Root car insurance, as Root describes it
The only company here whose main product is a test before a price — and it says outright that it may decide no.
Calling connects you with a licensed independent agent — not with Root.
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The basics, as Root publishes them
- Parent
- Root, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROOT)
- Founded
- 2015
- How you buy
- App, online, or independent agent
- Test drive
- About three weeks
What Root publishes about itself
Root was founded in 2015 on the idea that car insurance should be priced primarily on driving behavior rather than demographics, and the test drive is how it does that: two to four weeks of data from your phone’s sensors measuring braking, turning, speed, time of day and attentiveness. It is explicit about the consequence — its models do not work for everyone, and it may not offer a quote at the end. There is also an instant-quote path that uses traditional underwriting variables, and an independent-agent channel where the test drive may not apply.
What is settled, and what is not
Everything on the left is stated by Root. Everything on the right is a question their published material does not answer — which makes it a question worth asking on the phone.
They state this
The test drive takes about three weeks
Root states it uses driving data from your phone to measure your behavior and that it takes about three weeks; its annual report describes a two-to-four week test drive measuring braking, consistency, turning, time of day and driver attentiveness.
It says it may decline you
In its own words: Root is not the right fit for everyone, its models do not work with every situation, and it may not offer you a quote after the test drive. Its FAQ adds that if you did not get a quote you cannot try again at this time. Very few carriers publish this.
You can also get a quote without the test drive
The same page offers an instant quote today alongside the test drive, and its annual report says traditional underwriting variables are used for customers with an immediate need. So the test drive is the pitch, not the only door.
Everything happens in the app
Root states you can customise and purchase your policy, find your insurance card, change your policy and file a claim all in the app.
It publishes a state list in its FAQ
Thirty-four states, named — Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin — with a note that it is expanding.
They do not
Its own two answers on where it writes disagree
The FAQ names thirty-four states. Its annual report lists the states Root Insurance Company is licensed in, which includes Florida and Washington — states the FAQ list omits — and says a second entity is licensed in all fifty plus DC. Licensed and writing are not the same thing. We report both and merge neither.
The test drive needs your location on, in the background
Root states the app does not need to be open but GPS must stay on, and that without GPS it cannot determine your quote. It also states telematics is not used in Maryland or California. If background location tracking is a problem for you, that is the product.
Its discounts page is not about its own discounts
Root publishes a page titled discounts that is a general explainer about the insurance industry; the percentages on it are attributed to insurance companies in general, not to Root. The only Root-published discount figures we found are 5% for bundling renters with auto, and an unquantified pay-in-full discount.
The test drive may not apply through an agent
Root states the test drive may not be available for policies purchased through an agent — so which channel you use changes what you are actually buying.
Discounts Root names
These are the credits Root lists on its own site. Which of them you qualify for, what each is worth, and whether it is already on a policy you hold are all questions for an agent — none of them is published, because none of them is the same for two people.
- Bundle renters and auto
- Pay in full
Root questions
How long does the Root test drive take?
Root says about three weeks; its annual report describes two to four. During it the app measures braking, speed of turns, time of day, miles driven and routes, using your phone’s sensors. The app does not need to be open, but GPS has to stay on — Root states that without GPS it cannot determine your quote.
Can Root refuse to insure me after the test drive?
Yes, and it says so plainly: Root is not the right fit for everyone, its models do not work with every situation, and it may not offer a quote after the test drive. Its FAQ adds that if that happens you cannot retake it at this time. Very few carriers publish this.
Is Root available in my state?
Its FAQ lists thirty-four states. Its own annual report lists a longer set of states where Root Insurance Company is licensed, including Florida and Washington, and says a second Root entity is licensed in all fifty and DC — but being licensed is not the same as writing new business. The two lists disagree, so take the FAQ as the shopping answer and expect it to change.
Do I have to take the test drive to get a Root quote?
No. Root offers an instant quote path alongside the test drive, and its annual report says traditional underwriting variables are used for customers with an immediate insurance need. Note too that the test drive may not be available at all on a policy bought through an agent.
Can this site get me a Root quote?
No. InsuranceXR is not an insurance agency and does not quote any company. Root sells through more than one channel, so whether a given agent can quote it depends on their own appointments. The agent who answers can tell you which companies they represent; we cannot promise Root is one of them.
All 18 companies
Alphabetical, which is the only order here — we do not rank them. The one you are reading is marked.
Find out who will actually write you
Whether Root — or anyone else — will write your profile, and at what price, is underwriting. No website can answer it. A licensed agent can, on a call that costs nothing.
Auto insurance line
(888) 883-0806Calling costs nothing and there is no obligation to buy.
Not an insurer. We connect you with licensed agents.
InsuranceXR is an independent referral service. We are not an insurance agency, we are not affiliated with Root, and Root has not reviewed this page. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Everything stated here about Root is drawn from joinroot.com and inc.joinroot.com — its test drive, help, renters and company pages — and from Root, Inc.’s own annual report filed with the SEC. Read on September 15, 2026.
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