Allstate: Are You Really in Good Hands?

Choosing the right auto insurance provider can be a difficult task. Reputation and strong company values are always good qualities to look for in a company. Allstate Insurance was founded in 1931 and was a part of Sears, Roebuck & Co.. The company became publicly traded in 1993 and its initial public offering (IPO) was the largest in U.S. history at that time. In 1995, Allstate became independent from Sears as it was divested from the giant retail corporation via sales of shares to the stockholders.

Vital & Historic Statistics

Allstate is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois and is the country’s largest publically held insurer of personal lines. It was one of the first companies to use a rate classification system that gave better rates to safe drivers and was part of the coalition of businesses that lobbied the government to make seat belt use mandatory. In addition:

• Allstate provides insurance to more than 17 million households
• Allstate currently employees nearly 40,000 people.
• There are an additional 15,000 agents and financial specialists that sell Allstate insurance
• Insurance products are offered in every state in the Union
• Allstate has a Standard and Poor’s Financial Rating of AA-
• In 2007 Allstate had 17.7 billion in total property-liability insurance claims
• Allstate has also donated millions to nonprofit groups and scholarships

Insurance Types

Allstate is well-known for its “You’re in good hands” slogan as it offers a vast array of insurance options for consumers including auto, motorcycle, home, renters, business and life insurance. Consumers may receive quotes for their insurance products in a variety of ways including through Allstate’s comprehensive online presence, which offers consumers the choice of a quick quote, requiring no personally revealing information or a more detailed quote, which can be saved and returned to at a later date.

Allstate also offers its clients some less-commonly offered benefits such as accident forgiveness, where the first accident that a client suffers on a policy will be “forgiven” and not cause the rates to increase. In addition, Allstate offers a comprehensive education service for its clients to teach them the basics of how possible insurance fraud works so that they can avoid being victimized by scams.