Information from The Hartford

Your Family
Your Work
Your Money
Your Retirement

This auto and home insurance program is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates, One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT 06155. CA License #5152. In Washington, the auto program is underwritten by Hartford Insurance Company of the Midwest, and the home program is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company. In Michigan, the auto and home programs are underwritten by Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company. The homeowners product is not available in all areas, including the state of Florida. Specific features, credits, and discounts may vary and may not be available in all states in accordance with state filings and applicable law. Applicants are individually underwritten and some may not qualify.
In Texas, the auto program is underwritten by Southern County Mutual Insurance Company through Hartford Underwriters General Agency. Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates are not financially responsible for insurance products underwritten and issued by Southern County Mutual Insurance Company. In Texas, the home program is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company.

* Savings amounts represent annual savings of policyholders who became new policyholders with this program between 7/1/10 and 6/30/12 and reported data on their prior carrier's premium. Your potential for savings varies, depending on current premium, driving record, and other risk characteristics.

Car Insurance

Car Insurance.
Fully Loaded.

Our auto insurance comes with lots of options and a great price.

Auto Insurance Features & Benefits

Innovative Features Come Standard Here

Features and Benefits You Can Count On

At The Hartford, we go beyond just savings to get you more for your dollar. We offer innovative car insurance features not found with some other providers. Here are some of the auto insurance benefits we provide.

RecoverCare Car Insurance Benefit

When you’re injured in a car accident, we help pay for you to get assistance with cooking, cleaning, shopping, transportation and even yard work if you need it.^§

Lifetime Car Repair Assurance

If you choose one of the more than 1,600 authorized auto repair shops in our approved network, we stand behind the workmanship of covered repairs for as long as you own or lease your vehicle.

No-Drop Promise

Once you become an automobile insurance policyholder, you’re assured continued car insurance coverage as long as you're able to drive and meet a few simple requirements.^†

24/7 Claim Hotline

Claims support is an important car insurance feature. Our claim experts are available for you anytime, day and night, to start your claim and get you back on the road.

New Car Replacement

If you experience a total loss of a new car within the first 15 months or 15,000 miles after you purchased it (whichever comes first), we'll pay the replacement cost of a new vehicle—the same make, model and equipment—with no deduction for depreciation.

Auto Insurance Upgrade Features

In addition to all the standard car insurance benefits we provide, you can get an automobile insurance quote with our Advantage Plus package that offers these additional benefits.

First Accident Forgiveness

If you qualify for this auto insurance benefit and you have a car accident, it won't count against you, and your auto insurance rates won't go up because of it.^††

Disappearing Deductible

Maintain a clean driving record, and we'll reduce your auto insurance collision deductible each year until it disappears. ^††

Waiver of Deductible for a Not At Fault Accident

If a collision loss is not your fault, then why should you have to pay your auto insurance deductible?

$100 Deductible Waiver

If you choose to take your car to one of our authorized auto repair shops, we'll waive $100 of your auto insurance collision deductible.

Affordable Auto Insurance

Ways to Save on Auto Insurance

Our Credits and Discounts Add Up

Affordable auto insurance may seem impossible without sacrificing quality coverage, but not at The Hartford. We offer exceptional coverage, features and services, all wrapped into one package. And our many available credits and discounts can make our affordable car insurance policies even more appealing.
Availability of each of these credits or auto insurance discounts may vary by state or policy plan.

Defensive Driver Credit

If you've completed an approved defensive driver course, you're eligible for an auto insurance discount from us for the next three full years. Just send us a copy of your certificate, and we’ll apply the credit.

Home & Auto Insurance Bundle

Bundling your affordable auto insurance coverage with your home insurance coverage might be a smart move. If you have homeowners insurance, condo insurance, or renters insurance with The Hartford, as well as auto insurance, you can save significantly on both.

Driver Training Credit

Receive a credit on your premium for drivers under 21 years old who successfully complete an approved training course.
In Georgia this discount applies to drivers under 25 years old.

