Root Auto Insurance Reviews (2026): Great Rates to Start, Challenges at Renewal
Key Takeaways
- Cheap to start, often expensive at renewal. That’s the consistent pattern across every major review. Initial full coverage averages ~$151/mo, but customers commonly report 30% to 50% rate hikes at renewal even with no tickets, accidents, or claims.
- Pricing is built on the test drive, not demographics. A 2-3 week app-tracked test drive captures braking, acceleration, phone use, and time-of-day driving. Safe drivers in penalized demographics — teens, young adults, poor credit, high-rate ZIP codes — see the biggest absolute savings if they prove out.
- Coverage gaps matter for some drivers. No gap insurance, no accident forgiveness, no new car replacement, no rideshare coverage. Anyone leasing or financing should weigh that carefully. Roadside assistance is included though, and rental coverage offers a Lyft credit option.
- Third-party ratings sit below traditional carriers. NAIC complaint index runs 1.39 to 2.61 (above the 1.0 baseline), AM Best is B- (Fair), CRASH Network gave a C, and J.D. Power doesn’t rate Root at all. BBB accreditation is A+ since 2017, and the app draws ~4.7/5 reviews.
- Bottom line: treat Root as a six-month rate, not a long-term provider. Get the test-drive quote, take the year-one savings if they’re real, then re-shop against Geico, Progressive, and State Farm at every renewal. Customers who treat Root as set-it-and-forget-it are the ones who end up overpaying.
Root auto insurance reviews show one of the more polarized patterns in the car insurance industry. The Root insurance mobile app, initial quote, and claims-filing process tend to get four-star reviews from customers and reviewers. Renewal pricing, customer service, and billing flexibility tend to draw lower scores from the same sources. Major reviewers across the board describe the same Root car insurance review pattern: cheap to start, often more expensive at renewal, and primarily app-based for everything in between.
Cheap to start. Expensive at renewal. That’s the pattern reviewers describe across most major Root insurance review sources and most Root car insurance reviews currently in market.
The pricing model explains both halves of that pattern. Root insurance prices Root car insurance policies almost entirely on driving habits captured during a test drive period in the Root insurance mobile app, instead of demographics like age or credit. Good drivers can land below-market initial premiums on Root car insurance, often by hundreds per month versus traditional insurance companies. What customers describe next is the renewal experience: rates that frequently rise 30% to 50% with no new tickets, accidents, or claims. Many reviews also describe an app-first customer support team that some customers find efficient and others find difficult to reach. The Root insurance company holds an A+ Better Business Bureau accreditation alongside a 1.93 NAIC complaint index, which sits above the 1.0 industry baseline for car insurance companies of similar size.
The honest read on Root car insurance reviews: the Root mobile app draws strong praise, the test drive savings can be real, and the company is a legitimate company. Many customers describe Root car insurance as a strong fit for the first six-month policy term and re-shop their auto insurance at renewal to compare options. Many customers also report meaningful rate increases after the first six-week or first six-month policy term, including in cases with no change in driving record.
What the major Root insurance reviews actually say
| Source | Rating | Notes |
| NerdWallet | Couldn’t rate | No financial strength data available |
| Bankrate | Below-average complaints | “Consistently above industry average” for NAIC complaints |
| Yahoo Finance / Savvy | 2.0 / 5 | C grade from CRASH Network; not in J.D. Power studies |
| Insurify | 3.4 / 5 user rating; IQ Score 7.9 / 10 | NAIC 1.90; ~$151/mo avg full coverage |
| WalletHub | 3.9 / 5 user rating | Higher complaint volume than many competitors |
| The Zebra | 2.9 / 5 | “Fair company” verdict |
| AutoInsurance.com | Mixed | A+ BBB; 1.93 NAIC; “below-average customer satisfaction” |
| InsuranceProviders.com | Negative | NAIC 2.61; BBB customer rating 1.3 / 5 |
| Trustpilot | 4.2 / 5 (“Great”) | Strong app and pricing reviews |
| Better Business Bureau | A+ accreditation; ~3 / 5 customer rating | BBB-accredited since 2017 |
| AM Best | B- (Fair), Stable | Below A-range typical of large carriers |
| J.D. Power | Not rated | Root not included in studies |
The numerical scores diverge because they measure different things. Insurify and WalletHub reflect customer-experience ratings, where Root sits in the 3.4 to 3.9 range. The Zebra and Yahoo factor in complaint indexes and CRASH Network grades, which place Root in the 2.0 to 2.9 range. Trustpilot reflects voluntary customer reviews skewed toward customers happy with the app, which produces a 4.2.
