Auto Insurance FAQs

If you have questions about car insurance, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve gathered helpful auto insurance FAQs to answer common questions from drivers like you.
Author:
Lily DiGregorio
Lily DiGregorio,Staff copywriter
Lily DiGregorio
Staff copywriter specializing in auto and home insurance for The Hartford.
Reviewed By:
Ben Ewbank
Ben Ewbank,Head of Personal Lines State Product and Pricing
Ben Ewbank
Head of Personal Lines State Product and Pricing at The Hartford.
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Updated: 06/11/2025
Read Time: 6 minutes
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Car Insurance 101

If you’re asking yourself, “What does car insurance cover,” most policies typically have:
 
  • Bodily injury liability coverage to help protect you from financial loss if you hurt someone in an accident.
  • Property damage liability coverage to cover the costs if your car causes damage to property you don’t own.
  • Collision coverage that helps pay to fix your car if you hit another vehicle or object.
  • Comprehensive coverage to cover the cost of car repairs from non-vehicle accidents like natural disasters, theft, vandalism or collision with an animal.
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to help pay expenses if you are hit by a driver who doesn’t have any or enough car insurance. Uninsured motorist coverage includes bodily injury and property damage protection if you’re in an accident with a driver who is uninsured. Underinsured motorist coverage covers bodily injury if you’re in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have enough insurance.
  • Medical Payments is an optional car insurance coverage that helps pay for any medical expenses or rehabilitation.2
  • Personal injury protection (PIP) helps pay for covered losses related to injuries from a car accident, no matter who was at fault.
A few examples of things not covered by car insurance are:
 
  • General wear and tear on your vehicle
  • Maintenance or mechanical failures
  • Accidents caused by street racing or stunt driving
  • Theft of belongings in your car
Car insurance is required in almost every state and the minimum requirements for coverage can vary depending on where you live. You can learn more about what is needed where you live by reviewing the car insurance by state requirements.
To be eligible for AARP® Auto Insurance from The Hartford,1 you need to be at least 50 years of age and a member of AARP. If you aren’t a member, we can help you sign up when you buy your policy.
Some insurance companies offer grace periods, ranging from seven to 30 days. But whether the lapse of coverage was on purpose or not, your rates might go up. If your coverage with another car insurance company lapses, you may still be able to get coverage with The Hartford. If you're buying a used car, you'll generally have a grace period to add the car to your auto insurance policy. But if you're buying a new car, most dealerships will require you to have insurance before you drive off the lot.
There is a lot to consider when buying car insurance, such as:
 
  • Credit score: Your credit score is used as a risk factor for insurance and will help determine your car insurance premium.
  • Age: How old your car is will play a role in how much coverage you may want.
  • Deductibles: The higher your deductible, the less you will pay monthly. But you will have bigger out-of-pocket costs if you ever need to file a claim.
  • Location: It’s important to consider where you are driving, such as a city, rural area or suburb, when deciding what coverage you need.
  • Coverage: In addition to any optional coverages you may want to buy, your state may also have coverage requirements to keep in mind.
  • Discounts: Most insurance companies offer a range of discounts to help you save.
Car insurance is legally required in almost every state in the U.S. It can also help ensure you’re financially protected if you’re held responsible for damages. While penalties can vary by state, if you get caught driving without insurance, you could face:
 
  • Large fines
  • Driver’s license or car registration cancellations
  • Suspended licenses
  • Jail time

Car Insurance Quote Questions

It takes as little as eight minutes to get a quote from the AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford. You will just need to fill out basic information, such as details about you, your vehicle and other drivers on your policy.
  • Information about you, like your name, birthday, mailing address and occupation status.
  • Details about your vehicle, such as year, make and model as well as ownership status.
  • Additional information about other drivers on your policy, how they are related to you and what car they drive.
  • Information about your current insurance policy may be asked too, like your current limits or policy length.
When you’re looking into multiple car insurance quotes, make sure your coverages, deductibles and policy limits are the same. It’s important to remember that a cheaper monthly car insurance bill might not have the coverage you need or may come with a high deductible that could put you at financial risk.

Rates and Payment Questions

While insurance rates vary, AARP members can get car insurance for as little as $78*** per month with the AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford. However, your individual monthly car insurance cost depends on a number of factors, like your coverage limits.
One common auto insurance FAQ is wondering how much you’ll pay. The answer is - it depends. Your car insurance premium is based on different factors, like:
 
  • Driving record: Maintain a clean driving record to help keep your insurance costs down. You may even qualify for additional discounts.
  • Car Information: The type of car you drive, what you use it for and how often you drive it can all play a role in calculating your premium.
  • State: Your car insurance premium can vary depending on where you live.
  • Age: How old you are can impact your car insurance bill, since age is used to calculate risk.
Your individual car insurance rate is influenced by factors like your driving history or type of vehicle. To calculate roughly how much your car insurance will cost, a car insurance calculator can help explain how coverage limits and deductibles impact premium.
While many factors contribute to your individual auto insurance rate, with the AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford, your car insurance cost per month can be as little as $78.***
A car insurance FAQ that we get asked often is about how much you’ll pay for coverage. The average cost of car insurance for customers of the AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford is $1,389 per year, or $116 per month.‡‡‡

Car Insurance Discount Questions

The AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford has car insurance discounts exclusively for AARP members, like saving an average of $813** when you bundle your auto and home policies. Members can also save by paying in full, quoting online or having certain car safety features, to name a few.

