Root Insurance Review 2026: Is Telematics-Based Insurance Actually Cheaper?
Root Insurance makes a promise most competitors don’t: your auto insurance rate will be based primarily on how you drive, not on demographic factors that have nothing to do with your skill behind the wheel. The company’s app tracks your driving behaviour during a two-to-four-week “Test Drive,” then calculates a personalised rate based on speed, braking patterns, phone usage, mileage, and time of day.
The concept is appealing. The execution is more complicated.
Root’s NAIC complaint index has consistently run above the industry average. The company has no AM Best or J.D. Power ratings. BBB customer reviews average 1.31 out of 5 stars, despite an A+ accreditation rating. NerdWallet was unable to rate Root for overall performance due to the absence of financial strength data.
So what’s actually going on? We examined Root’s pricing model, coverage, claims experience, and privacy practices to determine who benefits from telematics-based insurance — and who gets a worse deal than they’d find elsewhere.
How Root’s Pricing Works
Root’s model differs fundamentally from traditional insurers. Instead of primarily using age, gender, credit score, and ZIP code to price your policy, Root adds a behavioural layer: the Test Drive.
During the Test Drive period (typically two to four weeks), the Root app runs in the background on your phone, collecting data on your driving patterns. It measures hard braking, rapid acceleration, cornering speed, phone usage while driving, mileage, time-of-day patterns, and routes. Root uses this data to generate a driving score, which then determines your premium.
If your driving score is poor, Root won’t offer you a policy at all. The company is selective by design — by only insuring drivers it considers low-risk based on behavioural data, it keeps its risk pool healthier and its premiums lower for those who qualify.
Root claims good drivers can save up to $900 per year by switching. The Zebra’s data shows Root’s average six-month policy cost at approximately $563, compared to the national average of $1,084 — a significant gap that suggests real savings for drivers who qualify.
The catch: These savings are not guaranteed, and they’re not permanent. Root adjusts rates at each six-month renewal based on updated driving data. Multiple customers report premiums increasing significantly at renewal — sometimes by 50% or more — without clear explanation. This renewal volatility is one of the most consistent complaints in both BBB and NAIC filings.
Coverage: Adequate but Limited
Root offers standard auto insurance coverage types: bodily injury liability, property damage liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured motorist, medical payments, and personal injury protection (where state-required). Roadside assistance is included in every policy except in California and Nevada — up to three service calls per six-month term, covering towing, jump starts, tire changes, and fuel delivery up to $100 per incident.
Optional add-ons include rental car reimbursement and rideshare coverage. Root also offers home insurance through a partnership with Homesite, enabling bundling for a discount.
Root also offers a feature called RootReady for owners of GM vehicles manufactured after 2015. These vehicles already compile driving behaviour data through their onboard systems, which Root can use instead of requiring the app-based Test Drive. This shortens the quoting process and removes the need for the phone-app evaluation period — though it still requires sharing your driving data with Root.
What’s missing: Root does not offer accident forgiveness — a significant gap given that safe-driver positioning is the company’s core pitch. If you have one at-fault accident, your rates will increase at renewal with no forgiveness mechanism. Root also doesn’t offer gap insurance, motorcycle or ATV coverage, or the extensive endorsement catalogue that major carriers provide. The coverage catalogue is thinner than competitors like Progressive, GEICO, or State Farm, which offer everything from classic car coverage to pet injury protection as add-ons.
Discounts are limited and non-transparent. Root states that discounts are applied automatically during the quoting process based on your Test Drive data. Named discounts include a pay-in-full discount, a five-year accident-free discount, a homeowner discount, and safety feature discounts for vehicles with airbags and anti-lock brakes. But the company doesn’t publish specific discount percentages, making it difficult to verify how much each factor contributes to your rate.
The Complaint Picture
Root’s customer reputation shows a clear split between the app experience and the claims experience.
The app itself is well-regarded: 4.7 stars on the Apple App Store from over 30,000 reviews. Users praise the clean interface, easy policy management, and straightforward quoting process. The Android app scores lower at 3.2 stars, with multiple users complaining that the app records driving data even when they’re passengers — inflating their mileage and potentially worsening their driving score.
The claims experience tells a different story. Root’s NAIC complaint index has been consistently above the industry average from 2022 to 2024. ValuePenguin’s analysis found that Root receives approximately twice as many complaints as expected for a company of its size, with the most common issues being claims delays, unexpected rate increases, and coverage being dropped.
The CRASH Network — which surveys collision repair professionals on insurer claims practices — gives Root a C grade, ranking it 74th out of 97 insurers evaluated. This suggests that the claims handling experience is below average from the perspective of the repair shops that interact directly with Root’s adjusters.
Root is a BBB-accredited business with an A+ rating from the Bureau, but customer reviews on the BBB site average just 1.31 out of 5 stars — indicating that while Root meets BBB’s business standards, its customers are frequently dissatisfied.
