With more than 200 years providing quality insurance products, The Hartford is a trusted name in the auto insurance industry. Our experts take a closer look at the provider to see how The Hartford insurance reviews, coverage options, average costs, and more compare to other leading car insurance providers.
To ensure you’re getting the best coverage for your vehicle, we recommend taking a look at our list of the best car insurance companies. When you’re shopping for car insurance, it’s important to compare quotes from providers to find the best coverage and rates.
The Hartford Auto Insurance Review
In our review of The Hartford auto insurance, we rate it 4.1 out of 5.0 stars for its comprehensive car insurance coverage, its nationwide availability, its A+ rating from AM Best, and positive Hartford insurance reviews. It’s a smart choice for AARP members and offers great coverage and reliability.
| Reviews Category | Rating Score |
|---|---|
| Cost | 3.5 |
| Coverage | 4.5 |
| Reliability | 4.1 |
| Service | 4.5 |
| Overall Rating | 4.1 |
About The Hartford Company
Founded: 1810
Parent company: AARP
States available: All states
AM Best financial strength rating: A+
The Hartford, officially known as The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc., is an auto insurance company based out of Hartford, Conn. The company has more than 210 years of insurance experience under its belt and is currently ranked 142nd on the Fortune 500 list.
The Hartford is a subset of AARP, and its auto insurance coverage is available only to AARP members. Many of The Hartford’s auto insurance policies are aimed toward drivers 50 or older, but there are options for younger drivers as well
The Hartford offers the following types of insurance:
- Car insurance
- Classic car insurance
- RV insurance
- Golf cart insurance
- Snowmobile insurance
- Boat insurance
- ATV insurance
- Rental car insurance
- Homeowners insurance
- Renters insurance
- Condo insurance
- Flood insurance
- Umbrella insurance
- Life insurance
- Business insurance
- Workers compensation insurance
The Hartford Auto Insurance Customer Reviews
Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating: A+
BBB complaints in last three years: 410
J.D. Power customer satisfaction index: 905
Trustpilot rating: 1.6
Overall, The Hartford auto insurance has glowing customer reviews about its services. The company also ranked first for customer satisfaction in the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study℠ with a score of 905 out of 1,000 possible points.
The Hartford is also a well-established insurer with solid financial strength. The company holds an A+ rating from AM Best, which highlights its ability to reliably pay out claims and they maintain an A+ rating from the BBB.
Below are some sample positive customer reviews and complaints regarding The Hartford auto insurance:
Positive The Hartford Auto Insurance Reviews
Many of The Hartford’s policyholders praise the insurer’s claims service and helpful customer service representatives.
“My claim through The Hartford has been handled with the utmost professionalism and compassion by [customer service representative] in the claims department. I can’t say enough good things about her. My car was repaired within a week after handing it over to the repair shop.”
– Harry T. via Trustpilot
“Very good rates, easy to do on the phone with a very helpful, knowledgeable customer service rep. Overall excellent service, friendly and professional.”
– Mary M. via Trustpilot
Negative The Hartford Auto Insurance Reviews
Many negative Hartford insurance reviews on the BBB and Trustpilot cite poor customer service.
“I had an accident in mid-September. The Hartford (much to my surprise) decided to total the car. I learned this morning that The Hartford did not remove the car from the policy and had no plans to do that. The response was that it was up to us to call and remove a car from the policy that they knew we no longer had! To me, this is just wrong.”
– Stewart B. via BBB
The Hartford Car Insurance Cost And Discounts
Compared to most national providers, The Hartford’s average annual insurance cost is considerably more expensive. According to our rate estimates, the average 35-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record pays about $2,166 per year for a full coverage policy with The Hartford. This is 25 percent more expensive than the national average of $1,732.
While many Hartford insurance reviews mention customers being pleased with their rates from the company, you can see how The Hartford’s average cost compares to several other top providers below.
The Hartford Car Insurance Cost: Estimates by Provider
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Annual Cost Estimate |
|---|---|
| USAA | $1,013 |
| Erie Insurance | $1,113 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance | $1,229 |
| State Farm | $1,339 |
| Geico | $1,352 |
| Progressive | $1,397 |
| Nationwide | $1,533 |
| Travelers | $1,617 |
| National Average Cost | $1,732 |
| Farmers | $2,032 |
| The Hartford | $2,166 |
| Allstate | $2,430 |
Because of its close association with AARP, The Hartford focuses on providing auto insurance coverage to drivers who are 50 or older. Unfortunately, this means the insurer doesn’t offer many options for drivers outside this age range.
Plans from The Hartford quickly become expensive when a young driver is added. If you have a teenager or student driver in your home, you can expect to pay higher rates.
