USAA vs. Allstate: Which is Best for You?

For the average driver, USAA is cheaper than Allstate and has better rankings for customer service. Overall, USAA is more affordable in all states, including with specific driver types MoneyGeek compared rates for.

On the other hand, Allstate has more unique coverages to customize your car insurance. Drivers with new cars could benefit from Allstate’s new car replacement and gap insurance coverages.

Though USAA is the overall winner and good for all driver types, Allstate is best for its home and auto bundle discount and usage-based programs for additional savings.

Keep in mind that USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families, while Allstate offers insurance to the general public.

For the average driver, USAA offers cheaper auto insurance quotes than Allstate overall. The national average cost for USAA is $883, while Allstate’s rate for the same driver and coverage is $1,351 per year.

Insurance companies use pieces of information to determine how much you pay for car insurance, with your state being one of the most significant. Your age, credit score and driving and claims history are also deciding factors.

The sample driver used for these comparison rates is a 40-year-old male with a clean driving record. The policy quoted includes full coverage with 100/300/100 liability limits and $1,000 deductibles each for comprehensive and collision.

Overall, USAA auto insurance is cheaper than Allstate auto insurance in more states across the country. Average pricing is based on national rates and could vary depending on your location.

In 47 states, USAA is cheaper than Allstate. Allstate isn’t cheaper than USAA in any state. Both Allstate and USAA write auto policies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. If you'd like to see which company may offer you a lower, personalized quote, use our car insurance calculator.

How much you pay for auto insurance is influenced by personal factors such as your age, credit score and driving history. Changes in these criteria can cause your rates to go up or down, sometimes by a large amount. When comparing rates for several types of drivers, USAA is cheaper than Allstate in all categories.

• USAA is cheaper for an 18-year-old student driver.
• USAA is cheaper for a driver with a ticket.
• USAA is cheaper for a driver with an at-fault accident.
• USAA is cheaper for a driver with a DUI.
• USAA is cheaper for a driver with poor credit.

To find the cheapest car insurance company for you, be sure to get several quotes from each company.

Many auto insurance companies offer the same discounts, but your final quote is what matters most. Common discounts are awarded for safe driving habits, having safety features in your vehicle and paying your policy in full or early. The most impactful discounts to your insurance quote are the home and auto bundle discount and usage-based insurance programs.

Allstate beats out USAA here with a higher home and auto discount, plus Allstate has two options for usage programs while USAA only has one.

The home and auto bundle discount is offered to customers who insure their car and home with the same carrier. Among the top insurers, the national average home and auto bundle discount is 17%, the same amount Allstate offers. USAA only gives an 8% home and auto bundle discount, one of the smallest bundle discounts available.

There are two types of usage-based auto insurance programs: one tracks your driving behaviors, and the other tracks how many miles you drive. Allstate offers both programs, but USAA only has the behavior program. Drivewise — Allstate’s behavior-based program — allows drivers to save up to 40%, while USAA’s SafePilot can save you up to 30%. Milewise by Allstate tracks your miles and calculates your pay-per-mile insurance based on how many you drive per day.

MoneyGeek uses ratings from third parties like J.D. Power and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to measure each auto insurance company's customer satisfaction. When comparing average complaints and satisfaction scores, USAA is better than Allstate, with higher overall scores for all categories.

Does USAA or Allstate have a better J.D. Power customer satisfaction score? Out of 1,000 possible points, USAA’s scored 892 and Allstate scored 829, meaning USAA wins in this category.

The NAIC complaint index is used to see how many complaints have been filed against an insurance company compared to the national average. USAA’s customer complaint ratio is 1.0, the national average. Allstate’s score is higher at 1.88, meaning consumers are nearly two times more likely to file a complaint against Allstate than USAA.

All auto insurance companies offer a set of standard coverage options that may or may not be required in your state. These coverages include liability, personal injury protection, comprehensive, collision and uninsured motorist insurance.

When it comes to customizing car insurance, Allstate offers 10 optional coverages, while USAA only has four. Both companies have roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, accident forgiveness and rideshare insurance. With Allstate, you can also choose from gap insurance, new car replacement, deductible savings and custom parts, including sound systems and portable electronics. These coverages would be a good choice for someone with a new, financed car or a driver with stereo equipment modifications they want to be covered by insurance.

A car insurance company’s financial stability score shows how easily they can pay out legitimate claims when filed. The highest score with A.M. Best is A++, which indicates superior financial stability. Allstate has an A+ rating, which is one step down from USAA’s A++ rating. While USAA is the winner in this category, both insurers are two of the larger insurance companies, meaning they typically can pay out legitimate claims.

Both Allstate and USAA offer online tools — including mobile apps and resource libraries — to help consumers make sound insurance choices.

USAA is also a bank, so their mobile app and website offer insurance and banking insights. They also provide advice on military life, insurance, retirement, taxes, natural disasters and more.

Allstate’s website includes calculators to help you choose a car, meet your retirement goals and help determine if it makes sense to rent or own your next home.

Data on car insurance rates comparing USAA and Allstate are for a 40-year-old male with a full coverage car insurance policy, unless otherwise noted. The policy includes:

• $100,000 on bodily injury liability insurance per person
• $300,000 on bodily injury liability insurance per accident
• $100,000 on property damage liability insurance per person
• Comprehensive and collision insurance with a $1,000 deductible

To evaluate available coverages, discounts and online tools, MoneyGeek collected information from insurer websites and quote tools. To score insurance companies on customer satisfaction and customer complaints, MoneyGeek referenced publicly available data from J.D. Power and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Financial stability was measured using financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, a leading insurance credit rating agency.