Allstate vs. California Casualty: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Allstate offers slightly cheaper prices than California Casualty
• Allstate offers more affordable premiums for people who are single and purchasing car insurance by yourself
• California Casualty offers less expensive average prices for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years

Allstate vs. California Casualty: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering Allstate or California Casualty as your top options, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Allstate is about $2 per month more affordable than California Casualty.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Allstate will be the less expensive option for every single driver. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your age, your driving record, your credit score, or even where you call home (among other things). So, at the end of the day, rates from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Allstate or California Casualty is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each company broken down by many different rate factors.

Allstate or California Casualty: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Allstate and California Casualty compete against each other in four states, with Allstate offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Colorado, Allstate is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at the overall average premiums. California Casualty is the less expensive option in Delaware, Oregon, and Washington.

But there's more to insurance than just where you live. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance carriers calculate your rates. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance premiums of any group on the road. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have California Casualty for their auto insurance pay more than $15 less than those who use Allstate.

However, with both companies, you'll see your rates reduce significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Allstate policyholders decrease nearly $300 and California Casualty's rates drop around $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the cheapest insurance premiums you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for car insurance.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Allstate and California Casualty? California Casualty gets the slight edge here, with average prices coming in at about $149 monthly compared to Allstate's $152. But the difference is only around 5%, so other factors will likely come into play when determining which carrier has the lowest rates for you.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly more affordable auto insurance prices than single policyholders. This usually boils down to married drivers having more than one car on their policy -- something quite a few insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

If you're in the market for auto insurance, Allstate tends to have the most affordable average premiums regardless of relationship status, with prices about 0% cheaper for those who are single and around 3% more affordable for married couples.

Allstate vs. California Casualty: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get tickets and get into accidents, which means they'll usually end up paying more for car insurance than women.

With Allstate, women normally pay about 4% a month less than men, and almost 10% less with California Casualty when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at overall affordability, Allstate is the cheapest company for men. Rates with Allstate are $6 less for men, while women can save around $1 with California Casualty.

Allstate or California Casualty: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

It's no secret that auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are a range of different coverages that account for lots of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside what you get with a liability policy).

In this case, Allstate offers the most affordable average prices for state minimum liability limits, while California Casualty has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $15 with Allstate, while full coverage comes out to be about $10 less expensive with California Casualty.

Is Allstate or California Casualty Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

Tickets and accidents will most likely raise your rates, but is Allstate or California Casualty cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Allstate policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $27 per month if they get a ticket, while California Casualty typically raises prices around $33 a month, on average.

Even so, California Casualty has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save about $19 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $13 a month with California Casualty.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Allstate can expect to see about an $73 -- or around 32% -- increase in their insurance premiums. Drivers who use California Casualty for their car insurance will see a monthly bill about $61 (or 31%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance carrier.

Overall, California Casualty offers the lowest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $198 compared to Allstate's $229.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly car insurance bill -- generally a lot more than a collision or ticket. On average, California Casualty will climb your premiums around 54% after a DUI, while Allstate's average rates increase by over 30%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Allstate tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $227 per month compared to $300 from California Casualty.

How does Credit Score Impact Allstate and California Casualty Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for lots of policyholders.

Insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable prices.

Looking at Allstate and California Casualty specifically, which company has the most affordable premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with California Casualty for an "excellent" credit score. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save 6% compared to Allstate, while those with "good" scores can expect to see better savings from Allstate -- about $2 or 1% cheaper than California Casualty each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Allstate typically offers lower prices than California Casualty when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $7 per month less with Allstate compared to California Casualty, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about $10 a month.

Is Allstate or California Casualty Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on your monthly rates. Usually, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

Looking specifically at Allstate and California Casualty, California Casualty is the more affordable option for people who work from home, while California Casualty has better premiums for those with short commutes. Allstate's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 4% more expensive than California Casualty. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay about 7% more with California Casualty over Allstate.

Allstate vs. California Casualty: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can have a substantial impact on your monthly insurance cost. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because of the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

California Casualty typically comes out as the less expensive option for drivers in rural and urban areas, while Allstate wins in suburban areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $164 monthly with California Casualty and $174 with Allstate. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $199 with Allstate compared to California Casualty's $221 per month. In urban areas, California Casualty's average premiums are around $218 while Allstate offers rates about $222.

Allstate vs. California Casualty Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you're eligible for.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Allstate and California Casualty offer their customers so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Allstate blows California Casualty away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 40 different discounts to California Casualty's 14.

Both companies offer many of the same discounts -- like discounts for getting driver training, discounts for being a good student, mature driver discounts, and paperless discounts -- but Allstate also offers advance quote discounts, agency transfer discounts, alert driving discounts, and more that California Casualty does not.

On the flip side, California Casualty has a couple unique discounts of its own -- education discounts, full coverage discounts, and group discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Allstate or California Casualty Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

California Casualty might be best for you if....

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" car insurance.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually.

Allstate might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Allstate and California Casualty and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on car insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just Allstate and California Casualty. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Allstate vs. California Casualty FAQs

Is Allstate or California Casualty cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Allstate is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $199 a month compared to $201 for California Casualty. That being said, Allstate won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every policyholder, since there are multiple different factors that are considered when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Allstate or California Casualty?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, Allstate offers less expensive rates for single drivers, while California Casualty is more affordable for drivers who have already retired.

Why do Allstate and California Casualty offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different variables when determining the prices they charge policyholders. Things like where you park your vehicle, where you live, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Allstate and California Casualty calculate rates differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

How do I know if Allstate or California Casualty is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Allstate or California Casualty at all!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.