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Root Insurance Review
We rate Root Insurance 7.7 out of 10.0 and think it can be good for usage-based insurance. The company bases insurance rates on a person’s driving habits, making it a rarity in the car insurance industry. Root coverage also comes with roadside assistance and a mobile app that simplifies the quotes and claims processes.
Root Insurance Rating
| Overall Rating | 7.7 |
|---|---|
| Reputation | 7.3 |
| Availability | 8.5 |
| Coverage | 8.3 |
| Cost | 6.8 |
| Customer Experience | 8.1 |
*Ratings are determined by our editorial review team. Learn more about our scoring methodology below
Today, Root is only available in 34 states. The insurance provider also has negative customer reviews on the BBB that accuse the company of raising rates. We think Root can be a good choice for some drivers, but we always recommend comparing your options for car insurance coverage.
Pros and Cons of Root Insurance
Below are the pros and cons of Root insurance:
Pros
Rates are based on driving habitsAll plans include roadside assistanceEasy-to-use mobile app
Cons
Negative reviews on the BBBOnly available in 34 statesMay deny coverage based on driving behavior
About Root Insurance
Root Insurance is a usage-based insurance company that was founded in 2015. Drivers who want to purchase a Root Insurance policy must participate in an initial test drive to see if they qualify for coverage.
How Does Root Car Insurance Work?
Here’s how root car insurance works in three steps:
- Download the Root app: You can download the Root mobile app in the App Store or on Google Play.
- Begin driving: Before driving, you’ll need to give the Root app access to your phone’s GPS. This will allow Root to monitor your driving behaviors for three weeks and look at your braking, turning, speed, driving time and route consistency.
- Receive a quote if you qualify: After the three-week test period, Root will either send you a quote or notify you if it can’t provide coverage. The company is very up front with the fact that it doesn’t cover bad or high-risk drivers. This allows the insurer to minimize the risk of accidents and provide lower insurance premiums for those it insures.
What States Does Root Insurance Cover?
As a relatively new company, Root is not available in every state. Drivers can purchase coverage in the following 34 states:
Alabama | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado |
Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Illinois |
Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana |
Maryland | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska |
Nevada | New Mexico | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma |
| Oregon | Pennsylvania | South Carolina | Tennessee | Texas |
Utah | Virginia | West Virginia | Wisconsin |
While Root’s business model may appeal to drivers, its reputation is average compared with other insurance providers. The company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has an A+ rating from the organization. It holds a near 1.2-star rating out of 5.0 from consumer reviews on the BBB. Root has no financial strength ratings from AM Best and has not been featured in any J.D. Power studies.
How Much Is Root Car Insurance?
Our team reached out to Root for a car insurance quote and found that its rates are high compared to leading providers. We were quoted $2,798 per year for comprehensive coverage for a 2020 Kia Forte, which is about 28% higher than the national average of $2,008 per year for a full coverage policy.
Root Car Insurance Quote
Drivers who want to purchase Root auto insurance can receive an initial car insurance quote online. However, since Root is a usage-based car insurance company, final premium costs are based on your driving test results. The company advertises that drivers can save up to $900 by switching to Root.
Average Car Insurance Cost
The table below shows national averages from leading car insurance providers to give you an idea of what other companies charge for insurance premiums. The cost estimates are based on a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record and good credit.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Cost Estimate | Full Coverage Cost Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $126 | $1,512 |
| Erie Insurance | $122 | $1,458 |
| Nationwide | $119 | $1,433 |
| Geico | $133 | $1,596 |
| Auto-Owners | $135 | $1,619 |
| State Farm | $138 | $1,657 |
| Progressive | $169 | $2,030 |
| Travelers | $133 | $1,595 |
| Allstate | $217 | $2,598 |
| Farmers | $264 | $3,169 |
Root Insurance Discount
Root Insurance does not offer car insurance discounts in the same manner as standard insurance companies. The final quote you receive from the company after your driving test will include all discounts you qualify for. Root claims that people with good driving habits will receive lower rates.
What Does Root Insurance Cover?
Root offers all types of standard car insurance coverage, including:
- Bodily injury liability: This insurance covers other drivers and their passengers in accidents you cause.
- Property damage liability: This insurance protects other vehicles in accidents you cause.
- Collision insurance: This insurance covers damage to your vehicle that occurs because of an accident.
- Comprehensive insurance: This insurance covers damage to your vehicle from environmental factors, such as floods and fires, as well as things like theft and vandalism.
- Personal injury protection (PIP): This insurance covers medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits for you and your passengers, no matter who is at fault in an accident.
- Medical payments (MedPay): This insurance covers medical expenses for you and your passengers in an accident.
- Uninsured motorist coverage (UM): This insurance covers you when you are in an accident with a driver who does not have insurance. Drivers may also be covered for hit-and-runs in some states.
