AARP insurance review 2024
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At a glance
Bankrate's take
Retirees may find having an AARP membership a helpful way to get auto, life and home insurance. Although not an insurance company itself, the American Association of Retired Persons, known commonly as AARP, provides several services for people over the age of 50 and connects them with partner companies for insurance products.
- Most policies available only for those age 50+
- Coverage is available through third-party insurers, including The Hartford and New York Life
- Policies require membership in AARP
- 24/7 claims management available
- No-medical-exam life insurance available
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AARP car insurance review
If you’re over 50 and shopping for car insurance, AARP’s auto insurance offerings through The Hartford may provide special perks. Depending on your state, you may have access to The Hartford’s RecoverCare program, which can help pay for services you can’t do yourself if you are injured in an accident. The Hartford also has a large array of discounts to help you lower your car insurance bill.
Coverage is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., but specific options can vary by location. While The Hartford offers standard auto insurance, it doesn’t offer much in the way of unique coverage to help them stand out. Instead, AARP membership perks represent some of its most impactful selling points. Customers interested in building a robust auto policy may want to consider other top car insurance companies.
Pros and cons of AARP car insurance
To help determine if The Hartford car insurance for AARP members is a good fit for you, we’ve included some of the pros and cons in our AARP insurance review.
Pros
- The Hartford scores well on customer claims satisfaction
- AARP members get extra benefits along with their auto insurance
- Allows for bundling of home and auto through The Hartford
Cons
- Eligibility limited to AARP members only
- Can add some complexity to processes since AARP is not an insurance company but partners with insurers
- Drivers under 50 aren’t eligible for membership
AARP car insurance cost
Average rates are not available for AARP car insurance, but based on pricing data from Quadrant Information Services, the national average cost for car insurance is $2,278 for full coverage, which includes collision and comprehensive insurance, and $621 for state-mandated minimum coverage. Your own rate is based on a range of factors, including your location, vehicle type and driving history.
AARP customer satisfaction
Several third-party companies rank insurers on factors like customer satisfaction and financial strength. Perhaps two of the most significant are J.D. Power and AM Best. J.D. Power ranks companies on a 1,000-point customer satisfaction scale, while AM Best provides ratings for a company’s historical ability to meet financial obligations. As AARP itself is not an insurance company, it does not have third-party ratings for insurance.
Those interested in auto, home or life insurance through their AARP membership should instead research third-party assessments directly tied to the underwriting company — in this case, likely The Hartford or New York Life.
AARP car insurance discounts
The Hartford offers a variety of discounts to help AARP car insurance customers with the cost of car insurance, which could make it one of the best cheap car insurance companies for drivers over 50. Discount opportunities include savings for being an AARP member, bundling and paying in full.
Available discounts to lower your rates include:
- AARP member: Members may get discounts of up to 10 percent just for joining.
- Paid-in-full: You might save on your insurance costs if you pay your premium upfront rather than making monthly payments.
- TrueLane: Download The Hartford’s app and earn up to 12 percent off your premium. If you continue to allow the app to monitor your driving habits, you could save up to 25 percent at renewal.
- Bundle insurance: If you also get home, renter or condo insurance through AARP, you can enjoy up to 5 percent off your auto policy and up to 20 percent on your home, renter or condo policy.
- Defensive driver course: You can potentially save money by signing up for and completing a driving course. All you have to do is send in your certificate of completion. The discount lasts for up to three years.
- Safe driver training: If you are under 21 (or under 25 in Georgia), you might qualify for a discount if you complete an approved training course.
- Fuel type: If you drive a hybrid or electric vehicle, you’ll likely get a discount on your premiums.
- Safety features: If your car has features like anti-lock brakes or additional airbags, you might get a discount on your policy.
AARP home insurance review
An AARP membership may be beneficial for the access it provides to The Hartford home insurance. The Hartford has a reasonable Bankrate Score of 3.8 for its home insurance offerings. It’s helped by its coverage options, for which it earned a perfect score of 5.0, but is hampered by its high cost and middle-of-the-road support. That means it might be a good choice for people who want the best coverage, even if the customer service isn’t perfect.
