Root Insurance review 2024

Root is upfront about its strict eligibility requirements. Only drivers that pass the carrier's test drive will be offered a quote for car insurance. The company’s rationale is that if it only offers coverage to good drivers, every driver that is part of the insurance pool will pay less in premiums overall.

Root car insurance may be a good option for drivers who want their car insurance rates to be based on how safely they drive. This could be an advantage for demographics that typically face high rates, such as young and new drivers. The company has also pledged to remove credit scores as a rating factor by 2025, eliminating further barriers for people to obtain affordable car insurance.

Root car insurance is currently only available in 34 states. To get started, drivers can download the Root mobile app and test drive with it for a few weeks. If drivers pass the test, they will be offered a quote. The company offers the minimum standard coverage options, like bodily injury and property damage liability, but add-on coverage options are fairly limited. Policyholders can opt to add rental car reimbursement as well as uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Drivers who prioritize safety may be interested to know that roadside assistance is included on every Root car insurance policy.

Pros and cons of Root car insurance

Comparing benefits and drawbacks for multiple carriers may help you decide which company is the best fit for your insurance needs. Here are some key points we identified with Root car insurance:

Root home insurance is offered in 17 states through its partner company, Homesite. Although home policies are not offered directly by Root, customers may be able to use the Root mobile app to manage their homeowners insurance policy and file claims. Homesite offers the standard homeowners insurance coverage like dwelling coverage, personal property and personal liability.

Depending on where you live, you may be able to include other add-ons such as water backup coverage, earthquake insurance, service line coverage and coverage for roof damage due to wind or hail.

Pros and cons of Root homeowners insurance

Finding the best homeowners insurance could be a key part of your financial plan. In reviewing Root homeowners insurance options, it may help to take a closer look at Homesite. Here is a summary of Root homeowners insurance pros and cons may help you decide if it could work for your needs:

If you're not sure that Root is the best car insurance company for you, you might consider getting a quote from one of the following comparable companies:

Root vs. Lemonade

Lemonade could be a good option if you are looking for another car insurance provider that uses telematics data to calculate your car insurance policy. The company also takes a socially conscious approach by planting trees to offset its customers' CO2 emissions and allowing customers to choose which charities to donate unused premium to. Lemonade also underwrites its own home insurance policies and won our 2024 Bankrate Award for best digital home insurance company. However, Lemonade car insurance is currently only available in Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, Arizona, Oregon, Washington and Texas.

Learn more: Lemonade Insurance review

Root vs. Allstate

Allstate is a national carrier that also offers its Drivewise telematics program for those who want to earn discounts and further rewards based on real-time driving behavior. As a bonus, drivers don’t need to be an Allstate customer to participate. Allstate also offers an array of home, auto and life insurance products which could be ideal for customers who want to handle all their insurance needs with a single company. Although Allstate also has robust digital tools, the carrier's average rates are significantly higher than the national average.

Learn more: Allstate Insurance review

Root vs. Clearcover

Clearcover aso takes a tech-forward approach to car insurance, with online quoting and claims services. All policy management and billing can be handled through its mobile app, and customer service agents are available at any time for assistance. Like Root, Clearcover's homeowners insurance is underwritten by a partner company, Hippo Insurance. Compared to Root, Clearcover is available in fewer states.

Learn more: Clearcover Insurance review

Bankrate’s insurance editorial team reviewed over a hundred carriers to help you find the best car insurance. Drivers who want a robust mobile and online platform to handle their car insurance needs might find that solution in Root Insurance. Because of its strict eligibility requirements and requires a test drive, not every driver will qualify for coverage. However, those that do may pay premiums based mostly on their driving abilities, and not factors like age and credit score (although this hasn’t been fully phased out yet).

For those that also want home insurance coverage, Root has a partnership through Homesite, but does not underwrite policies itself. This also means that policyholders would not be able to manage their home insurance through the Root app, which could be an inconvenience.

What are real-life customers saying about Root?

To gain insight into the Root customer experience, we turned to platforms where individuals openly share their thoughts and encounters: Reddit and Quora. These forums allow for candid discussions among users, offering a plethora of personal stories, tips and critiques about their insurance companies, including Root. While neither Reddit nor Quora serves as a traditional review site, the depth and variety of user-generated content available on these platforms can provide valuable perspectives from those who have navigated policies, claims and customer service interactions with Root firsthand.

Reddit

Reddit users' opinions on Root Insurance are mixed. Some users praise the company for offering lower premiums and view it as a promising alternative to traditional insurers. Conversely, others express strong dissatisfaction, labeling the company as deceptive, particularly criticizing the test drive process and issues related to policy cancellation and classification of driving versus passenger status.

Quora

On Quora, the feedback regarding Root Insurance also spans a wide spectrum. One user shared a negative experience, highlighting difficulties with policy cancellation and unexpected charges, leading them back to their previous insurer. In contrast, another individual praised Root for their exceptional customer service and responsiveness, emphasizing the value of communication with real, unscripted humans and expressing a strong loyalty to the company based on their positive experiences.

Root company details

For those seeking assistance or more information on Root Insurance, here are the essential contact details:

• Customer service: Agents can be reached via live chat on Root’s website, Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern time
• Claims: File claims online, call 1-866-980-9431 or email claims@joinroot.com
• Claims mailing address:
• Root Insurance Attn: Claims Department
  80 E Rich Street, Suite 500
  Columbus, OH 43215

State availability

Currently, Root car insurance is not available in Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, Wyoming or the District of Columbia.

Root tools and benefits

Root does not offer an extensive list of additional perks and services, but a few benefits are worth noting.

• Referral rewards: New Root members can win up to $100 when they sign up using a referral code. The provider of that referral code will win the same amount.
• Roadside assistance: All Root car insurance policies include roadside assistance as part of the package.

Frequently asked questions about Root

Additional profiles:

• Coverage A, Dwelling: $150,000, $350,000, $450,000
• Coverage B, Other Structures: $15,000, $35,000, $45,000
• Coverage C, Personal Property: $75,000, $175,000, $225,000
• Coverage D, Loss of Use: $30,000, $70,000, $90,000
• Coverage E, Liability: $500,000
• Coverage F, Medical Payments: $1,000

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes. 

Bankrate Scores

Our 2024 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories.

Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlight where they fall short.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, 2023 quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, Demotech and the NAIC, were analyzed.
• Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
• Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways a home insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.

Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.