Allstate Auto Insurance: A tale of two cities
Written: Oct 17 '00
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Pros: fast claims, inexpensive
Cons: Switching states can cost
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| mrisch's Full Review: Allstate - Auto |
I was an Allstate auto insurance customer for many years, and though I was generally happy with the service and the cost, there are a few things to know about.
For example, if you are moving, you may be surprised at the difference in coverage and service. On the whole, I would recommend Allstate to anyone looking for auto insurance on a budget.
Coverage
You can get all the basic coverage. I had Liability, Uninsured Motorist, Collision ($500 deductible), and Comprehensive ($0 deductible). That’s right, zero deductible, and I used it multiple times. I learned long ago that enough happens to your car over time that the extra paid for a zero comprehensive deductible is made back over time. It didn’t hurt that Allstate was cheap enough to make this cost effective.
For cost comparison, I insured my $10000 car (brand new) for under $70 a month (at least to start - see below). Note that this doesn’t even include a multi-car discount, which can be very extensive.
Medical
I have always declined medical coverage - I have a low deductible health insurance, so the $5000 just doesn’t help much.
Rental
Also inexpensive is rental coverage, which will pay for a rental car while your car is being repaired. If you need your car, this coverage is a must.
Claims
I two claims with Allstate, and all were well handled. Here is a recap:
Just a few months after buying my car, I rear ended another car in the rain. I took my car to a local center (this is not as good as them coming to you, though they will if your car is totaled and immobile). The adjuster told me the amount Allstate would pay, and gave me some options. I could get a check for that amount, and go anywhere I wanted, or I could go to a local contracting body shop, and the adjuster would make sure that, no matter what, the repair would get done for the deductible. I had obtained two separate body shop estimates, so I knew the amount was only so-so. Thus, I accepted the Allstate shop, which was very good, and I had no problems or delays. My understanding was that the person I hit was timely paid as well.
Another time, I had my stereo stolen. Again, I went to an adjuster at a local Allstate claim center. The adjuster set up the “go to our shop and we’ll pay” plan for the damage to the door where the lock was broken. As to the actual stereo, and a slight scratch on the dash, the adjuster made a great offer and cut me a check that day. Allstate paid me so much that I was able to buy a relatively nice new stereo (self installed) and also pay for most of a camcorder.
All in all, I have no complaints about the claims process.
Windshield Claims
If you need a windshield replaced, Allstate will refer you to a company that will come to your car and replace the windshield. Allstate will actually waive the deductible if you use their company. This is a great feature. I used this service once, and it was great.
Customer service
Allstate customer service was relatively good for me (Palo Alto and Hyde Park, Chicago), though I will note that it depends on your agent. I am more of a fan of 24 hour service, though if you have a good agent, you can get pretty good service and availability.
The web site allows you to do some policy management as well. Because I am no longer a customer, I can’t comment on it, except to say it is a step forward.
A Tale of Two Cities: What You Should Know
So, why did I stop using Allstate? Sadly, it was my own fault in part - it was my accident a couple years earlier.
It is important that you know that your Allstate costs and coverage will vary greatly if you move out of state. When I moved to Chicago, I was dumbfounded at how different things worked. First, the rates were very different due to being in a city, and were higher. Second, the entire way the agents worked differed. Third, the coverage requirements differed, and were greater in Chicago, and thus more costly. Fourth, we sold my wife’s car, and this meant that I lost a multi-car discount.
But that’s not all! I had the funny notion that the same car moving would just retain the same coverage. Not so! By moving to a different state, I was not only dealing with a different region, I think it was a whole separate underwrite. I had to sign up for coverage just as if I were a new customer. No credit for past low rates, no nothing. Because cheap, good insurance is that way because it charges bad drivers more. This is difficult, of course, for bad drivers to accept.
It was even more difficult for me to accept, because I was now being penalized for an accident that Allstate California did not overly penalize me on (other than raising my rates a little bit).
Needless to say, my rates more than doubled, and I simply could not afford it anymore. I think an insurance company should not do this to its customers.
On a final note, however, I was so happy with Allstate otherwise, I continued to get my renter’s insurance through Allstate.
Recommended:
Yes
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