Direct Auto vs. Hartford Insurance

Which insurance carrier is right for you? Compare cost, ratings, and quotes from Direct Auto and Hartford.

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Direct Auto vs. Hartford: What You Need to Know

In 1991, William Adair had the vision of creating a premier, non-standard automobile insurance company that served customers better than any other insurer, He founded Direct Auto Company, the first company owned by Direct General Insurance Group, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. The business has since expanded, but the beliefs remain true to Adair’s original vision.

Direct Auto Company specializes in providing auto insurance for all people, even those considered “high-risk” or who need SR-22 certification. Today, Direct Auto Company has more than 400 retail store locations across the United States and provides consumers a variety of products and services online, in-store and over the phone.

In 1810, Nathaniel Terry was the president of a small fire insurance company which, 15 years later, wrote a policy for Yale University. In 1835, a large fire destroyed most of the buildings in New York City’s Financial District and all claims were paid. In 1861, the Hartford provided protection for president-elect Abraham Lincoln’s Illinois home after he arranged to move to the White House. In 1871, a fire ravaged more than three square miles of Chicago, and Hartford took care of the casualties. In 1906, 500 city blocks in San Francisco were destroyed by an earthquake and fires. The Hartford paid over $11 million in damages. In 1913, The Hartford formed the Accident and Indemnity Company, providing improved automobile and property coverage for fires, accidents, liability and more. In 1920, the company covered Baby Ruth with a policy. Years later, they even protected President Dwight Eisenhower’s 190-acre farm, where he hosted world leaders. In 1931, the Hartford insured the Hoover Dam, in 1937 the Golden Gate Bridge. In 1959, they insured the St. Lawrence Seaway. In 1947 The Hartford established the Junior Fire Marshal program, which has been teaching fire prevention and safety to millions of children. In 1983, a dedicated small business service center was formed to meet the new demands for businesses. In 1984, The Hartford became the exclusive provider of home and auto insurance for AARP members and the Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence was established to empower mature adults. In 2001 the company paid over $850 million in claims after the 9/11 terror attacks. Since 1994, The Hartford has been a sponsor of the U.S. Paralympics. Since 2003, they’ve participated in the Ability Equipped program, which provides access to adaptive sports and equipment for people with disabilities across the country. The year 2010 was The Hartford’s 200th anniversary. Since its inception, the company has been named a World’s Most Ethical Company 11 times by the Ethisphere Institute.

Below is a list of average rates, rankings, products, and discounts for the two companies. For full company overviews, you can visit Direct Auto Overview and Hartford Overview.

Direct Auto vs. Hartford: How much are the Average Rates?

Below is a list of the average rates that drivers typically pay with Direct Auto and Hartford. On average, Direct Auto charges approximately $95.45 per month while Hartford comes in at around $194.38 per month. For Direct Auto, the cheapest state average is California at $71.77 per month and the most expensive is Texas at $73.77 per month. For Hartford, the cheapest state average is California at $194.38 per month and the most expensive is California at $194.38 per month.

Direct Auto

Average Rate

$95.45
Hartford

Average Rate

$194.38
National

Average Rate

$133.49
State Direct Auto Hartford
California $71.77 $194.38
Texas $73.77 -

Direct Auto vs. Hartford: Rates by Number of Vehicle

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Drivers will typically get a discount if they insure multiple vehicles. Here is a list of average rates that Direct Auto and Hartford typically charge for drivers who have more than 1 vehicle.

Number of Vehicles Direct Auto Hartford
1 Vehicle $95.30 $187.98
2 Vehicles $ $269.04

Direct Auto vs. Hartford: Rates by Homeownership

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Rates Are Not Currently Available

What is Direct Auto and Hartford Insurance Rating?

Which car insurance company is better? We've made it easy to compare companies side by side. See how Direct Auto and Hartford ranked among the industry ratings.

ComparisonDirect AutoHartford
Year Founded19911810
BBB RatingA+A-
Financial StrengthExcellentExcellent
NAIC Complaint Index6.06
NAIC Complaint Ratio1.65
S&P RatingA

Direct Auto or Hartford: Insurance Products Offered

What coverage is available through Direct Auto and Hartford? Both insurance companies offer Auto, Commercial, and RV insurance. Additional products from Hartford insurance also includes Condo, Health, Home, Motorcycle, Renters, and Umbrella insurance. Considering these two top insurance providers? Check out the list below. To view a full list of products that are available, visit Direct Auto and Hartford Insurance page.

InsuranceDirect AutoHartford
Auto Insurance
Commercial Insurance
Condo Insurance
Health Insurance
Home Insurance
Motorcycle Insurance
Renters Insurance
RV Insurance
Umbrella Insurance

Direct Auto or Hartford: Ways To Save

Hartford offers a wide range of discounts to its policyholders, including Anti-theft Device, Bundle Insurance Savings, and Defensive Driver Course discounts. Direct Auto also offers a few discounts that Hartford doesn’t include Welcome Back, Senior Citizen, and Safe Driver discounts. Start taking advantage of discounts offered by insurance providers like Hartford and Direct Auto insurance and save yourself some money. You can review the full list of discounts that these two companies offer below.

Direct AutoHartford
Affinity DiscountAirbags Discount
Good Student DiscountAnti-theft Device Discount
Homeowner DiscountBundle Insurance Savings
Mileage DiscountDefensive Driver Course
Military DiscountDriver Training Discount
Multi-Car DiscountGood Student Discount
Multi-Product DiscountPaid-in-Full Discount
Prior Coverage DiscountVehicle Fuel Type (Hybrid or Electric Vehicles)
Renewal Discount
Safe Driver Discount
Senior Citizen Discount
Welcome Back Discount

Pros & Cons of Direct Auto & Hartford

Pros

Direct Auto
  • Flexible billing options and customizable insurance payments
  • Affordable rates regardless of consumers driving history
  • Offers SR-22 filing for drivers
  • Offers a variety of discounts
Hartford
  • Great discounts for AARP members for both auto and home.
  • High customer satisfaction ratings.

Cons

Direct Auto
  • Claims only by phone. There is no option to file a claim online.
Hartford
  • This is not the most affordable option for newer drivers and non-AARP members.
  • A high number of complaints filed.

Direct Auto or Hartford Mobile Apps Options

The Hartford smartphone app allows users to view important documents and access a digital auto ID card. You can pay bills, file and track claims, contact an agent, access roadside assistance and more.

Direct Auto Mobile App
Direct Auto does not currently have a mobile app.
Hartford Mobile App
iOS     3.9265 user reviews
Android     3.7513 user reviews

Direct Auto & Hartford Contact Info

Direct Auto Contact Info
Address1128 Murfreesboro Road, Nashville, TN
Phone1-877-463-4732
Websitehttps://www.directauto.com/
Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/directautoIns
Twitterhttps://twitter.com/directautoins
Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/user/DirectAutoIns
Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/directautoins/

Hartford Contact Info
Address690 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT, 06155
Phone1-800-423-6789
Websitehttps://www.thehartford.com/
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/TheHartford/
Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/thehartford
Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TheHartford
Linkedinhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/the-hartford/

Methodology
The statistics listed on this page are from our own in house reporting. We track and record quotes that carriers have provided based on various criteria. The rates and averages shown on this page should only be used as an estimate.

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