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

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In Our Opinion:

The Hartford gives 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:

Wide selection of auto insurance coverage merchandise

Can bundle house and auto insurance coverage insurance policies

Particular charges and advantages for AARP members

Cons:

Common customer support popularity

Not many low cost choices for non-AARP members

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

Due to this relationship, AARP members might discover particularly low auto insurance coverage charges with the supplier. Our group wished to see how The Hartford compares to the nation’s greatest automotive insurance coverage firms, so we took a have a look at the corporate’s charges, protection choices, advantages, customer support, and extra. Preserve studying to see what we found.

About The Hartford

Based in 1810, The Hartford has a wealthy historical past. In response to the corporate’s historical past, it as soon as insured the house of Abraham Lincoln. At the moment, The Hartford is among the many high 25 insurers within the nation, and is the one one formally endorsed by the AARP. For that cause, you could have heard it known as “AARP automotive insurance coverage.”

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

The Hartford Auto Insurance coverage Prices

The typical price estimate for a full protection auto coverage from The Hartford is $2,134 per yr – considerably costlier than the typical nationwide estimate of $1,730 per yr. These averages are based mostly on a standardized profile of a 35-year-old driver with a clear driving report 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 Value Components

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

• Protection sorts: Legal responsibility insurance coverage insurance policies that solely fulfill state minimal protection necessities price the least. Including protection for your self and different choices will enhance your premiums.
• Protection limits: Setting larger protection limits gives you extra monetary safety, however it additionally means you’ll pay extra for an auto coverage.
• Age: Whereas youthful drivers are likely to pay the 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 prone to be. If you wish to lower your expenses in your auto coverage, set your deductible larger.
• Driving historical past: In case you have any automotive accidents or site visitors violations in your driving report, you’re prone to face larger premiums.
• Location: Charges range between states and even between ZIP codes in the identical state on account of variations in rules and the presence of various danger elements.
• 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, folks 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 costlier than trade averages. Nonetheless, the corporate gives 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 complete premium upfront, somewhat than throughout month-to-month funds.
• Security options low cost: The Hartford gives a reduction for having security options resembling anti-lock brakes and extra airbags put in in your automobile.
• Automobile gasoline sort low cost: Individuals who drive hybrid or electrical automobiles can get a reduction on their auto coverage.
• Protected driver coaching reductions: Policyholders underneath the age of 21 (25 in Georgia) can earn a reduction by finishing an accepted protected driving course.
• Defensive driving low cost: The Hartford gives a reduction to drivers who full an accepted defensive driving course. This low cost can apply for as much as three years.
• New automobile low cost: Policyholders can get a reduction when masking a brand new automobile.
• Non-resident pupil low cost: Households which have an insured driver that’s at the moment attending college away from house with out common entry to their automobile can get a reduction on their coverage.

TrueLane by The Hartford

The Hartford is one in every of many insurers that provides a telematics program as a substitute for flat-rate insurance coverage. This program, known as TrueLane, makes use of a cellular app to observe your driving behaviors, resembling your velocity, how arduous you brake and switch, what occasions of day you drive, how typically you employ your telephone within the automotive, and extra.

The Hartford gives a 12% low cost only for signing up for TrueLane. In case you observe protected driving habits, the corporate says it can save you as a lot as 25% in your coverage while you renew. Nonetheless, if you happen to observe driving habits that The Hartford deems unsafe, you possibly can find yourself paying extra for protection.

The Hartford Auto Insurance coverage Protection

Like with most insurers, you’ll be able to construct your automotive insurance coverage coverage with The Hartford by combining normal automotive insurance coverage coverages with non-compulsory coverages and add-ons that suit your wants and price range. Most specialists advocate having a “full protection” coverage that features private harm, collision, and complete insurance coverage together with legal responsibility protection to make sure you’re protected financially.

Normal Protection Choices

The Hartford gives the usual kinds of auto insurance coverage that you’ll find with most main suppliers. These embody:

• Property harm legal responsibility insurance coverage: Covers harm to different drivers’ automobiles and property in an accident for which you might be discovered at fault.
• Bodily harm legal responsibility insurance coverage: Covers medical payments and different injury-related bills ensuing from an accident you might be discovered at fault for.
• Collision protection: Covers harm to your automobile and property ensuing from an accident, no matter who’s at fault.
• Complete protection: Covers harm to your automobile from sources apart from a automotive accident, resembling theft, vandalism, fireplace, or floods.
• Private harm safety (PIP): Covers medical payments and misplaced wages for folks in your celebration ensuing from an accident, no matter who brought on it.
• Medical funds (MedPay): Covers medical bills to your celebration, no matter who’s at fault for an accident.
• Uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist protection: Covers harm and property harm if an at-fault driver lacks adequate protection.

