. If you choose the home and auto insurance bundle, you can save up to 25 percent on your purchase.
Other Discounts
There are other upgrades to your home that can earn you discounts with Allstate, all of which are listed in the table below.
Discount | % Savings |
---|---|
Easy Pay Plan Discount | Up to 5% |
Early Signing Discount | Up to 10% |
Welcome & Loyalty Discount | Up to 10% |
Claim-Free Discount | Up to 20% |
Multi-Policy Discount | Up to 25% |
55 & Retired Discount | Determined By Agent |
Hail-Resistant Roof Discount | Determined By Agent |
Home Buyer Discount | Determined By Agent |
Protective Device Discount | Determined By Agent |
Smoke-Free Home Discount | Determined By Agent |
Storm Shutter Discount | Determined By Agent |
- As you can see, installing storm shutters or a hail-resistant roof will save you money with Allstate while gaining the additional benefits of keeping your house in good shape.
You can also get discounts just for purchasing or renewing a plan with Allstate. Through the Welcome & Loyalty Discount, new customers save up to 10 percent on their plan just for switching to Allstate.
Allstate’s Programs
Allstate provides many tools for homeowners on The Allstate Blog. A popular tool is the home inventory checklist, which helps you organize your personal belongings.
You can use Allstate’s home inventory checklist to record an item’s serial number, original price, and the date it was purchased. This way, you’ll have ample information on hand if you have to file a claim about your home inventory.
The home inventory checklist is part of a large archive of home insurance resources that Allstate provides on its website. You can browse the Allstate website to watch videos, take quizzes, and learn more about buzzwords like scheduled personal property and liability insurance.
Allstate also offers calculators like the Rent vs. Own Calculator, which helps you determine whether you should own or rent a home.
Here’s an example of one of Allstate’s educational videos:
One program that stands out is Allstate’s GoodHome software. GoodHome allows you to easily research statistics about your home and neighborhood. It can tell you, for example, what the most common insurance claim in your area is, helping you make informed choices about how to customize your insurance policy.
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Canceling Your Policy
If you want to cancel your policy with Allstate, here’s how to make the process as easy as possible.
First, line up a replacement policy before you cancel your current one. Switching to a different policy as soon as possible guarantees your continual protection.
Plus, if there’s no lapse in your coverage, you know you’re not breaking any state or neighborhood regulations that mandate home insurance. Your new insurer may also be able to help you cancel your policy with Allstate.
Next, collect as much information as you can about the policy you’d like to cancel. Having it on hand will simplify your cancellation process and keep you informed throughout your communication with Allstate. Make note of things like:
- Your name, address, and contact information
- Personal identifications like your Social Security number and date of birth. You may need these to verify your account with Allstate
- Policy information like your account number and method of payment
- Any information related to why you are canceling your policy. For example, if you’ve sold your home, keep proof of that sale on hand
- Lastly, be prepared to state the date and time you’d like to cancel your policy
Now that you have everything in order, let’s take a look at what to expect when you’re canceling a policy with Allstate.
Cancellation Fee
Allstate doesn’t have standard cancellation fees. However, you may be subject to cancellation fees if your state laws call for them. For example, some states charge fees for early policy cancellations. You can avoid these fees by waiting until your policy renewal period to cancel your plan.
We recommend getting in touch with your local Allstate agent to ask if any state or specialty cancellation fees apply to your policy.
Is there a refund?
Allstate does offer prorated refunds, meaning you will be reimbursed for any unused days on the policy. If you are subject to any state cancellation fees, they’ll be deducted from your refund.
How to Cancel
The only way you can cancel your policy is through an Allstate agent. Allstate doesn’t offer policyholders a way to cancel online. You can cancel your policy three ways:
- Canceling in person – The easiest way to cancel your policy is to go to your local Allstate agency and cancel it in person. This will give you ample opportunity to ask any questions you may have about cancellation fees, refunds, and required documentation. You can locate your nearest Allstate agency using Allstate’s website or by calling 1-800-255-7828.
- Canceling by phone – You can also cancel your policy by calling your local agency or the Allstate helpline at 1-800-255-7828. Your agent may ask you to provide a written statement to verify the cancellation.
- Canceling by mail – Lastly, you can cancel your policy by mailing a written inquiry to: Allstate Insurance Company, PO Box 660598, Dallas, TX, 75266.
Be aware that canceling your policy by mail will take a lot longer than canceling over the phone or in person.
In all of these cases, your agent will probably offer you policy alternatives to prevent your cancellation. This is when the personal information you collected preemptively will come in handy.
Use personal documents to emphasize why you need to cancel your policy or refer to account history documents to compare the new policy your agent is proposing to your old one.
When can I cancel?
You can cancel your Allstate policy at any time.
If you cancel in person or over the phone, your cancellation will go into effect immediately as long as you’ve provided all the necessary documents. If you cancel by mail, your cancellation will take longer.
