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Amy Beardsley is a seasoned insurance expert who’s been writing for Compare.com since 2023. She has more than 12 years of industry knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, commercial, and other insurance products. Amy’s work has been published by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, Legal & General, NerdWallet, Robinhood, Insurify, NEXT Insurance, and more.
Amy worked as a court administrator before becoming a content marketing writer. Her legal background has equipped her with the ability to simplify complex technical language into easy-to-understand content.
She graduated magna cum laude from Ferris State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Legal Studies.
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Nick Versaw leads Compare.com's editorial department, where he and his team specialize in crafting helpful, easy-to-understand content about car insurance and other related topics. With nearly a decade of experience writing and editing insurance and personal finance articles, his work has helped readers discover substantial savings on necessary expenses, including insurance, transportation, health care, and more. As an award-winning writer, Nick has seen his work published in countless renowned publications, such as the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and U.S. News & World Report. He graduated with Latin honors from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Digital Journalism.
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At Compare.com, it’s our mission to give you the tools to find the best (and most affordable) insurance for your unique needs and budget. We strive to provide information that’s helpful, clear, and unbiased, and we believe that comparing insurance companies should never put you at risk of spam. Our editorial team — which is made up of experienced writers, editors, insurance agents, and data analysts — has spent thousands of hours researching and creating the coverage overviews, side-by-side comparisons, and detailed reviews you see across our site.
While we make money through partnerships with some of the brands we discuss in our articles, our editorial team operates 100% independently, and these partners never influence or affect the topics, reviews, ratings, or recommendations we provide. We never guarantee favorable reviews or mentions in exchange for compensation from any brands or partners, and we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure our content is always independent, truthful, and unbiased.
GEICO and Root might not have a lot in common at face value. After all, Root is a smaller, new-age insurer with telematics at its core, while GEICO is one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S. With such stark differences, it can be hard to determine which choice is best for you — it all comes down to what you value in an insurer.
Root edges out GEICO with slightly cheaper overall premiums, averaging $83 per month compared to GEICO’s $88. But GEICO is a much larger insurer with a proven track record, and it offers more coverage options and discounts to boot.
At the end of the day, comparing auto insurance options between Root and GEICO comes down to whether you want more flexibility or have complex insurance needs. We’ll cover everything you need to know in the sections below.
Root’s claims process is quick and easy through its mobile app, but payouts can take longer than with GEICO.
GEICO’s DriveEasy program is optional, while Root requires all new customers to use its telematics app and complete a test-drive.
Users rate GEICO’s app higher for its ease of use and extra features, like accident photo uploads and a virtual assistant.
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While getting cheap car insurance is important, it’s not the only factor you should consider when shopping for your next policy. We’ve reviewed dozens of companies and rated each one on things like customer satisfaction, ease of use, availability, and overall reputation to help you find the perfect fit for your needs and budget.
To jump-start your search for the best car insurance company, here’s a quick breakdown of how Root Insurance and GEICO compare across these key categories, according to our research.
Category  | Root | GEICO |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Customer satisfaction | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Ease of use | 4.2/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Availability | 2.7/5 | 5/5 |
| Industry reputation | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Overall Score* | 3.43/5 | 4.65/5 |
GEICO has happier customers, is generally easier to use, and is more readily available. While Root has competitive rates and a strong reputation in the insurance industry, it has lower customer satisfaction scores and isn’t as widely available.
Car insurance rates can change a lot, depending on where you live, your driving record, and even your credit history. That’s why it’s important to understand how insurers calculate rates for different driver profiles.
Below, we’ve put together a comparison of average prices for Root and GEICO for various types of drivers, according to Compare.com data.
