Secured with SHA-256 EncryptionRoot Auto Insurance Review for 2024
Root auto insurance rates are about $65 a month if you have good driving habits. Root Insurance determines car insurance costs by your daily driving behavior and credit history. On average, Root is $195 cheaper than the average auto insurance rate. Shop around and compare multiple insurance companies to Root car insurance to get the best deal.
- You can’t get Root auto insurance without going through a test phase
- Root auto insurance averages $65 a month if you maintain good driving habits
- Root Inc. also provides home insurance
Did you know Root provides usage-based car insurance? If you’re a good driver, you can save money with Root auto insurance. Because Root auto insurance quotes are only available after a test drive, they’re difficult to estimate.
That can make it difficult to decide if Root auto insurance will be cheaper for you. How can you find out if Root is right for you? Don’t worry – we’re here to help.
Our Root auto insurance review has everything you need to know about Root auto insurance rates, how Root works for customers, and where you can get a Root insurance policy.
Read on to learn more about Root auto insurance. If you’re ready to start comparing multiple insurance companies now, enter your ZIP code in the free online quote tool above.
How do you get Root auto insurance?
The Root Insurance app is available for download on Apple and Android devices.
Download and install the Root Insurance mobile app on your smartphone, so the telematics can track your driving activity while on the road. That’s the first step towards a Root quote.
Before you can buy Root auto insurance, you’ll need to pass the test phase.
Root insurance requires this test phase in order to see what kind of driver you are and calculate your rates. The test phase lasts for three weeks, and it monitors your overall driving habits.
Here’s a list of things that Root Insurance looks at before it provides Root car insurance quotes.
- Hard braking
- Night driving
- Turning speed
- Overall driving speed
- The number of miles you drive
- Hands-free driving
Once the three weeks have passed, Root provides a grade for your overall performance. If you have a good score after the test phase, you’ll receive a car insurance offer from Root Inc.
How much are Root auto insurance rates?
Root car insurance averages $65 per month for those with good driving habits. However, Root auto insurance varies for each driver in the United States.
Check out this Root Insurance summary to see what the company offers.
| 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 provides high coverage levels for its customers. Also, you’ll have basic coverage options like collision and comprehensive insurance.
If you want to save more money on Root Insurance rates, you can always raise your auto insurance deductibles.
Is Root Insurance cheaper than other auto insurance companies?
Usage-based car insurance is usually cheaper than standard car insurance. But how does Root Inc. compare to the best auto insurance companies in the nation?
Here’s what we found.
| Companies | Car Insurance Rates |
|---|---|
| *Industry Average | $260 |
| Allstate | $318 |
| American Family | $224 |
| Farmers | $288 |
| Geico | $179 |
| Liberty Mutual | $398 |
| Nationwide | $229 |
| Progressive | $283 |
| State Farm | $235 |
| Travelers | $287 |
| USAA | $161 |
Root Insurance is the cheapest company. USAA, Geico, American Family, and Nationwide are the following companies that are the most affordable.
But affordable Root auto insurance depends on other factors.
Does Root Inc. determine auto insurance rates by credit history?
Yes, it does. After the test drive phase, Root car insurance looks at other characteristics, like credit, to determine your rates.
Let’s examine how credit impacts your Root auto insurance quotes.
| Credit Summary | Monthly Root Insurance Rates |
|---|---|
| Good Credit | $69 |
| Fair Credit | $79 |
| Bad Credit | $96 |
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), insurance companies use your credit history to determine your risk. Bad credit correlates to more risks to filing car insurance claims.
Good credit relates to a lower risk of filing a claim, and it gives you access to cheap auto insurance.
But Root Inc. promises to suspend credit-based car insurance by 2025. However, there are other factors that will continue to affect your rates.
Can I get cheaper Root auto insurance with a good driving record?
Yes, you can. Root Inc. targets low-risk drivers. It’ll be challenging if you’re a high-risk driver looking to buy Root car insurance.
But what if you become a high-risk driver while you have a Root Insurance policy? Do rates become more expensive?
Let’s see.
| 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 | $65 | $75 | $81 | $89 |
| State Farm | $235 | $266 | $283 | $303 |
| Travelers | $287 | $355 | $357 | $478 |
| USAA | $161 | $183 | $210 | $292 |
Your Root Inc. rates do increase, but it’s more affordable than other car insurance companies, even if you have a traffic violation or accident on your record.
