State Farm vs. The Hartford: Which Is the Best? (2024)

State Farm offers the cheapest rates overall, but The Hartford has slightly more coverage options and discounts.

Jamie Johnson
Written byJamie Johnson
Jamie Johnson
Jamie Johnson
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Chris Schafer
Edited byChris Schafer
Chris Schafer
Chris SchaferSenior Editor
  • 15+ years in content creation

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
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Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

Updated November 11, 2024

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State Farm and The Hartford are two of the biggest names in the auto insurance industry. Both are well-established companies offering a variety of coverage options and discounts.

State Farm offers the cheapest rates overall, but The Hartford provides several unique coverage options, which could help make up for its higher rates.

Ultimately, the best insurance company for you depends on your circumstances. That’s why it’s important to compare rates, customer service reviews, discounts, and coverage options when choosing an auto insurance company.

Quick Facts
  • State Farm is the largest auto insurance company and offers highly rated customer service.

  • The Hartford offers car insurance coverage through the AARP Auto Insurance Program.

  • The type of vehicle you drive, as well as your driving history, location, and age, determine the insurance rates you receive.

State Farm vs. The Hartford: The verdict

State Farm is the best option for customers looking for cheaper rates on car insurance. The company offers the best average savings amounts overall and for various demographics. State Farm has high ratings for customer service, receiving an above-average J.D. Power rating.

The Hartford has a slightly lower Insurify Quality (IQ) Score, and its average rates are higher than State Farm’s. In particular, teen drivers will pay more than twice as much by choosing The Hartford over State Farm. But The Hartford offers better coverage options and a couple more discounts than State Farm.

This table provides you with a brief look at each insurer.

Factor
State Farm
The Hartford
IQ Score9.38.4
Customer satisfaction score3.53.8
Average quote: liability only$54$95
Number of discounts79
Number of states where it operates4850
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
  • Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.

    We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.

    • Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
    • Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 28,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
    • Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
    • Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
    • Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.

State Farm

Compare personalized, real-time quotes
User Reviews
3.2
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
9.3/10
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$54/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$119/mo

In business for more than 100 years, State Farm is the largest auto insurance company in the U.S. The company received an above-average rating for overall customer satisfaction from J.D. Power.

State Farm offers additional insurance products, including renters insurance, which you can bundle with your auto policy for additional savings. And the State Farm Life Insurance Company offers many policies that complement your auto insurance coverage.

Pros
  • High rates of customer satisfaction

  • Rideshare insurance available

  • Savings for bundling auto with home, renters, condo, or life insurance

Cons
  • No gap insurance offering

  • May not be the cheapest choice for drivers with violations

  • Accident forgiveness limited to longtime customers with clean driving records

Read more driver reviews of State Farm
David - November 10, 2024
Verified

Rates

The rates keep going up.

Saundra - November 10, 2024
Verified

Review

Okay. I canceled my son's policy and was still charged enormous fees.

Don - November 10, 2024
Verified

Fair price for a good product

It's expensive.

The Hartford

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User Reviews
3.5
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
8.4/10
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$95/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$171/mo

The Hartford Insurance started in 1810 in West Hartford as The Hartford Fire Insurance Company, later expanding to offer insurance products to businesses and consumers. In 1984, The Hartford partnered with AARP to help nearly 40 million AARP members get auto coverage.[1] But The Hartford operates as a separate entity from AARP, allowing it to offer policies for a wide range of customers.

The Hartford offers numerous coverage options for customers, including a diminishing deductible, new-car replacement, and gap insurance.

Pros
  • Savings for AARP members

  • Above-average customer satisfaction

Cons
  • Only available for AARP members

  • No accident forgiveness coverage

Read more driver reviews of The Hartford
Susan - November 9, 2024
Verified

I had no problem with Hartford until I had a very minor fender bender. I rolled into a car and hit his plastic bumper, then locked myself out of my car. The Fire department came and stated it was nothing and could be buffed out. The person I hit left. I couldn't take a picture as I had locked my phone in my car. About 2 weeks later, I decided to call and see what was going on. I called and spoke to an agent and they told me they paid the guy $1000. I couldn't believe it, there was no phone call, no notification, they just paid out. That plastic bumper was not worth that and the agent was not very nice.

I had no problem with Hartford until I had a very minor fender bender. I rolled into a car and hit his plastic bumper, then locked myself out of my car. The Fire department came and stated it was nothing and could be buffed out. The person I hit left. I couldn't take a picture as I had locked my phone in my car. About 2 weeks later, I decided to call and see what was going on. I called and spoke to an agent and they told me they paid the guy $1000. I couldn't believe it, there was no phone call, no notification, they just paid out. That plastic bumper was not worth that and the agent was not very nice.

Alice - November 9, 2024
Verified

Average

Very pricey.

Marsie - November 6, 2024
Verified

Price Continually Increasing

The price is too high. It keeps going up!

State Farm Drive Safe & Save vs. The Hartford TrueLane

State Farm and The Hartford both offer telematics programs to help safe drivers save money on their auto insurance premiums. With State Farm’s Drive Safe & Save program, you’ll automatically save 10% just for signing up. You could save up to 30% overall, depending on your driving behavior.

You’ll start by downloading the app onto your mobile device, and State Farm will track your mileage and driving characteristics. Your discount updates at every policy renewal using the data from the previous 12 months of driving. Your discount may be $0 if the app can’t collect enough data about your driving history.