What every major source notes: Root has a higher-than-average NAIC complaint volume, no traditional gap insurance, no accident forgiveness, mixed renewal pricing experiences, and a strong mobile app.
How Root’s pricing model works
Root insurance is a usage-based auto insurance product. Instead of pricing your auto insurance coverage based on age, gender, credit score, or ZIP code (the traditional approach), Root prices it almost entirely on how you actually drive. The result is competitive pricing for safe drivers and structurally higher pricing for drivers whose test drive shows risky habits.
To get an instant quote you can act on, you download the Root mobile app and complete a test drive period of 2 to 3 weeks (some sources describe it as a few weeks; others reference up to six weeks of monitoring). The app uses your phone’s accelerometer and GPS to track braking patterns, turning behavior, time-of-day driving, mileage, and phone use. At the end of the test drive, Root delivers a final rate based on those driving habits. Per Root’s marketing, good drivers can save up to $900 per year compared to traditional auto insurance, and giving Root the test drive period before quoting locks in the cheapest available rate.
According to Insurify, Root’s average full coverage car insurance premium is around $151 per month. That sits well below the national average for full coverage car insurance, which runs about $167 per month for a typical driver. The savings can be larger for drivers from demographics that traditional insurance companies penalize heavily, including teen drivers, drivers with poor credit, and drivers in high-rate ZIP codes, as long as their actual driving habits prove safe during the test drive. New car insurance shoppers who want to try usage-based pricing for the first time often see the largest absolute savings.
The trade-off is downside risk. Drivers whose test-drive performance shows hard braking, fast acceleration, or heavy phone use either get a higher quote or, in some cases, no quote at all. The same data Root uses to reward safe driving habits is also used to filter out applicants the algorithm thinks are risky. Drivers with a suspended license, recent DUI, or multiple at-fault accidents may not be quotable at all. Root’s pricing model rewards safe driving across multiple coverage types, but it also penalizes risky driving more aggressively than traditional auto insurance underwriting would. Insurance premiums move with your behavior, both up and down.
The renewal pricing pattern (the most consistent theme in reviews)
The single most consistent theme across Root insurance reviews is that initial quotes don’t always hold at renewal. Customers across Insurify, WalletHub, InsuranceProviders.com, and the Better Business Bureau describe the same pattern: a low initial premium for the first six-month policy term, then a 30% to 50% rate increase at renewal, often with no new accidents, tickets, suspended license issues, or claims on the driving record.
A representative WalletHub review describes paying $408 per month with Root and dropping to $200 per month after switching to Progressive. A representative Insurify review describes a $300 monthly increase at policy renewal with no tickets or accidents on the driving record, and “no transparency” about the change. Some Insurify reviews open with “Brand new but much cheaper” or “great company at first, then the renewal hit,” capturing the same satisfied-then-frustrated arc that defines a lot of Root experiences.
Root’s pricing structure is consistent with how usage-based auto insurance works in general. The Root mobile app keeps tracking your driving habits after the test drive, and the company adjusts your renewal premiums based on the new data. Drivers whose post-test-drive habits look slightly worse than the test-drive baseline can see meaningful rate increases. Drivers whose habits stay identical can still see increases, because Root’s overall rate filings change over time and renewal rates are recalculated against current company-wide pricing rather than your original quote. The result for many customers is rate increases at renewal regardless of behavior, similar to how other providers reprice annually.
The takeaway from how reviewers frame this: treat the initial Root quote as a six-month rate rather than a long-term rate. If the price still beats other providers at renewal, stay. If it doesn’t, switch. Drivers who treat Root as a perpetual provider are the ones who tend to write the most frustrated BBB reviews.
Coverage car insurance options at Root
Root offers the standard coverage car insurance products you’d expect from a national auto insurance carrier. The Root insurance company sells liability (bodily injury and property damage liability), collision and comprehensive coverage, medical payments, personal injury protection, uninsured underinsured motorist coverage, and rental reimbursement. Per AutoInsurance.com, 24-hour roadside assistance is included with all Root car insurance policies, which is unusual at this price point and a real coverage perk that other providers typically charge extra for.
