I aced Root’s test drive, so why did my rate jump at renewal?

I did great on Root’s test drive and got a low rate, but now my renewal jumped. Why did my rate go up if I didn’t do anything wrong?

Tennessee drivers may face higher Root insurance renewal rates despite safe driving due to local claims, repair costs, and changing risk factors.

Root’s pricing can definitely feel confusing. The driving test gets you accepted as a customer, but it doesn’t lock in your rate long-term. Root adjusts renewal prices based on things that go beyond your personal driving, like:

• Claim trends in your ZIP code
• Repair costs going up for your type of car
• Weather or accident frequency in your area
• Statewide insurance losses
• Root changing their business strategy

So even if you didn’t have any tickets or accidents, your renewal can still go up because Root re-scores risk by area. That’s why some drivers see higher renewals even after a perfect driving period.

If your rate jumped, here are two smart next steps:

✅ Turn on Trip Insights in the Root app: it helps show consistent driving behavior, which may improve future pricing
✅ Compare quotes before renewing: Root pricing can be competitive at first but swing a lot over time

If you want some help navigating all your options, The Zebra has agents who can compare Root against other companies for you before you lock into another 6-month term.