Car Insurance Coverage Questions

Full coverage car insurance is a combination of different types of car insurance coverages. Generally, a full coverage car insurance policy meets the state requirements for liability insurance and includes comprehensive and collision coverage.
Comprehensive car insurance helps cover the costs of damage to your car for non-collision related claims, like:
 
  • Natural disasters, such as hurricanes or tornados
  • Vandalism
  • Theft
  • Fire
  • Falling objects
  • A civil disturbance, like a riot
  • Hitting an animal
  • Glass damage
Comprehensive coverage is included in most full coverage car insurance policies, along with other types of auto coverages.
Car insurance covers theft through comprehensive coverage. If your car is stolen, comprehensive coverage will help to pay for the actual cash value (ACV) of your car, minus your deductible.
We can help if you’re wondering, "Do I need rental car Insurance?" Some auto policies cover a rental car, while others do not. If it’s not included in your policy, most insurance companies offer a supplemental coverage you can buy. You can also get temporary rental car insurance from the rental company or use a credit card that provides rental car coverage.
Gap insurance is an optional car insurance coverage that can help pay off your loan if your car is stolen or totaled. Also known as loan or lease gap coverage, gap insurance helps to pay the difference between your car’s actual cash value (ACV) and the amount you owe on the loan if your car is stolen or totaled.

Additional Car Insurance FAQs

 
 
*** Based on Maine Auto policyholders 1 vehicle and driver; individual rate/premium/savings will vary based on actual coverage selections and vehicle(s)/driver(s) characteristics.
** Average savings amounts based on information reported by customers who switched to The Hartford from other carriers between 9/1/22 and 8/31/23. Your savings may vary. Average auto insurance savings is $577 and average home insurance savings is $236. Rate differences for AARP members and non-members vary by state and AARP membership tenure. Auto/Home discount is available only to policyholders who have both their auto and home (or condo or renters) insurance through the AARP Auto & Home Insurance program from The Hartford. The Hartford does not write new business in all areas, including the states of CA and FL.
 
§ Availability of RecoverCare benefit and benefit levels vary by state. The Hartford RecoverCare Advantage® is a registered mark of The Hartford.
 
§§ Terms and conditions apply.
 
‡ Terms and conditions apply. Accident Forgiveness and the Disappearing Deductible are not available to CA policyholders.
 
‡‡ Terms and conditions apply. Availability varies by state.
 
‡‡‡ Based on one car and driver; individual rate/premium/savings will vary based on actual coverage selections and characteristics of vehicle(s)/driver(s).
 
Additional disclosures below.
AARP® Auto Insurance
Quick Links
FAQs
For AARP® Members
Additional Resources
Summaries of coverages and policy features are for informational purposes only. In the event of loss, the actual terms and conditions set forth in your policy will determine your coverage.
 
AARP and its affiliates are not insurers. Paid endorsement. The Hartford pays royalty fees to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. AARP membership is required for Program eligibility in most states.
 
The AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates, One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT 06155. It is underwritten in AZ, MI and MN by Hartford Insurance Company of the Southeast; in CA, by Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company; in WA, by Hartford Casualty Insurance Company; in MA, by Trumbull Insurance Company; and in PA, by Nutmeg Insurance Company and Twin City Fire Insurance Company. The AARP Home Insurance Program from The Hartford is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates, One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT 06155. It is underwritten in AZ, MI and MN by Hartford Insurance Company of the Southeast; in CA by Property and Casualty Insurance Company of Hartford; in WA, by Trumbull Insurance Company; in MA, by Trumbull Insurance Company, Sentinel Insurance Company, Hartford Insurance Company of the Midwest, and Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company; and in PA, by Nutmeg Insurance Company. Home product is not available in all areas, including the state of FL. Savings, benefits and coverages may vary and some applicants may not qualify. The Program is currently unavailable in Canada and U.S. Territories or possessions.
 
1 In Texas, the Auto Program is underwritten by Redpoint County Mutual Insurance Company through Hartford of the Southeast General Agency, Inc. Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates are not financially responsible for insurance products underwritten and issued by Redpoint County Mutual Insurance Company. The Home Program is underwritten by Hartford Insurance Company of the Southeast.
 
* Customer reviews are collected and tabulated by The Hartford and not representative of all customers.