The Hartford Auto Insurance coverage Evaluation: Prices & Protection (2022)

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In Our Opinion:

The Hartford presents low auto insurance coverage charges and distinctive perks to AARP members. Whereas nonetheless obtainable to drivers with out AARP memberships, it’s older drivers who will discover probably the most profit with The Hartford.

Professionals:

Big selection of auto insurance coverage merchandise

Can bundle dwelling and auto insurance coverage insurance policies

Particular charges and advantages for AARP members

Cons:

Common customer support fame

Not many low cost choices for non-AARP members

Drivers over 50 on the lookout for insurance coverage protection could also be acquainted with The Hartford auto insurance coverage. The Hartford is the one automobile insurance coverage supplier to associate with the American Affiliation of Retired Individuals (AARP) to supply unique advantages to the group’s members. 

Due to this relationship, AARP members could discover particularly low auto insurance coverage charges with the supplier. Our crew needed to see how The Hartford compares to the nation’s finest automobile insurance coverage corporations, so we took a take a look at the corporate’s charges, protection choices, advantages, customer support, and extra. Maintain studying to see what we found.

About The Hartford

Based in 1810, The Hartford has a wealthy historical past. In line with the corporate’s historical past, it as soon as insured the house of Abraham Lincoln. Immediately, The Hartford is among the many prime 25 insurers within the nation, and is the one one formally endorsed by the AARP. For that motive, you’ll have heard it known as “AARP automobile insurance coverage.”

Whereas sure advantages and reductions are solely obtainable to AARP members, anybody should purchase a automobile insurance coverage coverage from The Hartford.

The Hartford Auto Insurance coverage Prices

The typical charge estimate for a full protection auto coverage from The Hartford is $2,134 per 12 months – considerably dearer than the common nationwide estimate of $1,730 per 12 months. These averages are primarily based on a standardized profile of a 35-year-old driver with a clear driving file and good credit score. Since The Hartford is designed extra for older drivers, charges for these drivers could also be extra aggressive.

The Hartford Auto Insurance coverage Price Components

Your premium is unlikely to match the common estimate quoted above. Insurance coverage corporations calculate particular person charges utilizing a number of components, together with:

• Protection varieties: Legal responsibility insurance coverage insurance policies that solely fulfill state minimal protection necessities value the least. Including protection for your self and different choices will improve your premiums.
• Protection limits: Setting larger protection limits presents you extra monetary safety, but it surely additionally means you’ll pay extra for an auto coverage.
• Age: Whereas youthful drivers are likely to pay the very best charges of any age group, senior drivers generally see larger premiums than middle-aged drivers, too.
• Deductible: The decrease your deductible is, the upper your premium is more likely to be. If you wish to lower your expenses in your auto coverage, set your deductible larger.
• Driving historical past: When you’ve got any automobile accidents or site visitors violations in your driving file, you’re more likely to face larger premiums.
• Location: Charges fluctuate between states and even between ZIP codes in the identical state attributable to variations in laws and the presence of various threat components.
• Credit score historical past: Some states have made it unlawful for insurers to make use of your credit score rating as a think about your premiums. In states the place it’s nonetheless authorized, individuals with decrease credit score scores are likely to see larger premiums.

The Hartford Automobile Insurance coverage Reductions

Lots of the premium estimates we discovered for The Hartford have been dearer than trade averages. Nonetheless, the corporate presents a sturdy set of reductions that may assist carry premiums down, together with:

• Multi-policy low cost: In case you mix your auto protection with different insurance coverage merchandise resembling life, renters, or householders insurance coverage, you will get an total coverage low cost.
• Paid-in-full low cost: It can save you cash in your coverage by paying your whole premium upfront, reasonably than throughout month-to-month funds.
• Security options low cost: The Hartford presents a reduction for having security options resembling anti-lock brakes and extra airbags put in in your car.
• Car gas sort low cost: Individuals who drive hybrid or electrical autos can get a reduction on their auto coverage.
• Protected driver coaching reductions: Policyholders below the age of 21 (25 in Georgia) can earn a reduction by finishing an accepted secure driving course.
• Defensive driving low cost: The Hartford presents a reduction to drivers who full an accepted defensive driving course. This low cost can apply for as much as three years.
• New car low cost: Policyholders can get a reduction when masking a brand new car.
• Non-resident scholar low cost: Households which have an insured driver that’s at present attending college away from dwelling with out common entry to their car can get a reduction on their coverage.

TrueLane by The Hartford

The Hartford is one among many insurers that gives a telematics program as a substitute for flat-rate insurance coverage. This program, known as TrueLane, makes use of a cell app to watch your driving behaviors, resembling your pace, how arduous you brake and switch, what instances of day you drive, how typically you employ your telephone within the automobile, and extra.

