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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Grange offers slightly cheaper premiums than The Hartford
• Grange offers more affordable rates for policyholders who drive a short distance to work everyday
• The Hartford offers more affordable average prices for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering pretty big discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Grange or The Hartford as potential options, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Grange is about $16 per month less expensive than The Hartford.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Grange will be the more affordable option for every driver. Car insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, where you live, how old you are, and a variety of other factors, so premiums could vary drastically from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Grange or The Hartford is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each company broken down by a range of different rate factors.

Grange or The Hartford: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Grange and The Hartford only compete against each other in California, where Grange offers the cheaper average rates. For California residents, Grange offers insurance for $137 a month on average. The Hartford's average premiums come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $265 per month.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance bill than just where you call home. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have The Hartford for their insurance pay more than $100 less than those who use Grange.

However, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time drivers turn 25. The Hartford offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying a third less what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Grange still has the most affordable prices at $205 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest rates you can find.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Grange and The Hartford? The Hartford gets the slight edge here, with average prices coming in at around $192 per month compared to Grange's $200. Even so, the difference is only about 5%, so other factors will likely come into play when determining which carrier has the most affordable rates for you.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance prices tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married policyholders. This usually boils down to married couples having more than one car on their policy -- something lots of insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, the two carriers are comparable for those who are single, with premiums only differing around $2 a month, on average. The advantage for married drivers is more obvious, where drivers who use Grange save nearly 15% per month.

Grange vs. The Hartford: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into collisions and get tickets, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance companies will tend to offer men more expensive rates.

On average, men see premiums about 5% a month higher with Grange; men and women get the same monthly prices with The Hartford.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Grange comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums 4% less for men and 8% cheaper for women.

Grange 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.

It's no secret that car insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

But most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which generally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside what you get with a liability policy).

In this case, The Hartford offers the cheapest average rates for state minimum liability limits, while Grange has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $50 with The Hartford, while full coverage comes out to be around $80 cheaper with Grange Insurance.

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

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance carriers offering great prices for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest rates to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Grange policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $55 per month if they get a ticket, while The Hartford usually raises prices about $71 a month, on average.

Even so, The Hartford is typically the less expensive option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save around $54 per month and drivers with a ticket can save about $38 a month with The Hartford.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with The Hartford increasing by just under $150. Grange has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay over $85 more than you were prior to your first accident.

Overall, The Hartford offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with monthly prices averaging $262 compared to Grange Insurance's $266.

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. On average, The Hartford will climb your premiums around 73% after a DUI, while Grange's average prices increase by just under 45%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Grange tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $314 a month compared to $474 from The Hartford.

How does Credit Score Impact Grange and The Hartford Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (for example, Michigan and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for quite a few policyholders.

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

Looking specifically at The Hartford and Grange, which carrier has the best premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have stellar credit, Grange Insurance will normally reward you. Jumping from a "good" credit score to an "excellent" one will usually save Grange Insurance customers about 15%. Because undefined, doesn't have data available for credit scores, they most likely don't use credit to calculate your prices.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Having bad credit typically means you'll also see higher premiums with Grange Insurance. For drivers with less-than-stellar credit, at Grange Insurance, you may pay around $90 per month more if you have "poor" credit compared to those with "fair" scores. It's an even larger difference when compared to drivers with "good" or "excellent" scores. On the other hand, because undefined doesn't have data available for credit scores, they may have better rates for drivers with bad credit over Grange Insurance.

Is Grange 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 prices. Generally, the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

Looking specifically at Grange and The Hartford, The Hartford is the more affordable option for people who work from home, while The Hartford has better rates for those with short commutes. The Hartford's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about 4% less expensive than Grange. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay around 14% less with Grange over The Hartford.

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

Where you live can have a considerable impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Usually, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Grange tends to offer the cheapest option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while The Hartford wins in urban areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $220 monthly with Grange compared to The Hartford's $255. People in suburban areas pay around $235 with Grange compared to The Hartford's $265 per month. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, The Hartford's average rates are about $273 a month compared to Grange's $292.

Grange vs. The Hartford Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you're eligible for.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Grange and The Hartford offer their customers so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Grange knocks The Hartford out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 28 different discounts to The Hartford's 13.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, employee discounts, and group discounts. Grange also offers advanced safety feature discounts, agency transfer discounts, annual mileage discounts, and more that The Hartford does not.

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

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which carrier is the right fit for you?

Grange might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
• You care about discounts (Grange offers the most).
• You drive often but have a short commute.

The Hartford might be best for you if...

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your insurance.
• You're buying auto insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Grange and The Hartford and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on auto insurance -- comparing quotes from several carriers, not just Grange and The Hartford. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Grange vs. The Hartford FAQs

Is Grange or The Hartford cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Grange is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $249 per month compared to $265 for The Hartford. But Grange won't necessarily be the most affordable company for every driver, since there are many different factors that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, Grange or The Hartford?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Grange offers more affordable premiums for single policyholders, while The Hartford is less expensive for drivers who have already retired.

Why do Grange and The Hartford offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at several different variables when determining the prices they charge drivers. Factors like your driving record, gender, where you park your car, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Grange and The Hartford calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Grange 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.