Root Car Insurance Review 2021

Last updated on Nov 07, 2025

Reviews Report

Root’s insurance subsidiaries carry an A.M. Best B- (Fair) financial strength rating with a Stable outlook, and Root is not included in the latest J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study results (SEC 10-K disclosure; A.M. Best rating definitions; J.D. Power study).
Root is a telematics-first auto insurer that prices primarily on measured driving behavior captured through a smartphone-based Test Drive, with other rating factors applied as permitted by state law (how Root works; Test Drive).
Multi-policy savings are typically available when you bundle Root auto with renters insurance offered through Root Insurance Agency (availability varies by state). Auto is currently offered in 30+ states; check the live state list before quoting (renters and bundling; availability by state).

Root operates squarely within the usage-based insurance (UBI) space, using smartphone telematics to assess on-road behavior and exposure (including mileage) to personalize rates. UBI programs are increasingly smartphone-first, with growing use of embedded vehicle data exchanges to verify mileage and enrich risk signals (LexisNexis Telematics Exchange; Cambridge Mobile Telematics DriveWell).

Financially, Root’s operating insurers are rated B- (Fair) by A.M. Best (Stable outlook), indicating a fair ability to meet ongoing insurance obligations but greater sensitivity to adverse conditions than higher-rated carriers (SEC filing; A.M. Best guide). Root is not currently ranked by J.D. Power’s U.S. Auto Insurance Study. Beyond auto, Root distributes renters (and select homeowners via partners) through Root Insurance Agency, enabling auto + renters bundling where available (learn more).

We reviewed Root’s coverage, pricing model, discounts, customer experience, availability, and claims to see how it stacks up in 2025. Because Root’s footprint is dynamic, verify current availability on Root’s live availability page before buying or renewing.

Root Insurance Overview

Reviews.com Score:

4.6

In business since

2015

B- (Fair)

N/A

States served

30+

For drivers confident in their safe driving, Root’s app-first model can deliver a highly personalized rate. Start an online quote and complete a short Test Drive; your final rate is driven largely by how you actually drive, with other factors applied as permitted in your state (details).

Industry and business coverage from outlets like S&P Global and Bloomberg, along with Root’s own investor relations updates, describe a focus on profitable growth, selective state expansion, and embedded distribution partnerships—consistent with market-wide momentum toward telematics-driven pricing.

PROS

Premiums based on driving behaviors Root’s pricing is anchored to your in‑app driving score from the Test Drive, aligning your rate to measured braking, speed, cornering, and exposure; traditional factors still apply where allowed (how Test Drive works; NAIC on telematics).
Ease of obtaining quote Digital quote + app-based Test Drive streamline onboarding; policy management, ID cards, payments, and claims reporting are handled in-app (program details).
Offers referral rewards Root periodically runs promotions and savings opportunities alongside standard discounts like multi-car and multi‑policy (auto + renters); availability and amounts vary by state—verify in‑app at quote time (discounts overview; bundling renters).
Completely app-based With the Root app, policyholders can view their policies and ID cards, pay bills, submit and monitor claims, call for roadside assistance, and manage all other aspects of their policy.

CONS

Coverage not offered in all states Availability varies by state and can change; confirm your eligibility on Root’s live map before quoting (state availability).
Financial stability still uncertain Root’s operating insurers hold an A.M. Best B- (Fair) rating with a Stable outlook—below the A-range typical of large national carriers (rating disclosed in SEC filing; what B‑ (Fair) means).
Limited coverage options Compared with larger carriers, Root focuses on core auto coverages and a narrower menu of traditional discounts, emphasizing your driving score for savings (program scope).

Root Car Insurance Highlights

Coverage

Customer

Discounts & Add-ons

Claims

Root offers core personal auto coverages (liability, collision, comprehensive, medical payments/PIP, uninsured/underinsured motorist) with app-based policy management. Availability and add-ons vary by state. See how Root auto works.

Root is not currently scored in J.D. Power’s U.S. Auto Insurance Study. For a normalized, regulator-sourced view, check Root’s latest Private Passenger Auto Complaint Index via the NAIC Consumer Insurance Search (1.00 = market average; higher indicates more complaints relative to share): NAIC CIS. For app experience, Root’s mobile apps are highly rated by users—see the Apple App Store listing and Google Play listing; independent sites like Trustpilot provide additional perspective.