How to Make a Claim
So something’s gone wrong in your house and it’s time to file a claim with Allstate. Of course, you want your experience to be as painless as possible. Is Allstate’s claim filing process up to scratch?
In this section, we’ll review how to file a claim with Allstate. Then, we’ll share more statistics about premiums and loss ratio.
Ease of Making a Claim
Allstate provides four different ways for policyholders to file a home insurance claim. This makes the claims process accessible to every type of policyholder. Here are the four ways you can file your claim:
- Over the phone – You can file a claim by calling Allstate at 1-800-255-7828. The Allstate hotline provides 24/7 support to policyholders, making it a great resource when you’re in a pinch. Because it’s the quickest way to get help, we recommend using it in an emergency.
- In person – Another great way to file a claim is to head to your local Allstate agency and begin the claims process in person. During your one-on-one meeting, you’ll have the added benefit of being able to discuss your policy face-to-face. You can locate your nearest Allstate agency using Allstate’s website or by calling 1-800-255-7828.
- Through the Allstate mobile app – You can also start your claim using Allstate’s mobile app. If you’re reporting an accident or visible damage, you can use the app to send photos along with your claim. If you don’t have the Allstate Mobile app, you can get a downloadable link by texting ALLSTATEAPP to 25788.
- Online – You can easily file a claim through Allstate’s website. This is the most comprehensive way to report and track your claim because you can make use of Allstate’s many online resources as you file.
If you’re filing a flood claim, you can use the Flood Loss Claim Report that’s linked on the Allstate website.
The Claims Process
There are five steps to Allstate’s claims process:
- First, you file your claim. After you file your claim, you’ll receive a claim number that helps you track the process.
- Next, the Allstate team investigates your claim, examines the details you’ve reported, and reaches out to walk you through the process.
- After the initial investigation, Allstate sends a professional to evaluate your damage, determine how it should be fixed, and provide you with an estimate.
- Once you receive an estimate, you sit down with an Allstate claims adjuster and discuss how much of the damage will be covered based on your policy provisions, terms, and coverage.
- You wrap up your claim with your adjuster and receive all applicable payments. Lastly, they answer any questions you have about your claim.
Overall, Allstate’s claims process is user-friendly and simple. The company is open about its process and provides policyholders with ample resources for filing and tracking a claim.
Premiums Written
You won’t know exactly how much Allstate can compensate you until you build a policy with an agent. However, taking a look at the company’s larger claims history will give you a sense of how Allstate services its policyholders.
First, let’s take a look at how much Allstate has received in premium payments lately.
Year | Direct Premiums Written |
---|---|
2016 | $7,903,530,000 |
2017 | $7,957,403,000 |
2018 | $8,262,445,000 |
The above table shows how much Allstate’s policyholders have paid the company for their insurance policies. As you can see, the amount that Allstate received remained relatively steady across three years. There was a small increase in written premiums between 2016-2018.
Now let’s take a look at Allstate’s loss ratio.
Loss Ratio
Allstate’s loss ratio tells us how much of its premiums it has given back in claims. If, for example, a company receives $1,000,000 in direct premiums and then pays $1,000,000 to its policyholders in claims, it has a loss ratio of 100 percent.
If an insurance company has a loss ratio over 75 percent, that means the company is giving away too much money to remain stable long-term. Companies typically solve this by increasing rates and collecting more premiums.
If, on the other hand, a company has a loss ratio under 40 percent, that means the company may be charging too much for its policies. It is collecting more premiums than it needs for the number of claims it is getting.
A healthy and trustworthy company can maintain a loss ratio somewhere between 40–75 percent.
Here are Allstate’s loss ratios for 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Year | Loss Ratio % |
---|---|
2016 | 49.98% |
2017 | 55.60% |
2018 | 65.55% |
Allstate has maintained a healthy loss ratio over the past few years, though its loss ratio increased significantly between 2016–2018. If its loss ratio were to continue to increase, that would point to an issue with the company’s financial stability.
For the time being, however, we can chalk this increase up to cultural or environmental changes that have led to a spike in claims.
How to Get a Quote Online
Allstate makes it easy to obtain a quote online. You can even purchase insurance through the website after you’ve read your quote. To get a quote, you will need:
- Information about your home’s exterior and interior features. This includes information about your home’s roof, foundation, and additional structures.
- Your insurance history.
- Your driver’s license or ID.
- Your mortgage company’s name and address.
Once you have all this information, follow the below instructions to get a quote.
Step One – Select Your Insurance Type & Enter Your ZIP Code
To get started, click “Get A Quote” on Allstate’s homepage. Then choose home insurance from the list of options Allstate provides. If you want to bundle your home insurance with other types of insurance, you can select multiple options. Then, enter your ZIP code.
That’s step one already done. As you can see, Allstate tries to make the process as simple as possible.
Step Two – Enter Basic Information
The next step is to enter basic information like your name, address, date of birth, gender, and marital status. Allstate will also ask you how long you’ve lived at your address and whether the address you’ve submitted is the address you would like to insure.
