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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Root offers significantly cheaper rates than Safe Auto
• Root offers more affordable average premiums for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Safe Auto offers more discounts than Root Insurance

Root vs. Safe Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Root or Safe Auto for your next policy, but between the two, which company has less expensive rates for insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Safe Auto is quite a bit more expensive than Root, with prices averaging $223 per month compared to just $65 with Root.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Root will be the more affordable option for every driver. Auto insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among a range of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Root or Safe Auto is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Root or Safe Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Root and Safe Auto only compete against each other in Arizona, where Root offers the cheaper average premiums. For Arizona residents, Root offers car insurance for $65 a month on average. Safe Auto's average rates come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $172 monthly.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance bill than just where you call home. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance prices. As you can see above, teens who use Root save more than $300 a month compared to those who use Safe Auto. It's worth noting that Safe Auto offers insurance in 13 different states compared to Root's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Root policyholders reduce nearly $85 and Safe Auto's rates lower about $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the most affordable car insurance prices you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically lowers their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Root and Safe Auto? Root gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $57 per month compared to Safe Auto's $179.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance rates tend to be less expensive for married policyholders than they are for single drivers. That's because policies for married drivers normally cover multiple cars, which a lot of carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Root is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums about $183 per month cheaper than Safe Auto, on average. The advantage for married couples with Root is also obvious, where drivers save almost $150 a month.

Root vs. Safe Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men typically pay more for insurance than women.

Men usually pay around 3% more per month than women with Root, and about 7% with Safe Auto.

Looking at overall affordability, Root comes out as the lowest option for both genders, with average prices $165 less for men and $150 cheaper for women.

Root or Safe Auto: 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.

For most people, auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

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

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Root generally offers significantly less expensive premiums of $46 compared to Safe Auto's $126. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Root again has the edge, with policies around $250 a month cheaper than Safe Auto, on average.

Is Root or Safe Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and at-fault collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest rates to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Root policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $10 per month if they get a ticket, while Safe Auto normally raises rates about $40 a month, on average.

However, Root is usually the more affordable option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save around $123 per month and drivers with a ticket can save about $153 a month with Root Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Safe Auto climbing by over $65. Root has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay more than $20 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the cheaper rates come from Root, with monthly premiums averaging $79 compared to Safe Auto's $246.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even a collision. On average, Safe Auto will increase your prices around 27% after a DUI, while Root's average premiums increase by 0%.

Root has the overall most affordable prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $57 monthly, but it's worth noting that Safe Auto's average rates come from 13 states compared to just one for Root, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Root and Safe Auto Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for several drivers.

Insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which reduces the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which carrier offers the lowest prices for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Root. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 70% compared to Safe Auto, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $162 or 73% less expensive every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Root typically offers lower rates than Safe Auto when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $164 per month less with Root compared to Safe Auto, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about $173 per month.

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

How much you drive can have a large impact on your monthly premiums. Normally, the more miles you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither Root or Safe Auto report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Root comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle annually, with average prices of $65 a month for both.

Root vs. Safe Auto: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because of the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Root tends to offer the lowest rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Root offers prices around $77 a month compared to Safe Auto's $271. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $60 per month for Root and $200 for Safe Auto. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable premiums from both companies, with average monthly rates coming in at $58 and $197 for Root and Safe Auto respectively.

Root vs. Safe Auto Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Root and Safe Auto offer their customers so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Safe Auto blows Root away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering nine more discounts than Root.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Safe Auto also offers agency transfer discounts, anti-theft discounts, claim free discounts, and more that Root does not.

On the flip side, Root has a couple unique discounts of its own -- auto-steer discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and paperless discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Root or Safe Auto Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Root might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" insurance.
• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Safe Auto might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national insurance carrier.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Root and Safe Auto and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Root and Safe Auto. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Root vs. Safe Auto FAQs

Is Root or Safe Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Root is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $65 a month compared to $223 for Safe Auto. But Root won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for each driver, since there are many different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Root or Safe Auto?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile.

Why do Root and Safe Auto offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when determining the prices they charge policyholders. Variables like your driving record, where you live, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Root and Safe Auto calculate premiums using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car 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, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Root or Safe Auto at all!

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.