The Hartford/AARP Renters Insurance Review 2023
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The Hartford
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
The Hartford
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
There are two ways to get renters insurance from The Hartford. If you're a member of the AARP, The Hartford and AARP have joined forces to offer a policy that includes special members-only discounts. Non-AARP members can still get coverage from The Hartford through an independent agent.
The Hartford/AARP offers many coverage options for renters insurance and has a user-friendly web presence. But you should weigh that against a larger-than-expected volume of consumer complaints.
Although AARP membership is technically open to all ages, The Hartford's insurance for AARP members is designed for renters age 50+.
The Hartford/AARP renters insurance star rating
The Hartford/AARP's renters insurance earned 4 out of 5 stars for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The renters insurance scoring formula takes into account policy coverage options and discounts, ease of filing a claim, website transparency, the financial strength of the company, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and more.
State availability
The Hartford/AARP renters insurance is available in Washington, D.C., and all states except Florida. However, you have to be an AARP member to get coverage in Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey and Rhode Island.
The Hartford/AARP renters insurance coverage
Landlords sometimes require tenants to purchase a policy with a minimum amount of renters liability insurance, but otherwise, the coverage you choose is generally up to you. Below are the four types of coverage included in most standard renters policies:
Type of coverage | What it does |
|---|---|
Covers your clothing, furniture, electronics and other belongings. | |
Pays for hotel stays, restaurant meals or other expenses if you have to live elsewhere while your home undergoes covered repairs. | |
Pays out if you're responsible for injuries to other people or damage to their property. | |
Covers injuries to other people in your home, regardless of fault. |
For more details, see What Does Renters Insurance Cover?
The Hartford/AARP also includes a special insurance deductible waiver as part of the standard policy. If you have a covered claim of $27,500 or more, The Hartford/AARP will waive up to $5,000 of your deductible. (The deductible is the part of a claim you’re responsible for paying.)
The policy also includes coverage for built-in improvements you’ve made to your home. For example, if your landlord lets you update your wallpaper or add built-in shelving, your policy would cover these items up to 10% of your personal property limit.
The Hartford/AARP has several other types of coverage you can add to your renters insurance policy. Along with common options such as coverage for identity fraud and high-value personal items like jewelry, it offers additional coverage for:
Appliances, systems or pieces of electronic equipment that break down.
Damage caused by water backing up or your sump pump overflowing.
The full cost of replacing lost or damaged personal items rather than their depreciated value.
Possessions damaged in an earthquake (coverage not available in all states).
Legal costs and judgments stemming from a charge of slander or libel.
» MORE: The best cheap renters insurance
Discounts
The Hartford/AARP offers a few ways to save on your renters insurance policy, depending on where you live. Discounts may be available for:
Bundling renters and auto insurance.
Living in a gated community or a building with 24-hour security.
Renewing your renters policy.
Having a monitored security system.
Not filing any claims for a certain amount of time.
Being an AARP member.
Consumer complaints
The Hartford/AARP received far more than the expected number of home insurance complaints to state regulators relative to its size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. (NAIC home insurance complaints also cover other home policy types, including mobile home, renters and condo insurance.)
Consumer experience
Website: The Hartford's website offers quotes right on the home page and allows for easy claim filing and tracking. It also features answers to frequently asked questions about renters insurance. If you start on the AARP's website, you'll be redirected to The Hartford's renters insurance page.
App: The Hartford's app is available for both iOS and Android devices. It allows you to file and track claims, pay bills and view policy documents, among other functions.
Claims: You can file a claim on The Hartford’s website or by calling the company. AARP policyholders should call 877-805-9918, while non-AARP members should call 800-243-5860. Once you’ve filed, you can track claims online or in the app.
Customer service: AARP members can get a quote seven days a week by calling 877-422-2345. AARP members who have questions about their renters policy can call 800-423-0567 Monday through Saturday. Not an AARP member? Call 888-413-8970 Monday through Friday for a quote or 800-624-5578 Monday through Saturday for other renters insurance questions.
Where The Hartford/AARP stands out
Coverage. The Hartford includes more than just the basics in its renters policies, with coverage for built-in improvements and a deductible waiver for big claims.
Discount for AARP members. Though you can get a Hartford policy without belonging to AARP, the company offers savings especially for AARP members.
Where The Hartford/AARP falls short
Consumer complaints. The Hartford draws a lot of consumer complaints to state regulators.
Potentially buggy app. The Hartford’s mobile app gets mixed reviews, with particularly negative feedback from Android users.
Other renters insurance companies to consider
Not ready to make a decision? You may be interested in these other renters insurance companies:
Allstate: Great coverage, available nationwide.
Nationwide: Renters insurance coverage with a few useful add-ons.
State Farm: The country’s largest insurer, with many coverage options.
Travelers: User-friendly website and strong coverage options.
Renters insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s renters insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints, coverage options, discounts and online experience. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our full renters insurance rating methodology.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2019-2021. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