Root’s car insurance coverage lineup looks like this on a category-by-category basis:
| Coverage | Available at Root |
| Bodily injury liability | Yes |
| Property damage liability | Yes |
| Collision | Yes |
| Comprehensive coverage | Yes |
| Medical payments | Yes |
| Personal injury protection | Yes |
| Uninsured underinsured motorist | Yes |
| Roadside assistance | Yes (24-hour, included) |
| Rental car coverage | Yes (reimbursement or Lyft credit) |
| Gap insurance | No |
| Accident forgiveness | No |
| New car replacement | No |
| Rideshare coverage | No |
Root insurance covers all the major coverage types most drivers actually buy, including collision and comprehensive coverage as a combined “full coverage” option. The auto insurance coverage stack is comparable to what major car insurance companies offer, with three meaningful exceptions.
The most discussed coverage gap in reviews is gap insurance. Root does not offer gap insurance for financed or leased vehicles, so if your car is totaled while you owe more on the loan than its actual cash value, the difference would fall to you. Drivers with a new car or new vehicle still under financing typically look at competitors that offer gap insurance directly inside the policy if they want more coverage than Root offers. Root also does not offer accident forgiveness, which means premiums may increase after an accident even when the accident isn’t your fault. New car replacement coverage is another gap reviewers note: if a new vehicle is totaled within the first 24 months, Root pays actual cash value rather than replacing the new car. Allstate and a few other major auto insurance companies offer new car replacement, while Root takes a different approach.
The rental car coverage feature is unusually flexible: when your vehicle is in the shop after a covered accident, Root will reimburse for a rental car or, alternately, credit you for Lyft rides. The total reimbursement caps are standard, but the Lyft option is rare in the auto insurance industry. Root also offers homeowners insurance and renters insurance through its platform, which makes auto and renters insurance bundling possible. Root insurance also offers homeowners insurance bundles for customers who own a home. The bundle discount for combining auto and renters insurance with Root is one of the few traditional discounts Root applies. Drivers looking for lower premiums on bundled policies should compare Root’s bundle savings against Geico’s and State Farm’s.
Root insurance discounts
Root applies most of its discount math up front through the test drive rather than through traditional discount line items. The Root insurance discounts stack is narrow compared to a State Farm or Allstate, but the test drive itself can produce a much larger good driver discount than any traditional discount stack would.
The Root insurance discounts available include a pay-in-full discount (pay your six-month premium up front instead of monthly), an accident prevention course discount in some states, a five-year accident-free discount, a connectivity discount for staying enrolled in the telematics program, a homeowners discount if you own a home, and the auto and renters insurance bundle discount. Together, these can stack to produce competitive pricing for safe drivers.
Root does not offer many of the standard discounts other car insurance companies promote: no military discount, no good student discount, no defensive driving course discount in most states, no multi-vehicle discount, no anti-theft device discount. Root’s reasoning is that the test drive captures real driving safety better than any of those proxies, so layering them on would double-count risk. That logic holds up structurally, and it means safe drivers who already qualify for the test drive savings won’t find as many additional ways to save money once the initial quote is set.
Customer service and the claims process
Customer service is the area where Root reviews skew most mixed. Reviewers across InsuranceProviders.com, the Better Business Bureau, and Insurify user reviews describe a range of experiences, with some customers reporting difficulty reaching a human, slow responses from the claims department, and a customer support team that handles billing changes (due dates, payment arrangements) primarily through the app. Many customers note that the Root mobile app handles policy management, claims, and billing entirely, which is convenient for app-comfortable customers and less convenient for customers who prefer phone-based service.
The claims process itself draws relatively positive reviews. To file a claim through the Root mobile app takes about three minutes, with a few quick questions and photos of the damages. The company claims most customers get a response within a week. Drivers can file claims directly in the Root app or by calling the customer support team, but most customers file claims through the app for the fastest turnaround. Trustpilot’s 4.2 / 5 rating reflects that the day-to-day digital experience is generally smooth, and the Root app remains the primary touchpoint for the entire customer relationship.
