What AARP The Hartford offers

AARP The Hartford is an insurance company that partners with AARP to offer auto and home insurance products designed for people 50 and older. The company provides standard coverage options — liability, collision, comprehensive for cars; dwelling, personal property, liability for homes — but also includes some features built around the needs of older drivers and homeowners, like accident forgiveness and discounts for completing a defensive driving course.

The Hartford has been in the insurance business since 1810 and is licensed to sell in all 50 states. AARP members receive access to member pricing, though you do not have to be an AARP member to buy a policy. The company handles claims through its own adjusters and also offers online policy management and 24/7 customer service by phone.

Key Takeaways

  • AARP The Hartford sells auto and home insurance with pricing discounts for AARP members, but membership is not required to purchase.
  • The company offers accident forgiveness (one accident does not raise your rate), good driver discounts, and discounts for completing a defensive driving course approved by your state.
  • You can get a quote online, by phone, or through an independent agent, and policies can be bundled for additional savings.
  • The Hartford is a standard insurance carrier, so coverage limits, deductibles, and rates vary by location, driving history, home value, and other risk factors.
  • You should compare quotes from multiple insurers before buying, because rates and available discounts differ significantly between companies.

Auto insurance coverage and discounts

AARP The Hartford's auto insurance includes the standard coverage types: liability (covers damage you cause to others), collision (covers damage to your car from a crash), and comprehensive (covers theft, weather, vandalism). You choose your deductible — typically $250, $500, or $1,000 — which affects your premium. Higher deductibles lower your monthly cost but mean you pay more out of pocket if you have a claim.

The company advertises several discounts that may lower your rate. These include a good driver discount (no accidents or violations in a set period), a defensive driving discount (for completing an approved course), accident forgiveness (your first accident does not raise your rate), and a bundling discount (combining auto and home policies). Some discounts require you to be an AARP member; others do not. The size of each discount varies by state and by your individual risk profile.

The Hartford also offers usage-based insurance through a program called Driving straightforward, which uses a mobile app to track your driving habits. Safe driving behavior — smooth acceleration, avoiding hard braking, not driving at night — can lower your rate further. This is optional; you do not have to enroll.

Home insurance coverage and options

AARP The Hartford's homeowners insurance covers the structure of your home (dwelling coverage), your belongings inside (personal property coverage), liability if someone is injured on your property, and additional living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable after a covered loss. You choose your deductible, which works the same way as auto insurance — higher deductible, lower premium.

The company offers several optional add-ons. These include replacement cost coverage (pays to rebuild or replace items at current prices rather than depreciated value), water backup coverage (covers damage from sump pump failure or backed-up sewers), and earthquake or flood coverage (standard homeowners policies exclude these, so you buy them separately). What is available depends on your state and the specific risk profile of your home.

Like auto insurance, bundling home and auto policies with The Hartford typically reduces your overall cost. The company also offers discounts for home safety features — deadbolts, smoke detectors, security systems — and for being claim-free for a set number of years.

How to get a quote and buy a policy

You can request a quote through three main routes: the AARP The Hartford website, by calling their phone line, or through an independent insurance agent who represents The Hartford. Online quotes typically take 10 to 15 minutes and give you an estimate based on the information you provide. Phone quotes allow you to ask questions in real time. Agent quotes may take longer but can be useful if you have a complex situation or want personalized information.

To get an accurate quote, you will need basic information: your driver's license number and driving history for auto insurance, your home's address and year built for homeowners insurance, and details about what you want to cover. If you bundle auto and home, you can often complete both quotes in one session.

Once you have a quote you are comfortable with, you can purchase the policy online, by phone, or through an agent. Your policy typically becomes active the same day or the next business day. You can pay your premium monthly, quarterly, or annually, and you can manage your policy online — view your declarations page, make changes, pay your bill, or file a claim.

Rates, discounts, and what affects your premium

AARP The Hartford's rates vary significantly based on where you live, your age, your driving or claims history, the value of your home, and the coverage limits you choose. Two people with identical coverage in different zip codes may pay very different premiums. Similarly, a clean driving record will lower your auto rate, while a prior accident or violation will raise it.

The company does not publicly post its rates, so the only way to know what you will pay is to request a quote. This is true for all insurance companies. Rates also change over time — The Hartford may adjust its rates in your area, or your own risk profile may change (you turn a year older, you have a birthday discount, your home ages and becomes cheaper to rebuild).

AARP membership typically unlocks member-only discounts, but the size of the discount varies. Some people save 10 to 15 percent by bundling and using member pricing; others save less. The best way to know whether AARP The Hartford is a good deal for you is to compare quotes from at least two other major insurers in your area — State Farm, Geico, Allstate, or a local carrier — and see which offers the lowest total cost for the coverage you need.

Customer service and claims

AARP The Hartford offers customer service by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also manage your account online through their website or mobile app — view your policy, make changes, pay your bill, or start a claim. The company has local adjusters in most areas who handle claims in person if needed, though many claims can be filed and managed entirely online or by phone.

When you file a claim, you will be assigned a claim number and a representative who will guide you through the process. For auto claims, this typically involves providing photos of the damage, a police report if applicable, and information about the other driver. For home claims, you may need to document the damage with photos and provide receipts or proof of value for items that were damaged or lost. The time it takes to settle a claim varies — straightforward claims may be resolved in days, while complex ones can take weeks.

Comparing AARP The Hartford to other insurers

AARP The Hartford is one option among many. Other major insurers also offer discounts for older drivers and homeowners — State Farm, Geico, Allstate, and Progressive all have programs for people 50 and older. Some may offer lower rates in your specific area; others may have features or discounts that matter more to you.

The best approach is to get quotes from at least two or three companies and compare the total cost for the same coverage. Pay attention not just to the premium, but to what discounts each company offers and whether you meet the requirements. A company with a lower base rate but fewer discounts you can use may cost more in the end than one with a higher base rate but multiple discounts you may have access to for.

You should also check customer service ratings and claims satisfaction scores through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) or J.D. Power, which publishes annual rankings of insurance companies by customer satisfaction. These resources can help you understand how each company handles claims and customer service in practice, not just in theory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be an AARP member to buy AARP The Hartford insurance?

No. You can buy AARP The Hartford insurance whether or not you are an AARP member. However, AARP members typically receive member-only discounts that can lower your rate. If you are not a member, you will still get standard discounts like good driver or bundling, but not the member pricing.

What is accident forgiveness and how does it work?

Accident forgiveness means your first at-fault accident will not raise your insurance rate. You still pay your deductible and the claim goes on your record, but your premium does not increase as a result of that one accident. Some companies offer this automatically; others require you to pay extra for it or meet certain conditions like being claim-free for five years before the accident.

Can I lower my auto rate by taking a defensive driving course?

Yes. AARP The Hartford offers a discount for completing a state-approved defensive driving course. The discount amount varies by state. You typically take the course online, pay a small fee (often $15 to $25), and then provide proof of completion to The Hartford to set up the discount. Some states also allow you to remove a minor traffic violation from your record by completing the course.

What happens if I move to a different state?

You can transfer your AARP The Hartford policy to a new state, but your rate will change because insurance is regulated by state and varies by location. You should contact The Hartford before you move to update your address and get a new quote. Your coverage may also change — some states require different minimum liability limits, and some optional coverages may not be available in your new state.

How do I file a claim with AARP The Hartford?

You can file a claim online through your account, by calling their claims line, or through a local agent. For auto claims, have your policy number, driver's license, and information about the accident ready. For home claims, have your policy number and photos or documentation of the damage. The Hartford will assign you a claim number and a representative to guide you through the process.