---
title: "Root Insurance Review [Updated 2026]"
description: "Root insurance is a tech-focused, app-based auto insurance company that provides policies based on driving data rather than traditional insurance rating characteristics."
canonical: "https://www.coveragecat.com/reviews/root-insurance-review"
last-updated: "2026-08-13"
---
# Root Insurance Review [Updated 2026]
1. [Introduction to Root Insurance](#introduction)
2. [What Kinds of Insurance Does Root Offer?](#kindsofinsurance)
3. [How Does Root Insurance Work?](#howdoesitwork)
4. [Pros and Cons of Root Insurance](#proscons)
5. [Ratings and Customer Feedback for Root Insurance](#ratings)
6. [Get Customer Support Or File A Claim For Root Insurance](#customersupport)
7. [Frequently Asked Questions](#faq)
### Introduction to Root
Root Insurance is an auto insurance company founded on the idea that car insurance rates should be based primarily on driving behavior rather than demographics. Founded in 2015, Root currently operates in 36 states with large markets in Texas, Georgia, and Colorado [(U.S. News, "Root Car Insurance Review 2026 Coverage & Cost", 2026)](https://www.usnews.com/insurance/auto/root-car-insurance-review). Root Insurance claims to have [over 36 billion miles of driving data](https://ir.joinroot.com/static-files/0a89bb64-f6c3-46b3-b99c-79e7bbe377fc) in its pricing model, which allows it to [save drivers up to $900 a year](https://www.joinroot.com/). To buy and maintain a Root insurance policy, customers must download the Root app to get a quote, purchase a policy, monitor driving behavior, and file claims.
Root sells directly to consumers, avoiding commissions to brokers, which may result in lower prices for its policies. On the other hand, consumers do not benefit from the expertise or selection that a broker may be able to offer.
In 2021, Root partnered with Carvana to offer embedded auto insurance that Carvana customers could purchase through their car-buying platform at checkout. Since then, Root has expanded its embedded insurance strategy with multiple partnerships. In January 2026, Root partnered with Kikoff to embed car insurance quoting directly into the Kikoff mobile app [(Stock Titan, "ROOT - Root, Inc. Latest Stock News & Market Updates", 2026)](https://www.stocktitan.net/news/ROOT/). Root also announced partnerships with Hyundai in 2025, which followed a 115% new business growth in the company's embedded insurance channel [(AM Best, "Root Insurance Pledges to Phase Out Credit Scores in Pricing Model", 2026)](https://news.ambest.com/newscontent.aspx?refnum=227525&altsrc=9).
### What Kinds of Insurance Does Root Offer?
### Does Root Sell Auto Insurance?
Yes, Root sells auto insurance. In the 36 states in which Root operates, they offer traditional auto insurance liability policies, which provide Bodily Injury Liability coverage, Property Damage coverage, and may offer Medical Payments, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage, depending on your state's requirements [(U.S. News, "Root Car Insurance Review 2026 Coverage & Cost", 2026)](https://www.usnews.com/insurance/auto/root-car-insurance-review). Root also offers Property coverage for your vehicle, including Collision and Comprehensive coverage, and Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (in some states).
Root also offers insurance add-ons, such as Roadside Assistance through their app, and rental car coverage which can either reimburse rental car costs or the cost of Lyft rides while your auto is being repaired.
| Coverage Type | Availability | Notes |
|--------------|--------------|-------|
| Liability (Bodily Injury & Property Damage) | All 36 states | Required in most states |
| Medical Payments / PIP | State-dependent | Based on state requirements |
| Collision & Comprehensive | Optional | Protects your vehicle |
| Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist | State-dependent | Coverage for accidents with uninsured drivers |
| Roadside Assistance | Add-on via app | Available to all policyholders |
| Rental Reimbursement | Optional add-on | Covers rental car or Lyft costs during repairs |
### Does Root Sell Homeowners Insurance?
No, Root does not currently offer homeowners insurance. The company previously partnered with Homesite to offer homeowners insurance starting in May 2020 [(Root, Inc., "Root, Inc. Form 10-K 2022", 2023)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1788882/000162828023004580/root-20221231.htm), but that product is no longer available. In some states, Root offers renters insurance and discounts for customers who bundle their policies [Ibid.](https://www.usnews.com/insurance/auto/root-car-insurance-review).
