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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Allstate offers slightly more affordable rates than Shelter
• Allstate has less expensive premiums for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods
• Shelter has cheaper rates in AR, KS, KY, MO, MS, NE, and OK

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

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

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

Looking at nationwide averages, Shelter is around $9 more a month than Allstate.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Allstate will be the more affordable option for every driver. Insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how good your credit score is or how old you are (among a bunch of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Allstate and Shelter by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Allstate vs. Shelter: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Allstate and Shelter compete against each other in seven states, with Shelter offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Arkansas, Kansas, or Missouri, Shelter is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at the overall average rates. Allstate is the cheaper option in Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.

But there's more to calculating car insurance premiums than just where you live. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for auto insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. It's generally because teen 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. As you can see above, teens who use Shelter save 1% per month compared to those who use Allstate.

But with both carriers, you'll see your rates reduce significantly once you turn 25. Shelter 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 lowest premiums at $167 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the most affordable car insurance prices you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally lowers their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise rates.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Shelter gets the slight edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older about 7% less expensive than the national average for Allstate.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance prices tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers. That's typically because married policyholders tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

If you're in the market for auto insurance, Allstate tends to have the cheapest average rates regardless of if you're married or single, with prices around $15 more affordable for single policyholders and about $6 less expensive for married couples.

Allstate or Shelter: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get tickets and get into accidents. That means when it comes to car insurance men will usually end up paying a little more.

Women generally pay almost $10 a month less than men with Allstate, and around $25 cheaper with Shelter when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at overall affordability, Allstate offers the lowest average prices for both men and women, with average premiums $18 less for men and $2 cheaper for women.

Allstate vs. Shelter: 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 insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

Even so, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside liability).

When it comes to state minimum liability limits, Allstate has the edge, while Shelter offers the most affordable average prices for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $20 with Allstate, while full coverage comes out to be about $1 cheaper with Shelter Insurance.

Is Allstate or Shelter 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.

It's no secret secret that at-fault accidents and speeding tickets lead to higher rates, but which company -- Allstate or Shelter -- has the cheapest premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving 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 around 15% after getting a speeding ticket. Shelter policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 22%.

However, Shelter has more affordable prices for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are $14 and $2 less expensive, respectively, compared to Allstate.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Allstate policyholders who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums climb by just under $75, while those who have insurance through Shelter will see around a $90 increase.

At the end of the day, Allstate offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average prices coming in at $229 compared to Shelter Insurance's $234.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even a collision. On average, Shelter will increase your premiums about 49% after a DUI, while Allstate's average rates increase by more than 30%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Allstate tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $227 to Shelter's $277.

How does Credit Score Impact Allstate and Shelter Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly auto insurance premiums. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it might come into play for many drivers.

Car insurance carriers argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking at Allstate and Shelter specifically, which company has the best prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Allstate will generally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Allstate comes in over 11.59 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save about 8% with Allstate compared to average rates from Shelter.

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 premiums. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 8% less with Allstate than Shelter, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving about 5% per month with Shelter.

Is Allstate or Shelter 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 pretty big impact on your monthly insurance bill? Usually, those who drive less will end up with cheaper rates since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

Allstate tends to be the less expensive option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Allstate's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in 3% more affordable than Shelter. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay 7% less with Allstate over Shelter.

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

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

Allstate typically comes out as the cheaper option for drivers in rural and urban areas, while Shelter wins in suburban areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $29 with Allstate compared to Shelter. People who live in suburban areas pay about $12 less with Shelter compared to Allstate. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Allstate's average premiums are around $13 less than Shelter Insurance.

Allstate vs. Shelter Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can. That's where car insurance discounts comes into play.

The difficult part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Allstate and Shelter 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 Shelter away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 40 different discounts to Shelter's 10.

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

Shelter's discounts come through just a few categories, including Advance Quote, Anti-Theft, Defensive Driver, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Allstate or Shelter Best for You?

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

Allstate might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• You care about discounts (Allstate offers the most).
• You have a short commute.

Shelter might be best for you if...

• You like the personalized touch of a small, regional company.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You want to save money while purchasing insurance for a teenager.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Allstate and Shelter 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 a handful of companies, not just Allstate and Shelter. 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. Shelter FAQs

Is Allstate or Shelter cheaper?

Allstate is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $199 a month with Allstate and $208 for Shelter. Even so, that doesn't mean Allstate will be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are many different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Allstate or Shelter?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, Shelter is more affordable for drivers who have already retired, while Allstate offers less expensive rates for single policyholders.

Why do Allstate and Shelter offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use lots of different variables when determining the premiums they charge. Factors like your driving record, age, gender, where you park your car, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Allstate and Shelter calculate prices differently, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

How do I know if Allstate or Shelter 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 quotes from dozens of your local top insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Allstate or Shelter 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.