Factor | Root | GEICO | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall average | $83 | $88 | $135 |
| Liability coverage | $67 | $56 | $92 |
| Full coverage | $98 | $119 | $176 |
| At-fault accident | $132 | $108 | $181 |
| DUI | $114 | $136 | $203 |
| Poor credit | $100 | $103 | $162 |
| Teens | $109 | $121 | $232 |
| Seniors | $71 | $67 | $103 |
These averages give you a sense of what to expect, but your actual rate might end up being quite different. Because your situation can influence your premiums, it’s a good idea to compare quotes from multiple companies. Using a car insurance comparison site each time you shop for insurance helps you get the best deal.
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Age is a major factor in how much you’ll pay for car insurance. Young drivers — teens in particular — face much higher rates than other age groups. They have less experience on the road, so insurers put them in a higher-risk category. But fortunately, rates generally decrease as you get older.
Consider the data we gathered below, which shows average costs from Root and GEICO across different age groups.
Age Group | Root | GEICO |
|---|---|---|
| Teens | $109 | $121 |
| 20s | $98 | $100 |
| 30s | $77 | $84 |
| 40s | $81 | $84 |
| 50s | $75 | $74 |
| 60s | $71 | $67 |
| 70s | $72 | $66 |
It’s no surprise that teens get hit with the highest car insurance rates. After all, they’re new to driving, and insurers see this age group as higher-risk because of it. In fact, car crashes are the leading cause of death for 15- to 18-year-olds in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Root offers teens an average rate of $109 per month, while GEICO’s average premium is $121.
Seniors typically see the lowest insurance rates of any age group. If you’re in this group, you likely have decades of driving experience under your belt, which typically leads to fewer accidents and insurance claims, meaning lower rates.
GEICO’s rates average $67 per month for people in their 60s and $66 for drivers in their 70s. Root’s average prices are $71 and $72 for the same age ranges, respectively.
Your driving history has a huge effect on your car insurance bill. In fact, it’s the biggest factor in determining your auto insurance rates, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
If you’ve had a recent speeding ticket, accident, or DUI, insurers can label you as a high-risk driver. And when you’re a bigger risk, companies will typically charge you more because they think you’re more likely to file insurance claims. The cleaner your record, the better your rates tend to be.
Here’s a look at our data showing how Root’s and GEICO’s rates stack up for different driving records, according to Compare.com data.
Driving Record | Root | GEICO |
|---|---|---|
| Clean record | $83 | $88 |
| Speeding ticket | $126 | $101 |
| At-fault accident | $132 | $108 |
| DUI | $114 | $136 |
Having a clean driving record is the best hack for saving money on car insurance. Insurance companies reward safe driving with affordable rates because it signals a lower risk of filing claims.
Looking at these two insurers specifically, Root charges good drivers an average of $83 per month, while GEICO charges around $88 per month.
A single speeding ticket can spike your insurance rates. In fact, the average increase is 27% nationwide after just one ticket, according to our data. Insurers consider speeding a sign of risky behavior behind the wheel, which leads to higher rates.
If you have a recent ticket, GEICO offers an average price of $101 per month. On the other hand, Root’s average rate for these drivers is $126 per month.
Being at fault for an accident typically causes insurance rates to jump by an average of 34%, according to our analysis. After all, an accident on your record is a red flag for insurers — it means you’re more likely to file future claims.
We found that GEICO charges $108 per month, on average, for drivers with a history of accidents, while Root comes in at $132.
Insurers take DUIs seriously. In 2022 alone, drunk-driving crashes led to 13,524 deaths, according to the NHTSA. This added risk leads to big rate hikes if you have a DUI conviction on your record. After a DUI, average car insurance premiums skyrocket by 50%, according to our research.
Root’s average monthly cost for drivers with a DUI is $114, compared to GEICO’s average of $136.
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Car insurance comes with a wide range of coverage options, depending on what kind of protection you want. Basic liability coverage is mandatory in most states, but many drivers opt for additional coverage. In fact, 80% of drivers also buy comprehensive insurance, and 76% choose to add collision coverage, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I).
The table below highlights the different options available from GEICO and Root beyond state-minimum policies, according to our research.
