Root car insurance review: Coverage & considerations

Key takeaways

• Root is a fully digital telematics car insurance company.
• Root tracks customers’ driving habits using its mobile app, and rates are primarily based on the resulting driving score. 
• Car insurance cost factors also include coverage limits, claims history, deductibles, driving history, ZIP code and more.

Our expert take on Root car insurance

Root’s digital systems. Root car insurance differs from major insurers because it mostly uses driving behavior to determine the price of your car insurance. Root tracks driving through its mobile app before setting rates. Root’s application process is quick and completely digital. 

Because your driving is tracked through the Root mobile app, you will have to share data and permissions to have the app run in the background, which could be an issue for you if you have data-privacy concerns. 

Coverage. Root lacks endorsements that most other insurers offer, but you can purchase roadside assistance and rental-reimbursement coverage. 

Cost. An initial quote from Root could change after the trial period. Root has you test drive using the app for about three weeks and then your car insurance quote is set for a six-month term. The quote is partially based on how safely you drove and scored. 

While standard factors like coverage limits, claims history and car insurance deductibles still impact cost, the majority of your quote will be contingent upon your usage-based insurance (UBI) score. This includes behavior like:

• Hard braking and hard turning
• Hand-held phone usage
• Speed, like when turning or accelerating
• Time of day you drive

Complaints about Root. Root’s car insurance has a higher-than-average level of complaints—almost twice the industry average in 2025—according to data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The No. 1 reason for complaints was claim delays. 

Additional products. Root also offers renters insurance.

How Root car insurance works

There are two ways to get a car insurance quote through Root:

• Test drive. Download the Root mobile app to track your driving. After about three weeks, you will receive a quote or a denial based on how you scored. You should only choose this option if you currently have other car insurance, as you won’t be insured by Root yet. 
• Instant quote. You can get an instant quote and coverage through Root. Your driving is then tracked for about three weeks and you are given an updated quote. Depending on how your driving scores, your car insurance might be cheaper or more expensive than the original quote.  

Root’s policy terms are for six months. The app is running in the background after the test drive unless you proactively turn it off, but your driving after the test-drive period does not impact your rate at renewal (although other factors could impact rates).

You must give the Root app permission to collect data and access tracking systems through your phone, like GPS. It uses technology through your smart phone to determine how safely you're driving. Root uses the machine-learning algorithms to identify the moving patterns of your phone, which helps it determine if you are a driver or a passenger. However, the process is fully automated, so if a trip is misclassified because you weren’t driving, you’ll need to reach out to support.

Coverage highlights

Root offers very few coverage add-ons compared to other car insurance companies. 

• Rental-reimbursement insurance. Rental-reimbursement coverage helps pay for a rental car or alternative transportation, like Ubers, if your car is being repaired after a covered claim or if it’s stolen.
• Roadside assistance. If you are stranded, roadside-assistance coverage helps pay for fuel delivery, jump-starts, lockout services, spare-tire installation, towing and winching. Root offers 24/7 roadside assistance. It covers up to $100 for any of these services up to three times during a six-month policy period. 

Coverage drawbacks to consider

Root car insurance sells all the standard coverages that you’d need to legally drive in your state, but it doesn’t provide many add-ons to customize a policy. So while you can get full-coverage car insurance with Root, you can’t purchase endorsements like mechanical-breakdown insurance, new-car replacement or gap insurance. You also can’t earn or buy accident forgiveness. 

Root car insurance discounts 

Root offers two car insurance discounts in addition to its reductions for safe driving. You can save by paying your premiums in full instead of monthly and for bundling renters insurance along with your auto policy.

Root also has a referral program. If you refer someone and they buy a policy through Root, you’ll be rewarded around $10 (varies by state and policy promotions). 

Root car insurance availability

Customer experience, claims and service

Root insurance has a high level of complaints against it to state insurance departments, according to data from the NAIC. The insurer has nearly double the amount of complaints than the industry average. 

According to NAIC data, the top reasons for complaints against Root are, in order:

1. Claim delays
2. Unsatisfactory claim settlements or offers
3. Adjuster handling

Root’s collision-repair process received only a C- in the Crash Network’s 2026 Insurer Report Card. The grade reflects how insurers handle collision claims based on a survey of collision-repair specialists around the country. Root’s grade was below the national average (C+).

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