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Root renters insurance review 2020
Last updated:
Try an affordable, app-based policy with rates starting at less than half the national average.
- Get a quote if you need cheap renters insurance with solid coverage
- Pick something else if you want a provider with better customer ratings.
AR, DE, GA, KY, MO, NV, OH, TN, UT
Available states
Online quotes
Details
Pros
- Enjoy affordable rates
- Manage your policy conveniently in the app
- Opt for high liability protection
Cons
- Basic renters coverage without policy extras
- Availability limited to 8 states
- High number of customer complaints
- You have to create a Root account for quotes
| New home discount discount | No |
|---|---|
| New homeowner discount | No |
| Home safety features discount | No |
| New policy discount | No |
| Bundling discount | Yes |
| No claims discount | No |
| Other discounts | Pay in full |
| Personal property coverage | Yes |
|---|---|
| Valuable personal property | Some coverage included |
| Theft coverage | Yes |
| Fire coverage | Yes |
| Flood coverage | No |
| Identity theft coverage | No |
| Homesharing | No |
| Dwelling coverage | No |
Expert review
Review by
Sarah George
sarah.george@finder.comSarah George is a writer at Finder who unravels complicated topics about insurance, business and finance. She's been wordsmithing for nearly five years, after earning an English education degree. Her insurance know-how has been featured on CarInsurance.com. You can usually find Sarah sipping hot tea and talking through movie plots in her downtime.
Expert review
Root is a well-known name for cheap, pay-as-you go car insurance and is trying its hand at renters insurance too. For that reason, customers who want to save by bundling on auto and renters insurance might find this company appealing.
Even if you don’t bundle, the company’s renters policies have an attractively affordable price with policies well below the norm nationwide. Despite its low prices, you’ll get a high amount of liability and personal belongings coverage.
Yet Root’s main turn-off is its disproportionate number of complaints for a company of its size. If that’s reason to make you look elsewhere, you can find other renters insurance options with a variety of reputable companies.
What renters insurance coverage does Root offer?
Root offers three coverage tiers: Base, Essential and Premier.
| What’s covered | Description | Base coverage | Essential coverage | Premier coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal liability | This coverage pays for your legal fees and any court settlements if someone sues you for injury or damage. | $100,000 | $300,000 | $500,000 |
| Medical payments | This coverage takes care of medical bills if your guests suffer an injury at your home — without getting lawyers involved. | $1,000 | $1,000 | $5,000 |
| Personal property | Replace your personal belongings like jewelry, electronics and furniture if it’s damaged for a covered reason. | $10,000 | $20,000 | $50,000 |
| Additional living expenses | Coverage for up to 12 months if your home is damaged beyond livable conditions. | $3,000 | $6,000 | $15,000 |
| Water backups | Root provides protection for your belongings if they’re damaged by plumbing issues. | Included in personal property | Included in personal property | Included in personal property |
What renters insurance discounts can I get with Root?
You’ll find a couple helpful discounts when buying your policy through Root.
- Bundling. Buy auto and renters insurance together to knock 5% off your premium.
- Pay in full. Shave a few dozen dollars off your premium by paying all at once, instead of in monthly payments.
Pros and cons of Root renters insurance
Pros
- Affordable rates. Root starts its policies at $6 a month and even its Premier package rings in around $20 a month. That’s well below the national average of $15 per month for renters insurance.
- High liability protection. Root offers up to $500,000 in liability coverage, a number many other policies don’t go near. Plus, Root includes protection for belongings damaged by faulty plumbing.
- App policy management. Apply for and manage your coverage or account information all within the same Root app that’s used for its car insurance.
Cons
- Basic coverage. You won’t find many bells and whistles attached to this renters policy, but that may lead to its lower rates.
- Limited availability. Root offers renters insurance in eight states — Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Tennessee and Utah.
- Poor customer service. The company could work on its customer service practices, shown by the high number of customer complaints it receives.
- You have to make an account with Root. When you give your email address for a quote, Root creates an account for you, whether or not you choose its policy. Then, if you get another quote later with the same email, you’ll have to log in and start your quote over again. Not the most customer-friendly process.
Root renters insurance reviews and complaints
Root holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), as of October 2020. However, the BBB has published over 200 customer complaints for Root on its site. Many complaints involve customers wanting to cancel their policies after steep rate changes and complaints of unauthorized charges.
Root received a 5.36 score on the 2019 National Association of Insurance Commissioners complaint index. The index scores companies on the number of complaints it receives compared to its size. With a national standard score of 1.00, Root’s 5.36 suggests too many customer complaints.
Alternatives to Root
How to apply for Root renters insurance
You can apply for your renters policy from the website by answering a few, quick questions:
- Online
- From the renters main page, click Get a quote. You may have to do an online search for Root renters insurance since this policy’s information is buried in the website.
- Enter your home address and basic personal information. Click Continue.
- Answer quick questions about your rental and belongings and continue.
- View your coverage and quoted price available in three coverage tiers.
- Choose the coverage level that suits you, enter your start date and continue to purchase.
- Agree to the legal disclosures.
- Provide your payment details and start your policy. You’ll be charged the day you apply, rather than your coverage start date.
- Phone. If you have additional questions about renters coverage, call 866-980-9431.
- Email. To reach out with questions online, email help@joinroot.com.
What info do I need to apply?
Root asks for basic personal information when applying for its renters insurance, like:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Home address
- Types of personal items you own: electronics, instruments, furniture
- Policy start date
- Preferred coverage and limits
- Payment details