Frequently asked questions

The test drive is how we determine your good driving habits. We then use that information to help calculate your rate.

Here’s how it works:

1. Download the Root app

2. Sign up in less than a minute

3. Drive as you normally would-keep your phone with you when you do

4. We'll use driving data from your phone to measure your driving behaviors. It takes about 3 weeks.

5. If you qualify, you'll get a quote based primarily on your good driving. The better you drive, the more you could save.

Braking, speed of turns, times of day, miles driven, and driving routes are all considered when calculating your quote. Basically, follow the rules of the road and be mindful of other drivers when you’re behind the wheel.

Download the app, go through the quick and easy signup, and hit the road.

The Root app does not need to be open. You actually give it permissions to run in the background on your phone when you set up the test drive.

Yes. Without GPS, we won’t be able to determine your quote.

You enable GPS when you set up permissions after installing the app. Or, you can enable it later by updating your settings to "always allow” location access.

Once you download the app, we use machine learning algorithms to identify patterns in the location and motion data we receive from your phone. These patterns are usually different based on whether you are driving a car or are a passenger. The patterns also change for other modes of transportation, so we can tell if you’re driving a car, riding a bike, or taking the subway. And don’t worry, it takes a little time for your Driver Scorecard to update. By only using data from when you’re driving, we are able to determine your rate based on your driving habits.

Most every policyholder must take the test drive—it's how we keep our rates fair.

Yes, you can add other people to your policy as long as they live at the same address. In fact, we encourage it. And if you don't, they may not be covered if they are in an accident.

Here’s how you invite others to the test drive:

1. When you create your profile, you will have the option to add more drivers.

2. Add the drivers’ information (scan their license or add manually) and tap Continue.

3. After you complete your profile, you will be taken to the invite screen. Tap Invite next to each new driver’s name.

4. The other drivers will receive a text message with a link to download the Root app (they have to use this link to be included on your policy).

5. Each driver will create an account (attached to yours) with their own email address, and will start their test drive.

Did you forget to add someone when you created your profile? No worries—you can invite drivers to the test drive at any point before your test drive is complete. Here’s what you do:

1. Open the app.

2. Tap the menu in the top left corner.

3. Select Auto Policy.

4. Tap Profile info.

5. Select Add new driver.

When everyone on the account finishes their test drives, you’ll get your quote. You can always add more drivers after you have a policy, but they won’t take the test drive, and of course their addition will increase your price.

Not currently. However, it’s highly recommended that everyone who will be on your policy takes the test drive. The more people who do the test drive, the better we can determine the discount you deserve.

Root isn’t the right fit for everyone. Our models don’t work with every situation, so we may not offer you a quote after the test drive. That just means you could save more with another carrier, and we don’t want to stand in the way of your saving money.

Not at this time. But if that changes in the future, we will try to notify you.

Currently, every trip you take during the test drive will count toward your quote, regardless of why you’re driving. For people who drive for work, like EMTs, police officers, mail delivery personnel, and truck drivers, this means the trips you take for work will be used in addition to your personal driving to calculate your rate. 

But, we encourage you to take the test drive anyway. Good drivers are often surprised by how low their quote is—even with their work trips. Just as a reminder, Root typically does not cover you if you are working as a driver for an app, or while you are on the job.

We do our best to make sure that our test drive is as battery friendly as possible—many customers report no change or very little change. The good news? Any short-term inconvenience could lead to big savings.

The driver scorecard is how you can keep tabs on how the test drive is going. When you drive, we consider things like braking, turning, safe hours, and safe phone use to calculate your score. But remember, while the rate is primarily based on your driving behavior, other factors are taken into account as well.

You can check your scorecard to see how you’re doing on some of these driving habits—to make sure things are going well or so that you know where to make improvements. Once we’ve recorded enough trips, we’ll give you an overall number score for how you’re doing.

We show you a score at the top of the scorecard once we’ve measured enough data from your driving. If you don’t see a score, it just means you haven’t driven enough yet for us to determine how you’re doing.

