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

If you're in the market for a new insurance policy, you might be wondering how The Hartford and State Farm compare when it comes to the cheapest rates and biggest discounts. To find out which of these companies is the best fit for you and your wallet, check out our newest guide below.
Newly insured car driving down the road
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Quick Facts

  • Looking at the national averages for car insurance, State Farm offers significantly cheaper premiums than The Hartford
  • State Farm has less expensive prices for residents of rural areas
  • The Hartford offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who have a clean driving record, free of accidents, tickets, or DUIs


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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might be considering State Farm or The Hartford as your top options, but which carrier has more affordable rates for auto insurance?

State Farm The Hartford
$158$265

Looking at nationwide averages, The Hartford is quite a bit more expensive than State Farm, with prices averaging $265 per month compared to just $158 with State Farm.

But State Farm may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Car insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among multiple other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both State Farm and The Hartford by lots of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

State Farm or The Hartford: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

State State Farm The Hartford
CA$224$265

State Farm and The Hartford only compete against each other in California, where State Farm offers the cheaper average premiums. For California residents, State Farm offers insurance for $224 per month on average. The Hartford's average rates come out to be over 15% more expensive, at $265 monthly.

But there's more to car insurance than just the state you live in. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance carriers determine your prices. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.


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Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

State Farm The Hartford
18-year-old drivers$353$435
25-year-old drivers$142$294

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance rates of any other group of drivers out there on the road. 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 prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use State Farm save more than $80 a month compared to those who use The Hartford. It's worth noting that State Farm offers insurance in 51 different states compared to The Hartford's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices once you turn 25. For example, average rates for State Farm policyholders decrease over $200 and The Hartford's premiums reduce nearly $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

State Farm The Hartford
65+-year-old drivers$111$192

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable prices out there.

So, which carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? State Farm gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $111 a month compared to The Hartford's $192.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

State Farm The Hartford
Single$183$293
Married$124$226

You may not be aware, but auto insurance rates tend to be cheaper for married drivers than they are for single drivers. That's generally because married couples tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, State Farm is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums around $110 per month more affordable than The Hartford, on average. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - State Farm offers the lowest average prices.

State Farm vs. The Hartford: Average Rates by Gender

State Farm The Hartford
Male$164$265
Female$152$265

Because men are more likely to get into accidents and get tickets, they run a larger risk of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance carriers will tend to offer men more expensive rates.

Women normally pay about 7% a month less than men with State Farm; men and women get the same monthly premiums with The Hartford.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, State Farm comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices $101 less for men and $113 cheaper for women.


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

State Farm The Hartford
State Minimum*$99$135
Full Coverage**$216$394

*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 insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are many different coverages that account for several different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, State Farm usually offers significantly less expensive rates of $99 compared to The Hartford's $135. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, State Farm again has the edge, with policies around $200 per month more affordable than The Hartford, on average.

Is State Farm 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

State Farm The Hartford
Clean Record$134$126
1 Speeding Ticket$155$197

State Farm policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $21 a month if they get a ticket, while The Hartford typically raises rates about $71 per month, on average.

If you have a clean record, The Hartford tends to offer the best premiums at around 6% cheaper, while State Farm has the edge for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

State Farm The Hartford
Clean Record$134$126
1 At-Fault Accident$163$262

Both carriers will increase prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with The Hartford climbing by just under $150. State Farm has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay nearly $30 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the less expensive premiums come from State Farm, with monthly rates averaging $163 compared to The Hartford's $262.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

State Farm The Hartford
Clean Record$134$126
1 DUI$179$474

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even an accident. For example, The Hartford increases average prices by just under $350 a month -- that's just under a 75% increase.

State Farm has the overall most affordable premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $179 per month, but it's worth noting that State Farm's average rates come from 51 states compared to just one for The Hartford, so the data may be skewed slightly.


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How does Credit Score Impact State Farm and The Hartford Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for lots of drivers.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper rates, while those with poor credit will usually be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at State Farm and The Hartford, which company has the lowest premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

State Farm The Hartford
Excellent Credit Score$80No Data Available
Good Credit Score$105No Data Available

If you have fantastic credit, State Farm will typically reward you. Jumping from a "good" credit score to an "excellent" one will generally save State Farm customers about 25%. On the other hand, because The Hartford doesn't have data available for credit scores, they most likely don't use credit to calculate your rates.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

State Farm The Hartford
Fair Credit Score$148No Data Available
Poor Credit Score$300No Data Available

Having bad credit normally means you'll also see higher prices with State Farm. For drivers with less-than-stellar credit, at State Farm, you may pay around $150 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 The Hartford doesn't have data available for credit scores, they may have better rates for drivers with bad credit over State Farm.


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

State Farm The Hartford
6,000 Annual Miles$151$237
12,000 Annual Miles$164$292

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a considerable impact on your monthly auto insurance bill? Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable prices since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

State Farm tends to be the less expensive option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure. The Hartford average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $86 more expensive than State Farm. Those who drive 12,000 miles each year can expect to pay around $128 more with The Hartford over State Farm.

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

Where your home is can have a large impact on your monthly insurance cost. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because of the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

State Farm The Hartford
Urban Areas$185$273
Suburban Areas$161$265
Rural Areas$127$255

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

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, State Farm offers premiums about $185 a month compared to The Hartford's $273. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $161 a month for State Farm and $265 for The Hartford. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest prices from both companies, with average monthly rates coming in at $127 and $255 for State Farm and The Hartford respectively.

State Farm 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.

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you qualify for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts State Farm and The Hartford offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

State Farm The Hartford
ABS Discount
Annual Mileage Discount 
Anti-Theft Discount
Defensive Driver Discount
Distant Student Discount
Drive Safe & Save Discount 
Driver Training Discount 
DRL Discount 
Employee Discount 
Farm Discount 
Good Driving Discount
Good Student Discount
Goverment Employee Discount 
Group Discount 
Homeowner Discount 
Lay-Up Credit Discount 
Low Income Discount 
Mature Driver Discount 
Military Discount 
Multi-Car Discount 

State Farm blows The Hartford away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 23 different discounts to The Hartford's 13.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but State Farm also offers annual mileage discounts, drive safe & save discounts, driver training discounts, and more that The Hartford does not.

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


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Final Thoughts: Is State Farm 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 carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which company is the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

State Farm might be best for you if....

  • You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
  • You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
  • You don't spend much time in your car.


The Hartford might be best for you if...

  • You have a clean record.
  • You live in one of the following states: California.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between State Farm and The Hartford and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just State Farm 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 auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.


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State Farm vs. The Hartford FAQs

Is State Farm or The Hartford cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, State Farm is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $158 per month compared to $265 for The Hartford. That being said, State Farm won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are a variety of different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, State Farm or The Hartford?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do State Farm and The Hartford offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different variables when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Factors such as your driving record, gender, where you park your vehicle, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both State Farm and The Hartford calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance company 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 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 auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be State Farm 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.

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