The Hartford Financial Services Group is located in Connecticut, and it is among the midsized insurance companies in the US. As many of Hartford insurance reviews note, the company offers special prices and benefits to AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) members.
Contrary to popular belief, you can join AARP as an associate member even if you are not over 50 years old.
The company presents itself as a friendly, helpful enterprise that offers low prices, outstanding customer service, and excellent coverage.
It also has one of the best-looking logos in the business, the mighty red stag on a blue background.
Check the rest of this review to see if Hartford is the best choice for you.
The Hartford Auto Insurance Review
Overall Product
Financial Strength
Services Offered
Customer Service
Insurance Rates
Carsurance Verdict:
The Hartford is an excellent option, not just for senior customers. Just beware of those high cancellation fees.
4
Pros
- Above-average customer service
- Excellent options for older drivers
- AARP membership offers additional advantages
Cons
- Non-AARP members cannot apply
- High cancellation fees
The Hartford Auto Insurance – Product Overview
Features
The Hartford is available in all US states. It’s sold exclusively to AARP members; however, anybody can join for only $16 per year and enjoy discounts for food, travel, wellness, health equipment, etc.
The Hartford offers a decent website and an excellent mobile app, which requires a fingerprint scan to log in. It lets you download insurance documents, contact roadside assistance, and start a claim.
There’s an online quote option—we were unable to get a quote since an AARP membership is required. Some of The Hartford reviews also expressed problems with their online quotes.
Since we could not get a quote, we had to rely on other reviews for information on insurance prices. The impression we got is that the company offers average rates for all age categories. When it comes to customer service, the company ranks high in all departments globally and near the top in regional studies.
While a few of Hartford auto insurance reviews show that it’s not a champion in the discounts and optional coverage categories, The Hartford offers some excellent options, especially for older drivers.
Signature Feature: Fantastic Coverage Combinations for Older Drivers
The Hartford targets drivers over 50 years old, meaning that it should have some fantastic features for said demographic. This turns out to be true, and that’s why we decided to list not one but three impressive features for those in this age group.
The first one is its 12-Month Auto Insurance Rate Protection, which locks your car insurance premium for a year.
We’ve seen that some members of the competition may change it after six months. The second one is the Lifetime Renewability Auto Insurance, which guarantees that your policy under The Hartford car insurance will be renewed as long as you can meet certain simple standards.
The last great feature is RecoverCare, which is there to help you after you’ve been injured in an accident. It will cover the costs of the daily activities you are unable to perform, like house cleaning, snow removal, dog walking, lawn maintenance, and food preparation and delivery, and it will even pay transportation expenses.
The competition offers some of these options separately, but Hartford insurance reviews agree that it is impossible to find such a great combination elsewhere. We think these features will be especially useful for the senior population, given the fact that it makes auto insurance as hassle-free as possible.
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Financial Strength
It should be a top priority to consider an insurance company’s financial stability when choosing the right insurance for your car. If the company is not financially healthy, it will not be capable of paying customers’ claims.
There should be no such worries here since The Hartford insurance rating from A. M. Best is A+ (Superior), the second-best rating possible.
Additionally, the company is ranked as 156th in the 2018 Fortune 500 list. All data considered indicates that an average customer can rest assured that The Hartford will pay their expenses in case of an accident
Types of Insurances Offered
The Hartford offers its additional coverage options through the Advantage Program and the Advantage Plus Program. There aren’t as many options to choose from compared to the competition, meaning those looking for a specific add-on to their insurance policy should also check other companies.
The basic coverage available with Hartford vehicle insurance includes collision, comprehensive, property damage liability, bodily injury liability, medical expense, personal injury protection, and underinsured/uninsured motorist protection.
The Hartford Advantage Program
The optional coverage included are as follows:
New Car Replacement Coverage – If your new car is totaled within the first 15 months or 15,000 miles after the purchase date (whichever comes first), The Hartford will provide you with a new car of the same make and model, without a deductible.
Lifetime Car Repair Assurance – The Hartford provides a lifetime guarantee on the repairs completed in one of its 1,600+ authorized repair shops after a covered claim.
Hartford Insurance Car Insurance Advantage Plus Program
The following are the add-ons included in this program:
First Accident Forgiveness – If you have been without a violation for five years, you qualify for this coverage. Your auto insurance premium will not increase after your first at-fault accident.
Disappearing Deductible – If you maintain a pristine driving record, your collision deductible will decrease every year until it vanishes completely.
One Deductible – In case you have multiple vehicles insured or you’ve also bought home insurance from The Hartford, for any shared loss between them, you will pay only the highest deductible of the covered items. This is a unique, quite handy offer and a plus that’s been brought up in The Hartford car insurance reviews.
Waiver of Deductible for a Not-at-Fault Accident – If you were involved in an accident that was not your fault, The Hartford will waive your collision deductible. This coverage isn’t available in all states.
