Root Car Insurance Review for 2023
Root car insurance rates are as low as $65/month if you earn a good driving score on the Root Insurance mobile app. Root Inc. provides auto insurance through its usage-based insurance program. Bad driving habits can drive up your Root auto insurance quotes. You can't get a Root Insurance policy until you pass the Root test phase.
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Melanie Musson
Published Insurance Expert
Melanie Musson is the fourth generation in her family to work in the insurance industry. She grew up with insurance talk as part of her everyday conversation and has studied to gain an in-depth knowledge of state-specific insurance laws and dynamics as well as a broad understanding of how insurance fits into every person’s life, from budgets to coverage levels. Through her years working in th...
Published Insurance Expert
UPDATED: Apr 25, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our car insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different car insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about car insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything car insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by car insurance experts.
UPDATED: Apr 25, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our car insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different car insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Root provides a usage-based car insurance program
- Your driving habits determine Root car insurance rates
- On average, Root car insurance quotes are around $65/month
- Root Insurance also provides home insurance
- Root Inc. has a 4.7-star rating on Google Play and the Apple App Store
Do you want to know more about Root auto insurance? Root Insurance is an online usage-based insurance company.
Are Root car insurance rates affordable? Is it a good choice for you? Don’t worry – we’ve done the research on Root car insurance so you can make the right choice.
Read our Root car insurance review to learn everything about Root Inc., how Root Insurance works, and how you can secure affordable car insurance.
Before you learn about Root car insurance, enter your ZIP code in the free quote tool above to compare multiple insurance companies near you.
What is Root Insurance, and how does it work?
Root Insurance is a usage-based car insurance company that provides insurance rates based on driving behavior (driving habits).
It’s only available through your smart device. You can download the Root Insurance mobile app through Google Play or the Apple App Store.
Once you’ve downloaded the Root Insurance mobile app, you must enter your personal information.
Root takes you through a test drive phase, which lasts for three weeks. During these three weeks, Root Insurance monitors your driving habits.
After three weeks, the app produces a score to determine whether you’re eligible for Root auto insurance quotes.
A high score means you’ll be offered Root Insurance policy, but a poor score could mean you’ll be turned down.
What is usage-based car insurance?
Usage-based auto insurance is a program that determines your monthly cost based on how you drive or how many miles you drive.
A usage-based insurance service that determines your discounts or rates by how you drive is known as pay-how-you-drive insurance or PHYD insurance.
Insurance companies that issue rates based on the number of miles you travel use pay-as-you-drive insurance or PAYD insurance. This may also be called pay-per-mile.
Both insurance types are identified as usage-based insurance programs.
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What driving habits does Root Inc. monitor?
Root Insurance looks at several factors while you’re in the test drive phase and after you’ve bought an auto insurance policy.
Here’s a list of driving behaviors Root tracks.
- Distracted driving – The activity on your phone while driving
- Hard braking – Incidents where you’ve come to a sudden halt
- Hands-free driving – The time you spend away from your phone while driving
- Night driving – The amount of time you spend driving at night
- Overall driving speed – The frequency in which you drive over the speed limit
- Turning speed – Root Insurance tracks your driving speed while turning
- The number of miles – How often you drive
Root Insurance telematics records any unsafe driving habits and adds them to your overall score.
Lower driving performance scores reduce your chances of getting a policy or securing cheaper Root car insurance rates.
How much are Root car insurance rates?
Our research found that Root auto insurance customers can pay around $65 per month. However, you must have near-perfect driving habits to get close to those rates.
But what comes with Root auto insurance? Let’s examine Root Insurance’s cost summary to find out.
| Summary | Coverage Limits |
|---|---|
| Price | $65/month |
| Collision Deductible | $500 |
| Comprehensive Deductible | $1,000 |
| Bodily Injury Liability Limit | $100K for one person per accident $300K for multiple people per accident |
| Property Damage Liability Limit | $100K per accident |
| Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Limit | $10K per person |
| Uninsured/Underinsured Bodily Injury Limit | $30K for one person per accident $60K for multiple people per accident |
| Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Limit | $50K per accident |
| Rental Car Reimbursement Limit | $50 per day |
| Roadside Assistance | Included |
Root Insurance has high coverage levels for an affordable rate. However, Root car insurance varies for each person and area where it provides coverage.
Why does my driving record affect Root car insurance rates?
Your driving history is your report card that shows your overall driving record to the state, law enforcement, and even insurance companies.
Auto insurance companies review driving records to determine your risk as a driver.
Traffic infractions, such as speeding and reckless driving, impact your monthly rates. But what about accidents?
