Allstate vs. Root: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Root offers significantly less expensive premiums than Allstate
• Allstate may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Root Insurance
• Root offers more affordable prices for drivers who have below-average credit

Allstate or Root: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering large savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Allstate or Root for your next policy, but which one will save you the most?

As you can see, Root is quite a bit cheaper than Allstate, with premiums averaging $65 a month compared to $199 with Allstate when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

That being said, Root may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. Insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among several other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Allstate and Root by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Allstate vs. Root: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Allstate and Root only compete against each other in Arizona, where Root offers the cheaper average rates. Root drivers tend to pay about $138 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Allstate for their car insurance.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance prices than just where you live. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance premiums of any group on the road. It's typically because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 70% less a month by choosing Root over Allstate. It's worth noting that Allstate offers insurance in 47 different states compared to Root's one, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Allstate policyholders drop almost 65% and Root's premiums reduce more than 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest rates you'll ever see.

When looking at Allstate and Root specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Root gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $95 cheaper than the national average for Allstate.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance prices than married couples. That's normally because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with Root rates coming in at around a third of Allstate's. The advantage for married drivers with Root is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 70% per month.

Allstate or Root: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and file an insurance claim, which means they'll usually end up paying more for insurance than women.

With Allstate, women generally pay about $10 a month less than men, and around $2 cheaper with Root when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Root offers the most affordable average prices for both men and women, with average premiums 67% less for men and 67% cheaper for women.

Allstate vs. Root: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

Car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different limits and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Root has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $46. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Root again has the edge, with policies averaging about $84 per month to Allstate's $289.

Is Allstate or Root Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their auto insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

It's no secret secret that accidents and speeding tickets lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- Allstate or Root -- has the lowest premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Allstate for their insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up around 15% after getting a speeding ticket. Root policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 15%.

But Root has more affordable rates for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are $99 and $116 cheaper, respectively, compared to Allstate.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Allstate drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates rise by over 30%, while those who have insurance through Root will see around a 30% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Root end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $79 compared to Allstate's $229.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. On average, Allstate will raise your prices about 31% after a DUI, while Root's average rates increase by 0%.

Root has the overall cheapest premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $57 a month, but it's worth noting that Allstate's average rates come from 47 states compared to just one for Root, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Allstate and Root Rates?

Did you know many car insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining prices? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a car insurance factor, but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

The reasoning insurance companies use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so normally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with more affordable premiums.

Looking at Allstate and Root specifically, which company has the best rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Root will usually reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Root comes in nearly 62.76 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save around 65% with Root compared to average prices from Allstate.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Root typically offers lower premiums than Allstate when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 67% a month less with Root compared to Allstate, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around 71% per month.

Is Allstate or Root Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in how much auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Root charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Allstate, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying about $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, for drivers in both categories, Root is the more affordable company.

Allstate or Root: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your vehicle can play a big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Generally, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers due to the small number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Root usually comes out as the lowest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around 67% with Root compared to Allstate. People who live in suburban areas pay about 70% less with Root compared to Allstate. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Root Insurance's average premiums are around 65% less than Allstate.

Allstate vs. Root Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be difficult to find all the ones you qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Allstate and Root so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Allstate knocks Root out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 40 different discounts to Root's five.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a good driver, paid in full discounts, and paperless discounts -- but Allstate also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, agency transfer, and more.

On the other hand, Root has a proprietary discount of their own -- a auto-steer discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Allstate or Root Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. But, when it comes down to it, is Allstate or Root the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Root might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You have above-average credit.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

Allstate might be best for you if...

• You are considering moving to another state -- Root Insurance only offers policies in Arizona.
• You care about discounts (Allstate offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Allstate and Root and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Allstate and Root. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Allstate vs. Root FAQs

Is Allstate or Root cheaper?

Root is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $65 per month with Root and $199 for Allstate. Even so, that doesn't mean Root will be the most affordable carrier for every driver, since there are several different variables that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Allstate or Root?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Allstate and Root offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use several different factors when calculating the prices they charge. Things such as age, gender, where you call home, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Allstate and Root calculate rates differently, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

How do I know if Allstate or Root is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Allstate or Root at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.