The Hanover Insurance Group operates in just 18 states. This piece of information is misleading in a way because it can make an inexperienced buyer think it is a small and unimportant company.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Numerous Hanover Insurance reviews left by satisfied clients show that it is a serious and distinct insurance company that has been writing insurance for more than 170 years.
The company combines traditional and modern solutions in the best way. Hanover’s practice of selling their products only through insurance agents guarantees that customers always get personalized service and the best coverage possible.
Hanover Auto Insurance Review
Overall Product
Financial Strength
Services Offered
Customer Service
Insurance Rates
Carsurance Verdict:
The Hanover does have its advantages, like Platinum coverages and a polished mobile app. However, it’s expensive, it does not offer online quotes, and its customer service ranges from average to below average. Not recommended.
3.7
Pros
- Platinum coverages that come in a great bundle
- A decent mobile app
- Some interesting and unique coverage options
- Long tradition
Cons
- No information on how much the discounts reduce the premium
- Unable to get a quote online
Hanover Car Insurance – Product Overview
Features
Hanover sells its auto insurance in Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin. It can be purchased only through an agent, meaning online quotes are not available. The site can, however, guide you quickly to the nearest agent if you input your zip code. Also, your Hanover insurance claims can be filed online, either via the website or by using the mobile app, which can also be used to download insurance documents, contact roadside assistance or pay bills.
The prices offered by Hanover seem to be among the highest in the market; however, we were not able to verify this firsthand, because we couldn’t get a quote online. Their customer service got average grades in the 2021 J.D. Power regional report, which is the most relevant study in insurance customer service satisfaction. Hanover insurance reviews generally praise them for having several excellent options offered when it comes to coverage and bundles.
In its 170 years of writing insurance, the company has picked up what people need and is able to provide them with some of the best all-inclusive coverage options. The Hanover company has a gentlemanly, old-school approach to insurance, where nothing is neglected. Every detail matters.
Hanover Auto Insurance Signature Features
Hanover’s most significant upside is its three Platinum Auto programs, which all offer a great combination of coverage options, especially the Platinum Auto Essential. Even though it is the first in line, it is packed with options.
It offers an excellent bundle of coverages, such as vehicle key replacement, child seat replacement, custom equipment, and custom electronics coverage, to name a few. Additionally, this Hanover insurance coverage can be further customized to offer even higher limits.
You can also upgrade to Platinum Auto Advantage or Platinum Auto Elite to get the most out of your car insurance. If we were to choose Hanover for our auto insurance, it would be because one of these three excellent options matches our needs.
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Hanover Insurance Rating and Financial Strength
While Hanover is not among the biggest insurers in the US, its financial strength is still good enough that the average customer will not have to worry whether or not the company will be able to pay their claims.
The company is also very close to being on the Fortune 500 list, currently holding the 542nd place, which is not a small feat for a company of its size. Overall data indicates Hanover insurance has stable financial operations.
The Hanover insurance company rating from A. M. Best for the year 2021 was “A” or “Excellent,” which proves its financial strength.
Types of Insurance Offered
In addition to its Platinum Auto programs, Hanover offers options that are widely available in the insurance market, like liability, comprehensive and collision, medical payments, as well as roadside assistance, newer car replacement, transportation expenses, deductible dividends, and OEM part servicing.
Platinum Auto Essential Coverage
Child Passenger Restraint System Replacement Coverage
If a child’s car seat is damaged in an accident, Hanover will cover the expenses for a new one costing up to $300, with no deductible or additional burden on your Hanover insurance payment.
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Parts
This option provides OEM replacement parts for the current and two previous model years of the covered vehicle.
Mechanical Parts Replacement
Hanover will pay the full replacement cost of damaged parts, not just the actual cash value of parts like tires and batteries.
Ultimate Rental Coverage
This option is among the finest rental car reimbursement offers available in the market, which has been verified in many Hanover auto insurance reviews left by clients. While you are waiting for your damaged vehicle to be repaired, Hanover will pay the rental, up to $3,000.
Excess Electronic Equipment Coverage
If you have installed aftermarket electronic equipment in your vehicle, such as an audio or video system, this option covers equipment costs of up to $1,000. The coverage can be extended all the way up to $20,000.