Good Student Driver Credit

Good students can help with affordable auto insurance. Get a credit for full-time student under the age of 25 who owns or operates a vehicle insured by The Hartford and qualifies as a good student.^†

Air Bags Discount

Our car insurance has a discount for cars with automatic air bags. It’s a way we reward you for car safety. If your car is equipped with more than one air bag, you save even more.

Anti-Theft Device Discount

We reward you for making your car harder to steal. If you have active or passive anti-theft devices on your car, it can save you money on your comprehensive coverage.

Auto Insurance Coverage

Auto Insurance Coverage Designed For You

Understand the Car Insurance Coverage You Buy

Auto insurance coverage may seem confusing – but we’re here to make it easier. At The Hartford, we’ll work with you to determine the appropriate car insurance coverage for your needs. Below is an overview of the types of coverage we offer and how they each protect you. Click on the "+" sign for detail.

Not all coverages are available in all states.

Collision

Collision coverage pays for damage to your covered vehicle (up to its actual cash value), less the deductible amount, for losses caused by collision.
More on Collision Coverage

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage, known as "other than collision" coverage, pays for damage to your covered vehicle, less the deductible amount, from events such as fire, theft and hail.
More on Comprehensive Coverage

Medical Payments

This auto insurance coverage pays reasonable and necessary medical expenses, up to the selected limits, directly resulting from an auto accident.
Medical Payments Coverage

Bodily Injury Protection

Bodily Injury Protection protects you against financial loss when you are held legally responsible for an automobile accident causing injury or death to someone else.
More on Bodily Injury Protection

Property Damage Liability

Property Damage Liability covers you against financial loss if you are found liable for damage to other people’s property (fences, another vehicle, etc.) caused by your auto.
More on Property Damage Liability

Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury

This coverage pays bodily injury or death expenses for you and any passengers in your vehicle up to your policy limits if you're struck by a driver who doesn’t have insurance.
Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury

Uninsured Motorist Property Damage

This coverage pays for damage to your vehicle when it is struck by an uninsured driver, a hit-and-run driver, or an insured driver whose Property Damage Liability limit is inadequate to cover the property damage losses incurred.
More on Uninsured Motorist Property Damage

Personal Injury Protection

This auto insurance coverage pays benefits for the cost of personal injuries resulting from an automobile accident. Coverage applies without regard to who was at fault.
More On Personal Injury Protection (No-Fault Insurance)

Full Glass

This coverage pays the amount of a covered glass loss with no deductible being applied. It is an optional coverage on your policy.
More on Full Glass Coverage

Towing and Labor

This car insurance coverage pays up to the selected limit for towing of your covered vehicle when it is inoperable, whether or not there is an accident involved.
More on Towing and Labor Coverage

Rental Reimbursement

Car Insurance Coverage Calculator

Do You Have the Right Coverage?

Car Insurance Calculator Guides You

The Hartford's car insurance calculator - or coverage guide - can help determine the right auto insurance coverage amounts for your individual needs.

How Does the Car Insurance Calculator Work?

Insurance coverage isn't one size fits all. That's why The Hartford’s online quote process includes an auto insurance calculator that can help determine the best coverage for you.
The coverage guide asks you a few questions about the drivers on your policy, the vehicles on your policy, and your total income and assets. All of the information is important for the auto insurance calculator to determine the right coverage for you.
Then, in just a couple minutes, the auto insurance coverage calculator will provide suggested coverage limits, customized for you. Once you have your suggested limits, you can learn more about each coverage limit and complete your personalized auto insurance estimate.

Request an Auto Insurance Quote Online

Auto Insurance from The Hartford

Auto Insurance Quotes from The Hartford

Auto insurance from The Hartford means great coverage at a great price. And you can get car insurance quotes from us anytime online. But The Hartford’s protection goes beyond just savings to get you more for your dollar.

