Review: Root Insurance Tracks Your Driving to Get You A Better Price

Root car insurance review

Like most people, I think I’m a pretty good driver. And the numbers back me up on that. The only two tickets I’ve got in years came, by some cosmic coincidence, in the same week back in 2013. And the only “wreck” I’ve been involved in during that time came when someone gently bumped me from behind in a drive-through lane.

So why should my car insurance rates be taken from a pool that includes terrible drivers? Where’s the fairness in that? That’s the message that Root Insurance is promoting. They say they price their car insurance based on how you drive.

Their smartphone app measures your driving behavior and sets a price based on that data. I don’t drive much besides my daily commute, and I’m up for anything that’s backed by data, so I gave it a try. (If you're more inclined to try insurance based on how many miles you drive, as opposed to behavior, check out our review of Metromile and this handy comparison chart).

The signup process only took a few minutes. I downloaded the app, then signed up with an email address. You can also sign up with your Facebook or Google accounts.

There are a few steps at the beginning that may worry you if you’re overly concerned about privacy. For starters, you have to enable some settings on your phone so that the Root app can gather information while you drive. The location settings, motion detection, and notifications should be turned on and they run in the background while you drive.

How Root car insurance works

Usage-based car insurance is based on your driving habits

Root is a fast-growing car insurance startup that uses an app to record information about your driving habits—the number of miles you drive, how fast you accelerate or brake, and even what time of day you drive—and provides a quote based on that data. The industry term is "usage-based insurance (UBI)", with the idea that safe drivers who don't put a lot of miles on their car shouldn't pay the same rates as their more reckless colleagues. Like a lot of services today, you give up some personal information in exchange for a low rate.

A report from CB Insights shows that participation in UBI is growing. They've tracked more than 10 insurers who have mentioned telematics or their specific telematics programs in corporate earnings calls since the start of 2018, indicating that driving apps are becoming a bigger strategic priority.

It may seem like an obvious point, but you need to have your phone with you while you drive. Root works by gathering information about your driving habits. It's called telematics, where sensors in your phone to measure your speed, but also when and how long you drive, and whether you make sudden stops and starts along the way.

You also scan in your driver's license (or enter the information manually) so that Root can record your name, address, and vehicle information. After you confirm that info is all correct, you’re ready for the test drive portion to begin.

My test drive session said it would last 3 to 4 weeks, but I had my results in 13 days. I drove mostly around town and to and from work, plus a road trip to Houston. Root kept a countdown screen of the time left on the test drive, as I watched the weeks shrink to days, ending with my notification that it was time to view my quote.

Here’s a more detailed look, comparing Root’s Great option to my current coverage:

Once you decide on a coverage level that suits you, there are just a few more taps until you’re done. First, you choose a date to begin your policy, which could be as soon as the same day, and decide on a billing cycle: either month-by-month or pay for six months at a time.

A lot of people don’t know that you can cancel your coverage at any time, and some companies will refund you any money that you’ve paid for ahead of time. Root offers to handle the awkward breakup conversation for you, contacting your current insurer and letting them know that you’re switching.

There’s a final screen to confirm all the details, then you’re ready to make your payment and get your new insurance cards mailed to you. Root makes things easy to pay by credit card or even Apple Pay.

Don't worry about letting the Root app handle things. Each step is simple to understand and runs completely in the background. If you're a good driver who doesn't put a lot of miles on their car, Root could be an attractive option for you.

The Hawthorne Effect

What do we do when we know we're being watched?

Studies have shown that if we think we're being watched, we tend to behave more honestly. One name for this is the Hawthorne Effect, from a set of studies done nearly 100 years ago at the Hawthorne Works factory in Cicero, Illinois. More recently, a group of scientists at England's Newcastle University found that people cleaned up their breakroom more often when a poster showing a face or even a pair of eyes was posted nearby.

It may sound creepy, but we are on our best behavior when someone is watching. With smartphone apps like Root tracking our driving habits, companies hope that the feedback we get will help us make safe driving a priority.

States in which Root car insurance is available

Root Insurance is not yet available in every state. At the time of writing, the company provided car insurance in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Root homeowners insurance review

If you're already a Root auto insurance customer, the company also provides homeowners insurance through a partnership with Homesite for bundling with your existing policy. Keep in mind that home insurance through Root is not available as a standalone insurance policy — you must first be enrolled in Root's car insurance program to be eligible.

In addition, quoting for homeowners insurance must be done through Root's mobile app instead of their website. Root customers who bundle their home and auto policies can get a 10% discount on their home insurance premium. Learn more about common discounts on home insurance.

Root home insurance coverage options

Root's home insurance offers all the standard coverages: for your dwelling, personal property, additional living expenses, medical payments, and more. The company touts that customers can customize their policy by adjusting coverage levels and adding endorsements.

States in which Root homeowners insurance is available

Bundling home and car insurance is currently available in 13 states: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Utah, with plans on expanding homeowners insurance coverage to Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas.

Root insurance considerations

Root works a little differently than other car insurance companies. Because it measures your driving habits through a mobile app, Root car insurance may not be the best choice for high-risk drivers or those who find themselves driving an excessive amount. Things like hard braking and mileage are measured and incorporated into your insurance rates. However, if you are a relatively safe driver, you might even be able to save money. With a wide range of car insurance coverage options, it could be a good fit for many motorists.

Root is an insurance company that is trying to do things differently. However, that doesn't mean that they will necessarily have the best insurance rates available. Your best bet is to shop around and get as many insurance quotes as possible. The Zebra can help you get quotes from many insurance providers at once, helping you find the best insurance policy for your needs.