Root vs State Farm: Which is Better for You?
- Winner: State Farm
- State Farm is more expensive but substantially better rated than Root.
- Your experience with State Farm and Root will vary based on individual rating factors.
Why you can trust The Zebra
Ross joined The Zebra as a writer and researcher in 2019. He specialized in writing insurance content to help shoppers make informed decisions.
Ross h…
Credentials
- 5+ years in the Insurance Industry
Beth joined The Zebra in 2022 as an Associate Content Strategist. A licensed insurance agent, she specializes in creating clear, accessible content t…
Credentials
- Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
- Associate in Insurance (AINS)
- Professional Risk Consultant (PRC)
- Associate in Insurance Services (AIS)
Kristine joined The Zebra in 2019 as an in-house content researcher and writer, with a property and casualty insurance license. Before joining The Ze…
Credentials
- Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
- 6+ years of Experience in the Insurance Industry
Root vs. State Farm: What's the difference?
The Zebra's choice: State Farm
State Farm is slightly more expensive but it received better ratings than Root.
Root:
- Cost: $47/month for full coverage
- Customer service: 3.5
- Claims handling: 2.5
- Digital experience: 4
- Trust: 2
- Overall rating: 2.9
Root comes out on top when it comes to cheaper rates and claims handling
State Farm:
- Cost: $98/month for full coverage
- Customer service: 3.6
- Claims handling: 2
- Digital experience: 4.8
- Trust: 4
- Overall rating: 3.6
State Farm takes the win for customer service, digital experience and trust scores
Root vs. State Farm: discount comparison
See below a head-to-head comparison of the companies' discount options for car insurance.
Telematics options: Root vs. State Farm
Each of these companies provides high-quality insurance policies for drivers looking for usage-based insurance. Telematics-powered insurance represents Root's primary value proposition and underpins the carrier's entire pricing strategy. State Farm's telematics program is also well-regarded, leading to savings of up to 30% for some customers.
Root is among the most popular telematics insurance companies. Root uses its telematics app to gather information and calculate customer premiums. Rates are then set based on the driver's actions behind the wheel and total mileage, rather than on factors such as demographic information and credit score.
State Farm Drive Safe & Save is a popular telematics-based insurance program. The product is available in most states, collecting data on customers' mileage and driving habits to calculate savings. The company claims to save customers up to 30% on premiums. This may vary by location.
Zebra Tip: Root is known for telematics for a reason
Root represents the cutting edge of car insurance technology. Its modern app and usage-based approach to pricing separate it from traditional companies (even those offering telematics programs).
Roadside assistance: Root vs. State Farm
Find below summaries of the roadside assistance packages offered by Root and State Farm.
Root
Every Root policy includes roadside assistance, helping drivers in the event of car trouble. One of the few extra coverages available from Root is rental car coverage. If you purchase this coverage, Root will reimburse costs up to a specific amount for a rental car until your vehicle is fixed or replaced after a collision. Root also reimburses its customers for rides through Lyft.
State Farm
State Farm's Emergency Road Service offers the following:
- Mechanical labor at the place of breakdown
- Towing of your vehicle to a repair facility,
- Removal of a stuck vehicle
- Delivery of gas or oil
- Assistance with changing a tire or a jumpstart
- Locksmith services
Root vs. State Farm: home insurance
Both of these carriers offer homeowners insurance policies. Read the in-depth comparison below to learn which company is the best fit for you.
Root homeowners insurance review
Root allows its auto insurance customers to add homeowners insurance bundles through a partnership with Homesite. Root home insurance is not available as a standalone insurance policy: a customer must be enrolled in Root's car insurance program to be eligible. Root claims customers who bundle home and auto policies receive 10% discounts on their home insurance premiums.
Based on Root's middling home insurance customer satisfaction scores, homeowners looking for top-notch customer satisfaction may want to find a policy with a more established carrier.
- Customer satisfaction (J.D. Power) — Not rated: Root’s home insurance partner, Homesite, is currently unrated by J.D. Power.
- Claims satisfaction (J.D. Power) — Not rated
- Financial strength — Excellent: Homesite’s financial outlook is considered stable by AM Best.
- NAIC Rating — Above average: Homesite received more customer complaints than average, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
State Farm homeowners review
State Farm is one of the nation's most popular home insurance providers, carrying with it some definite pros and cons.
Our assessment found that State Farm's average rates are on the higher side, and there are only four discounts for home insurance. In short, while this company's home insurance has the backing of favorable ratings, those looking for an average, no-frills home insurance policy without specialized endorsements could get a cheaper rate by looking for an alternative.
In The Zebra's customer satisfaction survey of 15 popular homeowners insurance companies, State Farm finished in fifth place.
- The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey — 4.4/5: State Farm was given an above-average rating among the top 15 home insurance providers surveyed.
- Claims satisfaction (J.D. Power Rating) — Below average: J.D. Power's most recent study rated State Farm as just shy of the industry average for property claims satisfaction.
- Customer satisfaction (J.D. Power Rating) — Above average: State Farm was awarded an above-average rating for customer satisfaction in J.D. Power's Home Insurance Study.
- Financial strength — Excellent: A.M. Best rated State Farm as having excellent financial viability, signaling its ability to pay for claims.
- NAIC Rating — Average: State Farm's home insurance received an average amount of complaints as logged by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Which company comes out on top?
State Farm
State Farm's home insurance product earns consistently high marks from top reviewers and The Zebra's own customer satisfaction survey. Root home insurance — offered through Homesite — could hold some appeal for existing customers, thanks to the 10% discount.
Root vs. State Farm: homeowners discount comparison
Each company offers home insurance discounts. Reference these discounts side-by-side below.
| Discount comparison | Root | State Farm |
|---|---|---|
| Claims free | ||
| Recent home buyer | ✓ | |
| Multi-policy | ✓ | ✓ |
| Early signing | ||
| Newer/more durable roof | ✓ | ✓ |
| Protective devices (smoke/burglar alarms, etc...) | ✓ | ✓ |
| New home construction | ✓ |
Zebra Tip: Look into discounts when choosing an insurance company
Both State Farm and Root offer a strong collection of home insurance discounts. Be sure to do your due diligence to ensure you take advantage of as many of these clauses as possible when signing your contract.
Other insurance products and bundling options
Root and State Farm offer a variety of insurance products, along with the option to bundle policies for extra savings. Compare product offerings from the two companies:
| Other products | Root | State Farm |
|---|---|---|
| Boat insurance | ✓ | |
| Condo insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Life insurance | ✓ | |
| Homeowners insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Travel trailer insurance | ✓ | |
| Renters insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| RV insurance | ✓ | |
| Motorcycle insurance | ✓ | |
| Mobile home insurance | ✓ | |
| Umbrella | ✓ | |
| ATV insurance | ✓ | |
| Pet insurance | ✓ | |
| Commercial insurance | ✓ |
Find the best insurance policy for your needs.
Related Questions
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About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.