Can I get auto insurance discounts from Root Insurance?
Root Inc. provides affordable car insurance rates, but it doesn’t provide discounts like most competitors.
You save money if you set up automatic payments. Also, Root Insurance customers who add home insurance to their Root auto insurance policy can save at least 10% more.
Which auto insurance coverage options are available at Root Insurance?
Root Inc. isn’t just affordable – it has the coverage options most drivers need. Here’s a list of coverages you can get from Root Insurance.
- Bodily injury (BI) liability
- Collision car insurance
- Comprehensive car insurance
- Emergency roadside assistance
- Medical payments (MedPay)
- Personal injury protection (PIP)
- Property damage (PD) liability
- Rental car reimbursement
- Rideshare reimbursement
- SR-22 certification
- Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage
- Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage
Root Insurance customers will automatically get roadside assistance with an auto insurance policy. If you need collision and comprehensive coverage, you may have to add it to your policy.
Anyone who’s still making payments on their vehicle must have collision and comprehensive insurance.
We also recommend that drivers add UM and UIM coverage options even if it’s not required.
Where can I buy Root auto insurance?
Root Insurance policies are available through the Root Insurance mobile app. However, Root Inc. only provides insurance in specific states.
Here are the states where you can buy Root car insurance.
| 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 |
You can get Root Inc. insurance policies in 31 states. Root Insurance’s limited availability is a major disadvantage.
The most popular insurance companies also provide usage-based insurance with bigger savings.
But do they provide the same cheap rates? It all depends on the person.
How do I cancel an auto insurance policy at Root?
There are several ways that you can cancel your Root Insurance policy.
Contact Root Insurance customer service at 1-866-980-9431, and let the Root Insurance agent know you want to cancel.
You can even cancel by logging into your Root Insurance mobile app and canceling through the app’s service menu.
If you’re having trouble accessing the Root Insurance mobile app on your smart device, you should email Root Insurance at [email protected] and ask about cancellations.
How do I file an auto insurance claim at Root Insurance?
Follow this step-by-step process if you want to file a car insurance claim at Root Inc.
- Open the Root Insurance mobile app
- Once you’re in the app, find “File a claim or get roadside assistance” located on the bottom of the screen
- Tap “File a claim” on the next page
- Type in all the information you can when prompted
- Take photos of the bodily injuries and damages to your vehicle
- Submit your car insurance claim and wait for a Root Insurance agent to contact you
Car insurance claim processing varies for each situation. Minor fender benders are taken care of quickly, but significant damage can take weeks to finalize.
Does Root Inc. have good financial strength ratings?
Yes, it does. But Root Insurance only has an excellent financial strength rating (A) with A.M. Best for its home insurance department.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners gave the company a below-average customer complaint rating.
Meanwhile, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) shows that the company has an A+ rating. However, customers on BBB’s website gave the company a 1.31-star rating.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Root Insurance?
Root Insurance is cheaper when compared to other companies, but there are a few issues with the usage-based insurance company.
Let’s explore Root Insurance’s pros and cons.
- Pros
- Affordable car insurance rates
- Provides SR-22 certification when you become a high-risk driver
- Rideshare reimbursement coverage helps until you get a rental car
- Customers can manage their policy on their smart device
- Cons
- You can only get a Root Insurance policy in 31 states
- Very poor customer service ratings
- No financial strength ratings for auto insurance
- Decline drivers with a high-risk status before getting a policy
Did you see some disadvantages that we missed? Every driver’s auto insurance situation is different. Browse through the article once more to see if you can find any more advantages.
What is Root Insurance?
Root Inc. has been around since February 2015. Alex Timm and Dan Manges founded Root Insurance, and the company has earned millions in the past few years. In 2020, Root Inc. made $294 million.
Root Insurance has about 901 employees, and it’s located in Columbus, OH. Root Inc. is on the NASDAQ under the stock symbol known as “ROOT.”
Root Auto Insurance: The Bottom Line
Good driving habits are the best way to secure affordable Root car insurance. Unfortunately, Root Insurance’s cheap rates aren’t available all over the nation.
Root avoids insuring high-risk drivers to keep rates low. Therefore, you may not qualify for a Root policy based on your driving record and habits.
But that’s okay – there are several other insurance companies that can provide reliable insurance coverage.
Now that you know more about Root auto insurance, you’re ready to compare. Use our free online quote tool below to compare multiple insurance companies near you.