$100 Deductible Reduction – If you were involved in an at-fault accident, you could opt to have your car revamped in one of the repair shops authorized by The Hartford. If you select this option, your deductible will be decreased by $100. This coverage is not available in all states.
The Hartford Roadside Assistance – This option is available for regular and classic cars alike. It includes towing, battery jump-start, tire replacement, locksmith assistance, and similar services. In case of an emergency, you can call 1-800-322-7789 at any time to get help.
Classic Car Insurance – The Hartford is one of the many insurers willing to provide special coverage for collectible/classic cars.
You can always discuss how to find the best protection for your valued vehicle with one of The Hartford’s agents. The same discounts and coverage options available for regular cars are available for classic cars as well.
The Hartford Customer Service
The scores that Hartford gets vary significantly depending on the source. In J.D. Power’s ranking, the most reputable study in this subject matter, The Hartford often gets placed near the top. The company is ranked 6th overall out of 23 companies in the claims satisfaction study, scoring 3 out of 5 stars.
Hartford is ranked even higher in the insurance shopping study, holding the 5th place and scoring 4 out of 5 stars. Additionally, The Hartford customer satisfaction is in the upper echelon in all regions except for Florida, where it’s ranked 4th from the bottom.
On the Better Business Bureau website, The Hartford is not accredited—and BBB ratings show it holds an A+ rating, which is nearly the highest possible. The score, based on customer feedback, is 1 star out of 5; however, this is normal for the insurance industry.
Contrary to the superb results in J.D. Power’s ranking, due to the volume of Hartford Insurance complaints, it’s NAIC ratio is higher than the median value, at 1.14, indicating that the company gets more complaints than an average enterprise of its size. This result is subpar compared to most of the competition. For instance, Geico, Travelers, and State Farm score 0.62, 0.40, and 0.44, respectively (lower scores mean fewer complaints).
A similar situation is seen on websites like Yelp and ConsumerAffairs, where many customers criticize how Hartford insurance claims complaints have been processed and how the settlements were too low. Nonetheless, even the companies with outstanding customer service, like Amica and Erie, are not immune from such rants, meaning this should not be a deciding factor when choosing your car insurance.
In the end, we would put our trust in J.D. Power’s ranking, and conclude that the quality of The Hartford’s customer service is a little above the industry norms.
The Hartford Insurance Discounts
As noted before, Hartford doesn’t offer as many discounts as some other companies, like Geico and American Family.
However, those available still prove quite useful for most customers. One thing we did not like is that there’s no information on how much the discounts reduce the premium, percentage-wise.
We see this problem quite often on insurance websites.
Other companies should take a page from Geico’s book, and numerous Hartford insurance reviews point out the same thing.
Companies should present their discounts with the exact reduction, showing where it’s available and noting how a discount can vary.
That way, we can direct a reader to the company where they will get the highest discount they’re eligible for. But in this case, you can only contact agents directly to find out.
The discounts offered are as follows:
Anti-Theft Device – If your vehicle is equipped with active or passive anti-theft devices (i.e. GPS or an alarm), you can get a comprehensive coverage discount on your Hartford insurance payment.
Airbags – You can save on your premium if your vehicle is equipped with factory-installed airbags. The more airbags a car has, the higher the savings will be.
Vehicle Fuel Type – If the insured vehicle is an electric or hybrid, a discount is available.
Good Student Discounts – If you are a college or high school student aged 16 to 25 years, you can get a discount if you have a good academic record. For more details, check The Hartford’s website or call The Hartford auto insurance customer service number (1-877-805-9918).
Driver Training Discounts – Drivers under 21 years old (under 25 in Georgia) who can provide a certificate of a completed driving course are eligible for a discount.
Defensive Driver Course – If you complete an accredited defensive driving course, you can save on your premium for the next three years.
Bundle Discount – You can save up to 5% on auto insurance and 20% on renters, home, or condo insurance if you decide to purchase it all from The Hartford.
Paid-in-Full Discount – If you opt to pay your bill in full at the beginning of the term, a discount is available.
About Insurance Rates
We were unable to conduct The Hartford insurance quote comparison since membership is required for a quote.
Because of that, we studied other reviews of The Hartford to get a glimpse into the prices the company offers.
According to ValuePenguin, The Hartford offers very near average rates for the car insurance market in all of the age categories.
The Simple Dollar, on the other hand, found that The Hartford is one of the most expensive options, along with Allstate.
In their review, they requested their The Hartford car insurance quote for a younger driver. Perhaps this only shows how your final rate depends on many different factors and that, no matter what reviews say about a particular car insurance company, it is always smart to shop around and get a quote from a couple of companies before choosing the one that fits you the best.
The Hartford Compared with Top Competitors
The Hartford vs. Allstate
Hartford requires AARP membership to request a quote. Therefore, to gauge The Hartford AARP car insurance adequately, we had to use other parameters in grading these two companies.
When customer service is considered, The Hartford has a clear advantage by scoring higher in J.D. Power’s study in both insurance shopping and claims satisfaction categories, ranking near the top in almost all US regions. When comparing their discounts and optional coverage additions, the companies score equally well.