Your biggest savings lever is the Test Drive driving score; Root also lists multi-car and multi-policy (auto + renters) savings where available, with amounts varying by state. Car insurance discounts and renters bundling can stack depending on state rules.

Root supports fast, app-based first notice of loss: answer guided questions and upload photos directly in the app. submit a claim. Telematics is increasingly used for crash detection and triage across the industry, improving speed and accuracy of claims setup (CMT DriveWell).

Root’s Car Insurance Bundling Discounts for Cheaper Insurance

Root markets renters insurance through Root Insurance Agency and, in select states, homeowners via partner underwriters. Some offers may be available only to customers who also carry Root auto. Where offered, bundling Root auto with renters can unlock multi‑policy savings that are applied within your quote—amounts vary by state (renters and bundling).

Start by checking Root’s live availability page to confirm whether auto (and any bundled products) are currently offered in your state. Because Root’s footprint can change with regulatory approvals, confirm availability with a Root representative if needed.

Root Car Insurance vs. The Competition

Provider	Reviews.com Score	J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction*	AM Best	Number of Available Discounts**
Root	4.6	N/A	B- (Fair)	Varies by state
Travelers	4.2	Varies by region	A+	Varies by state
Geico	4.8	Varies by region	A++	Varies by state
Auto-Owners	4.4	Varies by region	A++	Varies by state

Information current as of 2025

*J.D. Power’s 2021 Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study rankings vary by region. Based on a 1,000-point scale where published.

**Discounts available may vary depending upon state requirements and driver eligibility.

Root vs. Travelers

Both Root and Travelers offer behavior-based pricing. Travelers is a large multiline carrier with a broad menu of endorsements and discounts plus its IntelliDrive program, which can deliver savings for safe driving and, in many states, higher premiums for risky driving (discounts and program details). Root is “all-in” on telematics with a short Test Drive to personalize your rate—compare full quotes (including telematics options) from both to see which fits best.

Root vs. Geico

This is a challenger vs. incumbent comparison: Root is a mobile-first insurer with selective state availability, while Geico has nationwide presence and extensive coverage options plus DriveEasy telematics for safe-driving savings (program and discounts). Root may offer strong, behavior-based pricing for consistently safe drivers; Geico provides a wider set of traditional discounts and endorsements.

Root vs. Auto-Owners

Auto-Owners generally scores among top performers in independent satisfaction and repair-experience benchmarks, while Root is often unrated in those studies. Root’s subsidiaries hold an A.M. Best B- (Fair) rating; Auto-Owners carries A++ financial strength. J.D. Power rankings and CRASH Network report cards provide additional context by region and claims experience (J.D. Power 2025; CRASH Network Insurer Report Card).

With Auto-Owners, you can work through independent agents to customize coverage and discounts (including optional telematics). Root’s app-centric model lets customers manage everything digitally and potentially earn lower premiums based on measured driving behavior (how Root works).

Root Car Insurance FAQ

Methodology

We evaluated Root car insurance based on discounts, coverage, online resources, financial strength, availability, and customer satisfaction to determine Reviews.com scores and create our best car insurance reviews. To compare carriers on a consistent basis, we considered:

Discounts: Documented savings such as multi-car and multi-policy (auto + renters) were credited where publicly listed; availability and amounts vary by state (Root discounts).
Financial Stability: We used A.M. Best financial strength ratings to benchmark stability and outlook (A.M. Best definitions).
Customer Satisfaction: Where available, we referenced regional results from the latest 2021 Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study. For carriers not included (e.g., Root), we emphasized the NAIC Complaint Index (1.00 = market average) and corroborated with BBB and app-store indicators (NAIC CIS).
Coverage: We awarded higher scores to carriers advertising options beyond state-minimum liability, such as comprehensive and collision, and to those with strong digital servicing (Root coverages).
Online Resources: We reviewed digital features (mobile claim reporting, digital ID cards, payments) and in-app experiences, considering user ratings on iOS and Android (App Store; Google Play).

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