AAA vs. The Hartford: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, The Hartford offers less expensive rates than AAA
• AAA has more affordable prices for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit
• The Hartford offers more affordable premiums for residents of rural areas

AAA vs. The Hartford: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering substantial discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to AAA or The Hartford as potential options, but between the two, which carrier will offer you cheaper prices?

Looking at nationwide averages, The Hartford is about $49 per month more affordable than AAA.

That being said, The Hartford may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Car insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how good your credit score is or how old you are (among a range of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both AAA and The Hartford by a bunch of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

AAA or The Hartford: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

AAA and The Hartford only compete against each other in California, where AAA offers the cheaper average rates. For California residents, AAA offers insurance for $215 a month on average. The Hartford's average premiums come out to be over 20% more expensive, at $265 per month.

But there's more to auto insurance than just your home state. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance carriers determine your rates. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for auto insurance than any other group of drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance prices. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $250 less a month by choosing The Hartford over AAA.

However, both companies will drop premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for AAA policyholders decrease nearly 60% and The Hartford's prices lower over 30% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the cheapest insurance rates you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for auto insurance.

When looking at AAA and The Hartford specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? The Hartford gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $46 cheaper than the national average for AAA.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance prices tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples. That's normally because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, The Hartford is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums around $76 per month less expensive than AAA, on average. It's not quite so glaring for married drivers, where drivers who use The Hartford save almost $15 a month.

AAA vs. The Hartford: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to insurance men will usually end up paying a little more.

Usually, women see rates about $35 per month more affordable with AAA; and with The Hartford, everyone ends up paying the same monthly premiums regardless of gender.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, The Hartford offers the most affordable average prices for both men and women. On average, women save about $32 a month and men save around $66 with The Hartford compared to the average AAA policyholder.

AAA or The Hartford: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

Auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, The Hartford typically offers cheaper rates of $135 compared to AAA's $169. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, The Hartford again has the edge, with policies about $65 per month less expensive than AAA, on average.

Is AAA or The Hartford Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

It's no secret secret that tickets and accidents lead to higher prices, but which company -- AAA or The Hartford -- has the lowest premiums for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

AAA policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $86 a month if they get a ticket, while The Hartford generally raises premiums around $71 per month, on average.

Even so, The Hartford tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save about $87 a month and drivers with a ticket can save around $102 per month with The Hartford.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

AAA drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates rise by just under $150, while those who have insurance through The Hartford will see about a $150 increase.

Overall, drivers who use The Hartford end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $262 compared to AAA Insurance's $339.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even a collision. The Hartford drivers usually see a 73% raise in their insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while AAA will usually increase rates by around 47%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, AAA tends to be the much cheaper option with average premiums of $403 monthly compared to $474 from The Hartford.

How does Credit Score Impact AAA and The Hartford Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect several policyholders out there.

Car insurance companies argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which decreases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which carrier offers the most affordable rates for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

You'll often be rewarded if you have great credit. With AAA Insurance, improving your score from "good" to "excellent" will generally save you about 25%. On the other hand, undefined doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means they most likely don't use credit to calculate your prices.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Having bad credit usually means you'll also see higher premiums with AAA Insurance. If your credit score is in the "poor" range, at AAA Insurance, you may pay around $250 more a month compared to those with "fair" scores (and even more compared to drivers with good or excellent scores). Because undefined doesn't have data available for credit scores, they could have better rates for drivers with bad credit over AAA Insurance.

Is AAA or The Hartford Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a big impact on your monthly premiums. Normally, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure, The Hartford tends to be the less expensive option. AAA's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in $70 more expensive than The Hartford. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay just under $30 more with AAA over The Hartford.

AAA vs. The Hartford: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Typically, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, The Hartford generally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the lowest premiums from both companies, but The Hartford comes out on top with average rates about $255 per month. The Hartford also has more affordable average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 29% and 12% per month respective difference when compared to AAA policyholders in similar areas.

AAA vs. The Hartford Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many car insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to find all the ones you qualify for or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both AAA and The Hartford so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

AAA knocks The Hartford out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 33 different discounts to The Hartford's 13.

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, employee discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and multi-policy discounts -- but AAA also offers AAA discounts, academic discounts, advance quote discounts, and more that The Hartford does not.

On the flip side, The Hartford has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts, lay-up credit discounts, and umbrella policy discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is AAA or The Hartford Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is AAA or The Hartford the best one for you and your specific driver profile?

The Hartford might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

AAA might be best for you if...

• You have less-than-stellar credit.
• Your credit score is high.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between AAA and The Hartford. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just AAA and The Hartford. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

AAA vs. The Hartford FAQs

Is AAA or The Hartford cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, The Hartford is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $265 a month compared to $314 for AAA. But The Hartford won't necessarily be the cheapest company for every driver, since there are a variety of different variables that come into play when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, AAA or The Hartford?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile. For example, The Hartford offers more affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record, while AAA is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do AAA and The Hartford offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at a lot of different factors when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Things such as gender, where you live, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both AAA and The Hartford calculate prices using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

How do I know if AAA or The Hartford is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be AAA or The Hartford at all!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.