Home insurance through The Harford gives members numerous ways to personalize their coverage. Optional coverage types include green rebuilding coverage, lock replacement coverage or scheduled personal property coverage, among others.
Pros and cons of AARP homeowners insurance
Like all companies, AARP homeowners insurance through The Hartford has benefits and downsides worth considering before deciding whether to pursue a policy. The following table highlights some points to note about the insurer when reviewing home insurance quotes.
Pros
- Offers several types of add-on coverage
- Available in 49 states and Washington, D.C.
- Offers five ways to save on home insurance policies
Cons
- Policies are more expensive on average
- Only available to AARP members
- Policies are not issued directly by AARP
AARP home insurance cost
Multiple factors go into determining how much you will pay for your home insurance, including the amount of coverage you have, your home's location and more. The average cost of homeowners insurance in 2024 is $2,230 per year for a policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage. We do not have average rate data for AARP, however you should be able to find quotes quickly and easily by contacting an agent in your region.
AARP customer satisfaction
As is true with car insurance, there are ratings available for home insurance companies from third-party organizations such as J.D. Power and AM Best. These groups do not rate the AARP itself since it is not an insurance company, but generally provide ratings for the insurers that AARP works with to provide policies for its members. Once you know which company is underwriting your policy, it's not difficult to find ratings online.
AARP home insurance discounts
The Hartford offers a variety of discounts for AARP home insurance buyers to help policyholders with home insurance costs. Discount opportunities include:
- Retiree discount: You could save money in some states if you work fewer than 24 hours per week.
- Home security: You might earn a discount for installing a burglar alarm or similar device.
- Bundling: Getting the AARP auto and home bundle can potentially save you 5 percent on auto and 20 percent on home insurance.
- Claim-free: The longer you’ve gone without filing a claim, the larger the discount you may receive.
- Fire protection: Installing sprinklers or monitored alarms can typically net you a discount.
AARP life insurance review
AARP members looking for a life insurance company may want to consider AARP’s life coverage through New York Life — especially if health complications have made finding life policies difficult. Though New York Life doesn’t have a Bankrate Score, it could be a strong choice for older people because it has no medical exam requirement and offers a guaranteed acceptance option for those with chronic or severe health issues.
AARP life insurance through New York Life is available in all 50 states, but some products may not be available in all areas.
- Term: AARP sets term policies to expire when the insured individual reaches age 80. While this cutoff may reduce how viable the policy is for members, it is offered without needing a medical exam. AARP offers a terminal illness rider that can be attached to term plans. Term policies are often recommended for younger demographics and may be best for AARP members who are closer to 50 than 80.
- Permanent: AARP offers whole life for permanent life insurance, with coverage amounts up to $50,000. These policies may be best for those who want a plan that lasts for their whole life instead of ending at a specific age or time.
- Whole: Whole life policies last for your entire life (so long as premiums are paid) and include a cash value component. These policies pay out a death benefit to beneficiaries and can accumulate cash value while you live. The cash value can only be accessed while the policy is active and before it pays out a death benefit.
- Guaranteed: AARP offers guaranteed acceptance policies that are available without medical exams or related questions, but coverage amounts are limited to a maximum of $25,000. However, premiums are fixed and will remain level for the life of the policy.
Pros and cons of AARP life insurance
Before committing to a life insurance quote, review some of the potential pros and cons of the company.
Pros
- No medical exams
- Options for guaranteed acceptance
- Strong financial rating with AM Best
Cons
- Relatively low coverage limits
- Minimal options for policy types
- Few options in the way of policy riders
AARP life insurance riders
Many insurers allow you to modify your policies with endorsements. These may alter the coverage amount, change the monthly premium, add clauses for partial payouts and more. The New York Life AARP website doesn’t list many life insurance endorsements on its website, only highlighting its Term Rider Protect Plus endorsement. Other riders may be available by talking with a New York Life agent directly. Remember that adding riders often increases the cost of a life insurance policy.
- Term Rider Protect Plus: This rider allows you to change the coverage amount on your policy, potentially increasing it by up to double. It also includes a living benefit component that allows you to receive up to half your coverage while you’re still alive if you have been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
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Whole life insurance combines life insurance with an investment component.
