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J.J. Starr is an insurance and personal finance expert who has been writing for Compare.com since 2022. Her work has been published across the web, appearing on sites such as Insurify.
Prior to writing for Compare.com, J.J. was a registered banker and life insurance consultant, holding a Series 6, FINRA, and life insurance license. She also earned a master’s degree in writing from New York University.
J.J. has a passion for helping people save money by explaining complex topics like car insurance in a way that is simple and easy to understand.
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Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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While we make money through partnerships with some of the brands we discuss in our articles, our editorial team operates 100% independently, and these partners never influence or affect the topics, reviews, ratings, or recommendations we provide. We never guarantee favorable reviews or mentions in exchange for compensation from any brands or partners, and we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure our content is always independent, truthful, and unbiased.
Hallmark Financial has offered auto insurance policies for 34 years. Headquartered in Texas, the company provides a good range of coverage options through independent agents and third-party companies. You can manage your policy through customer service, the website, and the mobile app.
But AM Best dropped Hallmark Financial Services’ financial strength rating from an A- to NR (not rated) in 2023, indicating potential financial issues. While some of Hallmark’s insurance entities have few complaints, others don’t perform as well.
Let’s dig through the details and discover if Hallmark could be the best car insurance company for you.
The table below highlights Hallmark’s performance across five key categories, each rated on a scale of one to five.
These categories reflect what’s most important to many drivers and should provide a comprehensive overview of the company’s strengths and weaknesses.
Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Cost | 4/5 |
| Customer satisfaction | 3/5 |
| Ease of use | 3/5 |
| Availability | 2.3/5 |
| Industry reputation | 3.3/5 |
| Overall Score* | 3.53/5 |
Hallmark does well in terms of cost but earns midrange scores for customer satisfaction, ease of use, and industry reputation, but it scores low for availability.
Hallmark offers cheaper-than-average rates for drivers with many backgrounds and offers substantial savings on liability-only policies and policies for teen drivers. The company also offers an extensive range of insurance products, including aviation coverage.
Hand-offs between independent agents and Hallmark customer service can be clumsy and confusing. The company doesn’t use claims agents but relies solely on claims adjusters to handle the claims process.
You go through an independent agent to buy your Hallmark policy, but you’ll work with Hallmark customer service afterward. Customer feedback is generally positive — the company earns 3.45 out of 5 stars on Clearsurance.
Many positive reviews, including the one below, discuss a friendly customer service department and a convenient online portal.
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Another common theme is low rates. Several customers say Hallmark offered them the cheapest option, as it did for the reviewer below.
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On the negative side, some customers cite issues with payment processing, an unexpected charge, or an unexplained rate increase. For example, the customer featured in the screenshot below received a notice for conditional renewal but struggled to contact anyone who could explain what that meant.
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Different car insurance companies use different formulas to calculate rates, so it’s always best to compare your options. Average rates are based on a variety of factors, including your age, driving history, vehicle type, and more.
The rate table below shows how Hallmark’s average rates vary by policy type, age, and driving history compared to national averages.
Driver/ Coverage Characteristics | Hallmark’s Average Monthly Rate | National Average Monthly Rate | Average Monthly Savings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| All drivers | $127 | $132 | $5 |
| Liability coverage | $91 | $107 | $16 |
| Full coverage | $196 | $193 | -$3 |
| Teens | $228 | $248 | $20 |
| Seniors | $105 | $114 | $9 |
| Recent speeding ticket | $149 | $150 | $1 |
| Recent at-fault accident | $171 | $171 | $0 |
Most drivers can find savings with Hallmark. Teen drivers potentially save the most — an average of $240 per year. The company also offers significant savings on liability insurance.
But if you need full coverage, Hallmark’s rates are slightly higher than average. And drivers with a recent ticket or at-fault accident pay around the national average.
When shopping for a new policy, you should always compare policies from multiple companies. Here’s how Hallmark compares to competitors.
Company | Compare.com Rating | Average Monthly Rate | Average Monthly Savings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hallmark | 3.53/5 | $127 | $5 |
| GEICO | 4.65/5 | $86 | $46 |
| Progressive | 4.73/5 | $116 | $16 |
| State Farm | 4.90/5 | $83 | $49 |
GEICO has a larger coverage area, more car insurance discounts, and a better industry reputation than Hallmark. But its coverage options and ease-of-use scores are similar. Teens, drivers with at-fault accidents, and people with speeding tickets may get a cheaper rate with Hallmark.
State Farm has higher customer satisfaction, a stronger industry reputation, and more discounts than Hallmark, but the two have similar ease-of-use scores and available coverage options. Hallmark may provide cheaper premiums to drivers with speeding tickets or at-fault accidents on their record.
Progressive has stronger customer service, wider availability, and a better industry reputation. It also offers more discounts and coverage options than Hallmark. But Hallmark often offers cheaper rates to teens, drivers with speeding tickets, and drivers with at-fault accidents.
Auto insurance discounts are one of the easiest ways to save on your car insurance. Unlike some insurers, Hallmark doesn’t offer many discounts or specify how much you can save with each. That said, discounts can vary by state, so you should ask your agent about potential savings opportunities.
Hallmark lists the following six discounts on its website:
Foreign driver’s license: Available to drivers with a valid foreign driver’s license.
Homeowner: Lowers your rate if you own a home.
Multi-car: Insures multiple vehicles under the same policy.
Multi-policy: Applies when you have multiple insurance policies (e.g., renters and auto) with Hallmark.
Prior coverage: Reduces your rate if you’ve maintained continuous insurance coverage without any lapses.
Recurring payment: Applies for setting up automatic recurring payments.
