The Hanover Auto Insurance Review 2022
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
Our Take
4.0
The bottom line:
The Hanover sells highly customizable policies in 20 states.
Full Review
See what you could save on car insurance
Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.
Get started on Insure.com
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Complaints are low.
- Lots of coverage options.
- Combination (home and auto) policies available.
Cons
- Not available in all states.
- Can't get a quote online.
Full Review
The Hanover Insurance Group packs a long list of extras into its auto insurance policies, with options to add even more. The company offers auto coverage through independent agents in 20 states. The Hanover also sells a wide range of insurance for small and midsize businesses.
People who like an insurance policy with built-in perks and features may find The Hanover to be a good fit.
» MORE: Best auto insurance companies
The Hanover auto insurance coverage
When you’re shopping for car insurance, it’s important to understand what car insurance coverage you want and what you’re required to buy. Most states require car insurance in order to drive a vehicle. Although minimum coverage requirements vary from state to state, they generally include liability insurance and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
If you want extra protection, you may be interested in full coverage insurance. Full coverage isn’t a specific policy type; it's a combination of coverage types, like liability, collision and comprehensive insurance.
Check out the most common types of car insurance coverage below to see how they work:
Coverage type | What it pays for | Required? |
|---|---|---|
Bodily injury and property damage liability | Costs for injuries, deaths or property damage from an accident you caused. | Typically required. |
Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage | Medical and property damage costs after an accident with a driver who has insufficient insurance or none at all. | Often required. |
Collision coverage | Repair expenses from traffic-related accidents, regardless of who's at fault. | A car loan or lease may require it. |
Comprehensive coverage | Repair costs from events outside of your control, including weather events, hitting an animal while driving, theft and vandalism. | A car loan or lease may require it. |
You can get these basic types of coverage with any Hanover auto policy, but the company offers plenty of ways to customize your insurance.
If you want auto insurance only, you can choose a Connections-branded policy, to which you can add coverage such as the following:
Travel Right endorsement. This add-on covers trip interruption expenses such as food and lodging if you’re stranded more than 100 miles away from home due to a covered claim. It also pays for vet fees or burial expenses up to $500 if your pet rides with you during a car accident. If you get into an accident while driving a rental car, this coverage will also pay some associated expenses.
Home care services. If you’re injured in a car accident, this coverage reimburses you for essential services that you’re unable to perform yourself while recovering (such as house cleaning or lawn maintenance).
Reassurance Plus endorsement. This coverage pays to reinstall an airbag if it deploys accidentally and pays a $10,000 death benefit for each person who dies in a covered wreck.
If you want to insure both your car and home with The Hanover, you can opt for the Platinum package, which includes perks such as:
Deductible waiver. If an incident damages more than one insured item, you’ll only pay one deductible. So, for example, if a falling tree crushed two of your insured cars, you’d be responsible for only one deductible. And if the tree demolished your garage as well, you’d still have only one deductible as long as both your home and auto coverage came from The Hanover.
Child car seat replacement will pay up to $300 with no deductible to replace a car seat that’s damaged in a covered accident.
Original equipment manufacturer parts coverage provides replacement parts from your car’s manufacturer if you’re in a covered wreck, rather than less expensive aftermarket parts.
Mechanical parts replacement pays out after a covered accident to replace parts like tires and batteries with new ones rather than reducing the payout for wear and tear.
Key replacement coverage. This add-on pays up to $250 if your car keys are lost, damaged or stolen.
Upgraded rental car coverage pays a daily amount toward a rental car until yours is repaired or replaced after an accident. The total payout is capped at $3,000, but there’s no cap on the number of days.
You can also add a variety of other coverage for an additional cost, such as the Connections options listed above and the following:
Accident forgiveness. As long as you don’t get into more than one accident in any three-year period, your rate won’t increase.
Deductible dividends. Your deductible will drop by $100 each year you remain accident free, up to $500.
