Allstate car insurance rates beat GEICO by $581 a year. Really?

I was watching TV last night and I happened to see an Allstate car insurance commercial that was a little more direct than just saying they could save you X dollars or asking if you’re in good hands. Allstate’s commercial spokesman, Dennis Haysbert, who is also the lead actor in “The Unit” on CBS, makes the statement that car insurance buyers who switched to Allstate from GEICO saved an average of $581 a year on their auto insurance.

I have been particularly impressed with Allstate’s television commercials in the last month or so, as they have taken a different approach. With the economy in decline, their commercials have reflected back on Allstate’s beginnings in the Great Depression, and how times are similar today. People are putting more emphasis on what’s important, such as taking care of their families.

The latest commercial mentions GEICO directly, which would indicate GEICO is either encroaching on Allstate’s market share, or they are simply the company that Allstate’s car insurance rates beat the best. Either way, the commercial will probably be short-lived as rates constantly change and the $581 today could be $420 or $620 next week.

How does Allstate know what their new customers were paying with GEICO? Because they ask. When you quote on their website or even with an agent, Allstate wants to know the prior carrier and how much they were paying. This is then used in marketing campaigns such as the $581 a year savings commercial I saw last night.

Allstate does have a good product with some unique features such as Accident Forgiveness, the Safe Driving Bonus, Deductible Rewards and New Car Replacement.  They also offer several different policy types in their Your Choice Auto car insurance program including the Platinum, Gold, Standard and Value packages.

Whether they can save you $581 a year over GEICO depends on a lot of factors including the vehicles you drive, your credit rating, the ages of drivers in your family, your driving record and many other details. Visit the Allstate Insurance website to get more information on their car insurance program and also get a competitive auto insurance rate.