Allstate vs. Main Street America: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Allstate offers less expensive prices than Main Street America
• Allstate has cheaper premiums for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse
• Main Street America tends to be a much more affordable option for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision

Allstate or Main Street America: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering sizable savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed it down to Allstate or Main Street America as potential options, but which company will offer you cheaper prices?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Main Street America has average rates that are around 12% a month more expensive than those from Allstate.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Allstate will be the more affordable option for every driver. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your credit score, your age, or even your driving record (among other things), so premiums could differ drastically from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Allstate or Main Street America is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each company broken down by a bunch of different rate factors.

Allstate vs. Main Street America: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Allstate and Main Street America compete against each other in five states, with Main Street America offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in New York, Main Street America is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at the overall average premiums. Allstate is the less expensive option in Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, and Vermont.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance cost than just your home state. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance rates. As you can see above, teens who use Allstate save almost 6% per month compared to those who use Main Street America.

However, both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums once you turn 25. Main Street America offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Allstate still has the most affordable rates at $167 monthly.

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 prices out there.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Allstate and Main Street America? Allstate gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older over 15% more affordable than the national average for Main Street America.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married policyholders. This usually boils down to married drivers having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something quite a few insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Allstate rates coming in at about 15% less than Main Street America's. The advantage for married couples with Allstate is also obvious, where drivers save around $20 a month.

Allstate or Main Street America: Average Rates by Gender

Men tend to pay more for car insurance than women. That's because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which raises the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

With Allstate, men generally pay about 4% more per month than women., but surprisingly, with Main Street America, men typically pay around 3% a month less than women.

Looking at overall affordability, Allstate comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $21 per month and women save about $36 with Allstate compared to the average Main Street America policyholder.

Allstate vs. Main Street America: 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 multiple different coverages that account for several 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.

But most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Allstate has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $108. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Allstate again has the edge, with policies averaging around $289 a month to Main Street America's $295.

Is Allstate or Main Street America 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.

Collisions and speeding tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is Allstate or Main Street America less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Allstate for their auto insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 15% after getting a speeding ticket. Main Street America policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 26%.

However, Allstate has more affordable rates for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are $19 and $53 cheaper, respectively, compared to Main Street America Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Allstate drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices climb by just under $75, while those who have insurance through Main Street America will see about a $40 increase.

At the end of the day, Main Street America offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with average rates coming in at $215 compared to Allstate's $229.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. On average, Main Street America will increase your prices around 38% after a DUI, while Allstate's average premiums increase by more than 30%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Allstate tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $227 to Main Street America's $283.

How does Credit Score Impact Allstate and Main Street America Rates?

Did you know many insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it does affect a lot of policyholders out there.

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

Looking specifically at Main Street America and Allstate, which one has the lowest rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Main Street America will generally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Main Street America comes in nearly 24.83 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save around 20% with Main Street America compared to average prices from Allstate.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have less-than-stellar credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best rates. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 12% less with Main Street America than Allstate, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around 43% per month with Allstate.

Is Allstate or Main Street America Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a substantial impact on your monthly premiums? Normally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper prices since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Allstate offers more affordable rates than Main Street America. Main Street America's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over 10% more expensive than Allstate. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay just under 15% more with Main Street America over Allstate.

Allstate or Main Street America: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas since there are a lot fewer cars on the road where they live, which reduces the chances of an accident.

Allstate tends to offer the most affordable prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Allstate's average rates are about $222 a month compared to Main Street America's $264. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly price of around $199 with Allstate compared to $230 with Main Street America. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $174 per month with Allstate and $188 with Main Street America.

Allstate vs. Main Street America 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. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

The difficult part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Allstate and Main Street America 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 Main Street America away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 40 different discounts to Main Street America's 18.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and discounts for being a good driver. Allstate also offers discounts for advance quote, agency transfer, alert driving, and more.

On the other hand, Main Street America has a proprietary discount of their own -- a new business discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Allstate or Main Street America Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the right one for you and your specific profile and needs?

Allstate might be best for you if....

• You are considering moving to another state -- Main Street America Insurance only offers policies in five states.
• You're looking for the best premiums on liability only coverage.
• You want to save money while purchasing insurance for a teenager.

Main Street America might be best for you if...

• You like the personalized touch of a small, regional carrier.
• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• You already have a great credit score.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Allstate and Main Street America and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from several carriers, not just Allstate and Main Street America. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Allstate vs. Main Street America FAQs

Is Allstate or Main Street America cheaper?

Allstate is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $199 per month with Allstate and $227 for Main Street America. Even so, that doesn't mean Allstate will be the cheapest company for each policyholder, since there are lots of different factors that come into play when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, Allstate or Main Street America?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Main Street America is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit, while Allstate offers cheaper premiums for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Allstate and Main Street America offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use several different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Factors like gender, age, where your home is, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Allstate and Main Street America calculate prices using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

How do I know if Allstate or Main Street America is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Allstate or Main Street America 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.