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USAA Vs. Allstate

Both USAA and Allstate insurance companies have strong customer satisfaction scores, but USAA is more affordable for military members and their families.

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Written by:
Dash Lewis , Writer
Written by: Dash Lewis Content Writer
02/17/2024 11:42 PM

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Key Points:

  • Allstate car insurance coverage is available for most drivers, while USAA coverage is only available for military members and their families. 
  • Between USAA and Allstate, USAA is more affordable, but only for qualifying customers. Allstate consistently has some of the highest insurance premiums in the industry.
  • Both USAA and Allstate have strong customer satisfaction scores, though USAA’s limited availability stops it from competing in many consumer studies.

USAA and Allstate are two of the biggest names in car insurance. USAA serves active and retired military members and their immediate families, while Allstate insurance products are available to everyone. If you qualify for both, you may be comparing USAA vs. Allstate and asking yourself which is superior.

We’ve reviewed the best car insurance companies in the nation, and now we’re putting USAA and Allstate to the test to see which provider has the best coverage, car insurance rates, customer service, and more. But remember, just because an auto insurance provider is right for one person doesn’t mean it’s right for another, so you’ll want to weigh your options carefully. Keep reading to see which, if either, is the right car insurance option for you. 

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USAA Vs. Allstate Highlights

When you compare USAA and Allstate, each car insurance company has its strengths and weaknesses. We found USAA to be the best car insurance for veterans and military personnel. Allstate, on the other hand, is a smart option for young drivers, given its age-based discounts. See our head-to-head car insurance comparison below.

USAAAllstate
Overall Rating4.54.4
AvailabilityFor military members,
available in 50 states
No restrictions,
available in 50 states
Coverage4.84.6
Cost4.73.8
Customer Service4.34.2
AM Best Financial Strength RatingA++A+
2023 J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction Score900/1,000*882/1,000
Mobile App Google Play Rating4.03.8
Mobile App App Store Rating4.84.8

*Due to its limited availability, USAA does not currently meet ranking criteria for J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction studies and is excluded from the final insurance company rankings, regardless of its score.

USAA and Allstate are not just top-notch car insurance providers. They also offer home, motorcycle, and small business insurance, as well as other financial products and services. Both USAA and Allstate have their strengths, but keep reading to see how they compare based on coverage, cost, and ratings.


USAA Vs. Allstate: Coverage Comparison

Most companies offer the same six standard types of car insurance and a variety of add-ons. These standard types include:

  • Liability insurance: Bodily Injury (BI) and Property Damage (PD) liability insurance cover the injuries and property damage of other drivers and their passengers in accidents that you cause.
  • Collision: This type of insurance covers your vehicle, no matter who is at fault.
  • Comprehensive: Comprehensive car insurance covers your vehicle from environmental factors such as floods, fires, and fallen tree branches, as well as things like theft and vandalism.
  • Personal injury protection: PIP covers medical expenses, lost wages, and death benefits for you and your passengers, no matter who is at fault. It is required in no-fault states.
  • Medical payments: MedPay covers medical expenses for you and your passengers.
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: This type of coverage protects you from at-fault drivers with no insurance or too little insurance.

Liability auto insurance is required in almost every state, while other standard coverages will depend on where you live and whether you own or lease your vehicle. Consider your state requirements and personal driving history when deciding how much car insurance to purchase.

Here’s a closer look at  Allstate and USAA’s coverage options:

USAAAllstate
Bodily Injury Liability (BI)
Property Damage Liability (PD)
Collision
Comprehensive
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Medical Payments (MedPay)
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
Roadside Assistance
Rental Car Reimbursement
Rideshare Insurance
Accident Forgiveness
Classic Car Insurance
Mexico Tourist Car Insurance

USAA Vs. Allstate: Cost And Discounts

The cost of auto insurance depends on many factors. Your age, gender, driving history, and credit score are just a few of the things that can affect your premium. Overall, we found that USAA offers much more affordable coverage than Allstate.

In the chart below, we provide a direct comparison of USAA and Allstate’s average annual car insurance rates. The full coverage and liability rates listed are averages for a single male driver, age 30, with good credit and a clean driving record. We’ve also included rates for younger drivers and those for drivers with a recent speeding ticket to show how rates change for each provider.

USAA
Annual Rate
Allstate
Annual Rate
Full coverage insurance$1,476$2,520
Liability coverage$509$1,036
Full coverage for drivers age 16$4,943$9,430
Full coverage for drivers with one ticket$1,545$3,184

For full coverage, a USAA policy comes in well below the national average rate of $1,968 per year for full coverage car insurance, while Allstate surpasses it by almost $600.

USAA Vs. Allstate Car Insurance: Discounts

In our industry-wide review, we gave USAA 4.7 out of 5 stars for cost and Allstate 3.8. If you’re searching for cheap car insurance, Allstate may not be the best choice, regardless of whether you qualify for USAA car insurance. The insurer tends to be one of the most expensive car insurance providers around.

Fortunately, both providers have discounts to help you save money on your car insurance policy. Here are the insurance discount offerings from USAA and Allstate:

DiscountUSAAAllstate
Multiple Policy
Multiple Vehicle
Good Student
Safe Driver
New Vehicle
Anti-Theft Device
Anti-Lock Brakes
Automatic Payment
Paperless
Early Signing
Responsible Payer
Pay in Full
Defensive Driving
Driver Training
Annual Mileage
Vehicle Storage
Military Installation
Length of Membership Savings

We like USAA’s unique discounts for vehicle storage and military installation. Customers can get up to 60 percent off if they store their insured vehicles due to deployment or other reasons, and up to an additional 15 percent off comprehensive coverage for garaging a vehicle on a military base.

