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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, The Hartford offers more affordable prices than Pure
• The Hartford offers more affordable rates for policyholders who have a clean driving record, free of accidents, tickets, or DUIs
• The Hartford tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders who drive fewer than 12,000 miles yearly

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering pretty big discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Pure or The Hartford as potential options, but which one will offer you less expensive premiums?

As you can see, The Hartford has average rates that are about 20% per month cheaper than those from Pure when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

But that doesn't mean The Hartford will necessarily be more affordable than Pure for each driver. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your age, your driving record, or even your credit score (among other things), so rates could vary drastically from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Pure and The Hartford by many different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Pure or The Hartford: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Both Pure and The Hartford only offer car insurance in California, so you'll see that the average figures here will mirror the ones we mentioned above. For California residents, The Hartford offers insurance for $265 per month on average. Pure's average rates come out to be over 20% more expensive, at $331 a month.

Typically, where you call home will play a huge role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but since both companies only do business in California, a whole range of other factors will come into play when you compare Pure and The Hartford. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for car insurance than any group out there on the road. Typically, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use The Hartford save nearly $300 a month compared to those who use Pure.

That being said, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower premiums once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Pure policyholders reduce more than 55% and The Hartford's premiums drop over 30% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the most affordable auto insurance prices out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally reduces their chances of collisions and other infractions that can increase rates.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Pure and The Hartford? The Hartford gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $192 monthly compared to Pure's $234.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly less expensive car insurance prices than single drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having multiple cars on their policy -- something several insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, The Hartford is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums about $98 per month more affordable than Pure, on average. The advantage for married drivers with The Hartford is also obvious, where drivers save more than $25 a month.

Pure vs. The Hartford: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and file an insurance claim, which means they'll normally end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

With Pure, everyone ends up paying the same monthly rates regardless of gender; women and men get the same monthly prices with The Hartford.

Looking at overall affordability, The Hartford comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $66 per month and women save around $66 with The Hartford compared to the average Pure policyholder.

Pure 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.

For most people, insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms 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 bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

In this case, Pure offers the most affordable average premiums for state minimum liability insurance, while The Hartford has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $1 with PURE Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be about $150 less expensive with The Hartford.

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

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

Tickets and collisions will most likely raise your premiums, but is Pure or The Hartford cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Pure policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $80 a month if they get a ticket, while The Hartford generally raises prices around $71 per month, on average.

However, The Hartford tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering premiums that are $76 and $85 more affordable, respectively, compared to PURE Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Pure can expect to see about an $150 -- or around 43% -- increase in their car insurance prices. Drivers who use The Hartford for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $136 (or 52%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their auto insurance carrier.

Overall, drivers who use The Hartford end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $262 compared to PURE Insurance's $352.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, The Hartford increases average prices by just under $350 a month -- that's just under a 75% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, The Hartford tends to be the much cheaper option with average rates of $474 per month compared to $489 from Pure.

How does Credit Score Impact Pure and The Hartford Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for lots of policyholders.

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so usually, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive prices.

Looking at Pure and The Hartford specifically, which carrier has the lowest premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a big impact on how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage? Typically, the more miles you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

The Hartford tends to be the cheaper option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure. Pure's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in nearly $40 more expensive than The Hartford. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay $95 more with Pure over The Hartford.

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

Where you call home can have a large impact on your monthly car insurance bill. Usually, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders because there are a lot more vehicles on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

The Hartford tends to offer the cheapest premiums for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable rates from both companies, but The Hartford comes out on top with average prices around $255 monthly. The Hartford also has less expensive average rates for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $98 and $48 per month respective difference when compared to Pure drivers in similar areas.

Pure 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 auto insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you qualify for.

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

Looking at the total number of discounts, The Hartford comes out ahead with 13 discounts to Pure's 10.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but The Hartford also offers defensive driver discounts, employee discounts, group discounts, and more that Pure does not.

On the flip side, Pure has a couple unique discounts of its own -- mature driver discounts, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and occasional operator discounts.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the best one for you and your specific needs?

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

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your prices climb.
• You and your spouse are buying auto insurance together.

Pure might be best for you if...

• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.

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

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

Pure vs. The Hartford FAQs

Is Pure or The Hartford cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, The Hartford is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $265 a month compared to $331 for Pure. Even so, The Hartford won't necessarily be the lowest company for each policyholder, since there are a bunch of different factors that are considered when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, Pure or The Hartford?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Pure and The Hartford offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at many different variables when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. 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 Pure 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 a range of different companies.

How do I know if Pure 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 a handful of carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Pure 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.