The Hartford’s TrueLane program is also a telematics app that rewards safe driving behaviors. You could earn a discount of up to 12% within 60 days of signing up, and depending on your driving habits, you could earn a total discount of up to 40% at renewal. The app is available on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

Telematics apps could be a good option thanks to the potential for safe driving rewards. But risky driving behaviors can result in higher premiums, so these programs are best for people who are confident about their driving skills. Otherwise, a telematics app could end up costing you more.

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State Farm vs. The Hartford: Which is the cheapest?

State Farm is the cheapest option overall, with an average monthly rate of $54 for liability coverage. The Hartford has an average monthly rate of $95 for drivers with an AARP membership.

But this is just the national average for each insurer. The rate you pay will vary depending on factors including your age, driving history, ZIP code, and more.

State Farm: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record

State Farm is the most affordable option for anyone with a clean driving history, charging an average monthly premium of $54 for liability coverage. In comparison, The Hartford costs $95 per month, making it a less affordable option.

Driver Type
State Farm
The Hartford
Clean driving record$54 $95
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

State Farm: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket

State Farm is the cheapest option for drivers with a speeding ticket on their record, charging an average monthly premium of $63. The Hartford costs an average of $140 per month for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Driver Type
State Farm
The Hartford
Drivers with a speeding ticket$63$140
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

State Farm: Cheapest for teen drivers

Teen drivers pay the highest rates for car insurance due to their lack of experience behind the wheel. On average, State Farm charges teen drivers $94 per month, while teens pay an average of $198 per month with The Hartford.

Driver Type
State Farm
The Hartford
18-year-old$94$198
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

State Farm: Cheapest for senior drivers 

Older drivers often pay lower rates for auto insurance since they typically spend less time driving and engage in fewer risky driving behaviors. But rates do tend to climb again once senior drivers reach age 70 and beyond.

State Farm’s rates are more favorable for senior drivers than The Hartford’s rates.

Driver Type
State Farm
The Hartford
Senior drivers$39$57
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

State Farm: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit

State Farm wins here again, as drivers with bad credit pay significantly less with this insurer than with The Hartford.

Driver Type
State Farm
The Hartford
Drivers with bad credit$82$117
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Compare coverages: State Farm vs. The Hartford

Price isn’t the only thing you’ll want to consider when it comes to choosing an auto insurance policy. You’ll also want to consider the different types of coverage the company offers.

State Farm and The Hartford both offer the standard coverages you’d expect to see, like liability car insurance and full-coverage insurance. Both companies offer personal injury protection (PIP), which will help cover your medical bills after an accident.

State Farm offers coverage for rideshare drivers, which is something The Hartford doesn’t offer. But The Hartford is the best option for drivers after a car accident since the company provides gap insurance, new vehicle replacement coverage, and a diminishing deductible.

But this table is just an overview, so you should contact each company for a complete list of the coverages offered.

Coverage
State Farm
The Hartford
Rideshare insuranceYesNo
Gap insuranceNoYes
Diminishing deductibleNoYes
New vehicle replacementNoYes
Personal umbrella insuranceYesYes
Classic car insuranceYesYes
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

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Compare discounts: State Farm vs. The Hartford

State Farm advertises seven discounts, while The Hartford advertises nine discounts for customers. The companies offer many similar discounts, like a discount for bundling your life insurance, homeowners insurance, and auto policies.

The Hartford also offers several discounts State Farm doesn’t offer, like anti-theft, new car, loyalty, and alternative fuel discounts. But State Farm offers more discounts for teens, which could be why its rates for new drivers are so much cheaper.

Discount
State Farm
The Hartford
Clean driving recordYesNo
Defensive driving courseYesYes
Multi-policyYesYes
Multi-carYesYes
Low mileageNoNo
Telematics (safe driving app)YesYes
Anti-theft deviceNoYes
New carNoYes
Military membersNoNo
Good studentYesYes
LoyaltyNoYes
Auto-payNoNo
Student away at schoolYesNo
HomeownerNoNo
Alternative fuelNoYes

State Farm vs. The Hartford FAQs

State Farm and The Hartford are two of the best car insurance companies you can pick from. Here’s some additional information to consider if you’re still debating between the two.

  • Is Hartford auto insurance cheaper than State Farm?

    No. State Farm is one of the cheapest options nationally for many demographics. But these are average rates, so it’s still a good idea to receive and compare rate estimates from several companies to find the best car insurance for you.

  • Which company is State Farm’s biggest competitor?

    GEICO is probably State Farm’s biggest competitor since they’re the two largest insurance companies by market share. Both companies offer reputable coverage and a wide variety of discounts to pick from.

  • Is The Hartford a good insurance company?

    Yes. The Hartford is a good insurance company. The company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and an AM Best rating of A+ (Superior), which looks at its financial security.[2]

  • Does State Farm have a good reputation for paying claims?

    State Farm has a good reputation for paying its claims when compared to the average insurer. But AM Best downgraded the company’s financial strength rating from A (Excellent) to B (Fair).[3]

Sources

  1. The Hartford. "AARP Member Age Requirement."
  2. Better Business Bureau. "The Hartford Insurance Company."
  3. AM Best. "AM Best Downgrades Credit Ratings of State Farm General Insurance Company."
Jamie Johnson
Jamie Johnson

Jamie Johnson is a Kansas City-based personal finance writer whose work has been featured on several of the top finance and business sites in the country, including Insider, Credit Karma, Bankrate, Rocket Mortgage, Fox Business, Quicken Loans, and The Balance. For the past six years, she's dedicated more than 10,000 hours of research and writing to more than 2,000 articles about personal finance topics.

Chris Schafer
Edited byChris SchaferSenior Editor
Chris Schafer
Chris SchaferSenior Editor
  • 15+ years in content creation

  • 7+ years in business and financial services content

Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

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