The variance between the claims process (generally well-reviewed) and the broader customer service experience (more mixed) shows up at the point where a claim hits an exception or a customer needs to dispute a charge. Root’s system is built for high-volume, low-touch interactions; when a claim or billing question requires a human conversation or a lawyer involved on either side, customers sometimes describe a longer process. Some customer reports describe waiting weeks for callbacks, claims marked as under investigation, or form submitted requests that took longer than expected to resolve.
Better Business Bureau, NAIC, and financial strength
Root’s third-party ratings are mixed in the same structural way as the customer reviews.
The Better Business Bureau gives Root an A+ accreditation, which it has held since 2017. BBB customer ratings average around 3 / 5 stars, which sits in the same range as most major auto insurance companies. The BBB notes that due to the volume of complaints, it publishes one of every four complaints handled through the conciliation process.
The NAIC complaint index, calculated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and tracked by every state’s insurance commissioners, is the data point reviewers cite most often when discussing Root’s customer experience. The baseline is 1.0 (industry average for an insurance company of comparable size). Root’s most recent NAIC scores reported by major reviewers range from 1.39 (WalletHub’s snapshot) to 1.90 (Insurify) to 1.93 (AutoInsurance.com) to 2.61 (InsuranceProviders.com). All of those numbers sit above 1.0, meaning Root receives more customer complaints than expected for its size. Bankrate reports Root has scored consistently above the industry average for complaints over the most recent three years of data.
Financial strength is another data point reviewers reference. Root’s operating insurers hold an AM Best B- (Fair) rating with a Stable outlook, which is below the A-range typical of large national auto insurance carriers. NerdWallet declined to issue an overall rating because financial strength data is limited. The CRASH Network’s 2025 Report Card gave Root a C grade. Root was not included in any J.D. Power customer satisfaction or auto claims satisfaction studies for 2024 or 2025.
These ratings indicate where Root sits relative to larger, more established insurance companies. Root has been BBB-accredited since 2017, is publicly traded (NASDAQ: ROOT) since 2020, and operates in 34 to 37 states. The lower ratings reflect a younger, growth-stage company rather than insolvency risk.
Pros and cons of Root auto insurance
| Pros | Cons |
| Often-cheap initial pricing for safe drivers (~$151/mo full coverage avg per Insurify) | Renewal rate hikes of 30% to 50% commonly reported, even with clean records |
| Highly rated mobile app (~4.7/5 App Store) | Customer support team hard to reach for non-app issues |
| 24-hour roadside assistance included with all Root insurance policies (most providers charge extra for roadside assistance) | Root does not offer accident forgiveness, gap insurance, or new car replacement |
| Rental car coverage with Lyft credit option | NAIC complaint index 1.39 to 2.61 (above 1.0 industry baseline) |
| Up to $900/yr savings claim for good drivers under Root insurance | Limited Root insurance discounts vs traditional providers |
| Auto and renters insurance bundle discount with Root insurance | AM Best B- (Fair); not rated by J.D. Power |
| Underwriting rewards safe driving habits over demographics | Root insurance cancellation requires self-service through the Root mobile app |
| Strong fit for teen drivers, young adults, drivers with poor credit who drive safely | Root insurance is available in only 34 to 37 states; excluded markets include Alaska, Hawaii, Michigan, NY, NC |
Who Root works for, and where reviewers suggest looking elsewhere
Root insurance fits drivers whose actual driving habits are better than their demographic profile suggests. Teen drivers, young adults, drivers with poor credit, drivers in high-rate ZIP codes, and drivers without a long driving record can all see meaningful savings on Root insurance if they prove out as safe drivers during the test drive. The app-first experience also suits drivers who want to file a claim, manage payments, and handle policy changes through a phone rather than an agent or call center.
Root insurance is a less natural fit in a few specific scenarios reviewers consistently flag: drivers leasing or financing a new vehicle (no gap insurance), drivers who’ve had an accident or want accident forgiveness (Root does not offer accident forgiveness), drivers who want a wide range of car insurance discounts and coverage options to stack (Root has a limited discount list and limited specialty coverage options compared to competitors), drivers who anticipate needing to call a customer support team often (the claims department and support are app-first), and drivers who want a long-term, set-it-and-forget-it auto insurance policy. Root insurance tends to make most economic sense when re-shopped at every six-month renewal, and customers committing to Root insurance long-term often pay more than they would starting elsewhere.