Lastly, you’ll have to submit contact information like your email and phone number. Once you submit your phone number, you consent to receive calls from Allstate about your quote.
At this stage, Allstate will provide the nearest agent’s contact information. If you don’t want to submit your basic information online, you can call the agent to get a quote over the phone.
Step Three – Enter Property Information
To give you an accurate quote, Allstate must first learn more about your property. During this step, you’ll enter property information like the year your property was built, your purchase date, and how many stories your property has. You’ll also be asked to give an estimate of your property’s square feet.
Next, you’ll be asked about exterior and interior features like wall type, foundation type, roof history, and installed protections.
If you don’t have this information on hand, it’s best to consult with an agent. If you enter inaccurate estimates, you won’t get an accurate quote.
Step Four – Enter Household Information
In this section, you’ll answer questions about your lifestyle and insurance history. Allstate will ask how many people live in your home and whether they smoke or own dogs. There are also questions about your driving history, claims history, home insurance history, and auto insurance history.
Step Five – Find Applicable Discounts
Before giving you a quote, Allstate will use the information you’ve provided to add discounts to your policy. For example, you’ll receive a discount if you’ve installed safety features in your home.
Step Six – Obtain a Quote
After you’ve gone through all five steps, Allstate will give you quotes for a basic, standard, or enhanced plan. You can browse through plans and look at a breakdown of your coverage.
On this page, you’ll also be prompted to purchase a plan online. If you’re not ready to purchase online, you can instead contact a local agent to speak further about your quote.
If you have all of the above information on hand, you can complete the process in under half an hour. This is a big benefit of Allstate’s website, which is what we’ll cover in the following section.
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Design of Website/App
Though Allstate’s website is clean and sleek, it’s not always user-friendly.
Because Allstate would rather you learn about insurance plans through an agent, it can be difficult to find policy details online. The website is often vague about what features are available to Allstate policyholders.
Also, secondary information about features like discount or bundle packages is often spread out across multiple pages, making it difficult for users to understand their options without contacting an agent.
On the plus side, Allstate’s website makes obtaining a quote and filing a claim extremely accessible. You can access both features from the website’s homepage.
Allstate’s wealth of insurance information is another big strength. Through the website, you can access a wide variety of articles about insurance-related terms, scenarios, and questions.
Allstate also has a mobile app named Allstate Mobile. You can use Allstate Mobile to pay your bills, report claims, and get support. The app has received an average rating of 4.8/5 from 363,808 reviewers on the Apple App Store.
Users who don’t like the app have complained that it can lock or log you out of your account unexpectedly. Users have also complained that the app’s GPS feature is lacking.
Pros & Cons
Now that we’ve covered everything there is to know about Allstate, let’s take a look at the major pros and cons of choosing the company as your insurer.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Large and financially stable company | Fragmented website provides little detail about policy options |
Nationwide coverage lets you keep your coverage as you move | Employees give mixed reviews of company environment |
Multiple options for reporting a claim make claims process highly accessible | You are required to work with an agent |
Policyholders can add a wide variety of endorsements to their home insurance plan | Agents will discourage you from canceling your policy if you request a cancellation |
Though Allstate doesn’t offer the best customer service, it is a tried-and-true company with accessible and diverse coverage options.
The Bottom Line
If you’re interested in purchasing an insurance plan through Allstate, working with an Allstate agent is the only way to get detailed answers to your questions about coverage. We recommend you consult an agent in addition to doing personal research.
Overall, Allstate’s biggest benefits are its size and stability. Because Allstate is the second-largest insurance agency in the nation, policyholders get access to in-person or virtual assistance wherever they are in the U.S. Most importantly, with a company of this size, you can feel confident in your insurer’s longevity and financial strength.
If you would like to learn more about other agencies, you can enter your ZIP code below to start comparing quotes.
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Allstate FAQ
#1 – How do I pay my Allstate premium?
You can pay your bill online by logging into your account on Allstate’s website or mobile app.
You can also pay over the phone 24/7 at 1-800-901-1732. If you’re paying over the phone, make sure to have your nine-digit policy number and form of payment ready when you call.
Lastly, you can mail a check or money order to the billing address that is on your billing statement.
You can also set up automatic payments through the Allstate Easy Pay Plan or Recurring Credit Card Pay Plan.
#2 – How does Allstate make claim payments?
Allstate can route claim payments into your bank account through Quick Card Pay, Fast Mobile e-Payment, or Direct Deposit. Quick Card Pay is the quickest of the three methods. You can also receive your claim payment by check. Your check takes 7–10 days to arrive in the mail.
#3 – Can I switch Allstate agents?
Yes, you can switch to a different Allstate agent. We recommend using Allstate’s agent locator to find another agent nearby. Once you’ve found an agent you like, meet with them about initiating the transfer.
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Daniel Walker
Licensed Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Licensed Insurance Agent
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