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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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Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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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.
If you’re feeling torn between Root and State Farm for car insurance, State Farm often takes the lead with its extensive coverage options and consistently high customer satisfaction. But Root is also one of the best auto insurance companies, and it has cheaper quotes for certain drivers.
Root offers lower premiums for teens, averaging $109 per month compared to State Farm’s $140. Drivers with poor credit may also pay less with Root, at an average of $100 per month, compared to State Farm, at $134.
State Farm is more affordable for drivers with a history of accidents or speeding tickets.
Root has lower premiums for teen drivers and offers a referral program.
Root has fewer options to customize coverage and lacks many common discounts.
Most people zero in on price when shopping for car insurance, but going for the cheapest option doesn’t always mean you’re getting the best deal. We’ve rated dozens of insurers using our Compare.com Rating, which looks at everything from cost and customer satisfaction to ease of use and reputation.
Here’s how Root and State Farm stack up, according to our research.
Category  | Root | State Farm |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Customer satisfaction | 1/5 | 3.7/5 |
| Ease of use | 4.2/5 | 5/5 |
| Availability | 2.7/5 | 5/5 |
| Industry reputation | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Overall Score* | 3.43/5 | 4.90/5 |
State Farm dominates in nearly every category, particularly in customer satisfaction and availability. This makes it a great option if you want reliable service and coverage choices across the country. But Root holds its own in cost and ease of use, making it a good pick for budget-conscious drivers.
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Finding the right car insurance rate is a little like ordering your favorite taco — it varies from person to person. Some drivers keep it simple with basic liability coverage, while others want to take it up a notch with more protection. Besides coverage levels, your age, location, driving record, and credit history all factor into your cost.
To give you an idea of what you might pay, the table below shows the average costs of Root and State Farm across different driver profiles and coverage options, according to Compare.com data.
Factor | Root | State Farm | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall average | $83 | $85 | $135 |
| Liability coverage | $67 | $55 | $92 |
| Full coverage | $98 | $115 | $176 |
| At-fault accident | $132 | $102 | $181 |
| DUI | $114 | $132 | $203 |
| Poor credit | $100 | $134 | $162 |
| Teens | $109 | $140 | $232 |
| Seniors | $71 | $62 | $103 |
These average car insurance prices give you a snapshot of what you can potentially pay — remember, your actual rate could look different, especially considering your location and ZIP code.
That’s why it’s always a smart move to compare quotes from more than one insurance company. Looking at your options side by side on an insurance comparison site can help you hone in on the best rates.
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Age is one of the top factors that affect how much you pay for car insurance. Young drivers, especially teens, tend to pay more, but you’ll likely see a drop in premiums as you age and gain more miles in the driver’s seat.
Check out the table below to see how average rates compare with Root and State Farm across different age groups, according to our data.
Age Group | Root | State Farm |
|---|---|---|
| Teens | $109 | $140 |
| 20s | $98 | $102 |
| 30s | $77 | $80 |
| 40s | $81 | $78 |
| 50s | $75 | $70 |
| 60s | $71 | $62 |
| 70s | $72 | $56 |
Teens pay the most for auto insurance coverage of any age group — their inexperience comes with a higher rate of fatal accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That’s why insurance companies view new drivers as a higher risk behind the wheel.
Root’s average cost for teens is $109 per month, while State Farm charges $140 per month, according to Compare.com data.
Seniors generally get the most affordable auto insurance coverage. With decades of experience on the road, insurers often put older drivers in a low-risk category.
State Farm’s average premium is $62 per month for drivers in their 60s, but Root charges an average of $71 for the same group, according to our data.
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Your driving record tracks how you behave on the open road and influences what you pay for your auto policy. A clean record means you’re less risky, which generally leads to lower premiums year after year.
But if you have a history of accidents, tickets, or a DUI, expect your rates to climb. Insurers believe your driving history is a good indicator of future behavior, and a spotty record indicates you're more likely to file a claim in the future. Insurance companies charge higher car insurance rates to offset high-risk driver profiles.
Let’s compare Root and State Farm’s average premiums for drivers with different records, according to Compare.com data.
Driving Record | Root | State Farm |
|---|---|---|
| Clean record | $83 | $84 |
| Speeding ticket | $126 | $94 |
| At-fault accident | $132 | $102 |
| DUI | $114 | $132 |
Drivers with clean driving records get the best deals because insurers see them as less risky on the road. Root requires customers to take a test drive to find out about their driving habits and offers slightly better rates for drivers with spotless records.
We found that Root charges drivers with clean records an average of $83 per month, while State Farm charges $84.
A speeding ticket causes the average insurance bill to jump by 27% nationwide, according to our data. If an officer gives you a speeding ticket, you can find the cheapest rate with State Farm charges, which charges an average of $94 per month. Root charges drivers with a ticket an average of $126.
An at-fault accident raises average premiums by about 34% nationally, according to our analysis. Given the choice, State Farm might be the best decision. It offers the cheapest auto coverage if you have an accident on your driving record, with an average monthly premium of $102. On the other hand, Root charges $132 per month, on average.
Driving under the influence (DUI) can have the biggest effect on your auto insurance rates. A DUI conviction raises auto insurance premieres by an average of 50% nationally, according to our research.
Root charges an average rate of $114 per month after a DUI, while State Farm charges $132.
Car insurers offer a variety of coverages to customize your policy, from liability to full-coverage car insurance. Your options depend on the insurance company you choose but can range from minimum car insurance to extras like comprehensive, collision, roadside assistance, rideshare policies, and more.