- Coverage for life
- Tax-deferred savings benefit if premiums are paid
- 3 variations of permanent insurance: whole life, universal life and variable life include investment component
Term life insurance is precisely what the name implies: an insurance policy that is good for a specific term of time.
- Fixed premium over term
- No savings benefits
- Outliving policy or policy cancellation results in no money back
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Compare AARP with other insurers
If you’re looking for a home, life or car insurance company and aren’t sure if AARP’s partnerships are right for you, you might want to consider other companies. From cheap life insurance companies to insurers with more personalization options, we’ve compiled some potential alternatives to AARP.
AARP vs. State Farm
If you’re looking for an insurance provider with a proven track record of service, State Farm could be a great choice. The company also has a wide network of local agents, which could be appealing if you don’t prefer to handle your insurance digitally. State Farm earned a 4.3 Bankrate score due to the company’s excellent customer service, competitive average premiums and accessible agents.
Learn more: State Farm Insurance review
AARP vs. Geico
Known for offering low average rates and providing robust digital management options, Geico could be a good option for seniors on a budget. Keep in mind, though, that Geico’s home insurance is underwritten by various third-party companies depending on where you live. High-risk drivers may be especially interested in Geico, as they are known for offering competitive rates for drivers in that category. Its competitive rates helped it tie for a 2024 Bankrate Award for Best Auto Insurance Company Overall.
Learn more: Geico Insurance review
AARP vs. Auto-Owners
Sold by independent agents in 26 states, Auto-Owners could be a good choice for seniors looking for personalized coverage. Auto-Owners offers competitive rates for many drivers and homeowners, helping it tie for a 2024 Bankrate Award for Best Budget Auto Insurance Company. The company offers several policy customization options but may have fewer digital tools available than some alternatives. Its home insurance product, in particular, offers numerous endorsements and discounts to help you build a policy that works best for you.
Learn more: Auto-Owners Insurance review
Why you can trust Bankrate
Read our full methodologyOur insurance editorial team includes licensed agents with decades of combined experience, and we used our intimate knowledge of the industry to conduct this in-depth AARP insurance review.
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Is AARP a good insurance company?
For the right people, namely those over the age of 50, AARP’s insurance partners could be a good choice for home, auto and life coverage. AARP members may find the perks and conveniences tailored to their age demographic outweigh the benefits and services from other companies.
Still, options are limited compared to some other insurers, and applicants must be AARP members to apply. Take the time to shop around and compare other insurers before settling on a company to work with.
What are real-life customers saying about AARP?
To help you understand what real-life customers are saying about AARP's insurance products, Bankrate's insurance editorial team scanned customer reviews from forums like Quora and Reddit. As with most companies, AARP reviews are mixed based on factors like policy type, underwriter and customer expectations.
*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.
AARP company details
- Customer service: 1-888-687-2277
- Auto claims: 1-800-243-5860
- Home claims: 1-877-805-9918
- Life claims: Fill out this form
- Website: aarp.org/membership/benefits/insurance/
- Mailing address: Varies by state
State availability
AARP works with insurers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., but specific policy options vary by location.
AARP tools and benefits
AARP is known for its perks, of which insurance is just one. Some other benefits of being an AARP member include:
- Discounts: AARP members get access to exclusive member discounts on travel planning, hotels, car rentals, flights, cruises, health and wellness programs and more.
- Wellness tools: AARP caters to members aged 50 and older, and that population comes with distinct health considerations. AARP provides tools designed to help retired persons live their happiest and healthiest lives.
- Health programs: With an AARP membership, you may have access to dental and vision insurance, as well as hearing loss support.
- Job postings: You don’t have to be retired to join AARP. In fact, the community has a thriving job board that might help you find your next career move.
- Other insurance options: AARP members can work with The Hartford for a variety of insurance coverage options, like flood insurance and umbrella insurance.
- Financial education resources: AARP members can get help with their taxes and access educational articles and calculators that can help them manage their money.
- Estate planning: AARP members can likely get a 20 percent discount on estate planning services from Trust & Will.
- Free online games: Although not the weightiest benefit, AARP offers a selection of free online games. Boredom may occur during retirement years, and these games could help combat that.
Frequently asked questions about AARP
