Root: Better car insurance

A Google user

6 years ago

Got my quote. Saving about 60$ a month on insurance with equal coverage. Thanks root. Small edit after having had root for a few months. I'm still loving the app. Truly impossible to find better rates anywhere. I'm not sure I like the way claims works. You have to pay the bill for any roadside assistance up front and then get a reimbursement after the fact. That would be fine but in the event that you must use roadside, make sure that you get the make and model of your vehicle printed on the receipt. You won't get a reimbursement if you don't.

A Google user

6 years ago

Absolutely worthless. I've been driving around for well over a month. About a week ago it changed to "4-7 days", then today it went back to "2-3 weeks". So, for now, this app has only harvested my travel data and not provided the services that I installed it for (car insurance). I cannot recommend this app as it is useless. ETA: I followed Root's recommendation and nothing changed. My location setting stay on, so that's not an issue. I commute daily, so the lack of logged trips is also not a hindrance. The app is just inconsistent and does not do what it is supposed to do (study my driving habits and provide a quote based off of that info). I still do not recommend this app.

Kenneth Meese

4 years ago

This company seems good in theory, but It's frustrating that interacting with your phone via your car's bluetooth counts against you. I get that it is technically a distraction, but such systems are designed to be used safely while driving. I use my phone responsibly, but I don't want to drive without navigation or music, so I ended up going back to regular insurance.

Daniel Gaeta

3 years ago

I didn't have any battery problems like other people, didn't drain my battery at all. But it is bad at knowing whether you're a passenger or not. My rating was affected by using my phone while a friend was driving. Also leaving your phone on, even without any activity on it, will lower your score. You MUST turn your phone off if you're not the one driving and put on standby if you are. Two stars because rating your driving is half of the app's purpose.

Alex

3 years ago

Customer service: 4* Ease of use: 5* Application reliability: 2* Overall, Root is a great company. I've been using them for over a year now with no fluctuations in cost, is more than $400 cheaper than prev insurance and have had no issues when it comes to speaking with customer service. However, when it comes to the application, itself, it absolutely refuses to let me download the update. This would be fine it not for the fact that I need to update in order for the app to log my driving data...

A Google user

5 years ago

The app itself is fine, it's simple to use. The company itself was a lifesaver when I first switched over only paying about $80/mo but now it's starting to creep back up with every renewal. I'm back to posting I've $100 and without any flexibility (at least in the app) to pay your bill early when it might be a better time for me to pay it, it's very disappointing.

A Google user

6 years ago

"Root crunching numbers!" notification is showing constantly since last update. It used to show up for a few moments after driving, but now it show up for hours even when i am just sitting at home. In response to Root, I have this app installed for a few months, got offers, just didn't accept the plan yet. And the issue just started after last update, with the notification shown constantly. The only way to remove it is to either force stop it (will show up again after restart) or remove the app. 10-23-2018 now I have 2 notifications about "root crunching numbers!" on my phone. One that show up and disappear after a drive. Another one that just permanently shown for no apparent reason.

Amanda Kauffman

4 years ago

The app is very dependent on the root representatives still doing their jobs, which doesn't happen. This has been my experience at least. I did even address this with customer service who responded with how to cancel my policy. I did and now I have Liberty Mutual at a better rate for a LOT better deductible! :) It's infuriating when they leave the messages on reviews to "let us know if you need further assistance" when that's actually the whole basis of the problem: they don't help.

A Google user

6 years ago

I'd really love to give this app/company a shot. However, I've had it installed for almost 2 months, and it has been stuck on "1 to 2 days to go" for 3 weeks, despite driving as much as I normally do. Edit: I originally posted the above review in August of 2017. After a friend of mine successfully completed the test drive and signed up recently, I decided to give it another try. I installed the app, set up my account, and began the test drive. Everything seemed to be working fine, and every day that I checked the app, the amount of remaining time was going down. However, just a few days ago, it randomly got stuck on 2-4 days to go, then suddenly spiked up to 21-21 days (almost seemed like a glitch) and now it's showing 2-3 weeks to go, which is what it showed when I first started. I'm done with this app. This is now the second time I've attempted to use the service, and each time I'm never able to complete the test drive due to bugs and problems. You'd think after a year, they'd have fixed whatever problem I originally had, but I guess not.

A Google user

5 years ago

2019 Edit I've been with Root for 2 years. My rates have raised twice and it renewed again, this time jumping another $25. I haven't been in any accidents, haven't claimed anything, no tickets, and my rates raise? A little disappointing, especially since I've been with them for a while. (2017 review) Was skeptical about it at first, especially since it took some time (about 8 weeks) to "crunch numbers" but it was well worth the wait! Would recommend for anyone to try it!

A Google user

6 years ago

The price is way better than my previous insurance with progressive. I love that they go by how well we drive but I wish that they would improve their payment features so that customers would have more options, for instance, to pay in parts or pay earlier if they have the means to do so. It's easier than just being stuck with automatic payments on one specific day. Like really that's kind of one sided

A Google user

6 years ago

Love having this insurance carrier BUT the app is kind of annoying. when I hit the back button, I never just go back to a previous menu. Instead, it takes me all the way out of the app and to my home screen (Note 8). It's like the app itself only has a superficial, single layer UI. I know that some windows have an X in the top corner to close it, but for almost every other app I use, i can simply press the back button with no problems.

Molly Crawford

1 year ago

Absolutely the worst experience with insurance ever, never even had a claim or left my house and my rates went up. I have a perfect driving record. Got geico for 50 bucks cheaper and get actual customer service. When you cancel they charge you a fee. It is never mentioned, just appears on your account. Even though I canceled my policy right before it renewed, meaning I had already paid them for that month. Zero stars

Chris Berry

11 months ago

I saved a lot of money by switching from GEICO. I forgot about this app review. I had to change it because it kept going up in price instead of going down in price. They get you signed up at a low rate but after a couple months it just keeps going up. I ENDED UP WITH ALLSTATE FOR $55 CHEAPER.

Miranda Crosby

1 year ago

This app is flawed in monitoring your driving. It doesn't give you the option of being able to choose if you are driving or a passenger. I can sit in my rocking chair and it uses that information like I'm driving! Then they jack the premium up on you , penalizing you for the results of the flawed driving test that you have no way to see or manage. I have a spotless driving record in real time but this company's monitoring doesn't show it. I do NOT recommend this insurance.

Kimberly Newcomb

1 year ago

It's ok. The only problem is it will rate your driving regardless if ur actually the one driving or not. Example: ur a passenger, taking a uber or even walking , but if u turn ur location off it bothers u to turn it back on or ur payments will go up.Besides that it's easy to use. Not the most accurate, they say it may notify u but it recognizes ur not driving, but I was a passenger an it took a point off for phone usage. In response like I said it literally penalize u for waking to fast

C c

10 months ago

DON'T use this company. I took it out thinking it was a great deal. I used the safe drive app. I had to hit my breaks a few times to avoid deer, objects or other drivers. My score was 8 out of 10. After 2 months, I got notified my policy was being canceled on the 30 of that month because I didn't meet their standard. I called to see what was up was told nothing else. I was due a refund from the 24 to the 7, but they charge cancelation fees even if they cancel your policy to prevent refunding you