Driving is the number one factor we consider when we determine if Root is the right fit for someone, but there are also other predictive factors we have to consider. Unfortunately, that means we still may not be able to offer you a quote, even if you received a high test drive score.

Want to know more? You can see a breakdown of what we consider here.

While we do recommend drivers avoid driving very late at night whenever possible, we understand that some people still have to drive late. The good news is that when you drive is only one factor we consider in your overall score, so be sure to drive safely at all times of day (especially at night).

If this happens, make sure your location services are on. If they are, follow these steps:

1. Delete the app.

2. Restart your phone.

3. Download the Root app again, and the test drive will pick up where you left off.

If you still have problems after 24 hours, contact customer support.

You can right in the app. We accept credit cards and Apple Pay, and you can choose to pay monthly or every 6 months. If you want to change your payment frequency, learn how here. 

Please note that when you purchase your policy, payment will be processed immediately, even if you choose to start your policy at a later date. This is true whether you pay monthly or for a full 6-month term.

If you choose monthly:

• We will process your first payment on the date you purchase the policy, even if your insurance will start at a later date.

• We will automatically process your second payment about one month after your policy start date, using the payment method in your profile.

• We will continue to automatically withdraw your payment each month, using the payment method in your profile.

If you choose full term (6 months), you will make a one-time payment when you purchase your policy, even if the policy starts at a later date. We will then automatically process your payment again at your 6-month renewal, using the payment method in your profile.

But remember, there could be a fee associated if you choose to pay monthly.

You can! You can either change your monthly recurring payment date for the rest of your policy period or you can make a one-time adjustment (except during your renewal month). You can always see your next payment date in the Root app.

Yes, you can.

If you choose to change your payment frequency from monthly to full term (6 months), that change goes into effect immediately. 

If you’ve already paid for a full term and you prefer to pay monthly moving forward, you can make that change anytime in the app, but the new monthly billing schedule will not go into effect until the next term begins.

Here’s how to change your payment frequency:

1. Navigate to Payments

2. Click Payment Frequency

3. Select your payment frequency—monthly or full term (6 months)

4. Click Continue and follow the prompts to complete your change.

Of course! Choose a start date based on what works best for you—the app will display the latest possible date your policy can begin. Keep in mind that your first payment—either for all 6 months upfront, or the first of your monthly payments—will be processed immediately.

Your policy will automatically renew every 6 months. Your price might change, so we’ll let you know what the new price will be ahead of your renewal date. If you don’t have any policy changes or questions, you won’t have to do anything.

We can request cancellation of your old insurance policy for you. You can choose that option in the app. It may take up to 2 weeks for your old carrier to process the cancellation, but most companies make the cancellation retroactive to the day you started your Root policy. Here are some tips on switching to Root.

You can access it anytime in the app. We’ll also mail you a physical copy.

You can make changes to your policy right in the app. It’s easy:

1. Open the app.

2. Tap Auto Policy.

3. Tap Profile information to make changes to driver, vehicle, or address. Or select Coverages to make changes to your coverage.

You’ll know if your policy changes affect your rate before you commit. Learn more.

Keep in mind: some coverage changes require a virtual inspection of your vehicle. Simply follow the prompts, submit the requested photos, and the app will let you know when your new rate is ready. No changes will take effect until your payment (or refund) is processed.

Maybe, but you’ll know how it will affect your rate before you commit.

At Root, we are committed to fairness. We will always give our drivers the lowest rates we can sustainably offer while remaining consistent with our filed rates and rules in the state in which you reside. That said, risk is always changing and insurance rates can fluctuate for a variety of good reasons.

Here are a few:

• Changes on your end (you moved, added or removed vehicles or drivers, or your driving record changed).

• Changes around you (serious weather changes, amount of accidents around you goes up or down, cars around you get more or less expensive to repair).

• Changes on our end, such as risk actuarial changes.

Learn more about why insurance rates change here.