### Does Root Sell Liability Insurance?
Yes, Root sells liability insurance as part of its auto policies. Liability insurance is required in most states.
### How Does Root Insurance Work?
Root customers have to [download the Root app to purchase](http://res.cloudinary.com/f47453284ec74247a1fea9d2aad7f545/video/upload/v1711462928/yk1wcawb7hmfmbqlttrp.mp4) a policy, and can choose one of two quote options.
Root offers instant quotes if you need a policy to start fast, with safe driving discounts available if the Root app detects safe driving habits.
Root's traditional, and recommended, option is the Root Insurance Test Drive. For the first few weeks, the Root app monitors policyholder driving habits and, based on an algorithmic analysis of their data, provides a personalized quote. This approach aligns with Root's founding mission: the company was established in 2015 on the principle that car insurance rates should be based primarily on driving behaviors rather than demographics [(Root Inc., "Learn about Root Inc.", 2026)](https://inc.joinroot.com/company/). According to Root, the company has collected over 36 billion miles of mobile telematics data to inform its pricing models and has registered more than 17 million app downloads with policy setup in less than 1 minute [Ibid.](https://inc.joinroot.com/company/).
[Root offers policy support through their app, including claim filing and roadside assistance](https://www.joinroot.com/). Root advertises that customers can file a claim via the mobile app in about 3 minutes [(Root Insurance, "File a claim online or in the Root app", 2024)](https://www.joinroot.com/claims).
## Pros and Cons of Root
Pros
- Root auto policies are based on actual driving data, which may lower your premiums if you maintain good driving habits.
- All transactions — sign up, policy administration, claims, payments — can be completed via the Root App.
- Root focuses on auto insurance, and most customers can't bundle their home, condo, renters, and/or personal umbrella insurance with a Root policy.
- Root achieved profitability in 2025 with net income of $40.3 million on revenues of $1.52 billion, representing a 29% revenue increase year-over-year (Stock Titan, "Root posts 2025 profit on 29% revenue growth", 2026).
### Ratings and Customer Feedback for Root Insurance
Root Insurance reviews present a mixed picture across different platforms. According to [(Trustpilot, "Root Insurance is rated 'Great' with 4.2 / 5 on Trustpilot", 2026)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/joinroot.com), Root has a 4.2 out of 5 rating based on approximately 2,998 reviews, with many customers praising the competitive pricing and ease of the sign-up process. The Root app itself has a 4.7 out of 5 rating based on 69,800 ratings in app stores [(Root Insurance, "Customer ratings and reviews", 2026)](https://www.joinroot.com/customer-reviews/). Customers report a "great experience" with Root and praise the user-friendly interface and quick, easy sign-up process [(Trustpilot, "Root Insurance Reviews", 2026)](https://ie.trustpilot.com/review/joinroot.com).
However, customer opinions on customer service are mixed. Some reviewers express frustration with lack of support access [(Ibid., "Root Insurance is rated 'Great' with 4.2 / 5 on Trustpilot", 2026)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/joinroot.com). The Better Business Bureau reports that Root has been BBB Accredited since January 27, 2017, but due to high volume of complaints, BBB publishes 1 out of every 4 complaints handled through conciliation process [(Better Business Bureau, "Root", 2026)](https://www.bbb.org/us/oh/columbus/profile/insurance-companies/root-0302-70095046).
