The Hanover Auto Insurance Review 2024

The Hanover earned 3.5 stars out of 5 for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer experience, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and financial strength ratings.

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 businesses.

People who like an insurance policy with built-in perks and features may find The Hanover to be a good fit.

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The Hanover auto insurance coverage

When you're shopping for car insurance coverage, it's important to understand what car insurance coverage you want and what you’re required to buy. For instance, most states require a minimum amount of car insurance to drive a vehicle. Alternatively, if you want extra protection, you may be interested in full coverage insurance. Read about the most common types of car insurance coverage to see how they work.

You can get these basic types of coverage with any Hanover auto policy, but the company also offers plenty of ways to customize your insurance. For instance, you can add 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.

• Gap coverage. If your car is totaled, this coverage pays the difference between what your vehicle is worth at the time of the crash and the amount you owe on your car loan or lease.

• 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. With these endorsements, you’ll be paid more to afford a newer car.

• Full glass coverage. Your windshield can be repaired or replaced without a deductible.

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, assuming both your home and auto coverage came from The Hanover.

• Child car seat replacement. You’ll receive up to $300 with no deductible to replace a car seat if it’s damaged in a covered accident.

• Original equipment manufacturer parts coverage. This 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. This coverage 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.

• Excess custom equipment. The Hanover will reimburse up to $1,500 for custom equipment that wasn’t installed by the original manufacturer if it is damaged after a covered crash.

• Excess electronic equipment. Similar to excess custom equipment insurance, this coverage pays up to $1,000 for electronic equipment that wasn’t originally installed in the vehicle if it is damaged after a covered accident.

• 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.

• Accident forgiveness. As long as you don’t get into more than one accident in any three-year period, your rate won’t increase.

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.

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Auto insurance discounts

Depending on your state, you may be offered discounts or credits for:

• Insuring both your home and vehicle 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.

• Owning a home.

• Getting a quote before you need to renew your policy if you’re switching from a different insurer.

• Having a vehicle that your teen driver doesn’t use.

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. This discount is not available in New York.

Complaints

The Hanover had far fewer than the expected number of complaints about auto insurance to state regulators relative to its size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

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.

Mobile Apps: The Hanover offers two 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 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.

Homeowners and renters 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.

If you don’t own a home, you may want to consider renters insurance from The Hanover. Read more about its renters policies in our Hanover renters insurance review.

Other insurance from The Hanover

In addition to auto, homeowners and renters coverage, The Hanover offers several other types of insurance:

• Condo.

• Motorcycle.

• Recreational vehicle.

• Boat and personal watercraft.

• Umbrella.

• Business and commercial auto.

• All-terrain.

• Landlord/rental property.

The Hanover sells these types of insurance through third parties:

• Manufactured home.

• Classic car.

• Identity theft.