Press Release

Allstate Announces Release of Car Insurance Costs

10/29/96

Allstate Releases List of Which Cars are the Most and Least Expensive
to Insure

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Oct. 25 -- In the market for a new car?
Before you finish kicking the tires, you may want to look into the
cost of auto insurance. Allstate's annual guide to car insurance, the
Make and Model Rating Program, lists approximately 200 car models sold
in the U.S. and details which cost more to insure and which cost less.

Domestic car makers dominate the preferred categories in Allstate's
analysis which is based on the company's claims experience and vehicle
evaluations conducted by its Tech-Cor auto research subsidiary. For 20
years Tech-Cor has provided auto repair shops with information on
efficient new repair techniques, notifying foreign and domestic auto
manufactures of its findings to help them simplify repair processes
and contain labor costs.

Among the vehicles listed as "better than average" insurance values
are the Chevrolet Corsica, the Chrysler Concord and the Buick Park
Avenue. Other "better than average" insurance values among foreign car
makers include the Nissan Quest, Toyota Previa and BMW's 740 series.

"This rating information is extremely valuable to consumers who plan
to buy a new car," said Robert W.  Gary, Allstate president, personal
property and casualty.  "By knowing how cars are rated, consumers are
able to factor in the cost of insurance as part of a car's total
operating costs."

Among the vehicles listed as "worse than average" insurance values are
the Honda Civic, the Acura Integra and the Mitsubishi Eclipse.

Tech-Cor auto engineers work with car makers to analyze how easily a
vehicle is damaged in an accident, the likely cost of repair, and the
car's resistance to theft or break-in. If a car performs well in those
areas, it will cost less than the standard rate level for collision
and comprehensive coverages.

The Allstate Guide also includes information on auto safety features
such as air bags and anti-lock brakes. In most states consumers can
save money on insurance premiums by buying cars with these safety
features.

Allstate Insurance Company is the nation's largest publicly held
property and casualty insurance company, with more than 20 million
customers and approximately 14,500 full-time agents in the U.S. and
Canada. Allstate is also a major life insurer.