We offer innovative features and benefits not found with some other auto insurance providers. People who request car insurance quotes today – can find out how they could be getting so much more by switching to The Hartford.

What You Need to Know

Return to Your Car

Your Car

Take a Defensive Driving Class

Many organizations offer defensive driving classes. A defensive driving course covers age-related changes that can affect driving, such as changes to vision, strength and reflexes.

You'll also learn valuable information on how medications can affect your ability to drive. These classes are also a great way to refresh your knowledge on state laws and get some practical tips on driving safely in today's environment. If you haven't had a refresher since you were first licensed to drive this is a great way to become more informed and safer. Many classes are offered in person in a classroom but online courses are becoming increasingly popular.

Possible Discounts

Many states offer an auto insurance discount for residents who complete a defensive driving course. Check with your insurance company or agent for information on what you would have to do to qualify.

The AARP Driver Safety Program

The nation's first and largest driver improvement course designed for drivers age 50 and older. Since its inception in 1979, the program has helped millions of drivers stay safe on today's roads. Available in a classroom and online setting, the course is open to AARP members and non-members of all ages, and there are no tests. The course covers topics such as defensive driving, new traffic laws and rules of the road, techniques for handling driving situations such as left turns and right-of-way and understanding new car safety technology. Course participants may also be eligible to receive an insurance discount upon completion. For more information or to register, click here or call 1-866-664-5364.

Techniques to Avoid Crashes

Most crashes are not inevitable. While some are beyond your control, you can do a lot to avoid, or at least reduce the effects of, many crashes. While a defensive driving program will teach you many useful techniques for avoiding accidents, a few of the most important methods are highlighted here.

Left turns at intersectionsThis is one of the major accident situations involving older drivers. That’s because there can be many elements demanding your attention, like other cars, pedestrians, kids on bikes, or a changing light – and a driver who is trying to run it. Impaired depth perception and other vision changes can make this a treacherous situation. Exercise greater caution while making a left-hand turn or choose a route that avoids difficult turns.

RolloversThese types of accidents are responsible for 33% of car fatalities. Of those killed in rollover crashes, nearly 75% were not wearing a seat belt. Vehicles that are narrow and taller, such as SUVs, pickup trucks and vans, have a greater likelihood of rolling over. This is another factor to consider when selecting a vehicle. Of course, always wear your seatbelt and don’t speed.

Changing lanesThis type of accident is a major problem for adult drivers. As we age, we may have more difficulty turning our heads to look at cars approaching in an adjoining lane. Rear-view mirrors are important safety tools, but they’re not enough. Turn your head and look for approaching traffic in the lane into which you’ll be moving.

Parking lots It will be no surprise to anyone who has driven that most parking lots are driving nightmares. Cars are backing up, often with the side views blocked by large vehicles, trucks or buildings; shoppers are hurrying without a glance left or right; and children are running across driving lanes.

Dark, rainy nightsThese driving situations are difficult at any age, and they’re especially dangerous for us as we age. By the time we reach our 40s and 50s, we have already noticed that our vision is less sharp on dark, rainy nights. Do your best to avoid driving in these conditions if you are uncomfortable. Now is the time to bum a ride or, if possible, to put off the errand or visit until tomorrow.

Good Advice for Parking

Park so that you can drive forward from your spot when it’s time to leave, if at all possible.
Park farther away in the parking lot if you can, so you will have fewer cars and pedestrians to contend with as you depart.
Drive very slowly in the lot and be prepared to stop quickly at every intersection, whether or not you have a stop sign.
Watch for other drivers who can’t be bothered driving in the established lanes, and who choose instead to follow their own direct route diagonally across the lot.

Your Car

Car Safety Features

Manufacturers design various safety features to avoid crashes and/or protect you and your passengers if a crash occurs. While most vehicles on the road today have equipment such as anti-lock brakes designed to help you avoid a crash, a variety of new, high-tech car safety features are in various stages of development and testing.

