Root Car Insurance Pricing
How much you can expect to spend on car insurance with Root
Root Insurance bases its rates on how each customer drives. A customer’s behavior behind the wheel gets more weight than anything else when it provides a quote. Root claims its safe driving discount could shave up to $900 per year off auto premiums for some customers. On this page, we detail how much you can expect to pay for auto insurance with Root, how you can get your premiums even lower, and some of the best aspects of the company in general.
Car Insurance Rates for Root Insurance
In addition to a person’s driving record, Root takes a person’s age, credit score, marital status, gender, ZIP code, and previous insurance when calculating auto insurance rates. Average annual premiums with Root range from $702 to $984. Of course, the cost for each driver depends on many factors, such as how much coverage they get:
- Minimum coverage: The average annual cost of minimum car insurance coverage is $702.
- Full coverage: Full coverage would cost around $984 per year.
NOTE:
Root uses a person’s driving history to provide an auto insurance rate.
To compare Root’s insurance cost with those of other car insurance companies, get auto insurance quotes from multiple providers. Good drivers will have lower costs across all coverage options.
Saving Money With Root Discounts
Bundling
Root offers discounts to policyholders who purchase renters or homeowners insurance along with auto insurance.
Full Payment
Customers who pay their policies’ premiums in full with Root could receive a discount as well.
Safe Driving
Like many auto insurance companies, Root offers customers discounts for safe driving. It uses its mobile app to measure driving behavior and determine a policyholder’s driving habits.
Focused Driving
Policyholders could also receive a focused driving discount of up to an additional 10 percent off annual premiums. Root defines focused driving as drivers who ignore texts and keep their attention on the road.
Favorite Features
Roadside Assistance
Root includes roadside assistance with every auto policy it sells. Customers can use the service for a jump-start, tow truck, or locked vehicle three times per vehicle during a six-month policy term, with a cap of $100 per incident. No states require roadside assistance, as it’s an add-on and not insurance coverage.
FYI:
Every auto policy with Root has roadside assistance.
Rental Car Coverage
The company also provides rental car coverage as an add-on to its car insurance policies. Customers can choose between a car rental or Lyft reimbursement.
Lyft on Us
Root Insurance provides its customers with free Lyft ride credits on three holidays:
- St. Patrick’s Day (March 17)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- New Year’s Eve (December 31)
The company emails current policyholders a special Lyft code to use during the period of eligibility on those three days. However, Lyft on Us isn’t available in North Dakota.
In What States Is Root Available?
As of November 2022, Root is available in 33 states and the District of Columbia. Here are the states where Root is not available:
- Alaska
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wyoming
Cancellation Policy
Root customers who wish to cancel their policies can do so by visiting the Root app or by calling 866-980-9431. If a customer cancels their policy before the end of its term, the company will refund any amount on a daily prorated basis.
TIP:
You can cancel your auto insurance via the Root app.
Company Background
In 2015, Root began with the goal of changing the car insurance pricing model. While less than a decade old, Root has expanded throughout the U.S. rapidly, as well as added insurance options beyond auto policies.
- 2015: Root began offering car insurance in Ohio from its headquarters in Columbus.
- 2017: Root launched Lyft on Us and expanded into Arizona.
- 2018: Root added four new states to its coverage area: Kentucky, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
- 2019: The company moved into California and increased its insurance options to include renters policies.
- 2020: Root Home, its homeowners insurance, joined the Root portfolio in 13 states.
- 2021: Root partnered with Carvana to develop integrated auto insurance solutions for Carvana’s online car-buying platform.
- 2022: The company entered the car insurance market in Alabama and Florida.
Contact Information
You can reach the Root customer service team by phone, email, and online chat Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET:
- Call 866-980-9431.
- Email help@joinroot.com.
- Speak to an agent via live chat: https://www.joinroot.com/contact/.
File claims:
- Online: https://claims.joinroot.com/portal/fnol?_ga=2.26705784.49507576.1580850431-423594291.1580319025
- Via the Root app
- By phone: Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Call 866-489-1985 for existing claims or 866-980-9431 for new claims.
- By mail:
- Attn: Claims Department
- 80 E Rich Street, Suite 500
- Columbus, OH 43215
Conclusion
Root bases its auto premiums on each customer’s driving habits. The company utilizes technology through its app to rate drivers and complete policy paperwork. By focusing on how policyholders actually perform behind the wheel, Root helps customers save up to $900 annually on auto insurance premiums.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Root determine a person’s driving habits?
The Root app works with your smartphone sensors to gather and analyze data while you drive. The company analyzes these areas:
- Smooth braking: Motorists who give themselves plenty of time to brake, as frequent, sudden braking can suggest driving too closely to the car ahead or inattention to the road
- Gentle turning: People who ease into and out of each turn by slowing down
- Safe hours: Drivers who don’t take late-night trips, especially on the weekends
- Speed: People who don’t exceed the speed limit
Drivers who avoid distracted driving, stay within the speed limits, brake smoothly, turn gently, and drive during safer hours get lower rates.
Does Root always monitor a customer’s driving?
Users must disengage the Root app to stop the company from monitoring their driving habits. Root uses its app to gauge how safe users’ driving is during a test period of several weeks. Once a customer has purchased Root car insurance, they can stop the app’s tracking.
Does Root offer insurance to anyone who applies?
No, Root does not offer insurance to anyone who applies. Because it bases its insurance premiums on the driving habits of a customer, the company routinely denies auto insurance to those who perform poorly during the test period. This practice keeps rates low for safe drivers it insures because it weeds out the unsafe drivers.