Allstate has several discounts that center around billing. If you make payments on time or in full, or choose to do paperless or automatic payments, you could save money. 

As with most major insurance providers, bundling auto policies for multiple family members with life insurance, homeowners insurance, renters insurance, and other policies can save you some money. If you don’t drive often, consider a telematics insurance (or usage-based) program to get the best rates. Whatever your needs, you can work with your insurance agent to find the right coverage.

A list of actions a driver can take to lower their car insurance costs

SafePilot And Drivewise®

Like most major car insurance providers, USAA and State Farm will reward you for being a good driver. Both companies have safe driving programs that can get you a discount on your premium.

The two providers’ programs are similar. USAA’s SafePilot and Allstate’s Drivewise® both monitor your driving habits via a mobile app or plug-in device. Your car insurance rates will never go up–they will only go down or stay the same.


USAA Vs. Allstate: Ratings And Reviews

Ratings by industry experts are positive for both car insurance companies. USAA earned an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best, while Allstate earned an A+, so you know that both providers have the ability to pay out claims. Currently, USAA is not rated by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), though Allstate holds an A+ rating from the organization.

Both companies are also ranked well for customer satisfaction. USAA performed better in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study℠, earning 874 out of a possible 1,000 points based on customer satisfaction ratings, while Allstate earned 853. Though USAA is excluded from the official rankings due to its limited availability, its high score still indicates strong customer satisfaction.

When we compared Allstate and USAA claims, we found that both auto insurance companies offer claims services online and by phone. USAA and Allstate customers can also file and track claims on company mobile apps.

As for customer satisfaction with the claims processes, USAA has a slight edge over Allstate. In the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study℠, USAA scored 900 out of a possible 1,000 points, and Allstate scored 882.

Customer Reviews

Customer reviews from the BBB, Trustpilot, and other reputable platforms are a helpful resource when comparing auto insurance providers. We’ve read and summarized these reviews for USAA and Allstate.

Positive customer reviews for USAA highlight the smooth claims process and friendly customer service representatives, while negative reviews mention a lack of communication and trouble with cancellations.

Allstate’s positive reviews praise representatives’ willingness to go above and beyond. However, negative reviews call out Allstate’s inability to fulfill certain types of coverage and drivers having issues with Allstate after being hit by an Allstate driver.


USAA Vs. Allstate: Our Take

Overall, USAA pulls ahead in our comparison of USAA vs. Allstate. But unfortunately, not everyone qualifies for USAA auto insurance. If you’re not in the military or directly related to a military member, you may consider Allstate. The company offers extensive coverage, and some drivers have great things to say about the company’s customer service.

When you’re looking for new coverage, it’s a good idea to compare auto insurance quotes from multiple providers. Auto insurance rates are affected not only by the provider you choose but by factors like your age, vehicle make and model, and driving history–so the company that’s best for your neighbor may not be what’s best for you.

Other Top Recommendations For Car Insurance

USAA and Allstate are smart choices for auto insurance, but they aren’t the only providers out there. We recommend Geico as the best overall provider in the industry and Progressive for drivers in their 20s and those considered high-risk.

State Farm: Best Overall Provider

State Farm has a reputation for its low rates and wide variety of car insurance coverage options. The provider is recognized by leaders like AM Best (it has an A++ financial strength rating) and the BBB (A rating).

With State Farm, people with less-than-perfect driving records can get full coverage car insurance for comparably affordable rates. The company also offers a wide selection of discounts for all types of drivers.

For more information, read our full State Farm review.

Progressive: Best For Usage-Based Insurance

If you’re a young driver or have a few accidents on your record, Progressive car insurance may be the best option for you. We found Progressive to be an excellent choice for high-risk drivers, as its rates don’t increase as much as other industry leaders.

Progressive offers standard car insurance and other types of coverage, such as roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and custom parts and equipment value coverage. The auto insurer has great technology, too, that can make getting a quote or monitoring your driving habits easy.

For more information, read our full Progressive insurance review.

To collect and compare quotes from multiple providers, use the free tool below:

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USAA Vs. Allstate: FAQ

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about USAA vs. Allstate car insurance coverage:

Is USAA cheaper than Allstate?

Some quotes our team received for USAA were as much as 50 percent cheaper than similar quotes from Allstate. However, USAA is only available for military members and their families. If you don’t qualify for USAA coverage, consider comparing Allstate rates against those from State Farm or Progressive.

Why are USAA premiums so different from Allstate?

Each insurance provider uses different factors to determine insurance rates. Since USAA serves military members and affiliated persons, the company works with a different set of policy risks than Allstate, which provides coverage for most drivers. 

Is Allstate a good alternative to USAA?

Allstate is a well-known name in the insurance industry, offering unique coverage options and a variety of policy discounts. However, Allstate’s rates may be higher than those of other providers. To get the best coverage for your budget and vehicle, compare coverage quotes from a few different providers before committing.


How We Rate Auto Insurers

Our review team extensively researches auto insurance providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:

  • Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
  • Availability: Insurance companies that offer wider availability to consumers in terms of state availability and few eligibility requirements are more likely to meet consumer needs.
  • Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.
  • Pricing: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.
  • Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer a smooth experience.
  • Technology: Providers with an online quote tool, easy-to-use claims app and a usage-based insurance app score best in this category.

*Data accurate at time of publication.