Columbia vs. Hanover: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Columbia offers significantly more affordable rates than Hanover
• Columbia has cheaper prices for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision
• Hanover may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Columbia Insurance Group

Columbia or Hanover: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering large savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Columbia or Hanover as your top options, but which carrier will save you the most?

As you can see, Hanover is quite a bit more expensive than Columbia, with rates averaging $853 a month compared to just $150 with Columbia when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

But Columbia may not be the most affordable or best option for every driver out there. Insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among a range of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Columbia or Hanover is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each company broken down by lots of different rate factors.

Columbia vs. Hanover: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Columbia and Hanover only compete against each other in one states, with Columbia offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. Arkansas has the most noticable difference, where Columbia premiums are $660 cheaper than car insurance prices at Hanover.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just the state you live in. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for auto insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. It's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Columbia for their car insurance pay over 85% less than those who use Hanover.

However, both companies will reduce premiums once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Columbia policyholders lower around $200 and Hanover's premiums drop about $500 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest prices you'll ever find.

When looking at Columbia and Hanover specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Columbia gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $109 per month compared to Hanover's $613.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance prices tend to be less expensive for married policyholders than they are for single drivers. That's because policies for married couples generally cover several vehicles, which several carriers will give you a discount for.

For single policyholders, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with Columbia rates coming in at about a quarter of Hanover's. The advantage for married drivers with Columbia is also obvious, where drivers save more than 80% per month.

Columbia or Hanover: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into a collision or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

Women usually pay almost 10% a month less than men with Columbia, and around 7% less with Hanover when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, Columbia offers the lowest average premiums for both men and women, with average prices 82% less for men and 83% cheaper for women.

Columbia vs. Hanover: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are several different coverages that account for a range of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

That being said, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Columbia has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $68. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Columbia again has the edge, with policies averaging about $232 per month to Hanover's 1196.

Is Columbia or Hanover Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their car insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

Speeding tickets and collisions will most likely raise your rates, but is Columbia or Hanover more affordable for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Columbia for their auto insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up around 12% after getting a speeding ticket. Hanover policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 26%.

Even so, Columbia tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record. With Columbia Insurance Group, drivers with a clean record can save around $513 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $720 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Columbia can expect to see around an $38 -- or about 27% -- rise in their insurance premiums. Drivers who use Hanover for their car insurance will see a monthly bill around $326 (or 35%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance company.

At the end of the day, Columbia offers the cheapest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with average prices coming in at $142 compared to Hanover Insurance's $943.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly insurance bill -- normally a lot more than a collision or ticket. Hanover drivers usually see a 39% climb in their auto insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Columbia will usually raise premiums by about 56%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Columbia tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $236 to Hanover's 1013.

How does Credit Score Impact Columbia and Hanover Rates?

Did you know many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining premiums? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it does affect many drivers out there.

The reasoning insurance carriers use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper rates, while those with poor credit will typically be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the best prices for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Columbia will generally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Columbia comes in more than 37.27 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save about 73% with Columbia compared to average rates from Hanover.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Columbia typically offers lower prices than Hanover when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 83% a month less with Columbia compared to Hanover, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about 91% a month.

Is Columbia or Hanover Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a big impact on your monthly premiums. Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable prices since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Columbia charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Hanover, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles annually paying around $1 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, for drivers in both categories, Columbia is the less expensive company.

Columbia or Hanover: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a pretty big impact as well. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas due to the number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Columbia usually comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about 83% with Columbia compared to Hanover. People who live in suburban areas pay around 82% less with Columbia compared to Hanover. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Columbia Insurance Group's average prices are about 83% less than Hanover Insurance.

Columbia vs. Hanover Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem hard to find all the of the ones you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Columbia and Hanover so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Hanover blows Columbia away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 21 different discounts to Columbia's 11.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Hanover also offers discounts for advance quote, annual mileage, DRL, and more.

On the other hand, Columbia has a proprietary discount of their own -- a employee discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Columbia or Hanover Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Columbia might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• Your credit score is high.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower premiums.

Hanover might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (Hanover offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Columbia and Hanover and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Columbia and Hanover. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Columbia vs. Hanover FAQs

Is Columbia or Hanover cheaper?

Columbia is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $150 per month with Columbia and $853 for Hanover. But that doesn't mean Columbia will be the lowest company for everyone, since there are many different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Columbia or Hanover?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Columbia and Hanover offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use a lot of different factors when calculating the premiums they charge. Things such as age, gender, where you call home, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Columbia and Hanover calculate prices differently, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

How do I know if Columbia or Hanover is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Columbia or Hanover at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.