State Farm vs Allstate at a Glance
| State Farm | Allstate | |
|---|---|---|
| AM Best financial rating | A++ | A+ |
| Avg. annual premium (clean record) | ~$2,204 | ~$2,941 |
| Market share (U.S. auto insurance) | ~16–30% (largest insurer) | ~10.4% (4th largest) |
| Telematics program | Drive Safe & Save (app-based) | Drivewise (app-based) |
| J.D. Power claims satisfaction | 710/1,000 | 691/1,000 |
| NAIC complaint index | 1.35–1.80 | 2.45–4.30 |
| Pay-per-mile option | No | Yes |
Figures reflect industry-wide averages compiled from multiple 2026 rate studies. Your actual quote depends on your specific driving record, location, vehicle, and coverage selections — always compare live quotes for your situation.
See our full Editorial Methodology for the criteria and data sources behind every rating on this site.
Where State Farm Wins
- Price for nearly every driver profile: State Farm's average annual premium runs roughly $669–$737/year cheaper than Allstate's. This holds true for clean-record drivers, married drivers, senior drivers, and even drivers with one accident or a DUI on record
- Claims satisfaction: State Farm scores higher in J.D. Power's Auto Claims Satisfaction Study (710 vs. 691)
- Fewer complaints: State Farm's NAIC complaint index runs meaningfully lower than Allstate's — Allstate draws more than double the complaints expected for an insurer of its size
- Market leadership: State Farm is the largest auto insurer in the country by market share, with the largest agent network of any national carrier
- Financial strength: State Farm holds a higher AM Best rating (A++ vs A+), though both are considered strong
Where Allstate Wins
- Poor-credit drivers: This is Allstate's clearest and really only price advantage — for drivers with a credit score below 580, Allstate can come out cheaper than State Farm
- Pay-per-mile option: Allstate offers a usage-based pay-per-mile plan that can meaningfully lower costs for low-mileage drivers — State Farm doesn't offer an equivalent
- Broader discount categories: Allstate offers a few discount types State Farm doesn't, including new-car and paperless billing discounts, on top of the standard multi-policy, good student, and safe-driving discounts both companies share
- Coverage add-ons: Allstate offers a slightly broader set of coverage features overall, including gap insurance more readily than State Farm in some states
Telematics: Drive Safe & Save vs Drivewise
State Farm Drive Safe & Save
An app-based program that tracks mileage and driving habits, with potential savings of up to 30% for safe drivers. It's one of the more generous telematics discount ceilings among major national insurers.
Allstate Drivewise
Also app-based, Drivewise tracks braking, speed, and phone use to reward safe driving habits. Both programs can lower your premium meaningfully, but both can also increase your rate if the app detects consistently risky driving patterns once you're enrolled.
Coverage Options Compared
Both companies offer the standard required coverages — liability, medical payments, PIP where applicable, and uninsured/underinsured motorist protection — plus collision, comprehensive, rideshare, roadside assistance, and rental reimbursement. Where they differ: Allstate offers a pay-per-mile option State Farm doesn't, along with a slightly broader discount lineup. State Farm counters with its well-known Drive Safe & Save telematics discount and a larger nationwide agent network for in-person support.
Customer Complaints — What the Data Shows
NAIC complaint index data (where 1.00 is the industry baseline for a carrier's size) shows State Farm between 1.35–1.80 depending on the reporting year — modestly above the industry average. Allstate runs considerably higher, between 2.45–4.30, meaning it draws well over double the complaints expected for an insurer of its size. This gap is worth weighing seriously alongside price, since a cheaper premium matters less if claims handling turns out to be frustrating.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose State Farm if: You want the lowest baseline price for nearly any driver profile, prioritize strong claims satisfaction and fewer complaints, or want access to the largest agent network of any national auto insurer.
Choose Allstate if: You have a credit score below 580 (where Allstate can actually come out cheaper), want a pay-per-mile option for low annual mileage, or specifically want gap insurance and Allstate's broader discount categories.
Either way, get quotes from both directly rather than relying on averages — your specific ZIP code, vehicle, and driving history can shift which insurer actually comes out cheaper for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost always — State Farm wins on price for clean-record, married, senior, and even DUI-history drivers. Allstate's main price advantage is specifically for drivers with a credit score below 580.
State Farm scores higher in J.D. Power's Auto Claims Satisfaction Study and has a meaningfully lower NAIC complaint index than Allstate.
Both Drive Safe & Save (State Farm) and Drivewise (Allstate) are app-based and offer real savings for safe drivers. State Farm's program advertises savings up to 30%, among the more generous ceilings in the industry.
Yes — a pay-per-mile usage-based option, which can be worth exploring if you drive significantly less than the average motorist.
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