Insurance · No reputation warning
The Hartford Review
Hartford, Connecticut insurer dating to 1810 that sells small business policies online, by phone and through independent agents
Quick verdict
The Hartford is best for Small and mid-size trade businesses that want a long-established carrier and the option to buy online, by phone or through an agent. Quote speed: Online, by phone or through an independent agent. Pricing: Quoted per business. Prices are quoted beyond an advertised starting rate, and buying direct shows only The Hartford's price.
About The Hartford
The Hartford is an insurer based in Hartford, Connecticut, with a history going back to 1810. Its parent company trades on the New York Stock Exchange as HIG and changed its legal name from The Hartford Financial Services Group to Hartford Insurance Group in 2025. Besides small business insurance, it sells personal insurance and group benefits.
For contractors, The Hartford sells business owner's policies (BOPs, which combine general liability, commercial property and business income coverage), general liability, workers' compensation, commercial auto and professional liability. The Hartford says most contracting businesses have a BOP.
You can get a quote online, by phone or through an independent agent. Your actual premium is quoted per business and depends on your trade, location, payroll, vehicles and claims history.
The trade-off: buying direct shows you only The Hartford's price. An independent agent who writes The Hartford can compare it with other carriers, which is the only way to know whether its quote is competitive for your trade.
How it works
Start a quote on The Hartford's website or by phone, entering details about your business, trade, payroll and vehicles. You can also buy The Hartford through an independent agent. The Hartford is the insurer, so it issues the policy and handles claims.
Pros & cons
What works
-
Long-established insurer
The Hartford dates to 1810 and says it has more than 200 years of experience. Its parent is a publicly traded company (NYSE: HIG).
-
Several ways to buy
You can get a quote online, by phone or through an independent agent, whichever suits you.
-
Main contractor lines in one place
BOP, general liability, workers' comp, commercial auto and professional liability can all sit with one carrier.
What doesn't
-
Quoted prices only
Beyond an advertised starting price, premiums are quoted per business, so you need a quote to compare.
-
One carrier's price when buying direct
Online and phone quotes show only The Hartford's price. To compare, use an independent agent or a multi-carrier broker.
-
Eligibility varies
Coverages and eligibility vary by state and type of business, so check that your trade qualifies before counting on a quote.
Coverage
- Insurance lines
- general liabilityworkers compcommercial autobopprofessional liability
- Geographic coverage
- The Hartford sells small business insurance across the US; coverages and eligibility vary by state and type of business
- Premiums
- Quoted per business
- Quote speed
- Online, by phone or through an independent agent
- Trade coverage
- HVACPlumbingElectricalGeneral ContractorsLandscaping & Lawn CareCleaning ServicesPest ControlHandyman Services
- Affiliate program
- None. Not a primary affiliate-channel carrier; editorial recommendations are unaffected by commercial alignment.
Reviews and complaints at the source
We do not copy third-party review scores onto this page: they change often and we could not verify them. Read The Hartford's current reviews at the source.
Frequently asked
How do I get a quote from The Hartford?
Online on The Hartford's website, by phone, or through an independent agent who writes The Hartford. Compare it against quotes from other carriers before you buy.
Other insurance providers
ERGO NEXT (formerly NEXT Insurance)
Tier ADigital small-business insurer, renamed ERGO NEXT in 2026 and owned by Munich Re's ERGO, selling general liability, BOP, workers' comp and professional liability online and through agents
Hiscox
Tier ASpecialty insurer with Lloyd's roots going back to 1901, selling general liability, professional liability (E&O), BOP and cyber to US small businesses online and through brokers
Simply Business
Tier AOnline insurance marketplace owned by Travelers: one application, quotes from several carriers, buy online
Insureon
Tier AOnline insurance agency owned by Hub International since 2022: one application, quotes from several carriers, licensed agents on call
Thimble
Tier ADigital MGA owned by Arch Insurance since 2023: liability coverage by the job, month or year, bought online, in its app or by phone
Travelers
Tier APublicly traded property and casualty insurer (NYSE: TRV) that sells business insurance through independent agents and brokers, and owns the online broker Simply Business