One advantage that Allstate has over The Hartford is its Guaranteed Claims Satisfaction, which gets you a refund if you aren’t pleased with the way Allstate handled your claim. Given how many complaints on claims processing we’ve seen in the insurance industry, this feature proves quite useful.
On the other hand, as so many AARP Hartford insurance reviews remind us, The Hartford offers a guaranteed renewal, fixed rate for 12 months and paid care if you are injured in a covered accident.
Plus, there are many benefits to being an AARP member. This means that we would advise older drivers to prioritize The Hartford, while we would encourage other age groups to consider both options, along with companies such as Auto Owners, Erie, and Amica Mutual.
The Hartford vs. State Farm
Given the fact that State Farm is among the most expensive options in our analysis, while Hartford auto insurance reviews note that the company has average prices, it is safe to assume that the latter is a less expensive option.
Hartford scores better on all levels in the customer service department in J.D. Power’s regional and national studies. These two companies score equally well when it comes to discounts and optional coverage; however, we would assume that Hartford is a better option for the majority of drivers. And the benefits of being an AARP member-only come as a bonus.
Travelers vs The Hartford
Travelers’ prices are near the average, except when it comes to older drivers. For them, the company is more expensive than the competition, indicating The Hartford is a more cost-effective choice.
Comparing customer service satisfaction, Hartford has a slight advantage, especially in the insurance shopping department.
Both companies offer a similar number of discounts and optional coverage additions, while The Hartford provides some unique benefits for older drivers, and Travelers has excellent coverage for new car owners. This means that the choice between these two companies will likely depend on your profile and your priorities.
Best Alternatives
There are many excellent alternatives according to numerous The Hartford reviews. Geico and Progressive offer superb rates for all age categories, while the latter company is also willing to accommodate riskier drivers.
Amica Mutual and Auto-Owners are the right places to go if you are looking for the finest customer service available. If you like to be spoiled with extra optional coverage choices, check Nationwide.
Whichever road you take, you should keep in mind that the overall experience varies based on your location and your preferences. Thus, before making a final decision, it’s always smart to acquire a couple of quotes from different insurers and see which one fits your needs.
The Hartford Auto Insurance Review – Expert Thoughts
Numerous reviews grade the company a smidgen above average for the auto insurance industry. Hartford appears in Temkin Group’s annual customer satisfaction survey, scoring among the elite companies with first-rate customer service.
The company was ranked above the big players in the market, like Progressive, Geico, and Allstate.
NerdWallet ranks it 9th out of the 23 companies tested. ValuePenguin gives The Hartford a mixed review, citing the many uneven The Hartford insurance claims processing as a disadvantage and its terrific benefits for those over 50 as an advantage.
J.D. Power’s study on customer service in the insurance industry has ranked The Hartford near the top in both its insurance shopping and claims satisfaction study, while also being near the top in the regional studies for all regions besides Florida. This is perhaps the biggest compliment this company can receive.
People Also Ask
Being involved in an at-fault accident will raise your premium, and the increase is determined based on your previous driving history and the severity of the accident.
We can say that the industry average is anywhere between $200 and $900, depending on the company and different factors.
Having accident forgiveness is a good option because it will prevent your premiums from going up after the first at-fault accident.
There are several ways you can lower your premium with The Hartford:
– Maintain a Clean Driving Record
– Take a Defensive Driving Course
– Improve Your Credit Score
– Drive a Hybrid or Electric Car
– Bundle Your Home & Auto Insurance Policies
– Pay Your Premiums in Full
– Set Higher Deductibles on Your Car Insurance
– Become an AARP Member
You should check if you are eligible for any of the discounts because the savings can be considerable.
Yes, The Hartford is good insurance for cars. It is a good choice for people who prioritize great customer service and for older drivers. It provides good coverage and a wide array of discounts and options.
As far as the ratings are concerned, the company has above-average customer satisfaction ratings but a slightly larger number of complaints than expected.
Yes, The Hartford offers car insurance exclusively to AARP members, but anyone can join AARP. You don’t have to be over 50, contrary to popular belief. People younger than that can have associate membership.
The annual fee is $16 and can go even lower if you choose automatic payment ($12). Overall, signing up might be a good call because The Hartford is just one of many companies that offer discounts.
Yes, The Hartford does have accident forgiveness. This option prevents your premium from going up after your first at-fault accident. In order to qualify, you have to have a clean driving record for five years.
Tickets and accidents usually stay in the system for three to five years, and then they are erased.
That means you can qualify for accident forgiveness with The Hartford if your last ticket or accident was six years ago.
Hartford offers car insurance in all 50 states and DC. Keep in mind that the state where you live and use your car plays a significant role in forming the insurance policy.
Each state has laws regulating the minimum amount of coverage, which will also affect the price. As far as the quality of service is concerned, we’ve compared Hartford insurance reviews from customers from different states with our own conclusions, and we can say that the quality remains the same no matter what state you live in.