Root vs the Competition
| Factor | Root | Progressive Snapshot | State Farm Drive Safe & Save | Lemonade Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telematics type | Always-on (permanent) | Optional programme (time-limited) | Optional programme (ongoing) | Always-on (pay-per-mile) |
| Data collected | Speed, braking, phone use, mileage, time, routes | Speed, braking, time of day, mileage | Mileage, speed, braking, acceleration | Mileage, location |
| Can rates increase from tracking? | Yes — at renewal | No — only discounts, no penalties | No — only discounts | Yes — based on mileage |
| Available states | ~35 | All 50 | All 50 | ~10 |
| AM Best rating | Not rated | A+ (Superior) | A++ (Superior) | B+ (Good) |
| Savings potential | Up to $900/year (Root claims) | 5%–40% discount | Up to 30% discount | Varies by mileage |
| Can you opt out after enrolment? | No — telematics is the pricing model | Yes — return to standard pricing | Yes — return to standard pricing | No — telematics required |
The critical distinction: Progressive Snapshot and State Farm Drive Safe & Save are optional programmes that can only reduce your rate. If the data shows you’re a risky driver, you simply don’t get the discount — your rate doesn’t increase. Root’s model is different: telematics is the pricing model. If your driving behaviour worsens or Root’s algorithm reassesses your risk, your rate can increase at renewal.
This means Progressive and State Farm offer a no-downside experiment: try telematics, and either save money or stay at your current rate. Root offers a different proposition: your rate is always tethered to your driving data, which means it can move in either direction.
The Privacy Question
Root’s app tracks your location and driving behaviour continuously. This is not optional — it’s how your policy is priced. The data collected includes GPS location, speed, acceleration patterns, braking force, phone usage while driving, time of day, and mileage.
Root’s privacy policy states that driving data is used for pricing and claims purposes. The company does not sell individual driving data to third parties. However, the always-on nature of the tracking goes beyond what traditional telematics programmes require. Progressive Snapshot tracks driving during a defined evaluation period; Root tracks driving for the life of the policy.
For drivers comfortable with continuous location tracking, this is an acceptable trade-off for potential savings. For anyone who values location privacy, it’s a significant concession — and one that distinguishes Root from optional telematics programmes where you can stop sharing data after the evaluation period.
Multiple Android users report that the app attributes passenger trips to their driving score — meaning if a friend drives aggressively while you’re in the passenger seat, your score could be negatively affected. Root has acknowledged this limitation in app store responses but hasn’t fully resolved it.
Who Should Consider Root
Root is worth a quote if you meet all three conditions: you’re a safe, low-mileage driver who would benefit from behaviour-based pricing; you’re comfortable with always-on location tracking through your phone; and you’re in one of the approximately 35 states where Root operates.
Root can be particularly valuable for younger drivers and those with limited credit history, whose traditional insurance rates are inflated by demographic factors rather than actual driving behaviour. If you’re 22, have a clean driving record, but pay high premiums because of your age, Root’s behavioural model may offer genuine savings.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
If any of the following apply, Root is probably not the right choice:
You want financial stability guarantees from your insurer — Root has no AM Best or J.D. Power ratings, and its claims reputation is below average. For drivers with significant assets to protect, a carrier with stronger financial credentials provides more security.
You prefer optional telematics — Progressive Snapshot and State Farm Drive Safe & Save offer behavioural savings without the always-on commitment. You can’t lose with these programmes; you can only gain.
You value human claims support — Root’s claims process is app-based, and complaint data suggests the experience is inconsistent. If you anticipate needing personal claims assistance, a traditional carrier with local agents will serve you better.
You drive frequently or at irregular hours — Root’s algorithm may penalise late-night driving, frequent trips, or high mileage. The savings model works best for low-mileage drivers with predictable patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Root Insurance legitimate?
Yes. Root is a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: ROOT) licensed in approximately 35 states. It is BBB-accredited with an A+ rating. However, the absence of AM Best and J.D. Power ratings means there’s less independent verification of its financial strength and customer satisfaction than you’d find with established carriers.
How much can I actually save with Root?
Root claims savings of up to $900 per year for good drivers. Actual savings depend on your current rates, driving behaviour, and profile. Some drivers save significantly; others find Root’s rates comparable to or higher than traditional carriers. The only way to know is to complete the Test Drive and compare the resulting quote to your current premium.
Can Root raise my rates based on my driving data?
Yes. Unlike optional telematics programmes from Progressive or State Farm, which can only reduce rates, Root’s model adjusts pricing at each renewal based on updated driving data. If your driving patterns change or Root’s algorithm reassesses your risk, your premium can increase.
Does Root track me even when I’m not driving?
Root’s app uses phone sensors and GPS to detect when you’re driving. It should not track non-driving activity, but the app requires location services to be enabled. Multiple users report that the app occasionally attributes passenger trips to their driving profile, which suggests the driving-detection isn’t perfect.
Can I get Root if I have a poor driving record?
Possibly not. Root’s Test Drive is designed to filter out high-risk drivers. If your driving behaviour during the evaluation period doesn’t meet Root’s standards, the company will not offer you a policy. This is by design — selective underwriting keeps rates low for the pool of drivers who do qualify.
Insurance coverage, rates, and availability vary by state. The information in this article is for educational purposes and does not constitute insurance advice. Always review policy terms and consult with a licensed insurance professional for coverage specific to your situation.
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Rates and features verified as of April 2026.