Is Root Insurance Legit?
Root Insurance is a car insurance company that sets your rate based on how you actually drive — tracked by your smartphone. Good drivers pay less. But is Root Insurance actually legit, and is it a good deal?
What Is Root Insurance?
Root Insurance (NASDAQ: ROOT) is a publicly traded US auto insurance company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. It uses telematics — monitoring your driving behaviour through the Root app — to set personalised premium rates. Factors tracked include braking habits, turning, speed, and phone distraction while driving.
Is Root Insurance a Scam?
No — Root Insurance is a fully licensed, publicly traded US insurance company. It is regulated by state insurance departments in every state it operates in. Claims are paid, policies are real, and it is one of the more innovative players in the US car insurance market.
How Root Works
- Download the app and complete a test drive period (usually 2–3 weeks)
- Root analyses your driving and generates a personalised quote
- Safe drivers can save significantly — sometimes 30–50% vs traditional insurers
- Poor drivers may be declined or quoted higher rates
Honest Pros and Cons
- Pro: Genuinely rewards safe drivers with lower premiums
- Pro: Fully digital — policy management, claims, all in the app
- Pro: No credit score used in pricing (unlike traditional insurers)
- Con: Not available in all US states
- Con: Claims process is app-only — no human agent to call easily
- Con: Privacy trade-off — your driving is continuously monitored
Verdict
Root Insurance is legit. If you are a safe, attentive driver and are comfortable with driving data being tracked, Root can offer genuine savings over traditional car insurance. Not ideal if you prefer human-assisted insurance service or drive in non-covered states.