Root and GEICO offer many coverages you’d expect, like collision and comprehensive. But GEICO offers extra benefits, such as accident forgiveness, mechanical breakdown coverage, and a rideshare endorsement that you won’t find with Root Insurance.
Insurance companies offer a multitude of discounts to help lower your premiums. These discounts reward specific behaviors or circumstances, like buying home insurance and car insurance from the same company or maintaining a good driving record. While some discounts are standard across many insurers, you might only find others at specific companies.
Here’s an overview of the discounts available from GEICO and Root, according to our research.
Discount Type | Root | GEICO |
|---|---|---|
| Affinity | ✔ | |
| Alternative energy | ||
| Anti-theft | ✔ | |
| Automatic payments | ||
| Customer loyalty | ✔ | |
| Defensive driver | ✔ | |
| Good student | ✔ | |
| Early shopper | ||
| Federal employee | ✔ | |
| Homeowner | ||
| Low mileage | ||
| Military | ✔ | |
| Multi-policy | ✔ | ✔ |
| Multi-vehicle | ✔ | |
| New car | ✔ | |
| Paperless billing | ||
| Pay-in-full | ✔ | ✔ |
| Safe driver | ✔ | ✔ |
| Safety equipment | ✔ | |
| Student away at school | ✔ | |
| Teacher | ||
| Usage-based/telematics | ✔ | ✔ |
GEICO offers many more discounts than Root, including savings for military members, good students, and federal employees. Root has fewer discount opportunities, but it offers common savings programs if you’re a safe driver, have multiple policies, and are comfortable using its telematics program.
Customer satisfaction can make or break your insurance experience. That means it’s important to know what actual customers are saying about a company you’re considering.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at a few reviews for Root and GEICO from popular review sites.
Review Site | Root | GEICO |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 4.4/5 | 1.6/5 |
| Clearsurance | 3.59/5 | 4.09/5 |
| Better Business Bureau | 1.19/5 | 1.21/5 |
Root gets a lot of love for its easy-to-use app and friendly customer service. For example, the reviewer below talks about their “fantastic experience,” with both the app and support team making things easy.
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On the other end of the spectrum, Root’s 30-day test-drive period can make some drivers feel stressed. The reviewer below even says it “inflates anxiety.”
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GEICO’s reviews are a mixed bag. It scores higher on Clearsurance, but many customers report negative experiences, especially with policy cancellations. For example, the reviewer below says GEICO canceled their car insurance coverage after two tickets without warning, causing a headache with an insurance lapse.
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Another GEICO customer — shown below — mentions having trouble with vehicle repairs after weather damage, saying GEICO would only partially cover their windshield and hood.
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Aside from price and customer reviews, things like perks, claims processing, and how well the mobile app works can make a big difference in how convenient and beneficial your coverage is.
Let’s take a look at how GEICO and Root compare across these important categories.
Root is known for its telematics-based pricing. Your driving habits have the most effect on your Root car insurance quote, meaning safe drivers could pay less, regardless of other risk factors, like age or credit history.
GEICO also offers a telematics program — DriveEasy — but it’s optional. With Root, you’ll have to install its app and take a test-drive before getting a quote.
GEICO offers faster claims processing, sometimes settling in as little as 48 hours, according to its website. This, along with its network of auto repair shops that offer a lifetime guarantee, gives GEICO the advantage when it comes to claims.
Root’s claims process is simple, and filing a claim is quick through the app, but payouts can take one to two weeks, on average, according to the company’s site.
Both companies have mobile apps in the App Store and Google Play. The Root app handles everything from claims to customizing coverage, and it even tracks your driving for its telematics program.
But GEICO’s app offers more features, like a virtual assistant that can answer questions you might have about your coverage. Users also rate GEICO’s app higher, so it’s likely easier to use.
When deciding between Root and GEICO, you may have a few questions. Below are answers that might help you make the right choice.
Root and GEICO are quality car insurance companies and a great choice for many drivers. GEICO is larger and available nationwide, but Root offers coverage in most states and might be cheaper for safe drivers. Still, companies like USAA, State Farm, Travelers, and Progressive are also excellent choices to consider.