We’ll take care of that for you. If you have a loan/lease company, you do need to add them to your policy. Here’s what to do:

1. Tap Auto Policy.

2. Select Financial institution details.

3. Tap Add loan/lease company.

4. Enter the company’s name and Continue.

5. Enter the address and click the orange arrow.

6. Choose the vehicle with the lien or lease and Continue to save.

Once you’ve filled out this information in the Root app, we’ll contact your loan/lease company for you. They’ll receive all of the information they need within one week. Your loan or lease servicer may also require that you cary coverage to protect the vehicle, also called comprehensive and collision coverages.

We are not able to make changes to your policy for you, but removing a vehicle from your policy is quick and easy. 

1. Open the app.

2. Tap Auto Policy.

3. Select Profile information.

4. Choose the vehicle to remove.

5. Tap the trash can icon and Continue to see your updated price.

If you’re trying to cancel your old insurance policy in the app, you must be listed as the PNI for your old policy. This means you’re listed as the main account holder with editing/canceling privileges. If you are the PNI, we’ll be able to easily end your old policy on your behalf, with your e-signature.

We don’t cover these vehicles at this time. We’re working on excelling in the personal vehicle industry at the moment, but you can sign up for our email list to be notified of any changes.

A limit is the highest amount Root will cover if you’re in an accident that you caused. You can choose to pay more per month for a higher limit and know you’re covered in case of a major accident. Or, you can pay less per month for a lower limit, but you risk paying out-of-pocket later, if an accident costs more than your limit.

A deductible is the amount you pay toward repairs before Root pays for the rest. The lower your deductible, the higher your rate. That's because you would pay a lower amount toward the repairs of your vehicle after a covered incident, and we would pick up the rest. For example, your deductible could be as little as $100.

And the opposite is true, too. You could choose a higher deductible—say, $1,000—and pay less for your insurance. But if you ever need to use your Collision or Comprehensive coverages, you'd have to pay this higher deductible amount first before your insurance kicks in and covers the rest of the costs.

Deductibles are per occurance. It's not like health insurance where once you pay your deductible for the year, insurance covers the rest. If you need to use your Comprehensive coverage three times in a year, you would have to pay your deductible each time..

There’s actually no such thing as full coverage in the industry. But the term usually refers to Liability (Bodily Injury and Property Damage), Collision, and Comprehensive coverages. Root offers all of these coverages.

To learn more about all our coverage options, visit our car insurance coverages page. Check out our Car insurance in everyday English article series to better understand what these coverages mean.

We do not offer gap coverage at this time.

You can request your SR-22 form directly in the app by tapping on Auto Policy, then Document Requests, and then SR-22. The app will guide you through the rest. It’s easy to do.

Absolutely. We insure good drivers of any age. In fact, teenagers who are good drivers can get much lower rates with Root, because most traditional insurance companies rate solely based on demographics—leaving teenagers with the most expensive rates. At Root, we take into account how teenagers actually drive, so they could save some money. Learn more about our car insurance for teens.

At a minimum, your policy will cover Liability Insurance (required by law), Roadside Assistance (included with every policy), and any coverages required by your state.

Your Root Insurance quote will likely offer you the same coverages provided by your previous insurance company—from there, you can customize your quote to include any additional coverages you need.

There are many factors to consider when choosing insurance coverage. You can learn more about Root's coverage options here.

If you have Comprehensive coverage, yes. We cover any repairs to your windshield. If you need to replace the windshield, we may first apply your deductible. Visit our cracked windshield insurance page to learn more.

You can review information about all of our coverages here. If you still haven’t found the answer you’re looking for, contact customer support and we’d be happy to help.

We do. Typically, each vehicle on your policy is eligible for 3 services per 6-month policy period, up to $100 per service. Keep in mind: coverage does not transfer to a vehicle not listed on your policy (such as a rental car).

Roadside Assistance is purchased separately in California.

Request help right in the Root app:

1. Tap File a Claim.

2. Tap Roadside Assistance

Once you've submitted your request, you can opt in to receive text updates and monitor your driver's status.

A no-fault state limits liability in an accident. Each person in the accident has their own insurance cover any injuries or lost wages they sustain—Personal Injury Protection coverage, or PIP—up to a certain amount. Most no-fault states require PIP coverage.