Size Matters

Millions of crashes involving tens of thousands of deaths occur every year – so it’s critical to select one of the vehicles that are most likely to protect you from death or injury if you should be involved in an accident.

While many factors enter into our decision to select a specific car or vehicle, size is an important consideration. The death rate for occupants of small vehicles is more than double the death rate for occupants of large cars. Finding a car that offers you the most protection while still comfortable with handling the vehicle is a balancing act. If you review the safety ratings of vehicles you will notice that medium and larger vehicles are often rated more highly on safety.

However, vehicles weighing more than 4,500 pounds, such as large SUVs, offer only slightly increased protection for occupants while increasing the injury risks for people in other, smaller cars.

Auto Safety Systems

Safety systems to protect you in a crash have come a long way. First we had safety belts and then a single air bag. Today our vehicles have sophisticated engineering to protect us. Our auto safety system includes a safety belt, seat design and numerous airbags. Each of these car safety features contributes to safety but more importantly they're designed to be used in combination. For instance, not wearing a safety belt in a car that has airbags can be very dangerous and cause the driver to "submarine" under the air bag in the event of a crash.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ESC has already proven to be highly effective. ESC helps drivers maintain control in the worst on-the-road crisis – loss of control at high speed – when the electronic stability control engages automatically to help bring the vehicle back into the intended line of travel. The device aids braking, assists in emergency handling, and improves rollover resistance. ESC lowers the risk of a fatal single car crash by about half, and the risk of a fatal rollover crash by as much as 80 percent!

Air Bags

All new cars have driver and passenger frontal air bags, and most models now offer side air bags as well. Air bags inflate in a fraction of a second, offering excellent protection.

Some vehicles without rear seats, such as pickup trucks and sports cars, have a passenger air bag on-off switch, which allows you to disable the air bag. The air bag should be switched off only if you are transporting a passenger whose age, size or medical condition puts him or her at increased risk for an air-bag-related injury. (Children under the age of 13 should always ride in the back seat because of the danger posed by the air bag to those of small stature.)

Lap-and-Shoulder Safety Belts

Always wear safety belts and wear them correctly.
Drivers seat adjustments: be sure your drivers seat is properly adjusted to maximize safety in the event of a crash.
Check the seat adjustments: can you raise it high enough so that you can see at least three inches over the wheel?
Does the seat back adjust so that the entire length of your back fits against the seat back? Are you comfortable with your seat back fairly straight (another way to prevent “submarining”)?
Be sure to leave at least 10 inches between your breastbone and the steering wheel to protect you from the air bag.
Can you easily reach the gas pedal, and fully depress the brake (and the clutch) without lifting yourself off the seat cushion?
The driver’s seat is one of the most under-appreciated safety features in any car. Make sure you purchase a car that has a seat that fits you!

Additional Features That Can Contribute to Safety

Instrument panels that are easy to read at a glance or voice controlled features that allow you to keep your hands on the wheel at all times.
Backup cameras with ultrasonic parking assistance
Cornering headlights
Headlight washing systems
Narrow windshield and window pillars that allow a full view of the road
Rear windshield wiper, especially if the car is a station wagon, hatchback or van
Lane departure warning systems

The Dangers of Night Driving

Traffic death rates are three times greater at night than during the day. Yet many of us are unaware of the special hazards of night driving.
Why is night driving so dangerous? One obvious answer is darkness. The primary component of a driver's reaction is vision, and night vision is severely limiting. Depth perception, color recognition, and peripheral vision are compromised when driving at night.
Older drivers have even greater difficulties with night vision. As we age, we need more light to see as well as we could in our younger years.

