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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Allstate offers slightly cheaper premiums than Island
• Allstate offers more affordable prices for drivers who have below-average credit
• Island offers more affordable average rates for policyholders who live in urban areas

Allstate or Island: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering hefty savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Allstate or Island as your top options, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

As you can see, Island is around $11 more a month than Allstate when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

Even so, Allstate may not be the most affordable or best option for each driver out there. Auto insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like where you live, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, how old you are, and a variety of other factors. So, at the end of the day, prices from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Allstate or Island is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Allstate vs. Island: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Allstate and Island only compete against each other in Hawaii, where Allstate offers the cheaper average rates. Allstate drivers tend to pay about $98 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Island for their car insurance.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just where you call home. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

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

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 55% less a month by choosing Island over Allstate. It's worth noting that Allstate offers auto insurance in 47 different states compared to Island's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Allstate policyholders drop about $300 and Island's prices reduce around $0 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest premiums out there.

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Allstate gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $152 per month compared to Island's $210.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance premiums are usually more expensive for those who are single than they are for married drivers? That's because policies for married couples normally cover more than one vehicle, which several carriers will give you a discount for.

For single drivers, the difference in average rates between these two companies is not very significant, with Island premiums coming in at around 10% less than Allstate's. The advantage for married policyholders is more obvious, where drivers who use Allstate save about $55 per month.

Allstate or Island: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and file an insurance claim. That means when it comes to car insurance men will typically end up paying a little more.

Generally, men see rates nearly $10 a month higher with Allstate; women and men end up paying same monthly prices with Island.

Looking at overall affordability, Allstate offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women, with average premiums $7 less for men and $16 cheaper for women.

Allstate vs. Island: 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.

For most people, auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are lots of different coverages that account for a range of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

When it comes to state minimum liability limits, Island has the edge, while Allstate offers the most affordable average prices for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $3 with Island Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $25 less expensive with Allstate.

Is Allstate or Island Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

Accidents and speeding tickets will most likely raise your rates, but is Allstate or Island cheaper for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Allstate for their car insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 15% after getting a speeding ticket. Island policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 8%.

That being said, Island tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket, offering prices that are 55% and 58% less expensive, respectively, compared to Allstate.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Allstate policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums increase by just under $75, while those who have insurance through Island will see about a $25 increase.

At the end of the day, Island offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average premiums coming in at $93 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 insurance bill -- typically a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. For example, Island increases average prices by more than $500 per month -- that's nearly a 90% increase.

Allstate has the overall cheapest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $227 a month, but it's worth noting that Allstate's average rates come from 47 states compared to just one for Island, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Allstate and Island Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance carriers take your credit score into account when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for a lot of drivers.

The reasoning car insurance companies use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper prices, while those with poor credit will usually be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Island and Allstate, which one has the lowest premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have stellar credit, Allstate will generally reward you. Improving your "good" credit score to an "excellent" one will typically save Allstate customers around $25. Because Island, doesn't have data available for credit scores, they most likely don't use credit to calculate your rates.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Having bad credit can cost you with Allstate. For drivers with less-than-stellar credit, at Allstate, you may pay about $70 a month more if you have "poor" credit compared to those with "fair" scores. It's an even larger difference when compared to drivers with "good" or "excellent" scores. On the other hand, Island doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means drivers with bad credit might find better rates with Island over Allstate.

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

How much you drive can have a big impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Normally, the more milage you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Island charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Allstate, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles annually paying around $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, for drivers in both categories, Allstate is the more affordable carrier.

Allstate or Island: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can play a considerable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Generally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Allstate usually comes out as the cheaper option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while Island wins in urban areas.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Island's average rates are about $219 per month compared to Allstate's $222. People in suburban areas pay around $199 with Allstate compared to Island's $219 monthly. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $174 a month with Allstate and $192 with Island.

Allstate vs. Island Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Allstate and Island offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

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

Both companies offer several of the same discounts -- like ABS discounts, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and passive restraint discounts -- but Allstate also offers discounts for advance quote, agency transfer, alert driving, and more.

On the other hand, Island has a few proprietary discounts of their own like employee discounts and special customer discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Allstate or Island Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your car insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the best fit for you?

Allstate might be best for you if....

• You value the experience that comes with a large national insurance carrier.
• You live in an suburban area.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

Island might be best for you if...

• You have a clean record.
• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You want to save money while purchasing auto insurance for a teenager.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Allstate and Island and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just Allstate and Island. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Allstate vs. Island FAQs

Is Allstate or Island cheaper?

Allstate is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $199 a month with Allstate and $210 for Island. However, that doesn't mean Allstate will be the most affordable company for each driver, since there are a bunch of different factors that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Allstate or Island?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Allstate is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Island offers cheaper premiums for policyholders with an at-fault accident on their record.

Why do Allstate and Island offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use lots of different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Things like age, gender, your driving record, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Allstate and Island calculate prices differently, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple 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 quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Allstate or Island at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.