In addition to these standard coverage options, policyholders can purchase rental car insurance. This coverage option ensures you’ll have transportation when your vehicle is being repaired after a covered accident. Root will offer you either a rental car or Lyft reimbursem*nt.
Root Insurance Roadside Assistance
Each insurance policy comes with roadside assistance coverage. You can request help for a jump-start, tow, fuel delivery, winch, spare tire installation or lockout service through the Root mobile app. If you choose to use another roadside assistance provider, you can email all receipts for reimbursem*nt. It covers up to three incidents per vehicle per six-month policy term, up to $100 per incident.
Does Root Insurance Cover Rental Cars?
In addition to these standard coverage options, policyholders can purchase rental car insurance. This coverage option ensures you’ll have transportation when your vehicle is being repaired after a covered accident. Root will offer you either a rental car or Lyft reimbursem*nt.
Root Car Insurance Exclusions
While Root offers several standard insurance options, it does not provide the following add-on options for drivers:
- Gap insurance
- Motorcycle insurance
- Specialized insurance for ATVs, boats or RVs
- Commercial vehicle insurance
- Rideshare insurance
Root Car Insurance Reviews
Compared with other car insurance companies, Root has a mixed online reviews . While the insurance provider has a 4.3-star rating on Trustpilot, it holds a nearly 1.3-star rating out of 5.0 from customer reviews on the BBB. Root has responded to more than 100 complaints in the past year alone.
Root Car Insurance Customer Reviews
We examined more than 50 customer reviews across the BBB and Trustpilot and found that 46% of reviews complain about raised rates after the first six months of coverage.
In one instance, a Root policyholder completed the test-drive period and scored a 10/10 for safe driving. They were initially happy with their premium, but their policy was raised by $200 after six months. Another driver completed four insurance renewals with the company, stating that the cost of his Root policy went up each time.
Our team reached out to Root for a comment on its negative reviews but did not receive a response.
Root Car Insurance Review: The Bottom Line
Our team rated Root Insurance an 7.8 out of 10.0 for its car insurance policy affordability and good customer service ratings. Root Insurance can be a great option for cost-effective usage-based insurance. Plus, its app has an easy quote process. However, keep in mind that Root’s rates are only based on your driving. While Root Insurance can be a good option for auto insurance, we recommend that you shop around and compare options to get the best deal.
Root Auto Insurance Competitors: Top Picks
One of the easiest ways to ensure you’re getting the best deal possible is comparing car insurance rates. We recommend reaching out to multiple providers, including Geico and Travelers, which both ranked highly in our review of the best car insurance companies.
Geico: Best for Budget-Conscious Drivers
Geico is the second-largest auto insurer in the nation, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The company offers standard car insurance options, as well as emergency roadside assistance, rental car reimbursem*nt and mechanical breakdown insurance. Our cost research found that Geico provides some of the cheapest car insurance rates in the nation, about 26% below the national average.
Keep reading: Geico insurance review
Travelers: Best for Most Drivers
Travelers is a widely known insurer in the U.S. and is known for its affordable prices and flexible add-on coverage. The company provides drivers with the standard types of coverage in addition to roadside assistance, rental car coverage, loan/lease payoff and rideshare coverage.
The company’s usage-based insurance program, Intellidrive®, offers drivers potential savings on their premiums depending on how safely they drive. The company also provides a variety of discounts to help drivers save money on insurance policies.
Keep reading: Travelers insurance review
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Root Auto Insurance Review: FAQ
Below are common frequently asked questions about Root auto insurance:
Root Insurance has drivers participate in a test drive before guaranteeing coverage. Drivers have to download the Root app and have their driving monitored for three weeks to prove to the company that they are good drivers. After the allotted time, Root decides to either insure you and provide you with a quote or deny coverage.
Yes, Root offers full coverage car insurance. You can choose to purchase any standard car insurance and add-on options.
Yes, Root continuously tracks your driving, even after the test drive. The mobile app can tell the difference between when you are driving and when you are a passenger in the same vehicle.
Root reserves the right to cancel coverage in certain circ*mstances, such as noticing a pattern of accidents. Several reviewers on the BBB and Trustpilot report instances where Root canceled coverage after the first accident.
Root insurance is a good option for those who want their rates determined by only their driving. However, be aware that an initial test drive for three weeks is required for you to qualify.
Our Methodology
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
- Cost: Auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities were both taken into consideration.
- Coverage: Companies that offer a variety of choices for insurance coverage are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Reputation and experience: Our research team considered market share, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
- Availability: Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements scored highest in this category.
- Customer experience: This score is based on volume of complaints reported by the NAIC and customer satisfaction ratings reported by J.D. Power. We also considered the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.
Our credentials:
- 800 hours researched
- 45 companies reviewed
- 8,500+ consumers surveyed
*Data accurate at time of publication.
