The Hartford Insurance Review 2024 | Bankrate (2024)

Updated May 14, 2024

The Hartford could be an excellent choice for auto insurance, but it depends on your needs and if you qualify. The Hartford is only available to members of the American Association of Retired People (AARP). To become a member of AARP, you must be 50 or older and apply.

According to our extensive review of The Hartford car insurance, this company may not be the cheapest car insurance company for most drivers. However, drivers willing to pay a little extra for top-notch customer service may be interested in requesting a quote from The Hartford due to its high scores in the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study. Although not ranked in every region, the company placed well above average in overall customer satisfaction in each of the regions its policyholders were surveyed in. Although The Hartford is not available for all drivers and may offer higher premiums on average, The Hartford earned a respectable 3.9 auto Bankrate Score, thanks in part to its high customer satisfaction scores.

Pros and cons of The Hartford car insurance

The Hartford may be one of the best car insurance companies for drivers who qualify. When shopping for new coverage, consider the pros and cons of The Hartford to help you determine how it matches your needs compared to other insurers.

The Hartford may be the company for you if you value customer service over all else. The Hartford received high marks for customer satisfaction and property claims satisfaction, according to J.D. Power. As with its auto policies, you must be an AARP member to qualify for a homeowners insurance policy with The Hartford. However, The Hartford homeowners insurance is not available in all states. Its reduced availability and lack of data surrounding average rates negatively impacted The Hartford’s home Bankrate Score, but it still earned a 3.8 out of 5, thanks partly to its customer satisfaction scores, discount availability and coverage options.

The Hartford could be one of the best homeowners insurance companies for shoppers looking for robust coverage. Alongside standard homeowners coverage types like dwelling, other structures and personal liability, The Hartford also offers an extensive list of coverage add-ons that allow for a personalized policy. For instance, The Hartford’s Green Rebuilding coverage will increase a policy’s limits up to 10 percent to account for the added expense of using environmentally-friendly materials to rebuild or repair a home. Another option is the company’s New for Old protection, which may offset depreciation by replacing your personal property with brand-new belongings when required due to a covered loss.

Pros and cons of The Hartford homeowners insurance

It can be easy to lose track of the options that various companies provide when you’re comparing homeowners quotes. If this is the case, you might find it helpful to compare a list of The Hartford’s pros and cons to help see if it stands out against other options for what you’re looking for.

The Hartford doesn’t offer life insurance. However, the AARP Life Insurance Program provides whole life insurance written through New York Life.

The Hartford could be a good company, but it depends on what you’re looking for in an insurance provider. According to Bankrate’s review of the company, which includes research by our team of insurance experts and have collectively reviewed over 100 other carriers, The Hartford may not be a good fit if you are budget-conscious and need the lowest rates possible. Eligibility requirements may also be a concern. However, if you are an AARP member who finds value in excellent customer service, you may want to consider including The Hartford when requesting quotes.

What are real-life customers saying about The Hartford?

To offer a broader perspective on The Hartford's insurance services, we've gathered feedback from real customers who have shared their experiences online, particularly on platforms like Reddit and Trustpilot. While Reddit serves as a vibrant forum for open discussion and Trustpilot as a platform for customer reviews, both provide valuable insights into the experiences of The Hartford's policyholders. Through these platforms, customers offer candid reflections on their interactions with The Hartford, covering aspects such as customer service, claims handling and overall satisfaction, giving potential customers a glimpse into what they might expect.

Reddit

Reddit users offer mixed reviews about The Hartford, with one expressing frustration over a claim experience where they felt undervalued after an accident involving their daughter, criticizing the use of certain estimating software and comparables. Conversely, another user, presumably from the industry, praises The Hartford, suggesting that dealing with claims from their customers tends to be straightforward and hassle-free, highlighting a notable contrast in customer experiences.

Trustpilot

Trustpilot reviews for The Hartford showcase experiences ranging from highly positive interactions, where claims handlers are lauded for their professionalism and compassion, to frustrations over significant rate increases following an accident, even with a long history of safe driving.

The Hartford company details

If you need to contact The Hartford, here are a few ways to do so:

• Auto customer service: 1-800-423-6789
• Homeowners customer service: 1-800-423-0567
• Auto quotes: 1-888-546-9099
• Homeowners quotes: 1-877-422-2345
• Website available at: www.thehartford.com
• General correspondence:
• P.O. Box 14219
  Lexington, KY 40512

State availability

The Hartford car insurance is available in all 50 states for AARP members. However, The Hartford home insurance is not available in AL, AK, DE, FL, ID, IA, MS, MT, NE, NV, NY, ND, RI, SD, WA, WA D.C. and WY.

The Hartford tools and benefits

In addition to the AARP perks that The Hartford’s customers are automatically eligible for (like discounts on groceries, car repairs, travel expenses and pet insurance), you may also find these benefits helpful:

• Mobile app: The Hartford scored slightly above average for service in the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Insurance Digital Experience Study, although the company fell below average for its digital shopping experience.
• Umbrella insurance: Shoppers interested in extra financial protection could be interested in purchasing umbrella insurance from The Hartford.
• Unique auto insurance: Drivers can get insurance policies that cover snowmobiles, RVs, golf carts, ATVs and classic cars.
• AARP member services: Your membership gives you access to specialized credit cards, personal loans, financial planning services and more.
• Flood insurance: The Hartford offers policies through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that protect homeowners from the financial consequences of water damage caused by flooding.
• Renters and condo insurance: You don’t have to be a homeowner to protect your wallet against damage to your personal belongings. The Hartford writes renters insurance and condo insurance policies that cover liability and personal item protection.
• Business insurance: The Hartford offers policies for large and small businesses.
• The Hartford Insights: The Hartford Insights is a hub of articles that cover a breadth of subjects, including health and wellness, economic trends and safety. Here, readers can also learn more about insurance topics, The Hartford and other industry happenings.

Auto

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze June 2024 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a single, 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2022 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.

Age: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 16-60 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts.

The rates for drivers ages 16-20 added to their parents' policy reflect the good student and driver's training discounts applied. The rates for drivers aged 16-20 on their own policy do not include the good student and driver's training discounts. Additionally, 25-year-old rates are based on the driver as a renter and 30+ on the driver as a homeowner.

Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), single speeding ticket and single at-fault accident.

Homeowners

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze June 2024 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quoted rates are based on married male and female homeowners with a clean claim history, good credit and the following coverage limits:

• Coverage A, Dwelling: $150,000, $300,000, $350,000, $450,000, $750,000
• Coverage B, Other Structures: $15,000, $30,000, $35,000, $45,000, $75,000
• Coverage C, Personal Property: $75,000, $150,000, $175,000, $225,000, $375,000
• Coverage D, Loss of Use: $30,000, $60,000, $70,000, $90,000, $150,000
• Coverage E, Liability: $500,000
• Coverage F, Medical Payments: $1,000

The homeowners also have a $1,000 deductible, a $500 hail deductible and a 2 percent hurricane deductible (or the next closest deductible amounts that are available) where separate deductibles apply.

These are sample rates and should be used for comparative purposes only. Your quotes will differ.

Bankrate Scores

Our 2024 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories.

Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.

• Cost & ratings50%

• Coverage & savings30%

• Support20%

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, average quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, Demotech and the NAIC, were analyzed.
• Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
• Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto and home insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.

Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.