Hartford Auto Insurance: What You Need To Know

The requirements for Hartford auto insurance vary depending on the state in which you live and drive. Each state has its own auto insurance laws that dictate the minimum amount of coverage needed while on the road. For example, in Phoenix, Arizona, state law mandates that all drivers have car insurance with the following minimum coverage limits: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury liability, and $15,000 per accident for property damage liability. On the other hand, California state minimums for liability insurance are $15,000 per person, $30,000 total per accident for bodily injury, and $5,000 per accident for property damage liability insurance.

Discounts for AARP members

AARP members can enjoy a range of benefits and discounts on their auto insurance from The Hartford.

Discounts

AARP members can save up to 10% on their car insurance policy simply by being a member. This amounts to an average saving of $577 per year.

There are also other ways to make savings on your insurance policy. For example, if you pay your bill in full instead of making monthly payments, you will be eligible for extra discounts.

Defensive Driving Course

AARP members can also save money by taking an approved defensive driving course. The Hartford offers discounts to safe drivers, which can last for three years after completing the course.

TrueLane Program

The TrueLane Program rewards safe driving. AARP members can save up to 12% just for participating and could earn a renewal discount of up to 25% depending on their driving habits.

Bundling Home and Auto Insurance

AARP members can save up to 5% on auto insurance and up to 20% on home, condo, or renters insurance by bundling their policies.

Other Benefits

The Hartford also offers accident forgiveness, RecoverCare, and a disappearing deductible.

Custom coverage options

The AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford offers a variety of custom coverage options to fit everyone's needs. Here are some of the key custom coverage options available:

• Liability coverage: This includes bodily injury liability and property damage liability. Bodily injury liability helps cover the other driver's medical expenses if you are involved in an at-fault accident. Property damage liability helps pay to repair another person's car or property if you cause an accident.
• Collision insurance: This coverage helps pay for damages to your vehicle after colliding with another car or object, such as a tree or fence.
• Comprehensive insurance: Also known as "other than collision coverage," this helps protect you in situations where your vehicle is damaged in a non-collision event. It covers natural disasters, vandalism, hitting an animal, and theft.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: This coverage helps protect you financially if you are involved in an accident with a driver who doesn't have insurance or doesn't have enough insurance to cover the damages.
• New car replacement: If you total your new car in an accident, The Hartford will replace it with a new vehicle of the same make, model, and equipment without deducting for depreciation.
• RecoverCare: This benefit provides reimbursement for home services, such as house cleaning, if you are unable to perform them due to injuries from an accident.
• Disappearing deductible: Your collision deductible will reduce over time as long as you maintain a clean driving record.
• Roadside assistance: The Hartford offers roadside assistance through their mobile app, helping you when unexpected issues arise.
• Bundling options: You can bundle your home and auto insurance policies for a discount, saving up to 5% on auto insurance and up to 20% on home, condo, or renters insurance.

The custom coverage options available through The Hartford's AARP Auto Insurance Program provide flexibility and peace of mind, ensuring that you have the protection you need on the road.

Car insurance requirements by state

Car insurance requirements differ across states. While car insurance is mandatory in almost every state, the minimum requirements vary.

Liability Insurance

Nearly all states require a minimum amount of liability insurance. This coverage helps pay for any injuries or damages you cause in a car accident, including those of the other driver and their passengers. There are three components to car insurance liability coverage:

• Bodily injury coverage per person
• Bodily injury coverage per accident
• Property damage coverage per accident

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

About half of all states require uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, which helps cover the cost of injuries to you and your passengers, as well as damage to your car and other property, if you're hit by a driver with little or no insurance.

Personal Injury Protection

Roughly 20% of states require personal injury protection (PIP), which covers medical expenses for the insured and their passengers if they're in an accident, regardless of fault. PIP is often associated with ""no-fault" states, where each party is responsible for their own damages in an accident.

Medical Payments Coverage

Medical payments coverage goes toward medical expenses due to injuries from a car accident. It covers you, your family, or your passengers. Maine is the only state that requires medical payments coverage.

In addition to these, comprehensive and collision are also common types of car insurance coverage, though no state requires them. These optional coverages pay for damages to your car due to fire, theft, vandalism, animal strikes, acts of nature, glass breakage, and collisions.

Safe driving laws

Restrictions on Mobile Phone Use and Electronic Devices:

• It is illegal for drivers under the age of 18 to use a mobile phone, hands-free mobile phone, or any other mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle on public roads. This includes making or receiving calls, texting, or accessing the internet.
• Operators of public transportation vehicles, such as buses, trains, or ferries, are prohibited from using mobile phones or other mobile electronic devices while on duty, except when necessary for their official duties as outlined by the relevant authorities.
• All drivers are prohibited from manually composing, sending, or reading electronic messages while driving. This includes text messages, emails, or accessing the internet.

Vision Requirements:

Applicants for a driver's license or renewal are required to take and pass a vision test administered by the registry. Alternatively, they can provide a vision screening certificate signed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist to demonstrate compliance with minimum visual standards.

Safe Driving Programs and Education:

• Drivers who have had three or more surchargeable incidents within a 24-month period are required to participate in and complete a driver education program approved by the registrar. Failure to provide proof of completion within 90 days will result in license suspension.
• The state has implemented a public awareness campaign to educate both junior and adult operators about the dangers of distracted driving, restrictions on mobile device use while driving, and the associated fines and punishments.

Reporting and Evaluation of Unsafe Drivers:

• Healthcare providers and law enforcement officers who have reasonable cause to believe that an individual is not medically fit to operate a motor vehicle safely can report their concerns to the registrar, requesting a medical evaluation of the driver's ability.
• The registrar will then conduct a review and determine the driver's capacity for continued licensure, taking into account input from medical experts on cognitive and functional impairments.

These safe driving laws are in place to promote road safety, prevent accidents, and protect both drivers and other road users. They also play a role in determining insurance requirements and rates, as safe driving records can lead to discounts and lower premiums.

Insurance costs

The Insurance Information Institute (III) reported that the average car insurance rate in 2017 was $1,004. However, car insurance rates can vary between states due to different factors such as zip code and claims history. For instance, Louisiana had the highest average car insurance cost of $1,443, while Maine had the lowest at $667.

The cost of car insurance is also determined by individual factors such as:

• Average miles driven per year
• Driving history
• Credit score
• Vehicle type
• Age

Additionally, insurance companies offer various discounts and benefits that can reduce the cost of car insurance. For example, AARP members can receive exclusive benefits and discounts through the AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford. Members can save up to 10% on their policy and take advantage of other benefits such as accident forgiveness and RecoverCare coverage.

Frequently asked questions