EDITOR’S RATING

3.1 / 5

PROS

• Specialized coverage options, discounts and benefits for AARP members.
• Solid claims-handling process.
• Online claims-processing option.

CONS

• More expensive for young drivers/non-AARP members.
• Discounts and benefits not available to everyone.

The Hartford Insurance is a solid insurance company overall, earning a rating of 3.1/5 from WalletHub editors and A+ scores from organizations such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), despite mixed customer reviews. The Hartford, which offers a wide variety of insurance options, is best known for its AARP insurance coverage that’s tailored specially for older drivers who are AARP members. Younger drivers and non-AARP members can buy policies from The Hartford, too, but the benefits and discounts won’t be as great.

As the U.S. works to get the COVID-19 pandemic under control, staying safe is one of Americans’ top concerns. Safety is also essential for getting the economy back on track, as the lower COVID-19 transmission and deaths are in a state, the more that state is able to eliminate restrictions on businesses. We’ll only be able to fully get back to life as normal once most of the population is vaccinated against coronavirus, and it will still be months before we can achieve that. The U.S. is picking up speed with vaccination, as around 23% of the population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of April 14.

Some states are already safer than others, though, based on how well they have kept the pandemic under control and how much they are vaccinating. In order to find out the safest states during the COVID-19 pandemic, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across five key metrics. Our data set includes the rates of COVID-19 transmission, positive testing, hospitalizations and death, as well as the share of the eligible population getting vaccinated.

No credit check loans are not the best option and should be avoided by most consumers. Even the “best” no credit check loans tend to charge extremely high interest rates and fees, and many also require the borrower to put up something of value, such as their next paycheck or their car’s title, in order to get the loan.

A no credit check loan is a type of loan that does not require a hard inquiry into your credit report during the application process. That means the specifics of your credit history do not factor into approval for the loan. Loans with no credit check do not guarantee approval, though. Whether or not you qualify depends on other things, like income or collateral to secure the loan, instead.

Nationwide offers 11 discounts across three main categories: loyalty-based, driver-based, and payment-based. Almost anyone can get Nationwide’s payment-based discounts for setting up automatic payment withdrawals or going paperless. Certain types of people, like good students and safe drivers, can qualify for a variety of driver-based discounts. And customers who insure more than one car or multiple types of insurance are also eligible for Nationwide’s loyalty-based discounts. You can learn more about Nationwide discounts below.

Car insurance discounts are special offers from insurance companies that allow drivers to save up to 35% on their annual premium. Most insurers offer a wide range of car insurance discounts, which fall into three overall categories: policy discounts, driver discounts, and vehicle discounts.

Policy discounts are discounts that insurers offer in order to retain you as a customer. Driver discounts are offered to drivers who pose a relatively low risk to their insurer based on characteristics like age, driving history, and annual mileage. And vehicle discounts are available for drivers who have additional safety technology in their car.

Same-day loans are available from certain online lenders and even some banks and credit unions. Few major personal loan providers offer same-day approval and funding, most take at least 2 business days, but there are exceptions. The best places to look for same-day personal loans are LightStream by SunTrust Bank and Alliant Credit Union because they offer the possibility of same-day funding, low rates and $0 origination fees.

Best Same-Day / Same-Week Loan Options

Other same-day loan options exist, too, but most are not worth applying for. In particular, it’s important to stay away from payday loans and auto title loans, which can provide same-day cash but are known for predatory costs and outsized risk. Borrowers could also get a same-day loan at a pawn shop or by taking out a cash advance on their credit card, but both of those choices are too expensive as well.

Insurance goes up by 48% or around $348 a year after an accident, on average. The exact amount that a driver’s insurance rates will go up after an accident depends on a few factors, including the driver’s insurance company, their state, the extent of the damage, and who was at fault. Additionally, drivers with accident forgiveness will not see their rates go up after their first accident, though the specific details vary between insurers.

Key Things to Know About Insurance Increases After an Accident

• Your rate will not increase until you renew your policy.
• Insurance goes up the most after an accident for drivers in California, and the least for drivers in Delaware.
• Geico, USAA, and Travelers offer the cheapest car insurance after an accident.
• A not-at-fault accident still raises your rates by an average of 12%.
• You can get cheap car insurance after an accident by shopping for quotes, altering your existing policy, attending traffic school, and practicing good habits on the road.

Major types of loans include personal loans, home loans, student loans, auto loans and more. Each type of loan is helpful for a different purpose, and has different APR ranges, dollar amounts and payoff timelines. One thing most loan types have in common is that the borrower gets a lump sum upfront and pays it off over time. But there are even exceptions to this, such as credit-builder loans.

Types of Loans

1. Personal loans
2. Auto loans
3. Student loans
4. Mortgage loans
5. Home equity loans
6. Credit-builder loans
7. Loans from friends/family
8. Payday loans
9. Auto title loans
10. Pawn shop loans

Some loans are secured by collateral, such as home equity loans and auto title loans. Others are unsecured, like student loans and most personal loans. In addition, some loans have a wide range of uses, while others only offer funding for certain expenses. Below, you can learn about all the different types of loans that are available in detail.

There are options for getting debt consolidation loans with bad credit, including unsecured personal loans, secured personal loans, home equity products and credit cards. Ideally, a debt consolidation loan allows the borrower to save money in the long run by combining all debts at a lower APR. Interest then accrues less quickly, which lets the borrower get debt-free sooner.

Unfortunately, debt consolidation is difficult with bad credit. There are far fewer offers available, for one thing. Plus, people with bad credit scores are likely to qualify only for rates at or near the lender’s maximum. Therefore, it’s very possible that an applicant will not receive a lower APR on the new loan or credit card than they are currently paying on their existing debts. That defeats the entire purpose of debt consolidation, unless the borrower wishes to consolidate simply to combine all their payments into one for simplicity or to lengthen the amount of time they have to pay the loan off.

Debt management is the process of negotiating an amended payment plan with a lender in order to make monthly payments more manageable.  In most cases, that is achieved by lengthening the repayment term, lowering the interest rate, and waiving certain fees. Debt management does not include the forgiveness of any principal balance owed.  That would be more along the lines of debt settlement.  Debt management isn’t credit counseling either, but it’s often a service provided by credit counseling companies.  Confusing, I know.

Still, enrolling into a debt management plan with your lender can be extremely helpful.  Sometimes a bit of a break in the short-term is all one needs to avoid missing additional payments and getting into even more trouble with creditors.  While enrollment in a debt management plan will hurt your credit standing some in its own right, the effects are far less severe than they would be if you don’t figure out a way to get back on track.