Founded in 1810, The Hartford has been providing insurance plans to Americans for over 200 years, focusing on property insurance, group benefits, mutual funds, and casualty insurance. Recently, the company partnered with the AARP, giving members aged 50 and above access to a special auto insurance company.
The Hartford is a Fortune 500 company, with over $18 billion in annual revenues. If you are trying to find a company that offers some of the best auto insurance plans, then you better start reading Hartford auto insurance reviews like this one to know what they can offer.
What Does The Hartford Offer?
There is a range of automobile insurance coverage options available when you purchase a policy from The Hartford. They include:
- Auto Policy Bodily Injury Liability
Should you be at fault for an accident that causes injuries to a third party, including your passengers, pedestrians, and those in other vehicles, this type of coverage pays for your legal costs.
- Collision Coverage
Collision coverage applies whenever your vehicle comes into contact with another object, whether it be property or another vehicle.
- Non-Collision Damage
This type of coverage kicks in when your car has been damaged by events other than a collision, such as theft or vandalism.
- Medical Payments
Medical coverage applies to you and your family when injured in an accident. This coverage extends to medical care, recovery, and any rehabilitation costs.
- Property Damage Liability
If you are found to be at fault for any damage done to property, this coverage pays for those costs.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury
This coverage applies when you or one of your passengers are injured in a collision with another driver who does not have insurance or who lacks adequate coverage. Cases of accidental death are also covered under this feature.
There is also an uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage policy that offers the same coverage. However, it only applies in situations where there was damage to your vehicle.
- Personal Injury Protection
Also known as “no-fault” coverage, this type of insurance covers any costs related to injuries no matter who is deemed to be at fault.
- Glass Coverage
Claimants who opt for this coverage do not have to pay any expenses related to the repair or replacement of glass that is damaged in non-collision settings, such as break-in attempts.
- Towing Coverage
Labor and towing costs are covered, as are any other expenses connected to getting your car to a repair shop.
- Rental Car
If repairs to your car are projected to take some time, rental car coverage pays the costs associated with renting a temporary vehicle.
- Personal Umbrella Insurance
Any losses that are above and beyond the limits of any existing The Hartford auto insurance policy may be covered by personal umbrella insurance.
Policyholders are also given numerous perks, including the ability to renew your policy for the remainder of your life (as long as you pay your costs on time and hold a valid driver’s license). The Hartford also offers one-year rate protection, guaranteeing that your premiums are not going to go up for 12 months after you purchase your policy. Lifetime car repair assurance and new care replacement coverage are also services extended to all clients.
Advantage Plus Program
The Hartford also has an Advantage Plus Program that adds a few extra features to existing car insurance policies. These include:
- Accident Forgiveness
In cases where each driver on your policy has not been in a collision and has an otherwise clean driving record dating back five years, the first accident you have while insured by The Hartford is forgiven, without any increased premiums.
- Disappearing Deductible
Drivers who are able to maintain a clean driving record, and have each driver on their policy do the same, are eligible for a vanishing deductible, where it gets progressively smaller until it reaches zero.
- One Deductible
When a collision occurs between two cars covered under your The Hartford policy, you only need to pay the higher deductible instead of both. This also applies if you have home insurance and your vehicle causes some damage to your home.
- Waiver of Deductible in Not-at-Fault Collisions
Drivers who are found to not be at fault for a collision typically do not need to pay a deductible.
Customer Satisfaction
J.D. Power and Associates have ranked The Hartford sixth overall in customer satisfaction, based on Hartford auto insurance reviews. It looked at filing and processing claims and estimates, the repair process, and the fairness of settlements offered.
Overall, J.D. describes The Hartford’s performance as “better than most.” The same organization ranked The Hartford fourth overall in terms of customer satisfaction.
Claims Processing
Claims can be submitted over the phone or online 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A representative is assigned shortly after the claim is submitted to investigate your matter. As your claim is being processed, you can track it online or contact your representative by phone for updates.
Company Stability
The Hartford has nearly two centuries of strong service behind it, having paid out all claims after the 1871 great fire in Chicago, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, resulting in billions of claim payments. Still, the company thrives.
They are also responsible for ensuring the Golden Gate Bridge and the Hoover Dam, so you know you can rely on them to stay in business. The company has been given an A-rating on long-term credit, a “stable” outlook rating, and is ranked as one of the most ethical companies in the world.
Value for Price
The Hartford is not one of the cheapest plans on the market, but it does offer a lot of value for the cost. Hartford auto insurance reviews have consistently ranked it as “better than most” in terms of value and overall usefulness of features offered.
Drivers can save even more money by looking into one of the numerous discounts offered by The Hartford. These include incentives for bundling your insurance plans as well as discounts available to those who:
- Pay their premiums in full
- Have or install anti-theft devices
- Have or install automatic airbags
- Take a defensive driving course that has been approved by The Hartford
- Drive an electric or hybrid car
Students who are under 25 and maintain a B average are also eligible for additional discounts.
Who Is this Best for?
Drivers of all ages, especially those with clean driving records, can benefit from what The Hartford offers. However, thanks to the recent partnership with the AARP, plans are very well suited to drivers over 50 too.
What to Watch Out For?
If you do opt for the 12-month rate protection program, keep an eye on your premiums. Some customers have noted that their rates did increase during this time.
Conclusion
With strong ratings in both policy availability, company stability, and customer satisfaction, The Hartford is a great choice for anyone with a great driving record. Stackable discounts and incentives for those over 50 make it a very attractive choice for older drivers as well.