Take a peek at the table below to compare coverages offered by Root and State Farm.
State Farm beats Root by one coverage offering — its rideshare endorsement. This makes State Farm a better choice for Uber or Lyft drivers. Both Root and State Farm have standard full-coverage options, but neither company offers gap insurance or accident forgiveness. If you need those coverages, you must look elsewhere.
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Car insurance discounts help you pay less by rewarding certain behaviors or meeting specific criteria. Depending on the insurer, you can find savings such as safe driver discounts and for buying multiple policies (like homeowners insurance and auto insurance) with the same company.
Different insurance companies offer different discounts, so it’s worth looking around to find the company with the best ones. Here are the discounts available from Root and State Farm.
Discount Type | Root | State Farm |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ✔ | ✔ |
State Farm has more discount options — 12, to Root’s four. The insurer offers many discounts you won’t find with Root, such as savings for anti-theft devices, good students, and low-mileage drivers. Though Root’s discount offerings are slim, it offers popular ones like safe driver and bundling discounts.
Customer satisfaction plays a big role in choosing an insurance company. To help you decide between Root and State Farm, we’ve gathered customer reviews from some of the most trusted review sites.
The table below shows how each company ranks across three popular platforms.
Review Site | Root | State Farm |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 4.4/5 | 1.6/5 |
| Clearsurance | 3.59/5 | 4.09/5 |
| BBB | 1.44/5 | 1.22/5 |
We found that Root rates higher on Trustpilot, while State Farm rates higher on Clearsurance. Both companies earned low ratings on the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Looking at reviews of Root and State Farm’s actual customers, the differences are clear. Root customers often praise the company’s flexibility.
As you’ll see below, one reviewer is happy they got coverage when other companies turned them down, and another appreciates the company’s easy refund process when they didn’t buy the vehicle they thought they would.
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But Root also has a few complaints. For example, some customers mention high rates, and the reviewer below says Root charged them $100 more than their initial online car insurance quote.)
Meanwhile, State Farm has mixed reviews. Many people — like the reviewer below — complain about not getting their issues resolved due to trouble reaching insurance agents and agents who pass them off to other agents.)
But another review praises their local agent, saying they went above and beyond to help them understand their coverage plan. This shows your experience with State Farm might just depend on your agent.)
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Of course, choosing an insurance company is about more than price or positive reviews. Other things are worth considering, like unique perks, claims processing, and mobile apps. The differences in these extras from Root and State Farm could sway your decision one way or the other.
Let’s see how each company compares.
Root’s claim to fame is its telematics program. Even if you have a ticket, a poor credit history, live in a high-crime ZIP code, or have other high-risk factors, your good driving habits can get you more affordable rates than other insurers might offer.
On the other hand, State Farm stands out for its strong customer service. The company has an impressive network of 19,000 agents throughout the U.S.
You can file a claim online or in the app anytime — morning, noon, or night — with both Root and State Farm. Root says it takes three minutes to answer questions about the accident and take pictures of the damage. But State Farm takes the cake by offering a photo estimate tool for documenting damages and providing a payout in as little as 48 hours.
You can get apps on iOS and Android from both companies, with features like digital ID cards, roadside assistance, and claims filing. But State Farm’s app also lets you upload photos of damages, manage your claim, and talk to an agent. On the downside, you need a separate app for State Farm’s telematics program, Drive Safe & Save, to qualify for safe driving discounts.
The Root app offers customizable coverage and safe driving rewards, plus a referral program that pays you when friends try Root. But users rate State Farm’s app higher in the App Store and Google Play.
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If you’re still wondering if Root or State Farm is the right fit for you, we’ve answered some of the most common questions about the insurers to help you choose the best option for your needs.
The best car insurance company depends on what you’re looking for. Root’s emphasis on your driving behavior when calculating rates means good drivers have more control over what they pay. But State Farm might be a better fit if you have a bad driving record or prefer traditional customer service with access to local agencies.
Compare.com rates American Family, Allstate, and USAA as its best insurance companies of 2024.
Yes, Root is a good choice for drivers with a clean driving record. While the company receives mixed customer reviews and isn’t available in every state, it has more competitive rates for teens and safe drivers. It also has a solid reputation in the insurance industry, especially considering it’s a relative newcomer.
Root is a competitor to State Farm but isn’t as well known as some of the larger insurers. State Farm is the largest auto insurance company by market share, and its biggest competitor is Progressive. It also faces stiff competition from GEICO and Allstate.
Yes, Root uses an app on your mobile device to track your speed and other driving behaviors and analyzes this information to customize your insurance rates. Good driving habits can qualify you for discounts that lower your car insurance premiums.
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:
J.D. Power, “2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study,” last accessed September 3, 2024.
National Association of Insurance Commissioners, “State Farm National Complaint Index Report,” last accessed September 3, 2024.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Teen Driving,” last accessed September 3, 2024.
Trustpilot, “Root Insurance,” last accessed September 3, 2024.
Trustpilot, “Statefarm,” last accessed September 3, 2024.
Clearsurance, “Root Insurance,” last accessed September 3, 2024.
Clearsurance, “State Farm Insurance,” last accessed September 3, 2024.
Better Business Bureau, “Root,” last accessed September 3, 2024.
Better Business Bureau, “State Farm Insurance Company,” last accessed September 3, 2024.
Google Play, “Root: Better car insurance,” last accessed September 3, 2024.
App Store, “Root: Better car insurance,” last accessed September 3, 2024.
App Store, “State Farm,” last accessed September 3, 2024.
Google Play, “State Farm,” last accessed September 3, 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.
Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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