Allstate vs. Direct Auto: Compare rates and discounts

Allstate vs. Direct Auto

The third-largest auto insurance provider in the US, Allstate gets high praise for its customer service, receiving an A from the Better Business Bureau. They were also recently identified as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute. Allstate provides insurance in all 50 states. At the opposite end of the insurance spectrum from Allstate is Direct Auto Insurance.

Direct Auto only services 13 states and gets consistently poor reviews from consumers, along with an F from the Better Business Bureau. However, the provider does insure high-risk drivers. If you find yourself in the position of choosing between Allstate and Direct Auto, our side-by-side comparison below will help you make your decision.

	Allstate	Direct Auto
About the provider	Allstate was founded in 1931 and aims to deliver quick service to get customers insured and on the road. 16 million households are currently being served by Allstate. In 2016, they were awarded The World’s Most Ethical Company by the Ethisphere Institute.	Founded in 1991, Direct Auto Insurance offers low-cost insurance policies to “nonstandard” drivers — also known as high-risk drivers — who might have a hard time finding coverage elsewhere. But beware, the company gets very poor reviews and only services 13 states.
Price	Policy costs depend your personal situation. Visit Allstate for a quote based on your specific needs.	Policy costs depend your personal situation. Visit Direct Auto for a quote based on your specific needs.
States served	All 50 states	13
User satisfaction*	A	F
J.D. Power ratings**	3/5 on overall claims satisfaction	N/A
Driver discounts	View driver discounts	View driver discounts
Vehicle discounts	View vehicle discounts	View vehicle discounts
	Read Review	Read Review

* Based on Better Business Bureau’s company rating
** Based on the 2016 U.S Auto Claims Satisfaction Study

Driver discounts

	Allstate	Direct Auto
Good student	Up to 20% (full-time student, under 25).	Up to 10% (unmarried, full-time student, B average or better)
Defensive driver	Up to 10% — must be at least 55, complete at least 6 hours of defensive driving courses and have no violations or at-fault claims)
Good driver	Up to 22% — must have driven for at least 3 years without any violations or accidents. Goes up to 35% after 5 years.	Up to 10% (violation and accident-free for 36 months)
Pay in full discount	Up to 10%
Multicar		Up to 25%
Military		Up to 25% (active service member)
Homeowner		Up to 15%
Other discounts	Drivewise – Up to 20% cash back (based on everyday safe driving) EZ pay plan discount – Up to 5% (automatic withdrawal) Allstate eSmart discount – Up to 10% (sign up for ePolicy to view all insurance documents online) Auto/life discount – Varies Multi policy discount – Up to 10% Early signing discount – Up to 10% (sign 7 days before policy becomes effective) Good payer discount – Up to 5% (no cancellation notice for non-payment during the past 12 months) Senior discount – Up to 10% (55+, not seeking full-time employment) Safe drivers discount – Up to 45% TeenSMART discount – Up to 10%	Senior citizen – Up to 5% (55+, completed a motor vehicle prevention course) Prior coverage discount – Up to 25% (at another insurance company for 6 months, no more than 90 day lapse between coverage) Renewal discount – Up to 20% (no policy lapse in prior 12 months, renew 7-10 days prior to expiration) Welcome back discount – Up to 6%
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Vehicle discounts

	Allstate	Direct Auto
Anti-theft device	Up to 10%	N/A
Anti-lock brake	10%	N/A
Passive restraints	Up to 30%	N/A
Air bag		N/A
Other discounts	New car – Up to 30% (First owner, car under 2 years old) Economy car – Up to 10% Utility discount – Up to 15% (Utility vehicle with a model year of 2002 or prior) Farm vehicle – Up to 10%
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Bottom line

Allstate stands head and shoulders above Direct Auto, but if you find that you don’t qualify for insurance through Allstate because you are a high-risk driver, Direct Auto might be an option.