Northbrook Auto Insurance Review

This Northbrook Auto Insurance Review explores Northbrook, Illinois-headquartered Allstate Insurance Corporation. Allstate is a major name in auto insurance underwriting, and ranked 89th in the May 2011 Fortune 500. Allstate is the country’s second largest personal insurance underwriter. Don’t confuse Northbrook Insurance Associates, Inc., an insurance agency based in Wisconsin, with Allstate. Northbrook Insurance Associates offers the products and services of a variety of insurance companies, and doesn’t act as a principal underwriter.

Known for its “good hands” advertising campaign, Allstate offers a variety of property and casualty insurance lines, including homeowner and auto insurance, through the company’s Allstate Protection unit. Approximately 40% of Allstate’s premiums come from customers in the heavily-populated states of Florida, Texas, California, Pennsylvania, and New York.

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Keep reading to learn about Allstate Insurance auto insurance to learn if the company’s products mesh with your needs.

Allstate agents

Allstate maintains a proprietary sales force of approximately 11,500 agents. The agent sales force markets and distributes only Allstate-branded property and casualty insurance products, including auto insurance. Approximately 90% of the company’s premiums collected in the Allstate Protection division derive from auto insurance. The company also uses independent agents and brokers to distribute Encompass and Deerbrook-brand insurance programs in addition to some Allstate insurance lines.

Allstate also partners with preferred insurance agencies, banks, broker-dealers, and independent brokers to distribute auto insurance.

Allstate competitors

Allstate’s largest auto insurance competitor is State Farm. The company also competes with direct consumer marketers Geico and Progressive. According to the company’s annual report, Allstate recognizes that many consumers prefer to compare auto insurance rates and then complete auto insurance purchases online. Direct channel auto insurance sales is considered a growth industry, according to JD Power and Associates research.

In 2011, Allstate purchased online auto insurance company Esurance and Answer Financial insurance agency from the White Mountains Insurance Group. Prior to the acquisition, approximately 3% of Allstate’s premiums resulted from direct channel sales. Allstate reportedly paid $1 billion for the two properties–$700 million in cash with the remainder in securities. In 2010, Esurance and Answer Financial generated sales from about 840,000 customers. Combined sales from the two businesses grew about 8% between 2009 and 2010.

Allstate auto insurance discounts

Drivers without a history of moving violations or accidents in the past three years may qualify for Premier auto insurance discounts with Allstate. Additional Allstate discounts include:

• Premier Plus: drivers without moving violations or accidents in the past five years or more may qualify for additional discounts
• Anti-Lock Brakes: insureds whose vehicles are outfitted with ABS may inquire about discounts
• Restraint Systems: drivers whose vehicles have motorized, factory-installed seat belts and air bags should ask about discounts
• Good Students: ask an Allstate representative about discounts and GPA requirements if 25 years or younger and unmarried
• Retired, Age 55 Plus: retired persons, or those working part-time, may qualify for certain discounts
• Seniors, Age 65 Plus: depending upon the state in which the driver lives and annual driver mileage, a discount towards personal injury protection (PIP) may apply

Allstate auto insurance options

Choose from optional insurance services offered by Allstate, including:

• Safe driver bonus: insured, accident-free drivers may be eligible for rebates of up to 5% of paid premiums over a six month period
• New car replacement: if the insured’s car is deemed a total loss during the first three models years, Allstate may pay for a brand new vehicle
• Towing and labor costs: when the insured’s vehicle requires towing and/or repairs, this coverage offsets additional costs
• Accident forgiveness: if the insured is involved in an accident, even an “at-fault,” this form of coverage prevents the company fro raising premium rates
• Deductible reward: similar to popular “disappearing deductible” insurance, the insured’s collision deductible declines by $100 for each year the driver has no accidents

Conclusion

Allstate auto insurance provides a range of potential discounts and insurance options for drivers. Those drivers seeking a consumer-direct auto insurance purchase may select Esurance or Answer Financial products. Allstate’s property and casualty insurance focus allows customers to save on auto insurance by combining another policy, such as homeowner insurance.

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