Night Driving Safety Advice

Prepare your car for night driving. Clean headlights, tail lights, signal lights and windows at least once a week. You should also have a mechanic check your headlight aim twice a year.
Don't drink and drive! Drinking and driving is a leading cause of accidents – including night driving accidents.
Avoid smoking when driving at night. Night vision can be worsened by the effects of nicotine and carbon monoxide.
Turn your headlights on at dusk. Lights will not help night vision in early twilight, but they'll make it easier for other drivers to see you.
Reduce your speed while driving at night and increase your following distances. Remember not to overdrive your headlights. You should be able to stop inside the illuminated area.
When you’re driving at night and there is another driver ahead of you, keep your headlights on low beams so you don't blind the other driver. If an oncoming vehicle doesn't lower their beams from high to low, avoid glare by watching the right edge of the road and using it as a steering guide.
If on a long road trip that includes night driving, make frequent stops for light snacks and exercise. If you're too tired to drive, stop and get rest.
If you have car trouble while driving at night, pull off the road as far as possible. Turn on your flashers and the dome light. Stay off the roadway and get passengers away from the area.
Observe night driving safety as soon as the sun goes down. Twilight is one of the most difficult times to drive, because your eyes are constantly changing to adapt to the growing darkness.

Your Car

Green Driving Tips That Help Your Wallet

You don't necessarily need to spend a lot of money on a hybrid to drive green. Making even a small improvement to your car's fuel efficiency can make a big difference to the environment. Here are a few green driving tips to reduce the carbon footprint of the car that's already sitting in your driveway—and in the process, to save money.

Get a tune-up for the environment

Proper maintenance can have a big impact on how much gas you use. The payback for repairs varies, but fixing a serious problem like a malfunctioning oxygen sensor can improve fuel efficiency by as much as 40 percent.

Pay attention to your tires

The next time you need tires, consider buying low rolling resistance (LRR) tires. Rolling resistance is essentially the energy that your tires consume as they compress under the weight of your vehicle, and LRR tires can improve fuel efficiency by 1.5 to 4.5 percent.
Even with standard tires, proper inflation can make a big difference: The Department of Energy estimates that underinflated tires waste 1.2 billion gallons of gasoline per year. Once a month, use a gauge (not your eyes) to check each tire's pressure. (Most hardware and auto supply stores carry them for around $15.) You'll find the correct inflation number (noted as PSI, or pounds per square inch) in the owner's manual—don't go by the number listed on the tire itself, as that reflects the maximum pressure the tire can withstand.
And remember this green driving tip: The tire pressure fluctuates with the temperature. For every 10-degree drop in outside temperature, tire pressure goes down 1 PSI. So you may have to treat your tires differently in January than you would in June.

Lose the junk in the trunk

Here’s a simple green driving tip: Those miscellaneous items that we all haul around can add up to lots of extra weight—and a hundred pounds equals about a 2 percent reduction in gas mileage.

Update your oil

Engines on newer car models (those less than 10 years old) often require lightweight oil such as 0W20 or 0W30. (The lower the number before the W, the easier the engine will start in cold weather. The number after the W represents the oil's thickness.) Not only will thicker oil reduce your car's fuel efficiency because more energy is needed to push through it, but the heavier oil can fail to lubricate the small spaces in a modern engine.

Adjust your octane

Many drivers (9 million by some estimates) mistakenly believe that pumping premium gasoline in their tank will help their engines run better; some drivers periodically opt for higher grades (91 octane and above), thinking it will help them clean out the car's fuel system. In both cases, this is a wasted effort. If your car wasn't designed to run on high-octane gas (94 percent of cars on the road today are designed to run on regular), using it will cause more unburned fuel to get into the emissions system, interfering with its ability to prevent noxious fumes. Premium gas also requires more energy to refine, so buying it when you don't have to is bad for the environment at both the production and consumption ends of the market.

Go green when you need to cool off

On short trips and when driving around town, keeping your windows down is more efficient than using the air conditioner. At highway speeds, use the air conditioner, as open windows and sunroofs create drag when you're moving fast. A green driving tip: Using the vents is the most fuel-efficient cooling option of all.

