Answers to all your questions

So, what is Root Insurance? Well, we’re a car insurance company with the mission to unbreak the archaic insurance industry. The old, outdated way of offering insurance just doesn’t seem right to us so we’re on a mission to change that. Fact—Root is the very first car insurance company founded solely on the pursuit of fairness.

How are we making car insurance more fair? First off, we base our rates primarily on driving behavior (instead of demographics), so all customers can have the opportunity to get a fair rate. Second, we don’t insure bad drivers. This means our users aren’t having to pay for the mistakes of the riskier drivers on the road.

The process of getting a rate with Root is a bit different than many other insurance companies. You see, everything can be done via our mobile app—the test drive, customizing and purchasing your policy, accessing your insurance card, and even filing a claim. 

Getting a quote with Root is simple. Our app will measure your driving behavior as you drive around like you normally would, and after a few weeks, you’ll receive a quote based primarily on how you drive (not who you are). 

Need insurance sooner? No problem. Eligible users can receive coverage at an affordable rate while they’re completing the test drive. Once your test drive is complete, if your rate has changed, you’ll have 30 days to accept or decline your new offer.

Are you a good driver? Then, yes, absolutely! Since Root only insures the best drivers, you could save hundreds on quality coverage when you make the switch from your old insurer. 

As a matter of fact, our policyholders save up to $900/year on their car insurance premiums. For drivers with safe on-the-road habits, Root could be the perfect fit. 

We even include Roadside Assistance with every policy as an extra layer of protection.

Plus, have you seen the Root Insurance rating in the App Store? We’ve got 4.7 out of 5 stars, and there’s a good reason for that. 

A car insurance company that bases rates primarily on driving behavior? You might be wondering—Is Root Insurance legit? Yes, we’re very legit. 

You see, at Root, we’ve made a commitment to fairness. That means (as unbelievable as it may seem) that we strive to offer the best drivers even better rates. 

Why should you miss out on essential coverage due to factors like your ZIP code, education, occupation, age, or marital status?

The primary factor we care about is your driving behavior. If you’re a great driver, we’d love to offer you affordable coverage so you can save the money you work hard for. 

Alex Timm is our Co-Founder and CEO. In 2015, he founded Root on the principle of fairness—that car insurance rates should be based on how you drive, not who you are. Alex passionately leads the company in transforming the archaic insurance industry. 

And by using the smart technology in our mobile app, Root is able to offer good drivers the fair rates they deserve and the opportunity to save hundreds of dollars each year. 

Presently, Root Insurance is the largest property casualty InsurTech in the country with more than 1,500 employees.

Great question! Over the years, we’ve featured many people in advertisements and content across the site (whether they work at Root or not). So you may see the same faces pop up often in our communications to the public.

Getting coverage with Root could be a great choice, especially if you’ve been wondering how to get cheap car insurance. The process of purchasing a policy is simple, and you can get started in less than a minute. 

Here are the steps: 

• Download the Root app. You can find it in the App Store or on Google play. 

• Take the test drive. We use your smartphone to measure your driving behavior. After driving around for a few weeks, you’ll receive a quote based primarily on how you drive.

• Get your quote. Once you get your offer, you can purchase and even customize your policy—all in the app. 

We make it easy for you to purchase a policy. See how much you could save when you switch. 

Not very long, in fact, you can get a quote in about five minutes. No paperwork. No hassle. All in an app. And as soon as you accept your quote, you’re protected. 

If you wish to begin coverage at a later date, you can indicate that in the app before you purchase your policy. You can select a start date up to 60 days ahead. 

But you’ll need to pay for your policy at the time of purchase, no matter when your coverage starts.  

Your insurance coverage will kick in on the day you select. Whether it’s a future date (up to 60 days ahead), or the day you purchase your policy (for day-one-eligible users). 

If you’re eligible to get insurance from day one, you can start coverage as soon as you’d like. When you complete the test drive, your new rate (if you choose to accept it) will take effect at policy renewal. 

If you’re taking the test drive from the start (which generally takes a few weeks), your coverage will take effect on the day you select after your test drive is complete (and you accept your quote).

Not all customers are eligible for day-one coverage, so if you have to take the test drive at the start, you’ll need to hang on to your old insurance a little bit longer.

With Root, you can easily add a car to your policy via the app (as long as the driver lives at the same address as you). But it’s important to note that any changes to your policy may affect your car insurance rate. 

Here’s how it works: 

• When you create your profile, you’ll have the opportunity to add more drivers. If you have any, just add their information when prompted and tap “Continue.”

• When your profile is complete, you’ll be taken to the invite screen. Simply tap “Invite” next to each new driver that you want to add. They will each receive a text message with a link to download the Root app. They must use this link in order to be included on your policy. 

• Each driver will create an account (attached to yours) with their email and start their test drive. 

If you’ve already created your profile and forgot to add someone, don’t stress. You can invite a driver at any time before the test drive is complete. 

Here’s how it works: 

• Open the app. 

• Tap the menu in the top left corner. 

• Select “Auto Policy.” 

• Tap “Profile Info.”

• Select “Add new driver.” 

Once everyone has completed their test drives, you’ll receive your quote. You can add more drivers after you purchase your policy, if needed, but they won’t be able to take the test drive, and their addition will likely increase your rate. 

If you’re interested in switching to Root Insurance for coverage, we aim to make the process as stress free as possible. 

The entire process from start to finish can be completed in our easy-to-use app. You can get started in less than a minute. 

We’ll even reach out to your current insurer and request cancellation of your old insurance policy so you don’t have to. 

We’d hate to see you go! But if you wish to cancel, you can do so in the app. We’ll ask the reason why you’re cancelling and let you select your policy end date. 

If you need additional help, you can contact our wonderful customer service team. They will be happy to assist you. 

If you wish to get coverage through Root again, we’ll try to make it really easy for you. If you come back within 30 days, we may be able to reinstate your old policy. 

If you come back after 30 days has passed, we may be able to offer you a new quote. But it would be for a brand new policy. 

If you need more help, you can contact our skilled customer service team for assistance.

Filing a claim with Root is easy. In fact, it only takes about three minutes. 

Here are the steps:

• Go to the app. We’ll ask you to answer a few questions about the accident. 

• Take / upload your pictures. It’s a good idea to get as many angles of the damage as possible. 

• Let us handle the rest! We’ll reach out to you when it’s time to wrap things up, and in the meantime, we’ll email you at every step so you’re informed. You can also see updates via the app at any time. 

Need to file but not a Root customer yet? No worries, we can still help you out with your claim. 

We’ll call you when it’s time to complete your claim. After evaluating the damage (so we can figure out what you need to pay for repairs), you may receive either a paper check in the mail or an electronic payment. 

If you’re curious about the timeframe it’ll take to receive your payout, it takes an average of 1-2 weeks. If the car’s title isn’t in your name, it’ll take anywhere from 8-12 weeks on average.