Deerbrook Auto Insurance Review

Deerbrook is a small auto insurance company which is a subsidiary of the larger Allstate Insurance network. Deerbrook offers only auto insurance (does not write life or homeowner’s insurance policies) and sold through independent agents.

The name of the company was actually changed to Allstate Vehicle and Property Insurance company on June 6, 2011, although the company continues to operate its website using the Deerbrook brand name.

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Deerbrook focuses on the independent agent model and targets those consumers who prefer to use an independent agent for the quality of service and personal attention only a live person can give.

Many people already have an independent agent they are comfortable with and can purchase a Deerbrook policy through that agent.

How Deerbrook Auto Insurance qualifies customers

Deerbrook utilizes credit information when quoting potential customers premium rates. Deerbrook states that the company wants to reward those customers who are “less likely to incur losses” with lower premiums.

In order to do this, Deerbrook relies at least partially on information drawn from credit reports to determine rate structures. The underlying logic is that people who are careful with their credit will be less likely to incur costly claims for the company.

The company also claims that their practice allows them to offer policies to more customers because they screen carefully and keep their overhead costs low through this system.

Deerbrook clearly outlines what they look at when they run a credit report. They are not looking at income or occupation; rather, they are searching for timely payments and low credit balances, both of which are a good sign that the customer is careful with money.

Deerbrook is licensed (through its Allstate parent) in all fifty states. However, the company does not offer policies in some venues due to limitations on credit score reporting or other factors. Deerbrook policies are sold in about 20 states nationwide through a network of independent agents.

Deerbrook Auto Insurance Ratings

Deerbrook was given an A+ rating by A.M. Best, an independent reporting firm which analyzes company financial strength.

Deerbrook was not evaluated independently by J. D. Power and Associates, a reporting firm that surveys customer satisfaction, but its parent company, Allstate, was part of the J.D. Power survey.

Allstate’s financial stability contributes to Deerbrook’s overall financial outlook, and it has an enviable capital base for a small insurance company.

Allstate’s total revenues are around $31.4 billion, making it the second-largest insurance company in the United States.

Deerbrook Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Review

Allstate received three out of five stars in all but one of the rating categories. It received two stars for “pricing.” This gives Allstate and overall “average” rating regarding customer satisfaction. Allstate received a 781 on the 1000-point Customer Satisfaction Index, bringing it to 14th place overall.

It is important to remember that Deerbrook’s customer satisfaction is not necessarily a reflection of Allstate. Deerbrook is a smaller and more elite section of this larger insurance company’s overall customer base.

Deerbrook tends to engage customers with high credit ratings and low claims. If people are not making many claims, customer satisfaction will probably remain high.

On the other hand, Allstate has sections of its company which cater to high-risk policyholders. By the law of averages, these policyholders will have more claims and will have far more dissatisfaction with the company, especially if it refuses to pay for various costs incurred by high-risk drivers.

Overall, Deerbrook’s customers seem satisfied, based on the relatively few complaints filed about the company. However, little information is available due to the small size of the Deerbrook company, which keeps it from being rated by many of the larger survey groups.

Deerbrook is also structured as a mutual company, while Allstate is a stock company. This means that the policyholders are actually the owners of the Deerbrook company, purchasing a piece of ownership with their policy.

On the other hand, stock companies such as Allstate sell insurance products but give ownership of the company to stockholders, many of whom may not be customers.

This gives the stock company a different focus; for a mutual company, the policyholders make decisions. In a stock company, the shareholder make those decisions.

While Deerbrook does not have a large online presence, and you cannot file claims or get quotes from the company online, you can pay your bills there once your account is activated.

Any other information or problems must be routed through your agent or the company’s call center resulting in several drawbacks for customers who prefer the conveience of online account mangement.

Overall the Deerbrook auto insurance company is a solid company owned by one of the giants in the auto insurance industry but seems to cater only to a small segment of the population.

Before choosing any provider its best to shop around and compare auto insurance quotes from several providers. Many times you can find both affordable auto insurance rates and the customer service you need in just a few clicks.

Start an auto insurance comparison search today by entering your ZIP code above.

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