Allstate Renters Insurance Review (2020)
As you move into your new rental and look into insurance policies, consider Allstate renters insurance for coverage. The company has close to 90 years of industry experience, provides 24/7 customer service, and offers a variety of products and services to customers.
The This Old House Reviews team has created this Allstate renters insurance review to take an in-depth look at the company’s coverage, pricing, and benefits. Keep reading to determine if Allstate offers the coverage you need.
Pros and Cons of Allstate
For a summary of Allstate renters insurance pros and cons, scan the table below:
Pros & Cons
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Pros | Cons |
Has a tool to help you calculate the value of your personal belongings | Not explicit about what events count as covered losses |
Provides additional coverage for valuable items like jewelry | Coverage amounts for personal property, loss of use, liability, and medical payments vary by state |
Customers can choose an RCV or ACV policy for personal property coverage |
Allstate Coverage
Allstate is not clear about all of the events it will cover under a renters insurance policy, but here a few that were mentioned on the website:
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Fire and smoke
- Water damage from your water heater, plumbing, furnace, or air conditioning
Like other renters insurance policies, you’ll receive coverage for the following areas:
- Personal property—To get protection for the exact amount your personal belongings are worth, take an inventory of your items, and use Allstate’s tool to estimate their value. Allstate will then allow you to choose between a replacement cash value (RCV) or actual cash value (ACV) policy. RCV policies are more expensive, but you get to replace your damaged items with new ones. ACV takes into account depreciation to calculate how much the item is worth now.
- Loss of use—When an event puts you out of your rental temporarily, your renters insurance will cover living expenses, like staying in a hotel room or renting another property.
- Liability—If you are held accountable for an incident that caused property damage or bodily injury to someone, your policy will cover the costs. An example of this may be if your pipes burst and damaged the belongings of your downstairs neighbor.
- Medical payments to others—Your policy will cover guest medical coverage up to a certain amount if they’re injured in your home.
Here are the available amounts you can take out for each coverage type in your policy, according to sample North Carolina information our team submitted:
Allstate Coverage Breakdown
Area of Coverage | Amount Range |
---|---|
Area of Coverage | Amount Range |
Personal property | $25,000–$150,000 |
Loss of use | No limit |
Liability | $100,000, $200,000, $300,000, or $500,000 |
Medical payments to others | $1,000, $2,000, $3,000, $4,000, or $5,000 |
Deductible | $250, $500, or $1,000 |
Allstate Optional Coverage
You can add these items onto your Allstate renters insurance policy for an additional cost:
- Extended coverage on jewelry, watches, and furs—This increases the personal property protection for more expensive items.
- Scheduled personal property—This allows you to get more protection for items, like engagement rings, that have already been appraised.
- Identity theft restoration—This coverage helps with legal fees and lost work when your identity is stolen.
- Increased coverage on business property—If you keep business documents or other business-related materials at your home, you can cover them with this add-on.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist—This add-on protects you when you’re in an accident with an at-fault driver who doesn’t have liability coverage or their liability coverage is too low. This coverage is only available in some states.
Allstate also offers two other insurance policies that have to be purchased separately but can supplement your renters insurance:
- Flood insurance—Renters insurance typically only covers water damage from plumbing problems, which leaves you vulnerable to water damage from flooding. If you live in a flood zone, you can increase your water damage protection with flood insurance.
- Personal Umbrella Policy (PUP)—PUP kicks in when your personal liability maximum has been reached, giving you extra liability coverage for larger accidents.
How Much Does Allstate Renters Insurance Cost?
Allstate renters insurance costs about $16 per month, according to the company’s website. The This Old House Reviews team wanted to confirm that rate, so we requested an insurance quote for a one-bedroom apartment in Raleigh, North Carolina:
Allstate Cost Breakdown
Plans | Basic | Standard | Enhanced |
---|---|---|---|
Plans | Basic | Standard | Enhanced |
Personal Property | $15,000 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
Liability | $100,000 | $100,000 | $300,000 |
Medical Payments | $1,000 per person | $1,000 per person | $1,000 per person |
Deductible | $500 | $500 | $500 |
Monthly cost | $11 | $13 | $19 |
To see how your policy would compare to the average Allstate price, have this information on hand to get a free quote:
- Name
- Address
- Security features
- Date of birth
- Number of tenants in a unit
- Number of units in the building
- Employment status
- Number of pets
Allstate Renters Insurance Discounts
Allstate has five renters insurance discounts:
- Multi-policy discount—You can get a discount for purchasing both renters and auto policies from Allstate.
- Safe home discount—If you have certain safety features in your rental, like fire alarms and security systems, you can save up to 15% on your policy.
- Easy pay plan—If you set up automatic payments for your policy, you will save 5% on your policy.
- 55 and retired discount—If you’re retired and at least 55 years old, you can save 25% on your policy.
- Claim-free discount—If you have never filed a renters insurance claim, you can save up to 20% on your policy. That amount will increase each year you stay claim-free.
Customer Service and Claims Support
Allstate operates through agents around the country, so your local agent should be your first point of contact for quote and policy questions. However, you can call Allstate’s main customer service line at 800-255-7828. Allstate also has an online quote tool that allows you to get an instant quote and purchase a policy in under 10 minutes without talking to a company representative.
Allstate holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and customers have left both positive and negative reviews. However, because the BBB profile is for the entire company, only a handful of reviews are specifically Allstate renters insurance reviews.
If you want to file a claim, you can log into your account online, use the mobile app, or call the Allstate claims center at 877-810-2920.
Compare Allstate to the Competition
If you’re not sure whether Allstate is right for you, compare it to other top-rated renters insurance companies below.
Compare Renters Insurance Companies
Companies | Allstate | Lemonade | Nationwide |
---|---|---|---|
Companies | Allstate | Lemonade | Nationwide |
Known for | Multiple discounts | Giveback program | Credit card coverage in basic policy |
Monthly price | About $16 | As low as $5 | About $20 |
Customer service | 24/7 | Online | 24/7 for claims; limited for sales and service |
BBB rating | A+ | B+ | A+ |
Our Conclusion
Allstate has been in business for close to 90 years, and although it is a national company, you can still get that small-company feel with local agents providing assistance for all your renters insurance needs. Allstate coverage is also customizable, allowing you to choose whether you want RCV or ACV personal property protection and whether you want extra protection for other items in your home.
To see if an Allstate policy fits into your budget, get a quote by using the online tool or by calling your local agent. We recommend getting quotes from other renters insurance providers to compare coverage and pricing:
Allstate Company Overview
- CEO: Tom Wilson
- Years in business: 89
- State availability: 50
- Address: 901 S State Street
- City/State: Lockport, IL
- Zipcode: 60441
- A.M. Best financial strength rating: A+
Frequently Asked Questions About Allstate
How long does it take for renters insurance to kick in?
Most renters insurance companies allow you to start coverage the day after you get a free quote and purchase a policy.
What is the contract term for Allstate renters insurance?
Most renters insurance policies, including ones from Allstate, last one year. After the contract term is up, you can choose to renew or cancel your policy.
What happens if I’m late with a payment?
Missing or late payments could result in a lapse of coverage or termination of your policy. If you missed a payment, or are late with a payment, contact your Allstate agent or call 877-810-2920.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.