We understand that life happens, and we’re committed to being there to make things easier for our customers when it does. We also understand that one accident is rarely an indicator of driving ability. That said, it wouldn’t be fair or responsible of us to ignore a pattern of accidents, and we reserve the right to cancel coverage in certain circumstances.

If you need to, you can update your policy to carry state minimum coverage and reduce your price. You can always review your coverages to be sure you’re paying for what you need right now. Adjustments can be made right in the Root app.

1. Tap Policy & Payments

2. Select Policy

3. Tap Coverages

4. Make the desired changes to your coverages, limits, and/or deductibles

5. Select Continue to see your updated price

Even if you’re driving less, it’s illegal in almost every state to drive without insurance, so it’s important to keep your policy active. In addition, letting your policy lapse could make it more expensive for you to get coverage in the future, as companies may consider you to be a riskier applicant.

Yes, we do. We have found that good drivers know other good drivers. By referring your friends, you help us grow our community of good drivers. Even better, when one of your friends takes the test drive and gets a quote, you both earn a reward offer. It’s our way of saying thanks for keeping the roads safe.

*Referral program applies in states where Root Insurance is available. Paid referral program not applicable in California, Mississippi, or North Dakota.

Yes, you can only send paid referrals if you are an active Root policyholder.

Step 1: Refer us to your friends using your personalized referral link (it’s in the app).

Step 2: Once a friend signs up, we’ll keep you updated on their progress.

Step 3: If they take the test drive and then view their quote, you get paid and they get paid.  That’s what we call a win-win.

Read program Terms and Conditions for more information.

Once the person you refer finishes the test drive and views their quote, you and the person you refer will each receive a reward. Generally the reward is $10, however payout amounts may vary depending on your state and any promotions active at time of your referral.

You’ll be able to claim your reward right in the app. You’ll have the option to choose the payment method that works best for you. You can choose a gift card, digital Visa, ACH transfer, PayPal, or charitable donation*.

*Not all reward options are available in every state, restrictions apply.

Once your friend completes the test drive and views their quote, you have a choice on how you would like to redeem your reward. Depending on your choice, you can get paid immediately or within 7 business days.

You can refer as many people as you want as long as you are an active Root policyholder. Keep in mind that the referral program is not available to all users. Annual and state limits apply.

There are a few things to keep in mind:

• You MUST use your personalized referral link to refer your friends. If you don’t, you won’t get your reward offer (no exceptions). We can only pay you for the referral if your friend uses your link.

• You get paid when your friend takes the test drive and qualifies for a quote, whether they choose to purchase a policy or not. Unfortunately, we don’t pay for referrals when the friend does not qualify for a quote after the test drive, but the more friends you refer, the more chances you’ll have to get a reward offer.

• Rewards are not available for senders and receivers who are on the same policy.

Accidents are tough. We make filing your claim easy. Here’s what to do:

1. Tap File a claim or get roadside assistance at the bottom of the home screen in the app.

2. Choose File a claim to report your incident anytime directly in the app. It only takes 3 minutes, and it allows us to get started on your claim right away.

3. Provide as much information as possible in the app. Don’t worry if you don’t have all the details available.

4. You’ll have the option to add photos to your claim.

5. A claims expert will get in touch with you to review your claim and discuss next steps in the process.

Visit our car insurance claims page to learn more.

New claims can be made 24/7 in the app or by calling 866-980-9431 Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET and Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET.

If you’re not a Root customer, but you were in an accident with someone who has Root Insurance, you can file a claim online.

We will send you a check in the mail or provide an electronic payment.

We highly recommend you file your claim immediately, while the details are still fresh. The more details we have of your accident, the more efficiently we’ll be able to resolve your claim.

If you purchased Rental car coverage before the accident, yes. We offer coverage for a car rental while your car is undrivable or being repaired. A quick note: Rental car insurance covers the cost of a rental vehicle up to your limits when a covered car is in the shop as part of a claim for a covered accident or loss. It doesn't apply to vacation car rentals.