Let’s compare Root Insurance’s response to violations and accidents on driving records and see how it competes with the best car insurance companies in the nation.
| Companies | Monthly Rates with a Clean Driving Record | Monthly Rates w/ One Speeding Violation | Monthly Rates w/ One Accident | Monthly Rates w/ One DUI Conviction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $318 | $374 | $416 | $522 |
| American Family | $224 | $252 | $310 | $361 |
| Farmers | $288 | $340 | $377 | $393 |
| Geico | $179 | $220 | $266 | $406 |
| Liberty Mutual | $398 | $475 | $517 | $634 |
| Nationwide | $229 | $259 | $283 | $379 |
| Progressive | $283 | $334 | $398 | $331 |
| Root Inc. | $65 | $75 | $81 | $89 |
| State Farm | $235 | $266 | $283 | $303 |
| Travelers | $287 | $355 | $357 | $478 |
| USAA | $161 | $183 | $210 | $292 |
Root is cheaper than the largest auto insurance companies in the United States. However, Root Insurance is far from being a top company in the car insurance industry.
How do credit scores impact Root car insurance quotes?
Root Insurance reviews your credit history in addition to its test drive phase.
Most insurance companies review your credit score to determine your risk.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, people with good credit can secure cheaper car insurance rates because they’re less likely to file an insurance claim.
But drivers with poor credit pay significantly more because their credit score correlates to higher risks of filing claims.
Several states are trying to outlaw credit-based car insurance. Root Inc. has promised to end credit-based insurance by 2025.
For now, credit history affects Root Insurance customers in states where it’s legal.
Here’s an example of how credit affects Root car insurance rates.
- Excellent Credit – $58/month
- Good Credit – $69/month
- Fair Credit – $79/month
- Poor Credit – $96/month
- Bad Credit – $114/month
The lower your credit, the more money you’ll pay for Root auto insurance per month. Let Root Inc. know when your credit score improves so you can get access to more affordable rates.
Does Root have any car insurance discounts?
Root Insurance doesn’t mention any discounts, but you can save money if you bundle Root auto insurance with the Root home insurance policy.
Ask a Root Insurance agent if you can get a car insurance deal for setting up automatic payments.
Try selecting a higher deductible, also. High deductibles can lower your Root car insurance rates.
What car insurance coverages does Root have?
Now that you’ve seen what Root auto insurance rates look like let’s explore which coverage options are available.
| Coverages | What they do |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury (BI) liability | Pays for bodily injury of another driver (and passengers) when you're at fault in an accident |
| Collision car insurance | Covers the cost of damage to your vehicle regardless of fault |
| Comprehensive car insurance | Insurance company pays for damage to your vehicle that wasn't involved in a collision |
| Emergency roadside assistance | Get roadside assistance from towing and other services for free |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | Your insurance company pays for medical bills regardless of fault (bills include x-rays, copays, etc.) |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | Covers the cost of personal injury, including child care fees, legal fees, lost wages, etc.) |
| Property damage (PD) liability | Your insurance company covers the cost of property damage you caused |
| Rental car reimbursement | The insurance company reimburses you for the money you spent on rental cars |
| Rideshare reimbursement | Your insurance company provides a refund for all the rideshares you used while your car was being repaired |
| SR-22 certification | Certification for high-risk drivers |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage | Provides coverage when you're in an accident with an at-fault driver (or hit-and-run driver) who doesn't have insurance |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage | Covers the remaining cost of bodily injury and property damage when an at-fault driver doesn't have enough insurance |
If you add all of these coverages to your policy, you’ll have a complete full coverage car insurance policy. However, you’ll pay more.
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Where can you buy Root car insurance?
Root Insurance is limited to a few states. Where is Root available?
Let’s look at a list of states that have Root Inc.
| States | Availability |
|---|---|
| Alabama | no |
| Alaska | no |
| Arizona | yes |
| Arkansas | yes |
| California | yes |
| Colorado | yes |
| Connecticut | yes |
| Delaware | yes |
| District of Columbia | no |
| Florida | no |
| Georgia | yes |
| Hawaii | no |
| Idaho | no |
| Illinois | yes |
| Indiana | yes |
| Iowa | yes |
| Kansas | no |
| Kentucky | yes |
| Louisiana | yes |
| Maine | no |
| Maryland | yes |
| Massachusetts | no |
| Michigan | no |
| Minnesota | no |
| Mississippi | yes |
| Missouri | yes |
| Montana | yes |
| Nebraska | yes |
| Nevada | yes |
| New Hampshire | no |
| New Jersey | no |
| New Mexico | yes |
| New York | no |
| North Carolina | no |
| North Dakota | yes |
| Ohio | yes |
| Oklahoma | yes |
| Oregon | yes |
| Pennsylvania | yes |
| Rhode Island | no |
| South Carolina | yes |
| South Dakota | no |
| Tennessee | yes |
| Texas | yes |
| Utah | yes |
| Vermont | no |
| Virginia | yes |
| Washington | no |
| West Virginia | yes |
| Wisconsin | yes |
| Wyoming | no |
Root provides car and home insurance in 31 states. At the moment, drivers in the other 19 states can’t purchase a Root policy.