The Hartford presents a 12% low cost only for signing up for TrueLane. In case you apply secure driving habits, the corporate says it can save you as a lot as 25% in your coverage once you renew. Nonetheless, in case you apply driving habits that The Hartford deems unsafe, you may find yourself paying extra for protection.

The Hartford Auto Insurance coverage Protection

Like with most insurers, you possibly can construct your automobile insurance coverage coverage with The Hartford by combining normal automobile insurance coverage coverages with non-compulsory coverages and add-ons that suit your wants and finances. Most consultants suggest having a “full protection” coverage that features private damage, collision, and complete insurance coverage together with legal responsibility protection to make sure you’re protected financially.

Customary Protection Choices

The Hartford presents the usual forms of auto insurance coverage that you will discover with most main suppliers. These embrace:

• Property injury legal responsibility insurance coverage: Covers injury to different drivers’ autos and property in an accident for which you’re discovered at fault.
• Bodily damage legal responsibility insurance coverage: Covers medical payments and different injury-related bills ensuing from an accident you’re discovered at fault for.
• Collision protection: Covers injury to your car and property ensuing from an accident, no matter who’s at fault.
• Complete protection: Covers injury to your car from sources aside from a automobile accident, resembling theft, vandalism, fireplace, or floods.
• Private damage safety (PIP): Covers medical payments and misplaced wages for individuals in your occasion ensuing from an accident, no matter who prompted it.
• Medical funds (MedPay): Covers medical bills to your occasion, no matter who’s at fault for an accident.
• Uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist protection: Covers damage and property injury if an at-fault driver lacks adequate protection.

The Hartford Extra Protection Choices:

The Hartford additionally presents a variety of add-ons to assist cowl different prices associated to proudly owning and driving your car. These embrace:

• Automobile towing protection: Pays for towing.
• Full glass protection: Pays for all glass injury and has a $0 deductible.
• Rental automobile expense protection: Offers reimbursement for rental automobile prices when your automobile is within the store for repairs after an accident.
• Private umbrella insurance coverage: Offers monetary assist if somebody sues you for damages in extra of what’s paid by your legal responsibility coverage.
• Hole insurance coverage: Pays the distinction between your automobile’s precise money worth and the quantity you owe in your automobile mortgage in case your automobile is stolen or totaled.
• Disappearing deductible: Reduces your collision deductible every year you go with out an accident (all the way down to $0).
• Accident forgiveness: Accident forgiveness to your first accident is robotically included if all drivers in your coverage preserve a clear driving file for 5 years.

The Hartford Included Advantages for AARP Members

Whereas most of the firm’s advantages and choices can be found to policyholders at giant, the supplier features a collection of reductions and advantages for members of the AARP Auto Insurance coverage Program From The Hartford. These embrace:

• 24-Hour roadside help: Covers the price of emergency providers like towing, gas supply, and extra.
• Authorized illustration for accidents: Covers the price of authorized charges associated to a automobile accident.
• New automobile alternative protection: Replaces your automobile with one of many similar make, mannequin, and gear with out subtracting something for depreciation whether it is new.
• No deductible windshield restore service: Waives your auto coverage deductible for windshield restore insurance coverage claims.
• RecoverCare important providers: Covers the price of hiring providers for duties resembling home cleansing, garden upkeep, snow elimination, transportation providers, meals preparation, and canine strolling if you’re injured in an accident and may’t do them your self.
• Homeownership credit score: Reductions your auto coverage in case you personal a house. This doesn’t apply if you’re already getting a reduction for bundling your householders insurance coverage coverage together with your auto coverage.

The Hartford Lifetime Automobile Restore Assurance

With any insurer, you all the time have the appropriate to decide on your restore store. Nonetheless, like many insurers, The Hartford has an accepted restore facility program that gives advantages for utilizing one of many greater than 1,600 retailers of their community.

In case you use this system, The Hartford will discover an in-network store for you and deal with communications and fee immediately with the store. Repairs made below this program at associate retailers are assured for the lifetime of the car.

The Hartford Auto Insurance coverage Opinions

The Hartford has an A+ score from the Higher Enterprise Bureau (BBB), however it isn’t accredited. The automobile insurance coverage firm at present has a 1.0 out of 5.0-star BBB buyer overview rating, however that is primarily based on a comparatively low variety of opinions. Understand that prospects are more likely to go to the BBB web site to complain than to go away optimistic feedback.

There are solely a small variety of buyer opinions, which implies these scores could not precisely mirror the sentiment of the vast majority of The Hartford automobile insurance coverage prospects.

Optimistic Opinions of The Hartford 

A number of opinions reward high quality customer support, particularly when switching to The Hartford from one other supplier. Prospects report satisfaction with decrease automobile insurance coverage charges {and professional} brokers.