New or newer car replacement. If your new car is totaled, your insurer will pay you its current value, minus your deductible. However, because new cars lose value quickly, that amount might not be enough for you to buy another new car. So with these endorsements, you’ll be paid more for a totaled new car.
Full glass coverage. Your windshield can be repaired or replaced without a deductible.
The Prestige package, geared toward customers with higher-value homes and automobiles, offers higher coverage amounts or longer terms for some of these options. For example, rental reimbursement has a $6,000 limit and pets injured or killed in a car accident are covered up to $2,500. The Prestige package also includes global rental coverage, which pays for damage to a rental car anywhere in the world.
See what you could save on car insurance
Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.
Get started on Insure.com
» MORE: Compare car insurance rates
Auto insurance discounts
Depending on your state, you may be offered discounts or credits for:
Insuring both your home and auto with The Hanover.
Insuring more than one vehicle.
Paying your premium in full, upfront.
Driving a car with anti-theft devices or safety features.
Taking an accident prevention course or teen driver safety course.
If you or someone insured on the policy is a student with good grades or leaves the car at home while attending school.
Having a young driver leave their parents’ policy and get their own Hanover account.
Pricing based on tracked driving habits
Families with a teen driver can qualify for discounts if the teen uses the SmartPath mobile app, which monitors driving habits such as speeding and hard braking. In addition to the discount, a teen who drives safely according to the app can get Amazon rewards.
Auto insurance buying guide
Before you compare car insurance companies, you’ll need to collect some basic information. This includes the driving history of everyone who will be on the policy, as well as facts about your car, such as safety features and annual mileage driven. You’ll also want to determine which types of coverage you need. For example, do you want only the bare minimum insurance that your state requires, or do you need more extensive coverage, such as gap insurance or rideshare coverage? Check that each company you’re considering has the options you want.
When comparing rates among insurers, make sure each is offering the same coverage limits and deductibles. You may not want to make your decision based on price alone. Look at how many consumer complaints each company has, as a high number of complaints could be a red flag about the quality of service you'll receive.
Depending on which company you choose, you may be able to buy insurance online, over the phone or through an agent. For more guidance, see how to get car insurance.
Complaints
According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the Hanover had significantly fewer than the expected number of complaints to state regulators for a company of its size for auto insurance.
More about The Hanover auto insurance
Website: The Hanover’s website offers basic policy information and lets you report a claim, pay premiums and locate an auto repair shop. However, you can’t get a quote or buy a policy online. For that, you’ll need to connect with an independent agent, and the website can help you find one.
Apps: The Hanover offers several apps, available for both Android and iOS:
Hanover Mobile allows you to view your policy, make payments, submit claims and call for roadside assistance. In most states the company serves, you can also view your insurance ID card.
Hanover Snap Claims Inspection lets you upload photos to get a repair estimate after an auto claim has been started.
Hanover SmartPath monitors teens’ driving behavior, such as braking, speeding and distraction. Policyholders can get discounts, while teens can earn Amazon rewards if the app shows they’re driving safely.
The Hanover at a glance
Complaints |
|
Discounts |
|
Ease of use |
|
Homeowners insurance from The Hanover
As with auto insurance, The Hanover offers a basic homeowners policy under its Connections brand. Auto/home packages include lots of extras in addition to standard protections for your home. To learn more, see our Hanover home insurance review.
Other insurance from The Hanover
In addition to auto and homeowners coverage, The Hanover offers several other types of insurance:
Condo.
Renters.
Motorcycle (sold by a third party in some states).
Recreational vehicles.
Boat and personal watercraft.
Umbrella.
Business and commercial auto.
The Hanover sells these types of insurance through third parties:
Landlord.
Manufactured home.
Classic car.
Identity theft.
Methodology
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2018-2020. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
Auto insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
Frequently asked questions
You must contact an agent to get a quote. You can find agents in your area on The Hanover’s website.
You can file a claim on The Hanover’s website, through its mobile app or by calling 800-628-0250.
No. To find companies that do, see NerdWallet’s guide to rideshare insurance.
