The TRUTH about Root Roadside Assistance: Review

Founded in 2015 and valued at over $3.65 billion, Root Insurance has a mission to change the insurance industry by evaluating people’s needs and providing simple, digital-first, data driven solutions. Root Insurance has decided to give over two million of their customers access to digital roadside assistance. The best part? Root insurance is adding this service at no additional cost to their current policyholders.

The service includes the option to request help directly from the Root mobile app, where many other convenient features can be found.

How Much Does Root’s Roadside Assistance Cost?

Root’s Roadside Assistance service comes at no extra charge if your car is insured under Root. They will cover any service up to $100, up to 3 times per vehicle, per 6-month policy period.

Another nice thing we learned is if for some reason you want to use a different roadside service provider all you have to do is send your receipts to them and they will reimburse you up to their standard limits. That means you can still have your expenses paid even if you go outside of your Root policy for assistance. As always, read the fine print of your policy to understand the limitations of this type of offer.

How do I Contact Root’s Roadside Service?

Root’s mobile app is the easiest way to use your roadside assistance. It can be downloaded to your smartphone on Google Play or the Apple App Store.

Root will cover you right there on the spot through their app. If your assistance cost more than their $100 coverage limit, you can pay the extra right in the Root app. They certainly do make it seem easy to use and very appealing. If you are a customer looking to contact them for a new roadside service, you can call them at 844 271 4357.

What is Included in Root’s Roadside Assistance?

Here is a brief overview of the the things Roots Roadside coverage can help you with within the cost and frequency limits mentioned earlier:

Locked your keys in the car

Save yourself the “coat hanger” attempt, and let a locksmith get you back in your car.

Ran out of gas

It happens to the best of us; Roadside will fuel you up.

Got a flat

Get a tire change by an expert with your spare.

Need a jump-start

If your battery dies, they will give you a jump.

Require a tow

If your car breaks down, they will tow you to a location of your choosing.

Winching and Extrication

If your vehicle gets stuck, they will pull your car out.

These sound like some awesome free services to have at the click of a button when in a bind!

What is NOT Included in Root’s Roadside Assistance?

Although the fact that Root offers their roadside assistance for free to all policyholders seems like the best deal, remember to consider all your needs first. For example, a free or basic plan is not going to provide the type of premium services you might require. AAA, for example, offers priority service such as car rental benefits, ride and/or accident assist where they help you obtain alternate transportation, and other accommodations when stranded. They even offer driving directions if you are lost. We all know how scary it can be when our navigator takes a hiatus, and we have no idea where we are going.  

Root Roadside does not offer any upgraded or premium services, leaving you to look elsewhere should you want this type of extra coverage. This is more of a missed opportunity on their part, but maybe something they will change in the future. After all, they seem to be a very tech forward company that genuinely wants to help their customers. However, a free service like this if you already have Root Insurance or if you are looking to switch is certainly an attractive perk.

How Does Root’s Roadside Assistance Compare to Other Providers?

Below you can see a breakdown of Root Roadside Assistance in comparison to other well-known roadside programs:

	Root	GEICO	Farmers	Progressive	AllState	State Farm
Cost Per Year	$0	$14	$23	$23	$25	$48
Incidents Covered Per Year	6	3	3	varies	3	3
Towing	$100	100 miles	$150	15 miles	$100	Nearest, no limit
Winching/ Extrication	$100	1 hr	10 ft	100 ft	$100	Free if reachable from road
Car Locksmith	$100	$100	$150	1 hr	$100	1 hr
On-Site Mechanical Adjustment	$100	1 hr	$150	1 hr	$100	1 hr
Fuel Delivery	√	√	√	√	√	√
Jump Start	√	√	√	√	√	√
Flat Tire Service	√	√	√	√	√	√

As you see above, Root Insurance offers up to 6 covered incidents per year, double what most other competitors offer. As far as the other components, that is really going to depend on your specific needs as a consumer. Root does offer a variety of services, but their towing limit is based on cost, not mile radius compared to Geico who offers a free tow within a 100-mile radius. Instead, Root offers up to $100 to cover the cost of a tow, which we know those costs can climb well above depending upon your location. These are just scenarios to consider when it comes to your personal needs.

Again, with it being a free product for Root customers, what they do offer seems fair. For example, the number of incidents they cover may seem excessive, but some carriers will drop you if use their roadside assistance to their limits too many times. In this scenario, Root’s higher limits provide double the buffer before that ever becomes an issue. Also, their flat rate of $100 of coverage for services such as towing or locksmiths makes the plan simple to follow. Combine this with the simplicity of their app and this makes a very streamlined offer.

State Farm does seem more generous with their towing limits, but their program comes at a higher cost and only covers 3 incidents per year. They also have higher premiums in general. That’s why it’s important to consider all variables when it comes to this type of supplemental insurance, as other costs can quickly add up in order to obtain the policy in the first place. Every carrier has its requirements, so it is important to do your research with each individual carrier.   

Which Roadside Assistance Should You Choose?

If you are looking for a simple plan with a tech savvy approach, Root Roadside Assistance could be the plan for you. Just bear in mind, it is important to consider all factors when deciding upon roadside assistance coverage. Does the carrier have any requirements to qualify for their plan, such as being a current full coverage customer? What would it cost to switch? How much does the plan cost and what services do they provide? We aim to provide you as much information as possible to help answer these questions, but in order to get the most accurate information, it is best to contact the company directly. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Get a quote and compare your options. It is always best to compare quotes from as many companies as you can to aide you in your overall decision.