“I actually thought I used to be getting the bottom obtainable charge on my automobile insurance coverage, however to my shock, [I] wasn’t. [The Hartford] helped me get higher protection at a decrease premium. For that, I’m glad.”

– Steven P., by way of Trustpilot

“I simply purchased a brand new car and the insurance coverage firm that I’ve been with for the previous two years raised my charges [even though] I’ve a wonderful driving historical past. [I] spoke with an agent from The Hartford who was superior, and he saved me $412.”

– Hiram C., by way of Trustpilot

Damaging Opinions of The Hartford 

Some prospects specific frustration with sluggish claims servicing, denied claims, and problem canceling contracts. Nonetheless, most of the damaging opinions concentrate on the corporate’s dwelling insurance coverage merchandise, not The Hartford auto insurance coverage.

“That is the worst monetary group ever. They take weeks to answer your questions – in the event that they even reply in any respect – and once they reply, they don’t reply your questions. [The Hartford] miscalculated my insurance coverage in July. It’s virtually January, and nonetheless no decision.”

– Ben F., by way of BBB

“[My claim has] been accepted, however [I have yet to] obtain a fee occurring 10 weeks… They by no means provide you with any appropriate info… I’m nonetheless ready for a name again.”

– B. M., by way of BBB

The Hartford Auto Insurance coverage: Conclusion

Auto insurance coverage from The Hartford might be considerably dear for the common driver in comparison with many different prime suppliers. Nonetheless, the supplier could provide among the best charges for AARP members in particular, particularly after you think about reductions. Members of the group who get protection via The Hartford additionally get a variety of distinctive and worthwhile advantages included of their coverage. RecoverCare, for instance, is a considerate sort of protection that isn’t simple to seek out wherever else and may very well be extraordinarily useful after an accident.

Youthful drivers will probably discover cheaper auto insurance coverage elsewhere. However whereas anybody can get protection from The Hartford, the corporate is designed extra for older drivers and particularly AARP Members. For these drivers, The Hartford must be one of many first choices to think about.

The Hartford Auto Insurance coverage: High Opponents

Even when The Hartford looks as if the appropriate supplier for you, it’s all the time a good suggestion to buy round. One other supplier could provide higher charges or extra interesting protection choices. We all the time suggest getting automobile insurance coverage quotes on-line from a number of totally different suppliers. This lets you examine and see which supplier actually presents you the bottom charges. Each of the suppliers talked about beneath scored extremely in our auto insurance coverage examine and would make nice choices for a lot of drivers.

GEICO: Finest Low cost Choice

GEICO options extra reductions on its auto protection than many of the suppliers we studied – incomes it this 12 months’s award for Finest Low cost Choice. As well as, we discovered that GEICO charge estimates have been persistently among the many lowest all through our examine. Which means most drivers can discover cheap protection and convey these prices down even additional with numerous low cost alternatives. If it’s cheap protection from a good supplier you’re after, it’s definitely value getting an auto insurance coverage quote from GEICO.

Maintain studying: GEICO automobile insurance coverage overview

State Farm: Finest Total

The nation’s largest insurer earned the very best rating of all suppliers in our most up-to-date auto insurance coverage examine, successful State Farm the award for Finest Total. State Farm presents aggressive charges, loads of reductions, and a big choice of protection choices in all 50 states. The corporate additionally claims the nation’s largest community of native insurance coverage brokers, providing quick access to in-person providers in most locations.

Maintain studying: State Farm automobile insurance coverage overview

The Hartford Auto Insurance coverage: FAQ

Our Methodology

Our skilled overview crew takes satisfaction in offering correct and unbiased info. We recognized the next score classes primarily based on shopper survey information and carried out in depth analysis to formulate rankings of the very best automobile insurance coverage suppliers.

• Affordability: Quite a lot of components affect value, so it may be troublesome to check quotes between suppliers. Our crew considers auto insurance coverage charge estimates generated by Quadrant Data Companies and low cost alternatives when giving this rating.
• Protection: As a result of every shopper has distinctive wants, it’s important {that a} automobile insurance coverage firm presents an array of protection choices. We take note of forms of insurance coverage obtainable, most protection limits, and add-on insurance policies.
• Trade Standing: Our crew considers Higher Enterprise Bureau (BBB) scores, monetary energy, and years in enterprise when giving this rating.
• Availability: Auto insurers with larger state availability and few eligibility necessities usually tend to meet shopper wants.
• Buyer Service: Respected automobile insurance coverage suppliers function with a sure diploma of look after customers. We think about complaints filed with the Nationwide Affiliation of Insurance coverage Commissioners (NAIC), J.D. Energy claims servicing scores, and buyer suggestions.
• On-line Expertise: Insurers with easy-to-use web sites and extremely rated cell apps scored finest on this class.