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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Allstate offers significantly cheaper rates than Motorists
• Allstate offers more affordable average prices for policyholders who drive a short distance to work everyday
• Motorists offers more affordable premiums for residents in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Allstate or Motorists as your top options, but which company has less expensive rates for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Allstate has average rates that are about 21% per month more affordable than those from Motorists.

But Allstate may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. Car insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among a wide array of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

Allstate or Motorists: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Allstate and Motorists compete against each other in five states, with Motorists offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Indiana or Ohio, Motorists is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at the overall average rates. Allstate is the more affordable option in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

But there's more to insurance than just the state you live in. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance companies determine your prices. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for insurance than any group out there 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 premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $35 less a month by choosing Motorists over Allstate.

That being said, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Allstate policyholders reduce almost $300 and Motorists's prices decrease around $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance premiums you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Allstate and Motorists? Allstate gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $67 less expensive than the national average for Motorists.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance prices tend to be cheaper for married couples than they are for single drivers. This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple cars on their policy -- something quite a few car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Allstate is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates about $43 per month less expensive than Motorists, on average. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Allstate offers the most affordable average prices.

Allstate vs. Motorists: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into an accident, which means they'll normally end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

Men typically pay around 4% more a month than women with Allstate, while with Motorists, the difference is closer to 5% per month.

Looking at overall affordability, Allstate comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average rates $54 less for men and $51 cheaper for women.

Allstate or Motorists: 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.

Insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Allstate generally offers cheaper premiums of $108 compared to Motorists's $123. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Allstate again has the edge, with policies about $90 a month more affordable than Motorists, on average.

Is Allstate or Motorists Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance carriers offering great prices for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable rates to drivers with less-than-ideal driving 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 Motorists normally raises rates around $18 a month, on average.

Even so, Allstate is usually the less expensive option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket -- their rates are around 8% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 2% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Allstate increasing by just under $75. Motorists has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay over $35 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, drivers who use Motorists end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $206 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 accident or ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. On average, Motorists will increase your rates about 62% after a DUI, while Allstate's average premiums rise by over 30%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Allstate tends to be the much cheaper option with average premiums of $227 a month compared to $442 from Motorists.

How does Credit Score Impact Allstate and Motorists Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating rates? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for lots of drivers.

Insurance companies argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which lowers the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

Looking specifically at Allstate and Motorists, which carrier has the best prices 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 Allstate. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 10% compared to Motorists, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $13 or 7% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Allstate typically offers lower premiums than Motorists when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $28 per month less with Allstate compared to Motorists, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $154 per month.

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

How much you drive can have a big impact on how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Typically, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive rates since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles each year, as well as those who average twice that figure, Allstate tends to be the cheaper option. Motorists's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in nearly 20% more expensive than Allstate. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay more than 20% more with Motorists over Allstate.

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

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

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Allstate usually comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $174 monthly with Allstate and $252 with Motorists. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly premium of around $199 with Allstate compared to $215 with Motorists. In urban areas, Allstate's average premiums are about $222 a month compared to Motorists's $286.

Allstate vs. Motorists Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be difficult to find all the ones you qualify for.

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Allstate and Motorists so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Allstate blows Motorists away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 26 more discounts than Motorists.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a homeowner, and paid in full discounts -- but Allstate also offers agency transfer discounts, alert driving discounts, annual mileage discounts, and more that Motorists does not.

On the flip side, Motorists has a couple unique discounts of its own -- empty nester discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, marital status discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Allstate or Motorists Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the right carrier for you and your specific needs?

Allstate might be best for you if....

• You have a clean driving record, free of accidents, tickets, or DUIs.
• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

Motorists might be best for you if...

• You like the personalized touch of a small, local company.
• You want to save money on your car insurance after a collision.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

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

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Allstate and Motorists. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Allstate vs. Motorists FAQs

Is Allstate or Motorists cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Allstate is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $199 per month compared to $251 for Motorists. However, Allstate won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are lots of different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Allstate or Motorists?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Motorists offers less expensive prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record, while Allstate is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Allstate and Motorists offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at a lot of different factors when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Variables like your driving record, age, where you call home, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Allstate and Motorists calculate rates using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance company 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Allstate or Motorists 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.