Hartford's Top Auto Insurance: Best Policies And Providers

The Hartford is an insurance company that offers auto insurance to AARP members who are 50 or older. The Hartford has generally good customer reviews and offers benefits designed for its 50+ demographic. The company has high scores in the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study and has been in the insurance business since 1810. The Hartford offers standard car coverage options, including personal injury protection, uninsured motorist bodily injury, and uninsured motorist property damage. In addition, it provides add-on coverage options such as new car replacement, gap insurance, and RecoverCare coverage. The Hartford also offers discounts for AARP members, safe driving habits, and vehicle fuel type.

Discounts for AARP members

AARP members can enjoy a range of discounts and benefits through the AARP® Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford. This program has been offering special car insurance rates and coverages to AARP members since 1984, with an average member saving of $577.

The Hartford primarily caters to customers aged 50 and older, and AARP members must be aged 50 or over. The Hartford has high overall customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power and offers some standout coverage options, including new car replacement and RecoverCare, which helps pay for services like house cleaning or dog walking after an accident.

In addition to the standard auto insurance coverage, AARP members can access the following discounts and benefits:

• A discount of up to 10% on their policies
• Online quote discount: completing an auto quote online
• Vehicle fuel type discount: for owners of electric or hybrid vehicles
• Defensive driver course discount: completing an approved course could provide a discount for three years
• TrueLane Program: enrolling in The Hartford's telematics program could lead to an initial discount of up to 12%, with the possibility of an additional 25% off at renewal based on safe driving habits

AARP members can also access a range of other benefits and discounts, including discounts on groceries, car repairs, travel expenses, and pet insurance.

High customer satisfaction scores

The Hartford auto insurance has received high customer satisfaction scores from its users. The company has been in the insurance business since 1810 and has provided coverage to famous clients like Babe Ruth, Abraham Lincoln, and Dwight Eisenhower.

The Hartford primarily caters to customers aged 50 and above, offering policies through a partnership with AARP. AARP members can avail of exclusive benefits and savings, including up to a 10% discount on their policy. The Hartford also offers a discount of up to 10% for electric or hybrid vehicles.

The Hartford has received positive reviews from its customers, who have praised the company's fast and professional claims handling process. Customers have also commended the company's representatives for their helpfulness and responsiveness. One customer review on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website states:

> "What I like about being an auto insurance customer of The Hartford is knowing that they’re there 24/7. They care about me being on the road, and they care about my well-being on the road. Every time you get in the car, you know that somebody has your back."

The Hartford has also received high ratings for its ease of service, with 84% of customers in a survey stating that they were satisfied or highly satisfied with how easy it is to get the service they need from the company.

In addition to positive feedback, The Hartford has also received some negative reviews, with some customers reporting issues with billing and miscommunication. However, overall, The Hartford auto insurance has received high customer satisfaction scores, with its customers praising the company's coverage options, discounts, and customer service.

Coverage add-ons

• Zero Depreciation Cover: This cover ensures that you receive the full value of your vehicle without factoring in depreciation in the event of a claim. It covers the entire cost of repairs or replacement parts, so you don't have to bear any costs out of your pocket.
• Engine Protection Cover: This add-on provides coverage for engine repairs due to various reasons, such as malfunction, water ingression, or leakage of lubricant oil. It is especially useful for those living in areas prone to flooding or water-logging.
• 24X7 Roadside Assistance Cover: This cover provides assistance services in case your vehicle breaks down or faces any mechanical or electrical issues while on the road. Services typically include emergency fuel delivery, battery jump start, flat tyre change, and towing.
• No Claim Bonus Protection Cover: This add-on helps you retain your No Claim Bonus (NCB) discount even if you have made a claim in the previous policy year. The NCB discount is earned for each claim-free year and can result in significant savings on your renewal premium.
• Daily Allowance Cover: This add-on provides a daily cash allowance to cover transportation costs or other expenses while your vehicle is being repaired in a garage due to an accident or covered event.
• Return to Invoice Cover: In the event of a total loss or theft of your vehicle, this add-on ensures that you receive compensation up to the full invoice price, including road tax and registration tax, rather than just the insured declared value (IDV).
• Consumables Cover: This add-on covers the cost of replacing consumable items such as engine oil, coolant, brake oil, power steering oil, etc., which are not typically covered under a standard insurance policy.
• Tyre Protector Cover: This add-on enhances your coverage for tyre repairs or replacements due to damage, wear and tear, punctures, or other related events.
• Key Replacement Cover: This add-on covers the cost of replacing your car keys if they are lost, stolen, or damaged, including the cost of repairing the lock-set.

Accident forgiveness

If you don't have accident forgiveness and have recently been in an accident, another insurer may be willing to forgive your most recent claim to win your business.

• After an accident, your premium won't increase, but you will lose your claims-free discount.
• Accident forgiveness only applies to your first at-fault accident and not to subsequent ones.
• Accidents that are forgiven won't show up on your overall driving history.
• Accident forgiveness is not available in California.

TrueLane Program

The Hartford's TrueLane Program is a usage-based auto insurance program that tracks driving habits and offers discounts of up to 25% on car insurance rates. The program is available to existing customers of The Hartford who have previously subscribed and live in eligible states. TrueLane uses a telematics device or a smartphone app to collect data on driving behaviours such as speed, braking, acceleration, and distance travelled. The data is then used to calculate discounts on insurance rates, with an initial discount of 10-12% offered upon enrolment, and additional discounts of up to 25% applied at renewal based on safe driving habits.

The TrueLane program has been around since 2012 and collects data for 180 days of driving. The telematics device is plugged into the OBD-II port in the vehicle, while the app runs automatically in the background. TrueLane tracks four main categories of data: time of day, distance travelled, braking, and acceleration. Unlike some other systems, it does not record the vehicle's actual speed. The data is used to calculate discounts and is also used anonymously for research to improve the program and create a database of driving habits.

In addition to the initial discount, TrueLane offers further discounts at renewal based on driving performance. There is no risk of rates increasing due to the data collected, and drivers will not be penalised with higher rates even if the data shows risky driving habits. The discounts are applicable only to certain coverages, typically liability coverage, as this reflects how the insurance company has rated the driver based on various factors.

To be eligible for TrueLane, customers must have a vehicle that is model year 1996 or newer. Electric, hybrid, and diesel vehicles are not eligible due to difficulties in collecting accurate information. The TrueLane program can be added to each car in a household individually, and a discount will be calculated for each vehicle and driver.

Frequently asked questions