Yes, Root Insurance is a good option for your next auto insurance policy. It can offer more affordable prices, according to our data — especially for safe drivers. But it has limited coverage options and fewer discounts than other insurance companies.
Root is unique because it makes your driving habits the main factor in calculating your rates. The safer you drive, the more you can save, regardless of other risk factors, like your credit history or age.
No. It isn’t hard to get Root Insurance, but you’ll need to jump through a few hoops. First, you’ll download the app and complete a test-drive to record your driving habits. But the extra effort can be worth it for the potential savings, especially if you consider yourself a safe driver.
Yes, Root’s app tracks your speed. It also monitors other driving behaviors, like hard braking and driving times. The company uses the data it collects about your driving habits to set your insurance premiums, according to its website.
Data Methodology:
Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance quotes from more than 75 partner insurers in order to compile the rates and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information.
All the rates listed in this article have been collected from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide readers with insights into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.
Rating Methodology:
Compare.com’s mission is to help our readers make more informed decisions about their personal finances. Our editorial staff has crafted a proprietary, objective rating formula — the Compare.com Rating — to make it easier for our readers to analyze and compare many of the industry’s most well-known insurers. The score you see referenced in this article is based on several factors, including:
Cost: How the insurer’s average rates compare to its direct competitors and the industry as a whole. This includes available savings opportunities, such as discounts and other factors.
Customer satisfaction: How satisfied existing customers are with the service they receive. This includes the insurer’s scores among various third-party studies, such as the J.D. Power U.S. Insurance Shopping and Claims Satisfaction studies, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Complaint Index, among others.
Ease of use: How easy it is for policyholders to utilize their policies. This includes mobile app availability, customer service availability, payment flexibility, and other related factors.
Availability: The overall scope of the company’s insurance offerings. This includes available coverage types, national footprint, and other related factors.
Industry reputation: A measure of the insurer’s overall standing within the industry. This includes its AM Best Financial Strength rating, BBB accreditation, and other related factors.
Sources:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Drunk Driving,” accessed September 6, 2024.
Insurance Information Institute, “Facts + Statistics: Auto insurance,” accessed September 6, 2024.
J.D. Power, “2024 Auto Insurance Study,” accessed September 6, 2024.
Trustpilot, “Root Insurance,” accessed September 6, 2024.
Clearsurance, “Root Insurance,” accessed September 6, 2024.
Better Business Bureau, “Root,” accessed September 6, 2024.
Google Play, “Root: Better car insurance,” accessed September 6, 2024.
App Store, “Root: Better car insurance,” accessed September 6, 2024.
National Association of Insurance Commissioners, “2023 Property and Casualty Insurance Industry Report,” accessed September 6, 2024.
Trustpilot, “GEICO,” accessed September 6, 2024.
Clearsurance, “GEICO,” accessed September 6, 2024.
Better Business Bureau, “GEICO,” accessed September 6, 2024.
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Amy Beardsley is a seasoned insurance expert who’s been writing for Compare.com since 2023. She has more than 12 years of industry knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, commercial, and other insurance products. Amy’s work has been published by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, Legal & General, NerdWallet, Robinhood, Insurify, NEXT Insurance, and more.
Amy worked as a court administrator before becoming a content marketing writer. Her legal background has equipped her with the ability to simplify complex technical language into easy-to-understand content.
She graduated magna cum laude from Ferris State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Legal Studies.
Nick Versaw leads Compare.com's editorial department, where he and his team specialize in crafting helpful, easy-to-understand content about car insurance and other related topics. With nearly a decade of experience writing and editing insurance and personal finance articles, his work has helped readers discover substantial savings on necessary expenses, including insurance, transportation, health care, and more. As an award-winning writer, Nick has seen his work published in countless renowned publications, such as the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and U.S. News & World Report. He graduated with Latin honors from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Digital Journalism.
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