Root is also unavailable in some states. Per recent reporting, Root is not offered in Alaska, Hawaii, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, and a handful of other markets. The exact list of available states changes, so check Insurify’s review and WalletHub’s review for the most current state lists.
Frequently asked questions
Is Root a legitimate company?
Yes. Root Insurance Company is a legitimate company founded in 2015, publicly traded on NASDAQ since 2020 (ticker: ROOT), licensed in 34 to 37 states, and BBB-accredited since 2017 with an A+ rating. The Root insurance company carries an AM Best B- (Fair) financial strength rating, which is below the A-range typical of larger insurance companies but indicates the firm can pay claims under normal conditions.
How does the Root insurance test drive work?
You download the Root app, then drive normally for 2 to 3 weeks while the app tracks braking, acceleration, turning, time of day, and phone use through your phone’s sensors. At the end of the test drive, Root provides a final quote based on your driving habits. Good drivers typically receive much lower rates than they’d see from traditional insurance companies. Some applicants don’t get offered a rate at all if their test drive shows risky habits.
Does Root offer gap insurance?
No. Root does not offer gap insurance for financed or leased vehicles. If your new car or new vehicle is totaled while you owe more on the loan than its actual cash value, you’d need to source gap from your dealership, your lender, or a competitor. Drivers with leased or financed vehicles should consider this carefully before choosing Root.
Why do Root rates go up at renewal?
The most common reasons cited in reviews: post-test-drive driving habits showed more hard braking or phone use; Root’s overall rate filing changed in your state; the company recalculated against current rates rather than your original quote. Auto insurance rates rising at renewal is one of the most consistent themes across Root reviews. Most reviewers recommend re-shopping quotes from competitors at every renewal regardless.
How does Root compare to Geico, Progressive, or State Farm?
Root tends to be cheaper for safe drivers in the first policy term, often by hundreds per month. Geico, Progressive, and State Farm tend to be cheaper at renewal and offer more comprehensive coverage options, more car insurance discounts, accident forgiveness, gap insurance, and stronger third-party customer satisfaction ratings. For long-term policy stability, traditional insurance companies tend to be the more predictable choice. For year-one savings if you’re a safe driver, Root can win on price.
Can you file a claim through the Root app?
Yes. The claims process at Root is app-first. Most claims can be filed in about three minutes through the Root app: answer a few questions, take photos of the damages, submit. The company says most customers get a response within a week. The Root app and claims process are the most consistently praised parts of the customer experience.
Does Root offer accident forgiveness?
No. Root does not offer accident forgiveness. If you’re in an accident while insured by Root, your premiums may increase at renewal, even if the accident wasn’t your fault. Drivers who want accident forgiveness should consider Allstate (standard for all customers) or State Farm’s add-on instead.
Is Root cheaper than other car insurance companies?
For good drivers in their first six-month term, often yes. Insurify puts Root’s average full coverage car insurance premium at about $151/mo, below the national average. The savings can be substantial for teen drivers, young adults, and drivers in high-rate demographics. After the initial term, reviewers consistently report rate increases of 30% to 50% at renewal, which can offset the initial savings. Most reviewers describe year-one as the strongest case for Root, with subsequent terms requiring re-shopping.
The bottom line
Root auto insurance reviews tell one of the more consistent stories in the car insurance industry: the app and initial pricing draw strong reviews, while the renewal experience and customer service draw more mixed reviews. Every major Root insurance review source describes the same pattern, even when their final numerical ratings differ. The Root insurance company is a legitimate company with real underwriting innovation, and the product fits drivers who understand the test drive savings tend to be strongest in the first term and who plan to compare options at every six-month renewal.
Get an instant quote from Root if you’re a safe driver and want to test the test-drive savings. Plan to compare quotes from at least three other auto insurance companies (Geico, Progressive, State Farm at minimum) before each renewal. Compare the standard coverage components carefully too: bodily injury limits, property damage liability, and uninsured underinsured motorist limits should be at least equal to what Root offers, and roadside assistance should be included or low-cost. Root’s national average rate beats the industry national average for safe drivers in year one, but the national average shifts year over year. If Root still wins at renewal, stay. If a competitor’s quote comes in lower, switch. The car insurance industry rewards drivers who shop annually, and that pattern shows up especially clearly with usage-based products like Root.
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