The Hartford Further Protection Choices:

The Hartford additionally gives quite a lot of add-ons to assist cowl different prices associated to proudly owning and driving your automobile. These embody:

• Automobile towing protection: Pays for towing.
• Full glass protection: Pays for all glass harm and has a $0 deductible.
• Rental automotive expense protection: Supplies reimbursement for rental automotive prices when your automotive is within the store for repairs after an accident.
• Private umbrella insurance coverage: Supplies 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 automotive’s precise money worth and the quantity you owe in your automotive mortgage in case your automotive is stolen or totaled.
• Disappearing deductible: Reduces your collision deductible annually you go with out an accident (all the way down to $0).
• Accident forgiveness: Accident forgiveness to your first accident is routinely included if all drivers in your coverage keep a clear driving report 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 massive, the supplier features a collection of reductions and advantages for members of the AARP Auto Insurance coverage Program From The Hartford. These embody:

• 24-Hour roadside help: Covers the price of emergency companies like towing, gasoline supply, and extra.
• Authorized illustration for accidents: Covers the price of authorized charges associated to a automotive accident.
• New automotive substitute protection: Replaces your automotive with one of many identical 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 companies: Covers the price of hiring companies for duties resembling home cleansing, garden upkeep, snow elimination, transportation companies, meals preparation, and canine strolling in case you are injured in an accident and may’t do them your self.
• Homeownership credit score: Reductions your auto coverage if you happen to personal a house. This doesn’t apply in case you are 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 suitable to decide on your restore store. Nonetheless, like many insurers, The Hartford has an accepted restore facility program that provides advantages for utilizing one of many greater than 1,600 outlets 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 instantly with the store. Repairs made underneath this program at associate outlets are assured for the lifetime of the automobile.

The Hartford Auto Insurance coverage Critiques

The Hartford has an A+ score from the Higher Enterprise Bureau (BBB), however it’s not accredited. The automotive insurance coverage firm at the moment has a 1.0 out of 5.0-star BBB buyer assessment rating, however that is based mostly on a comparatively low variety of critiques. Understand that prospects are more likely to go to the BBB web site to complain than to depart optimistic feedback.

There are solely a small variety of buyer critiques, which suggests these scores might not precisely mirror the sentiment of nearly all of The Hartford automotive insurance coverage prospects.

Optimistic Critiques of The Hartford 

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

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

– Steven P., by way of Trustpilot

“I simply purchased a brand new automobile 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

Unfavourable Critiques of The Hartford 

Some prospects specific frustration with sluggish claims servicing, denied claims, and issue canceling contracts. Nonetheless, most of the destructive critiques give attention to the corporate’s house 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 nearly 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 may be considerably dear for the typical driver in comparison with many different high suppliers. Nonetheless, the supplier might provide a few of the best charges for AARP members in particular, particularly after you think about reductions. Members of the group who get protection by way of The Hartford additionally get quite a lot of distinctive and precious advantages included of their coverage. RecoverCare, for instance, is a considerate sort of protection that isn’t simple to search out anyplace else and might be extraordinarily useful after an accident.

Youthful drivers will doubtless 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 needs to be one of many first choices to contemplate.

The Hartford Auto Insurance coverage: Prime Opponents

Even when The Hartford looks like the suitable supplier for you, it’s all the time a good suggestion to buy round. One other supplier might provide higher charges or extra interesting protection choices. We all the time advocate getting automotive insurance coverage quotes on-line from a number of completely different suppliers. This lets you examine and see which supplier actually gives 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 a lot of the suppliers we studied – incomes it this yr’s award for Finest Low cost Choice. As well as, we discovered that GEICO price estimates have been constantly among the many lowest all through our examine. Which means most drivers can discover cheap protection and convey these prices down even additional with plenty of 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.

Preserve studying: GEICO automotive insurance coverage assessment

State Farm: Finest General

The nation’s largest insurer earned the best rating of all suppliers in our most up-to-date auto insurance coverage examine, successful State Farm the award for Finest General. State Farm gives 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 companies in most locations.

Preserve studying: State Farm automotive insurance coverage assessment

The Hartford Auto Insurance coverage: FAQ

Our Methodology

Our knowledgeable assessment group takes satisfaction in offering correct and unbiased info. We recognized the next score classes based mostly on shopper survey information and performed intensive analysis to formulate rankings of the very best automotive insurance coverage suppliers.

• Affordability: A wide range of elements affect price, so it may be troublesome to check quotes between suppliers. Our group considers auto insurance coverage price 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} automotive insurance coverage firm gives an array of protection choices. We keep in mind kinds of insurance coverage obtainable, most protection limits, and add-on insurance policies.
• Business Standing: Our group considers Higher Enterprise Bureau (BBB) rankings, monetary power, 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 automotive insurance coverage suppliers function with a sure diploma of look after shoppers. 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 cellular apps scored greatest on this class.