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Root Auto Insurance Review: Using Technology to Reward Responsible Driving Behavior

Review Updated
Dana George
By: Dana George
Dana George
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Dana George has a BA in Management and Organization Development from Spring Arbor University. For more than 25 years, she has written and reported on business and finance, and she's still passionate about her work. Dana and her husband recently moved to Champaign, Illinois, home of the Fighting Illini. And though she finds the color orange unflattering on most people, she thinks they'll enjoy Champaign tremendously.

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Our Insurance Expert

Eric McWhinnie
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Eric McWhinnie
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Eric McWhinnie has been writing and editing digital content since 2010. He specializes in personal finance and investing. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance.

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Root auto insurance is a good fit for people with a good driving record and responsible driving behavior. Safe drivers are rewarded with lower policy rates.

Logo for Root
Best for people with a good driving recordRoot
Rating image, 2.50 out of 5 stars.
2.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Get a Quote

Bottom Line

Auto insurance from Root is ideal for a good driver who's open to allowing the insurer to monitor their driving habits. Safe drivers can land an excellent policy rate.

Pros

  • The better someone drives, the more they save
  • Policyholders don't pay more to cover poor drivers (unlike traditional insurance)
  • Root's premium can save motorists up to $900 per year

Cons

  • Currently only available in 34 states
  • Drivers trade privacy for savings
  • Limited number of other policy types for those who would like to bundle

Full Root auto insurance review

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Monthly premium costs

While Root is particular about who it insures, the company's rates are tough to beat. Here are four examples:

35y, female, clean record 35y, male, clean record 35y, female, one accident 18y, male, clean record
$1,215 $1,250 $1,496 $2,566
Data source: The Ascent's analysis of standardized personas.

Cost comparison

As mentioned, Root only insures safe drivers. By paying out fewer claims, the company can offer its policyholders lower rates. For example:

Root Average Rate National Average Rate
Clean Driving Record $1,446 $2,728
Accident on Record $1,496 $2,973
Speeding Ticket on Record $1,481 $3,015
DUI on Record $1,360 $2,847
18 Years OId - New Driver $2,566 $6,291
65 Years Old - Senior $1,296 $2,140
Military Service $1,250 $2,375
Minimum Coverage (Liability Only) $352 $787
Data source: The Ascent's analysis of standardized personas.

Discounts

Root offers a wide range of discounts, including:

  • Bundle home and auto
  • Stay off the phone when driving
  • Potential premium savings of $900 a year for good drivers

Coverage

Policy types

  • Auto
  • Homeowners
  • Renters insurance in a limited number of states

Coverage types

  • Bodily injury liability
  • Collision
  • Comprehensive
  • Medical payments
  • Personal injury
  • Property damage liability
  • Rental car
  • Roadside assistance
  • Underinsured motorist
  • Uninsured motorist

While Root's vehicle coverage is comparable to that offered by other insurers, auto insurance is Root's primary focus. The company does offer homeowners and renters insurance in a limited number of states.

Customer service and ratings

The Better Business Bureau gives Root an A+ rating, but customers seem less pleased. With a few hundred reviews, visitors to the BBB site give the company 1.27 out of 5 stars. The majority of complaints involve raised rates and dropped policies.

The insurer hasn't featured in any large-scale customer satisfaction surveys, like those conducted by J.D. Power, so it's difficult to estimate how its service stacks up to its competitors.

Other insurance available

Alternatives to consider

Award Icon 2024 Award Winner
Logo for State Farm
Best for bundling coverageState Farm
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Get a Quote

Read our State Farm review

Award Icon 2024 Award Winner
Logo for Progressive
Best for coverage options and discountsProgressive
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Get a Quote

Read our Progressive review

When looking for an auto insurer with higher customer satisfaction ratings: State Farm shines where Root does not. However, anyone searching for a new policy should compare quotes as Root's rates are tough to beat.

When looking for an auto insurer that provides coverage to drivers with an imperfect driving record: Progressive blows most of its competitors out of the water. However, drivers with a clean record will likely land a lower rate with Root.

Root auto insurance summary

Root auto insurance could be a good fit for drivers who:

  • Want to take advantage of years of safe driving
  • Seek the lowest possible policy rates
  • Are comfortable with an insurer tracking their driving habits

Root readily admits that it's "not for everybody," but for drivers who work with it, there are savings to be had. If you're looking for a better fit, check out our list of the best car insurance companies.

Our auto insurance rating methodology

At The Motley Fool Ascent, insurers are rated on a scale of one to five stars. We primarily focus on pricing, coverage options, and customer satisfaction; however, we also take into account features like unique discounts, online and app-based experiences, and branch access. Our highest-rated auto insurances generally include low costs, solid coverage, and high customer satisfaction.