Hanover Insurance Roadside Assistance
Hanover has a network of more than 35,000 service providers across the US and Canada. All expenses are billed directly to The Hanover, so you don’t have to pay for anything.
Excess Custom Equipment Coverage
This option covers aftermarket devices and equipment, such as rims and spoilers, installed on the vehicle costing up to $1,500. This coverage can be extended all the way up to $40,000. Clients who have tuned cars love this option, as they mention in their Hanover insurance reviews.
Vehicle Key Replacement Coverage
If your car keys get stolen, broken, or lost, the company will cover the replacement costs of up to $250.
Platinum Auto Advantage Additional Coverage
New Car Replacement
If your new car is totaled, and it is not older than a year, or it did not cover more than 15,000 miles, Hanover will pay the full price for a new vehicle of the same make and model.
Newer Car Replacement
The process is simple— Hanover insurance company reviews your claim and pays the actual cash value of a car that is the same make, model, and equipment up to one year newer than the destroyed vehicle.
They will not pay more than 120% of the actual cash value of the crashed car though. This basically gets you a car that is one year newer than the one you crashed. Not many insurance companies offer this.
Second Chance Accident Forgiveness
This option is similar to what many insurance companies in the US offer. If you have been accident-free for 36 months or more, your first at-fault accident will not increase your next Hanover insurance quote.
Deductible Reduction
This option reduces the deductible for collision coverage as soon as it is added to the policy. The reduction is $100 per year or $500 maximum.
Platinum Auto Elite Additional Coverage
Rental Car Coverage
If you suffer an accident in a rented vehicle, Hanover will cover the damage. This also includes any loss of use for you (the renter), the difference in the car’s value after it has been repaired, and any expenses the rental company suffers due to handling claims.
Trip Interruption
If you suffer a covered loss and you are 100+ miles from your home, you can contact the Hanover Insurance Company claims department and it will cover food and lodging, the cost of travel to get home, and the cost of returning the damaged car to your place, all up to $1,000.
Pet Injury Protection
If your cat or dog gets injured or killed in an accident, Hanover will pay up to $500 for the veterinarian bills or burial/cremation expenses.
Rental Coverage Upgrade
If you are used to traveling in style, this option lets you choose a luxury vehicle or a large SUV, while you are waiting for your car to be repaired.
Home Care Services
Hanover claims it offers “protection for today and all your tomorrows,” and it makes good on that promise by paying for home services in case you get injured. It will cover the costs up to $2,500 ($500 is the maximum per month). Services include housekeeping, food preparation, transportation services, lawn mowing, and snow removal.
Accidental Airbag Deployment
This is a definite big pro when weighing in Hanover insurance pros and cons because it is very rare to see an insurance company with this option. If a factory-installed airbag deploys in an event not related to an accident, Hanover will pay for the cost of repairing the airbag, and will not charge a deductible.
Accidental Death Benefit
If the worst happens and a death occurs in a car accident, this coverage pays $10,000 for each insured family member who died in your covered automobile. For this to apply, it is mandatory that they wore their seat belt at the time of the accident.
Hanover Insurance Customer Service
Customer service is one of the most important things for car insurance. We all buy insurance and hope we will never need it, and it’s in these difficult moments we want the company to stand by us. It has to solve our problems quickly and show understanding and compassion. How does Hanover perform in that department?
As we’ve mentioned before, Hanover writes insurance in just 18 states, so it is not featured in global or nationwide customer satisfaction studies. In J.D. Power’s 2021 regional study for New England, J.D. Power’s Hanover Insurance Group reviews were not stellar. They’ve placed it a little bit below average when it comes to overall customer satisfaction. In the north-central region, the company also scores two stars, but they are not in last place.
Many customers complained that the premium payments were not processed on time by the company, thus interrupting their insurance. However, this can be easily avoided. If you want to take care of your Hanover insurance bill, you can pay it through an easy-to-use website feature. It will be processed quickly and safely.