Hallmark offers a solid range of car insurance coverage options, varying by state. This includes:
Bodily injury liability: Covers injuries you cause to others.
Property damage liability: Pays for damage you cause to others’ property.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Pays for damages if a driver without (or without enough) insurance hits you.
Comprehensive coverage: Pays to repair or replace your car after non-collision incidents.
Collision coverage: Pays for your vehicle damage after an accident.
Medical payments (MedPay): Covers medical expenses for you and passengers, regardless of fault.
Towing and labor: Pays for towing and roadside assistance.
Rental reimbursement: Covers rental car costs after an accident.
Non-owner coverage: Provides secondary liability coverage when driving a vehicle you don’t own.
SR-22 coverage: Provides a certification to the state for high-risk drivers to reinstate licenses.
Hallmark also provides policies for drivers with international driver’s licenses.
You can get a quote from Hallmark through an independent agent, and they can help you compare your Hallmark quote with competitor’s policies.
Once you purchase your policy, you’ll work directly with the company going forward. You can manage your policy through the online portal or contact customer service over the phone. Hallmark also provides a live chat option — I connected with an agent in less than a minute when I tested the chat myself.
You’ll also work with Hallmark directly to handle claims.
You can file a claim with Hallmark by providing your policy number and personal information (e.g., name, email address, and telephone number) on the online form. Hallmark will assign an adjuster to your case to process your claim.
As seen in the two reviews below, many customers voice satisfaction about the fast and easy claims process.
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But opinions differ based on experience. Negative reviews talk about waiting a long time to get a payout.
On the r/Insurance subreddit, insurance agents discuss claims with a Hallmark customer. The customer shown in the screenshot below allegedly waited two months for the company to resolve the claims. The agents believe the long wait could be due to staff shortages in the claims department.
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Founded | 1990 |
|---|---|
| Available in | 10 states |
| Owned by | Publicly Traded NASDAQ: HALL |
| National average premium | $127 per month |
| Mobile app | Android, iOS |
| Customer service | 1 (800) 486-5616 |
| Claims | 1 (800) 486-4255 |
| Primary competitors | Allstate, Progressive, State Farm, Texas Farm Bureau |
Hallmark Insurance Group offers a wide range of common and uncommon insurance products. While many auto insurers also offer dwelling coverage, life insurance, and other products the average person or family might need, Hallmark offers limited dwelling products, instead focusing on aircraft and commercial policies.
Here’s a complete list of Hallmark’s insurance products, according to its website:
Renters insurance
Personal aircraft insurance
Aircraft liability and physical damage insurance
Airport liability coverage
Flight school and charter operations coverage
Contractor policies
Manufacturing insurance
Restaurant and hospitality coverage
Commercial office building insurance
High-rise condominium insurance
Homeowner association policies
Hallmark is a lesser-known insurer, so prospective customers often have questions about the company. Here are answers to the most common questions asked about Hallmark Insurance.
Yes. Hallmark’s average rate of $127 per month is slightly cheaper than the national average, according to Compare.com data. Teens and drivers with liability-only policies often save the most with Hallmark.
Hallmark Insurance offers affordable coverage and good customer service, but reviews suggest customer satisfaction varies.
Yes. Hallmark pays for car insurance claims as long as the at-fault driver purchased adequate coverage for the incident. But a recently downgraded financial strength designation from AM Best indicates possible financial weaknesses.
No. Hallmark’s rates are average or less than average for most drivers. But its full-coverage policies cost $196 per month, on average, according to our data analysis — slightly higher than the national average.
Rating Methodology:
Compare.com’s mission is to help our readers make more informed decisions about their personal finances. Our editorial staff has crafted a proprietary, objective rating formula — the Compare.com Rating — to make it easier for our readers to analyze and compare many of the industry’s most well-known insurers.
The score you see referenced in this article is based on several factors, including:
Cost: How the insurer’s average rates compare to its direct competitors and the industry as a whole. This includes available savings opportunities, such as discounts and other factors.
Customer satisfaction: How satisfied existing customers are with the service they receive. This includes the insurer ’s scores among various third-party studies, such as the J.D. Power U.S. Insurance Shopping and Claims Satisfaction studies, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Complaint Index, among others.
Ease of use: How easy it is for policyholders to utilize their policies. This includes mobile app availability, customer service availability, payment flexibility, and other related factors.
Availability: The overall scope of the company’s insurance offerings. This includes available coverage types, national footprint, and other related factors.
Industry reputation: A measure of the insurer’s overall standing within the industry. This includes its AM Best financial strength rating, BBB accreditation, and other related factors.
Sources:
AM Best, “Hallmark Specialty Insurance Company,” accessed June 9, 2024.
Business Wire, “AM Best Downgrades Credit Ratings of Hallmark Financial Services, Inc. and Its Subsidiaries; Maintains Under Review With Negative Implications Status,” accessed June 9, 2024.
National Association of Insurance Commissioners, “Hallmark Specialty Ins Co. National Complaint Index Report,” accessed June 8, 2024.
Clearsurance, “Hallmark Insurance Company,” accessed June 8, 2024.
Better Business Bureau, “Hallmark Financial Services,” accessed June 8, 2024.
Reddit, “Hallmark?,” accessed June 8, 2024.
Crunchbase, “Hallmark Financial,” accessed June 8, 2024.
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J.J. Starr is an insurance and personal finance expert who has been writing for Compare.com since 2022. Her work has been published across the web, appearing on sites such as Insurify.
Prior to writing for Compare.com, J.J. was a registered banker and life insurance consultant, holding a Series 6, FINRA, and life insurance license. She also earned a master’s degree in writing from New York University.
J.J. has a passion for helping people save money by explaining complex topics like car insurance in a way that is simple and easy to understand.
Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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