Auto, Renters Insurance

[RoyS995151]

Date: 04/08/2025

As an AARP Member and using The AARP/Hartford Auto and Renters Bundle Insurance. I am retired. Don`t drive much. The Premiums are out of reach for Many of us as the Premiums have gone Shy High. I have called The Hartford and get the answer the US has experienced Hurricane's/Storms Etc., but not in this State (Maryland). What are seniors to do. This was a great encouragement for me to join AARP in the first place. The Premiums were Ok and then Bam, Premiums $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Shy High. I thought AARP was to help us Seniors. It is not just me. I know other Seniors with AARP/The Hartford and they don`t drive very much as well. Can AARP Help Me and all the responsible Seniors in this area (Maryland). Perhaps you should think of another Auto, Renters, Home owners Insurance Company as most of us went along with AARP`s suggestion to go to The Hartford. Please help us. we are on a Fixed Income and need any help you can give us. You can use my Name.

Roy Stewart. I hope this gets to the higher Management of the AARP.

[AARPConsumerCare]

Hi RoyS995151. I understand how frustrating insurance premium increases are. We'd like to get some more information from you and help you look into this. Visit https://aarp.info/3epCObA to chat, text, or call us. Thanks for being an AARP member. - Brandon C.

[VirginiaB656250]

Hello.  I too, just received my auto insurance premium bill from The Hartford for 2025/26 which has skyrocketed about 75%!  We got this insurance last year and got a big reduction from my previous carrier, and now I am shocked at how this is affecting us.  Seems like a scam to pull you in and then increase the price like this after 1 year!  I also cannot get an itemized list of all of the credits that are supposed to be on my policy, which makes me very skeptical.  Cannot contact the insurance co. by email, and have had different quotes from different cust service reps on the credits I'm supposed to be receiving.  --would love to hear your response and advice in moving forward.  Thanks.

[AARPConsumerCare]

VirginiaB656250 We're sorry to hear you're having trouble with The Hartford. We are listening and would like the chance to help as soon as possible. Please visit https://help.aarp.org/s/article/contact-aarp to chat, text, or speak with a representative who can get you in touch with our Member Relations team. - Christy C. 

[GailL1]

Premium increases to auto and homeowners (and I guess renters too) are being increased for insurers because the cost of [whatever to whichever] has increased dramatically.  Inflation does not just affect the cost of eggs.  Look at the cost of a new car, look at the cost of repairs if the is laden with technology or many extras.

I don’t have Hartford for anything and for my 2025-2026 new premiums, each of my insurance coverages have gone up more than $ 800 each.  So I am (1) talking to my agent about what I can do with the existing policy to still have adequate coverage for myself.  (2) am getting coverage comparable quotes from other insurance companies that are rated highly by AM BEST.

THE PROBLEMS for auto insurance [with whatever insurer]  

• the cost of repairing or replacing has increased,
• more drivers and autos are now out there without coverage or with just ther bear minimum because they have dropped coverage or gone to the minimum. 
• we still age and that has a bearing on your rate too

What can we do here - remember the more risk that you accept on your coverage, the less is on the insurer and thus a lower premium.

• raise your deductible on Collision coverage 
• raise you deductible on Comprehensive coverage 
• make sure that, if applicable, that you get the low miles driven reduction
• review the rest of your coverage and remove what might be fluff if you don’t need it and make sure the liability / collision/ comprehensive /UN and UnderInsured motorist and Medical are at the limits that you need.

That’s pretty much all you can do and still stay properly insured - you need the liability coverage and as much as you can just in case it has to be paid out in injury or property damage or you will just end up getting sued.

Some people have the philosophy that if they have nothing already, what is there to try to protect so they become an UN or UNDER insured motorist.  Then it just ups other people’s premiums under this category of UNDER and UN-INSURED COVERAGE.

For Homeowners - 

Much of your cost is already determined based on the size and age of house and where it is located.  And again, the more risk one accepts on themselves, the less the insurance company is accepting - so INCREASE those deductibles as much as possible.  Make your homeowners (and I guess renters too) a catastrophic coverage and cover other stuff yourself if possible.  You are the one to determine whether you cover some stuff in premiums or in out of pocket cost if the condition occurs like a water leak, or a tree falls over your driveway.  

What can you do to lower homeowners insurance premiums:

• Raise the deductible- if you can - some mortgage companies, if you have a mortgage require a minimum deductible.
• UPgrade your home and let the insurer know that you did it - I am talking about an older home - upgrading your power box and wiring or your plumbing or water system if needed depending on the age of the home
• roofs that are older than 20 -25 years old need to be evaluated for replacement - let the insurer know when you replace it.
• there is nothing the property owner can do about the cost of demolition, labor, construction cost and at the moment that is a huge part of homeowners insurance and we can’t just move it out of harms way.

If anybody else has any suggestions on ideas to lower premiums but yet still remain adequately insured - I am all ears.

Maybe the best thing AARP could do here is to have one of their seminars on this - a Q&A type.  

[papawofboo]

Why don't you just do a search for insurance plans? 

Hartford has never had the best price in all my years of having auto insurance.

[Winter2025VA]

But keep in mind Papaw @papawofboo , that NEW AARP Members are trusting since Hartford is the suggestion = they have looked out for us. Anyway, I have Allstate in Virginia. My daughter has Progressive in Florida. We are happy!!! Good advice, ALWAYS explore your options in life for YOURSELF. Take care my friend, Nicole  👵

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➡️[*** Papaw wrote on Friday 5/9/25:

Why don't you just do a search for insurance plans? 

Hartford has never had the best price in all my years of having auto insurance. ***]

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[GailL1]

@Winter2025VA 

Keep your older car running as long as you can - and don’t get older - at 70, hold on to your hat - that is about when they start upping the rates based on age.  It does not matter about your driving record  - at 70 and over one is considered a riskier driver.  Data is not our friend when insurance premiums for auto coverage comes around.

It is what it is - we can only change what we can.