Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens on April 11 informedAllstate Property and Casualty InsuranceCo. policyholders that the company filed an overall statewide automobilerate increase of 25% to be implemented May 22.

Hudgens said in the news release that he was "deeply concerned"about the filing, which includes a rate change as high as 58.3%. Hudgens has directeddepartment staff to initiate a professional level examination of the filing to determineif the rate increase is defendable under state law.

The state insurance department recommends that policyholdersdiscuss with Allstate the reasons for the increase as well as their available options,including revising deductibles, reviewing coverages needed or comparison shopping.

Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance is a unit of