Additionally, there were few complaints regarding low settlements and bad customer service. This information alone should not disqualify Hanover, given that people are very likely to rant about negative experiences online and stay silent when the experiences are positive.
On the other hand, the Better Business Bureau and the NAIC results are better. The first one is A+, with the average rating of two out five stars. It is obvious that the Hanover insurance BBB rating could be better, but insurance companies in general don’t have shiny results here.
One of the best ways to get an overview of customer satisfaction is by checking the NAIC complaint index. It is created for each company individually, and the expected number of complaints is represented as 1. Hanover does well here, as it has just 0.68, which is 30% less than expected for a company of its size.
However, judging by the reviews and J.D. Power ratings, we have to conclude that the company does not stand out among the best auto insurance companies when it comes to customer service.
Hanover Auto Insurance Discounts
Hanover does offer a couple of valuable discounts on their website; however, there is one problem with them: there is no information on how much they reduce the premium, or how they work exactly.
For us, reviewers, this information is vital. We understand that every reader is unique, meaning they qualify for different discounts, something we emphasize in not just Hanover, but all car insurance reviews. That’s why we like to recommend a company where the discount you are eligible for is the highest.
For example, Travelers’ program for tracking how safely you drive can reduce your premium up to 20%. However, riskier drivers may get their premium increased if they drive recklessly. On the other hand, Nationwide’s same program can reduce your premium up to 40%, and there’s no penalty if your results are below their standards.
Since both companies offer detailed information, all things being equal, we would recommend Nationwide to someone who wants to enroll in this type of program.
Since Hanover does not provide us with details on their discounts, we advise a customer potentially interested in their insurance to contact an agent, get a Hanover auto insurance quote and see what their offer is.
The discounts you may get include:
Pay in Full Discount – This discount is available for those who pay their premium all at once.
Anti Theft Device Discount – If your vehicle is equipped with anti-theft devices, you can get a reduction on your premium.
Multi-Car Discount – If you insure multiple vehicles with Hanover, you can get a discount.
Accident Prevention Course Discount – If you pass a certified driving course, you can get a discount.
One Bill – If you have multiple policies, you can choose that all of them go on one bill and save money by paying only one service fee instead of several. You can pay them via Hanover Insurance app, which also saves you time.
Good Student Discount – Similar to the competition, Hanover is eager to reward good students.
Student Away at School Discount – If you have a student on your policy who goes to a school that is far away and won’t be driving your car, you can get a discount.
Affinity Groups – If you work in a company associated with Hanover, or if you belong to a club or a civil organization connected to the company, you can get a discount.
No Fee EFT – If you enroll in Electronic Fund Transfers, you can save up to $60 yearly on fees. You can sign up for this option online.
About Hanover Car Insurance Rates
Since the company doesn’t offer online quotes, getting the rates was quite challenging. In the state of New Jersey, where we conducted the insurance rate comparison, the company was one of the most expensive options.
Only for a single 23-year-old female driver was Hanover a cheaper option than Geico, but it was still more costly than 21st Century Insurance. In all other cases, Hanover was the single most expensive option, costing more than double what 21st Century charged in some cases.
Prices may vary from state to state and from customer to customer; however, based on our rate comparison, we must conclude that Hanover should not be the first choice for those on a budget.
Strongest Competitors vs. Hanover Insurance Reviews
Hanover vs Allstate
According to our data, Allstate seems to be in the middle of the pack when it comes to prices, meaning that it is very likely that Hanover is a more expensive option. Allstate also scores better than Hanover when it comes to customer satisfaction, being average in J.D. Power rankings for claims handling, while the same Hanover insurance claims reviews show the company scoring below the average.
Additionally, Allstate has guaranteed claims satisfaction, meaning you will get a refund if you are not pleased with the way your claim was processed, which is a great benefit. All things considered, we would choose Allstate, unless there was a specific coverage or bundle that Hanover offered and Allstate didn’t.
Hanover vs State Farm
While we were unable to get a direct comparison between State Farm and Hanover, our data and other insurance reviews confirm that State Farm is among the more expensive options in the insurance market. It is, however, a good option for riskier drivers.