From a financial strength perspective, Root is not currently rated by AM Best. Root does not hold an active AM Best Financial Strength Rating as of 2026. Root is not included in the latest J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study results.
| Rating Source | Score/Rating | Notes |
|--------------|--------------|-------|
| Trustpilot | 4.2 out of 5 | Based on ~2,998 reviews (2026) |
| App Store Ratings | 4.7 out of 5 | Based on 69,800 ratings across iOS and Android |
| Better Business Bureau | Accredited since 2017 | High complaint volume; publishes 1 in 4 complaints |
| AM Best Financial Strength | Not currently rated | Root does not hold an active AM Best rating as of 2026 |
| J.D. Power | Not rated | Not included in latest U.S. Auto Insurance Study |
### Get Customer Support Or File A Claim For Root Insurance
Root policyholders can use the Root app to get customer support, including Roadside Assistance. If you don't have the Root app, or can't complete your request through their app you can access customer support online, via email and through Root's customer service center.
Email: help@joinroot.com
Phone: 866-980-9431; the customer service team is available M-F, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET
Root also offers a comprehensive FAQ
If you're a Root policyholder, you can file a claim in the Root app. Root advertises that customers can file a claim via the mobile app in about 3 minutes [(Root Insurance, "File a claim online or in the Root app", 2024)](https://www.joinroot.com/claims).
If you've been in an accident with a Root policyholder, you can:
File a claim online
Call Root Customer Service at 1-866-980-9431
Email Root's claims department at claims@joinroot.com
### Frequently Asked Questions
### **Should I Buy Root Insurance?**
If you have a good driving record, Root could be an excellent option. However, it's best to compare quotes from other insurers to decide if Root is best for you.
### **Is Root Insurance a Real Insurance Company?**
Yes, Root is a real insurance company. Root is the nation's first licensed insurance carrier powered entirely by mobile and is currently offered in 36 states [(Root Inc., "Learn about Root Inc.", 2026)](https://inc.joinroot.com/company/).
### **How Does Root Make Money?**
Root makes money by collecting the premiums paid by its policyholders, investing the cash from the premiums, and by minimizing expenses such as claims and operating costs. In 2025, Root posted total revenue of $1.52 billion, up 29% from 2024, with gross premiums written of $1.51 billion, a 16% increase year-over-year [(Stock Titan, "Root posts 2025 profit on 29% revenue growth", 2026)](https://www.stocktitan.net/sec-filings/ROOT/8-k-root-inc-reports-material-event-15226b14c4f0.html).
### **Is Root Insurance Worth the Price?**
The only way to know for sure whether Root is right for you is to compare its quote with other insurers' quotes.
[Coverage Cat](https://www.coveragecat.com/) will help you find the best possible offers, and make it easy to buy the best possible policy.
### **What States Does Root Insurance Operate In?**
Root Insurance operates in 36 states as of 2026 [(U.S. News, "Root Car Insurance Review 2026 Coverage & Cost", 2026)](https://www.usnews.com/insurance/auto/root-car-insurance-review). Root's largest markets are in Texas, Georgia, and Colorado.
### **Has Root Insurance Had Any Data Security Issues?**
Yes. In March 2025, Root paid $975,000 in penalties to the New York Attorney General for failing to protect personal information of approximately 45,000 New Yorkers. Root's online quoting tool exposed full, plaintext driver's license numbers in PDFs, and the company failed to perform adequate risk assessments and employed insufficient controls to thwart automated attacks [(New York Attorney General, "Attorney General James Secures $975,000 from Auto Insurance Company over Data Breach", 2025)](https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2025/attorney-general-james-secures-975000-auto-insurance-company-over-data-breach). The data breach was part of an industry-wide campaign to steal consumers' personal information from auto insurance quoting applications, with stolen driver's license information used to file fraudulent unemployment claims during the COVID-19 pandemic [(Insurance Journal, "Auto Insurer Root to Pay New York $975K Over Data Breach", 2025)](https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2025/03/24/816851.htm).