The Hartford Car Insurance Discounts
Although the company may not be the cheapest car insurance option available, The Hartford offers plenty of opportunities to save, including:
| Safety Features | Discount for vehicles with safety features such as anti-lock brakes or additional airbags |
| Vehicle Fuel Type | Discount for electric or hybrid vehicles |
| Driver Training | Discount for drivers under 21 years old who complete Hartford-approved driver courses |
| Defensive Driver | Discount for taking a Hartford-approved defensive driving course |
| Bundle | Discount for bundling home and auto coverage |
| Paid-in-Full | Discount for paying insurance in full up front rather than monthly |
The Hartford Auto Insurance Coverage
The Hartford offers the six standard types of auto insurance, which include:
Liability |
Bodily injury (BI) liability insurance covers the medical expenses for other drivers and their passengers after an accident where you are at fault. Property damage (PD) liability insurance pays for damages to other drivers’ vehicles after an accident where you are at fault. |
|---|---|
Collision |
Collision insurance pays for damages that occur while your car is moving, either with another vehicle or a road hazard, or if you flip your vehicle. |
Comprehensive |
Comprehensive insurance pays for damages to your vehicle that are caused by animals or natural disasters. It also pays to repair or replace your vehicle if it is stolen or vandalized. |
Medical Payments |
Medical payments (MedPay) covers medical bills for you and your passengers after an accident. |
Personal Injury Protection |
Personal injury protection (PIP) pays medical bills for you and your passengers after an accident. PIP may also pay for other expenses such as lost wages. |
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist |
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage pays for damages to your vehicle if you are hit by another driver who does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance to fully pay for the cost of damages. |
Additional Insurance Coverage Options From The Hartford
The Hartford offers a number of add-on coverage options beyond what most insurance companies cover as standard. Some of these coverages include:
| New Replacement Car Coverage | New car replacement in the result of an accident within a year of your first purchase |
| RecoverCare Coverage | Will reimburse you for home services in the event of disability as a result of an accident |
| Lifetime Car Repair Insurance | Guaranteed workshop repair at over 1,600 mechanics across the nation |
| Disappearing Deductible | Reduced deductible with ongoing safe driving record |
| Accident Forgiveness | Excuses your first car accident as long as everyone on your insurance policy has a clean driving record |
The Hartford Commercial Auto Insurance
The Hartford offers many options for commercial auto insurance coverage. Standard business auto insurance can include, but is not limited to:
- Bodily Injury Liability Coverage
- Property Damage Liability Coverage
- Collision Coverage
- Comprehensive Coverage
- Medical Payments Coverage
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
- Rental Car Coverage
- Personal Injury Protection
- Hired and non-owned auto insurance
These offerings typically depend on the state that you reside in. There are also many offerings for specialized small business auto insurance policies as well.
The Hartford Auto Insurance Mobile Apps
The Hartford’s mobile app allows users to take their insurance policies wherever they go. Through its app, users can file auto insurance claims, receive quotes, and locate an insurance agent. The Hartford insurance reviews speak highly of the app. It has decent ratings, with 3.9 stars in the App Store and 3.1 stars in Google Play. The app also includes access to The Hartford’s home insurance policies.
TrueLane from The Hartford
The Hartford has a usage-based insurance program called TrueLane that monitors driving activity and provides discounts to defensive drivers. By practicing safe driving, such as refraining from hard braking, speeding, and late-night driving, TrueLane users can receive insurance discounts of up to 25 percent.
Although the TrueLane app maintains high ratings–4.7 out of 5.0 stars in the App Store and 4.2 stars in Google Play–customer reviews frequently cite issues with its tracking capabilities.
AARP The Hartford Auto Insurance Reviews: Conclusion
Overall, our team rates AARP The Hartford auto insurance 4.1 out of 5.0 stars. While the company has great coverage options and high ratings in customer reviews, its availability only extends to AARP members. The company also has a great reputation overall and has almost perfect ratings from both AM Best and the BBB. If you are eligible The Hartford Insurance can be a good option for you, but we still recommend that you shop around and compare quotes before committing.
The Hartford Car Insurance Competitors: Top Picks
Although The Hartford may be great for AARP members, drivers have plenty of other car insurance companies to choose from. We recommend you compare car insurance quotes from Geico and USAA in your search for quality coverage.
Geico: Best Overall Provider
As one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S, Geico is a great alternative for affordable auto insurance. It frequently has some of the lowest average insurance rates for many types of drivers and offers a large number of discounts. The company also has strong industry ratings, with an A++ AM Best financial strength rating and an A+ BBB rating. Our team names Geico Best Overall Provider in our 2022 review.
Read our comprehensive Geico insurance review to learn more.
USAA: Best For Military Members
For military members, veterans, or their families, USAA can be a smart choice for car insurance. The company is known for its wide selection of coverage options as well as its highly competitive rates. USAA also has a positive industry reputation and often receives the highest score in J.D. Power customer satisfaction studies.
Check out our full USAA insurance review for more information.
The Hartford Car Insurance Reviews: FAQ
How We Rate Insurers
Our review process aims to deliver consistent and unbiased assessments of car insurance providers. While there are multiple qualities that make a car insurance company successful, our review team focuses on those we believe are the most important for consumers:
- Cost: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.
- Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.
- Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
- Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer easy-to-use claims apps.
*Data accurate at time of publication.