Drive gently

"Jackrabbit" starts and screeching stops are hard on your automobile and increase fuel consumption. Flooring the gas pedal just once can emit as much carbon monoxide as half an hour of normal driving. And slow down: Every car has an optimal range for fuel economy, generally from about 25 to 65 mph. (Check your owner's manual for this range.) For every 5 mph over this range that you drive, you're reducing fuel efficiency by about 7 percent.

Be eco-friendly, even when parked

Gas can evaporate even from a closed tank—and heat speeds up the process, so park in the shade when possible. By doing so, you'll also reduce the amount of energy needed to cool your car when you start driving.

Your Car

Be Prepared with a Car Emergency Kit

Having a car emergency kit in your car is sort of like having good insurance. You hope you'll never need it—but boy are you glad it's there on road trips if you have an accident or need to help others.

If you become stranded, it can be critical to have the right supplies to speed up being rescued, say driver-safety experts. This is especially true in winter weather, when having the right supplies could also mean your survival.

It's easy to be prepared for road trips. Auto emergency kits with most of these essentials cost $30 to $100 at stores that sell auto accessories. But you can also assemble your own car emergency kit. To be ready for any roadside emergency, here's what you should include.

What Belongs in the Trunk

Use a sturdy canvas bag with handles or a plastic bin to store your auto emergency kit, and secure it so it doesn't roll or bounce around when the car is moving. Include the following:

Flashlight and extra batteries
Cloth or roll of paper towels
Jumper cables
Blankets
Flares or warning triangles
Drinking water
Nonperishable snacks, such as energy or granola bars
Extra clothes
First-aid kit
Basic tool kit that includes, at minimum, flat-head and Phillips screwdrivers, pliers, and adjustable wrench

Winter Add-ons

Inventory your items in the winter and spring, and include these six items before the winter months:

Window washer solvent
Ice scraper
Bag of sand, salt, or cat litter, or traction mats
Snow shovel
Snow brush
Gloves, hats, and additional blanket

Glove Compartment

Not all emergency equipment should be behind the backseat or in the trunk. Here are three essential items to stow within the driver's reach:

Mobile phone
Phone charger
Auto-safety hammer (some have an emergency beacon and belt-cutting tool, too)

Lewis Insurance
2525 S. Lamar Ste 11
Austin, TX
78704

www.nationwide.com/joshlewis
www.austinhealthbrokers.com

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Auto Insurance You Can Count On

Personal Auto

Employee Benefits

Additional Services

You are here (breadcrumb)

Text Size:

Vehicle Insurance

Auto Insurance You Can Count On

Articles about Your Car

Existing Customer?

Auto Testimonial

Find an Insurance Agent

Coverage by State

Expertise on Aging

Life Ahead Links

Functional Footer

Footer Primary Navigation

Follow us on:

Car Insurance

Car Insurance.Fully Loaded.

More on Car Insurance

Articles about Your Car

Auto Testimonial

Find a Repair Shop

The Right Coverage

Go Mobile

Functional Footer

Footer Primary Navigation

Follow us on:

Auto Insurance Features & Benefits

Innovative Features Come Standard Here

Features and Benefits You Can Count On

Auto Insurance Upgrade Features

Affordable Auto Insurance

Ways to Save on Auto Insurance

Our Credits and Discounts Add Up

Home & Auto Insurance Bundle

Auto Insurance Coverage

Auto Insurance Coverage Designed For You

Understand the Car Insurance Coverage You Buy

Car Insurance Coverage Calculator

Do You Have the Right Coverage?

Car Insurance Calculator Guides You

How Does the Car Insurance Calculator Work?

Request an Auto Insurance Quote Online

Auto Insurance from The Hartford

Auto Insurance Quotes from The Hartford

Your Car

Take a Defensive Driving Class

Your Car

Car Safety Features

The Dangers of Night Driving

Your Car

Green Driving Tips That Help Your Wallet

Your Car

Be Prepared with a Car Emergency Kit

No comments:

Post a Comment

Auto Insurance
You Can Count On

Car Insurance.
Fully Loaded.