It also leads when it comes to customer service, where State Farm scores an average 3 out of 5 stars in J.D.Powers study, while Hanover auto insurance reviews left by customers were enough for only 2 out of 5 stars.
If you are looking for ordinary coverage and reliable customer service and you are willing to pay extra, we would lean towards recommending State Farm. Otherwise, we would recommend Hanover, or explore some other options.
Progressive vs Hanover
In our analysis, Progressive prices its auto insurance very aggressively, coming in as the cheapest option. This likely means that Progressive offers auto insurance that is far more budget-friendly than Hanover.
Progressive also has an advantage when it comes to customer service according to J.D. Power, scoring 3 out of 5 in both claims satisfaction and shopping studies, while Hanover insurance customer satisfaction is rated 2 out of 5 stars in regional studies.
Progressive also offers competitive rates to drivers who have a previous record of traffic violations. Overall, we would lean towards Progressive because of the slightly better customer service and significantly better rates. However, if any specific combination of coverages offered in the Platinum Auto options seems appealing, it is worth getting a quote.
Hanover Insurance Alternatives
There are many good alternatives to Hanover insurance.. For example, Amica Mutual and Geico scored excellent in J.D. Power’s study compared to Hanover, and Travelers offered more discounts in our comprehensive study.
American Family also offers superb discounts, while MetLife provides terrific opportunities for those working in associated companies. Nationwide is an excellent option for safe drivers, due to their SmartRide program, while Progressive seems like a solid choice for the riskier drivers. And if you are a former or a current US army member or close family, USAA might be the top choice.
The best course of action is to explore all of our insurance reviews, find a couple of companies that seem like a good fit for your needs, get a quote from them, and then choose the one that meets your requirements best.
Expert Thoughts – Summary of Hanover Auto Insurance Reviews
The industry experts award the Hanover company with average or below average ratings. J.D. Power gives the company 2 stars out of 5 for customer service satisfaction in the New England region and North-Central region, which is below average. The Better Business Bureau, on the other hand, awards the company with a substantially better score of A+.
The consensus among the critics is that Hanover offers excellent coverage options, but it also has patchy customer service and high prices.
People Also Ask
Who owns Hanover Insurance Company?
Hanover Insurance Company is owned by Hanover Insurance Group, along with 16 other companies. Some of them are Citizens Insurance Company of America, Citizens Insurance Company of Illinois, Allmerica Financial Alliance Insurance Company, AIX Specialty Insurance Company, Massachusetts Bay Insurance Company, NOVA Casualty Company, Verlan Fire Insurance Company. In short, Hanover Insurance company is the parent company of Hanover Insurance and Citizens Insurance.
What is the AM Best rating for Hanover Insurance Company?
Hanover Insurance Company has an A (Excellent) AM Best rating, and so do the other companies from the Hanover Group (Citizens, Aix Specialty, Verlan Fire, etc.). Such a high rating indicates that the companies are financially solid and more than capable of handling and paying claims made by their clients. Hanover Insurance company also has a high (A) S&P rating.
Is Hanover insurance expensive?
We have to say that Hanover car insurance is one of the pricier options on the market. It’s more expensive than most competitors, no matter what the coverage level you want or driver category you belong to. Of course, these are general observations, and the final price will depend on many different factors. For your specific situation, Hanover might be the cheapest option, and that’s why it’s important not to ignore any insurance company without going into their plans.
How do I cancel my Hanover Insurance?
If you want to cancel your Hanover Insurance, you have to call the customer service on 800-922-8427 and ask to speak with a representative. You should have your policy number and other customer information nearby because you will have to provide them to the operator. The next step is waiting for the confirmation email. Keep in mind that you should buy another insurance before canceling the existing one. If you don’t do that, you will have an insurance gap which will negatively affect your future insurance premiums.
How good is Hanover Insurance?
We can’t say that Hanover insurance excels in any field, but it is solid in all of them. It’s certainly one of the priciest options out there, but it makes up for it by having less than an average number of complaints, lots of coverage options, and available discounts. Some of the drawbacks are that it operates in 27 states only and that you can’t get an online quote. You can find many Hanover Insurance reviews saying that this is a decent option, and we can say that we agree.
