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The Hartford Auto Insurance Review: An Affordable Pick for Drivers 50 and Older

Review Updated
Kailey Hagen

Our Insurance Expert

Ashley Maready
Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

The Hartford is a good fit for drivers 50 or older who are members of AARP seeking comprehensive car insurance. It offers unique protection options and pretty strong customer service, though rates can be high for some drivers. Read our full review of The Hartford auto insurance below to get a better sense of what it has to offer.

Logo for The Hartford
Best for seasoned driversThe Hartford
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Bottom Line

The Hartford is only available to AARP members aged 50 and up, which rules it out as an option for a lot of drivers. But those who qualify should definitely give it a closer look. Its rates for seniors are pretty affordable, and it offers rare protections drivers won't find with most car insurance companies.

Pros

  • Flexible policies
  • RecoverCare
  • Lifetime car repair assistance

Cons

  • Only available to AARP members
  • Claims satisfaction slightly below average

Full The Hartford auto insurance review

Monthly premium costs

The Hartford's auto insurance premiums are generally affordable, especially for those who have clean driving records. But exact rates depend on the driver's accident history, where they live, and the type of vehicle they own, among other things. It's best to get a quote from The Hartford to see what it can offer a specific driver.

35y, female, clean record 35y, male, clean record 35y, female, one accident 18y, male, clean record
$209.83 $209.83 $313.75 $440.92
Data source: The Ascent's analysis of standardized personas.

Cost comparison

The Hartford usually isn't the cheapest pick, though seniors can still find affordable rates here. The table below shows how The Hartford's average annual premiums compare to the national average for some common driver profiles.

The Hartford Insurance Average Rate National Average Rate
Clean Driving Record $2,518 $2,389
Accident on Record $3,765 $3,370
Speeding Ticket on Record $4,054 $3,032
DUI on Record $10,276 $4,380
18 Years OId - New Driver $5,291 $6,291
65 Years Old - Senior $2,113 $2,140
Military Service $2,518 $2,375
Minimum Coverage (Liability Only) $787 $787
Data source: The Ascent's analysis of standardized personas.

Discounts

  • AARP member
  • Defensive driving course
  • Driver training course
  • Hybrid/electric vehicle
  • Multi-policy
  • Online quote
  • Paid in full
  • TrueLane Program
  • Vehicle safety feature

The Hartford doesn't offer quite as many auto insurance discounts as some of its competitors, but the discounts it does offer should appeal to a wide variety of drivers.

Coverage

Policy types

  • ATV
  • Auto
  • Boat
  • Classic car
  • Golf cart
  • RV
  • Snowmobile

The Hartford covers most common vehicle types, including classic cars, boats, and RVs. So it's a good fit for drivers looking to insure multiple vehicles in one place.

Coverage types

  • Accident forgiveness
  • Bodily injury liability
  • Car towing
  • Collision
  • Comprehensive
  • Disappearing deductible
  • Full glass coverage
  • Gap insurance
  • Medical payments
  • New car replacement
  • Personal injury protection (PIP)
  • Personal umbrella
  • Property damage liability
  • RecoverCare
  • Rental car reimbursement
  • Roadside assistance
  • Underinsured motorist
  • Uninsured motorist

The Hartford offers all the key protections drivers expect from their auto insurer, as well as some pretty unique offerings. Its RecoverCare option, in particular, could be especially useful following a serious accident.

Customer service and ratings

Overall customer satisfaction reviews for The Hartford have been largely positive. It scored highly in every region of J.D. Power's latest U.S. Auto Insurance Study that it appeared in. It even took the top spot in the Northwest region. The company also has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Its claims satisfaction ratings aren't quite as high. It scored just below average in J.D. Power's U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study.

Other insurance available

  • The Hartford business insurance
  • The Hartford condo insurance
  • The Hartford homeowners insurance
  • The Hartford pet insurance
  • The Hartford renters insurance
  • The Hartford umbrella insurance

The Hartford offers all the policy types a driver would expect from a well-rounded insurance company. Those looking to bundle multiple types of property insurance should be happy with their options.

Alternatives to consider

Award Icon 2024 Award Winner
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Best for price conscious consumersGeico
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Get a Quote

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Best for bundling home and auto insuranceNationwide
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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For drivers of all ages looking for cheap car insurance: Geico is a top choice. It consistently offers affordable rates to drivers of all ages and has a long list of driver discounts. But it doesn't offer some of the special perks, like RecoverCare, that The Hartford has.

For seniors who aren't AARP members: Nationwide could be a good fit. It's known for offering affordable rates to senior drivers, and it doesn't require drivers to be a member of AARP to apply. But it doesn't have the strongest customer satisfaction ratings.

The Hartford auto insurance summary

The Hartford auto insurance could be a good fit for:

  • Adults 50 and older who are already members of AARP or willing to join
  • Those seeking comprehensive coverage
  • Drivers interested in unique protections, like RecoverCare

Otherwise, Geico or Nationwide could be better options.

Our auto insurance rating methodology

At The Motley Fool Ascent, insurers are rated on a scale of one to five stars. We primarily focus on pricing, coverage options, and customer satisfaction; however, we also take into account features like unique discounts, online and app-based experiences, and branch access. Our highest-rated auto insurances generally include low costs, solid coverage, and high customer satisfaction.