The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

The Hartford Offers More Affordable Car Insurance in Utah

Company's popular 'Dimensions' product, available through independent insurance agents, is now priced more favorably for customers

HARTFORD, Conn., March 16 -- To better serve its Utah agents and customers, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. , one of the nation's leading providers of investment and insurance products, announced today that it will offer lower prices to many drivers under its popular Dimensions personal auto insurance program, which is available through the company's network of independent agents.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051208/HARTFORDLOGO )

New price adjustments will make the competitively-priced Dimensions plan an even better auto insurance choice for Utah's approximately 1.8 million drivers. These changes will enable agents and their front line representatives to reach a greater number of customers with benefits including the following:

  * Annual savings of $50 or more for the majority of customers with this
    price reduction.
  * Additional discounts for most customers when they purchase a companion
    homeowner's insurance policy.
  * Changes effective March 15, 2006 for new policies and May 3, 2006 for
    renewal business.

"The auto insurance market is extremely competitive, and we're constantly reviewing our rates to offer Utah's drivers the best products and services at the lowest prices possible," said Mike Concannon, a senior vice president at The Hartford. "While Dimensions has already been a huge success, this will certainly give our personal lines agents in Utah one more reason to quote The Hartford."

This announcement demonstrates The Hartford's commitment to the personal auto insurance market in Utah and the company's ability to leverage its competitiveness, financial strength and leading edge technology to remain a trusted name with both agents and policyholders.

About The Hartford's Dimensions Program:

One of the most sophisticated underwriting plans in the industry, Dimensions offers a state-of-the-art, multi-dimensional approach to pricing, or "rating," a customer's driving risk. By connecting and calculating numerous risk factors -- such as age, driving history, vehicle age and vehicle use -- The Hartford enables agents to generate a customized rate for each policyholder. Unlike other programs, Dimensions evaluates customers on an individual basis so that one driver will not affect the rates of other members in the same household.

With this personalized approach, agents are better equipped to keep their customers satisfied without drastically changing the price they pay for auto insurance each year. Underwriting is also much easier for agents and their service representatives, who can take advantage of The Hartford's easy-to-use electronic quoting, submission and issuing systems.

The Hartford's Dimensions plan, which offers a full range of comprehensive auto coverage, was first launched in 2003 and is now available in 41 states, including Utah. Since the program's inception, the company's Utah agency-based auto insurance business has grown more than 30 percent.

The Hartford, a Fortune 100 company, is one of the nation's largest financial services and insurance companies, with 2005 revenues of $27.1 billion. The Hartford is a leading provider of investment products, life insurance and group benefits; automobile and homeowners products; and business property and casualty insurance. International operations are located in Japan, Brazil and the United Kingdom. The Hartford's Internet address is http://www.thehartford.com/.

Some of the statements in this release should be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include statements about our future results of operations. We caution investors that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially. Investors should consider the important risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. These important risks and uncertainties include those discussed in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update this release, which speaks as of the date issued.

  Contacts: Joe Loparco
            860-547-3397
            Joseph.Loparco@thehartford.com

            Debora Raymond
            860-547-9613
            Debora.Raymond@thehartford.com
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051208/HARTFORDLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk photodesk@prnewswire.com