As Root Insurance continues to grow, it may become available to more areas in the future.
How do I cancel my Root Insurance policy?
If you already have a Root Insurance policy and want to cancel, follow these steps to learn how to cancel auto insurance at Root.
- Contact the Root Insurance customer service phone number at 1-866-980-9431
- Speak with a Root Insurance agent and let them know you want to cancel
- Provide your name, address, and policy number
- Wait for your cancellation to finalize
You can also cancel using the Root Insurance mobile app. Root Insurance customers can cancel their policy by emailing [email protected] as well.
How do I file a car insurance claim at Root Inc.?
Filing an auto insurance claim at Root Insurance can be done in six steps. Let’s go through each step to learn how to file a claim at Root Insurance.
- Open the Root Insurance mobile app
- Locate the “File a claim or get roadside assistance” selection at the bottom
- Click on “File a claim” on the next page
- Type in all the information in the selection boxes
- Take photos of injuries and damages to your motor vehicle
- Send your auto insurance claim and wait for a response from Root Insurance
Minor accidents are usually processed quickly, but it could take at least ten business days. Major, total loss accidents could take three weeks or longer to resolve.
Be sure to include as much information as possible when you file a claim.
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Does Root Insurance have good reviews?
Root Insurance has struggled with maintaining good customer reviews. In addition to staggering customer ratings, Root hasn’t secured a financial strength rating for its car insurance sector.
Let’s look at a quick summary of Root Insurance’s most recent reviews.
| Rating Agency | Ratings |
|---|---|
| A.M. Best Rating | A (for home insurance) |
| Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating | A+ |
| BBB Customer Rating | 1.31 stars |
| NAIC Complaint Index | 4 |
| Google Play Rating | 4.7 stars |
| Apple App Store Rating | 4.7 stars |
Root Inc. has an excellent rating from A.M. Best, but that score is for its home insurance.
Although Root Insurance has a good BBB rating, its customer rating is way below average.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) reports that Root Inc. has four times the complaints as most companies its size.
However, the Root Insurance mobile app has an almost five-star rating.
Root Car Insurance: Pros and Cons
Before we wrap up this Root auto insurance review, let’s examine Root Insurance’s highlights and pitfalls.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable car insurance rates | You can only get a Root Insurance policy in 31 states |
| Provides SR-22 certification when you become a high-risk driver | Very poor customer service ratings |
| Rideshare reimbursement coverage helps until you get a rental car | No financial strength ratings for auto insurance |
| Customers can manage their policy on their smart device | Decline drivers with a high-risk status before getting a policy |
Did you notice any more drawbacks? You could improve your car insurance situation with a Root Insurance policy, but some drivers may find it complicated.
Root Car Insurance: The Bottom Line
You can buy affordable Root auto insurance, but you’ll need to have good driving habits.
No usage-based insurance system is perfect, so your rates won’t be the same each month. However, you can keep Root car insurance rates low if you don’t drive often.
Before you buy Root car insurance, use our free online quote tool to explore multiple insurance quotes from various companies near you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Root Car Insurance?
Root Car Insurance is a car insurance company that uses telematics to determine rates based on actual driving behavior.
How does Root Car Insurance work?
Root Car Insurance uses a mobile app that tracks driving behavior such as speed, braking, and acceleration to determine rates.
Is Root Car Insurance available in all states?
No, Root Car Insurance is not available in all states. Currently, it is available in 30 states.
Does Root Car Insurance offer any discounts?
Root Car Insurance offers a variety of discounts including a sign-up discount, referral discount, and safe driving discount.
Can I cancel my Root Car Insurance policy at any time?
Yes, you can cancel your Root Car Insurance policy at any time.
Does Root Car Insurance offer roadside assistance?
Yes, Root Car Insurance offers roadside assistance as an optional add-on to your policy.
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
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Melanie Musson
Published Insurance Expert
Melanie Musson is the fourth generation in her family to work in the insurance industry. She grew up with insurance talk as part of her everyday conversation and has studied to gain an in-depth knowledge of state-specific insurance laws and dynamics as well as a broad understanding of how insurance fits into every person’s life, from budgets to coverage levels. Through her years working in th...
Published Insurance Expert
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about car insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything car insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by car insurance experts.