Allstate vs. American Family Car Insurance: Expert Recommended (2023)

Some research along with our advice can help you decide between Allstate insurance and American Family insurance. If you are also considering other car insurance companies, take a look at our article about the best insurance companies.

In our comparison of these two companies, we’ll discuss each company’s rates, discounts, coverages, and third-party ratings to help you make your decision.

But, before you begin reading our comparisons, remember that American Family offers car insurance in only 19 states. Be sure to read your state’s car insurance rates by state guide.

To compare rates from Allstate, American Family, and other companies in your area, use our free quote comparison tool above by entering your ZIP code.

Does Allstate or American Family have better car insurance coverage options?

Both companies have essential coverages which includes liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured motorists, rental car coverage, roadside assistance, medical payments, and rideshare insurance.

Both companies also offer coverage for other situations like accidental death, dismemberment, disability, when you lock your keys in your car, insurance for your antique car, and umbrella policies.

However, since American Family is a smaller company, there are some types of coverages that they do not provide that Allstate does. These coverages are:

• Mechanical breakdown insurance
• Preferred repair services
• Sound system coverage
• New car replacement coverage
• Accident forgiveness
• No fault coverage
• Loss of use coverage

However, sometimes the smaller companies specialize in certain types of specialty coverages that larger companies don’t, and American Family is no exception.

American Family insurance company can offer you emergency assistance coverage, SR-22 coverage, work loss coverage, gap insurance, comprehensive claim forgiveness, and legal defense costs coverage.

Does Allstate or American Family have better rates?

Rates can vary widely depending on the company you choose. But other factors affect your rates, not just the company. Your rates are also based on your driving record, age, and where you live.

Unfortunately, though, some states still use discriminatory factors such as gender and marital status to determine your rates. Compare age, gender, and marital status rates for both Allstate and American Family.

American Family car insurance rates are cheaper overall when looking at age, gender, and marital status.

American Family also has better rates for drivers with infractions such as accidents, speeding tickets, or DUIs. But, Allstate’s rates don’t go up as much as American Family’s rates do if you cause an accident. It seems that Allstate is more lenient on drivers who get a speeding ticket.

Does Allstate or American Family offer better discounts?

Discounts offered by both Allstate and American Family are fairly similar to what most companies offer, but the discounts you will be able to stack may differ, and the savings will be different from company to company as well.

What car insurance discounts does Allstate offer?

Allstate’s best discounts range from 15% off to 35% off. They are:

• Defensive driver discount
• New car discount
• teenSMART discount
• Accident forgiveness

A few other unique discounts offered by Allstate have a variation of savings. If one of these applies to you, be sure to ask about the discount.

• Utility vehicle discount
• Paperless document discount
• Family discount
• Driving training discount
• Deductible discount

The smaller discounts offered by Allstate range from 5% to 10%.

• Preferred payment discount
• Multiple policy discount
• EV/Hybrid discount
• Safe driver discount
• Early quote discount
• Good student discount
• Prepay discount
• E-billing discount
• Senior adult discount
• Student-away-at-school discount
• Paid in full discount
• Low mileage discount
• Farm vehicle discount
• Anti-lock brake discount
• Good payer discount
• Anti-theft device discount
• Multiple vehicle discount
• Passive restraint discount

Now let’s take a look at similar but also specialty discounts offered by American Family.

What car insurance discounts does American Family offer?

You can get 10 to 25% off your car insurance from American Family with the following discounts:

• Passive restraint discount
• Occupation discount
• Multiple policy discount
• Anti-theft device discount
• Multiple vehicle discount
• Good student discount
• Military discount
• Defensive driver discount
• Senior adult discount

You can save between three three and eight percent if one of the following American Family discounts applies to you:

• Accident free discount
• Anti-lock brake discount
• Provider switch discount
• Sponsored marketing discount
• Low mileage discount
• Good driver discount
• Electronic stability control
• Early quote discount
• New graduate discount
• Homeowner discount
• Preferred payment discount
• Loyalty discount
• Daytime running lights discount
• Travelink discount
• Paperless documents discount
• Paid in full discount
• Driving habits discount

They also offer the following additional discounts, and the amount of the discount can vary.

• Accident (merit) rating
• teenSMART discount
• Accident forgiveness

Allstate or American Family may prioritize certain discounts or not allow the stacking of multiple discounts, but it all depends on your personal characteristics and unique situation. It never hurts to ask about more discounts.

What payment options do Allstate and American Family provide?

Again, because American Family is generally a smaller company (and that has its perks), sometimes larger companies offer more ways to manage your car insurance policy.

Allstate offers the following services when it comes to payment options:

• Debit card
• Electronic check
• Credit card
• Direct deposit

You can also make a payment to Allstate online, using their mobile app, through the post, or online. Allstate also allows customers to make prepayments.

American Family offers all payment options that Allstate does with the exception of electronic check and prepayment.

Does Allstate or American Family have the best driving app?

Drivewise is Allstate’s driving app, and it will track your driving habits. An initial discount for participating is provided, and as you practice safe driving, you can earn additional rewards.

American Family’s usage-based driving app is KnowYourDrive. You get a 10% discount just for enrolling. After the app tracks your driving habits and verifies that you are a safe driver, your discount could go up to 20%.

Does Allstate or American Family have better industry ratings?

Who doesn’t read product reviews on Amazon? The same goes for car insurance reviews, and there are a few leaders in industry standards that rate car insurance companies. Let’s take a look at the customer satisfaction rating for Allstate and American Family.

Allstate vs. American Family Car Insurance BBB Ratings

Allstate earns an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Unfortunately, though, customer complaints were high at 466.

American Family earns an A from the Better Business Bureau and only 45 customer complaints were submitted last year.

The total number of customer complaints is adjusted for the size of the company, so anything above a ratio of 1.0 could be of concern.

American Family’s complaint ratio is 1.36, and Allstate’s complaint ratio is 2.02.

Allstate vs. American Family Financial Strength

Another excellent third-party rating company to reference is A.M. Best.

This agency measures financial strength. A higher score shows that a company is doing well managing the premiums earned and paying out claims. Allstate has an A+ financial strength rating. American Family has a financial strength rating of A.

How can I get Allstate car insurance quotes and American Family car insurance quotes?

If you want a more personal experience, Allstate provides their customers with the opportunity to work closely with an Allstate insurance agent to choose coverages. Another option is getting a quote on their website (www.allstate.com).

American Family doesn’t have individual agents, but can provide a quote using their website (www.amfam.com) or you can call (800) 692-6326 to speak with a representative to get a quote.

If you need help finding affordable car insurance through Allstate, American Family, or another car insurance company, enter your ZIP code into our free quote comparison tool below.