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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Progressive offers significantly cheaper prices than Hanover
• Progressive offers more affordable rates for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Progressive offers more discounts than Hanover Insurance

Hanover vs. Progressive: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Hanover or Progressive for your next policy, but between the two, which company will offer you less expensive premiums?

As you can see, Hanover has average rates that are about 80% per month more expensive than those from Progressive when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

But that doesn't mean Progressive will necessarily be more affordable than Hanover for each driver. Auto insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how old you are or where you live (among a wide array of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

Hanover or Progressive: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Hanover and Progressive compete against each other in eight states, with Progressive offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Illinois has the most noticable difference, where Progressive rates are over 70% more affordable than insurance premiums at Hanover.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just where you live. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance prices of any other group of drivers. It's generally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $500 less a month by choosing Progressive over Hanover.

However, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average prices for Hanover policyholders drop over 60% and Progressive's premiums lower nearly 70% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Hanover and Progressive specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Progressive gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $131 per month compared to Hanover's $613.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are typically more expensive for single drivers than they are for married couples? This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one car on their policy -- something a lot of auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Progressive is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates about $779 per month less expensive than Hanover, on average. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Progressive offers the most affordable average prices.

Hanover vs. Progressive: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women usually pay less for insurance than men? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and file an insurance claim, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

On average, men see prices around 7% a month higher with Hanover, and about 3% more with Progressive.

When it comes to the cheapest rates for each gender, Progressive offers the lowest average premiums for both men and women, with average prices $700 less for men and $645 cheaper for women.

Hanover or Progressive: 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.

It's no secret that auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Progressive generally offers significantly more affordable rates of $111 compared to Hanover's $509. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Progressive again has the edge, with policies around $500 per month cheaper than Hanover, on average.

Is Hanover or Progressive Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

Collisions and tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is Hanover or Progressive less expensive for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Hanover policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $221 a month if they get a ticket, while Progressive usually raises rates about $31 per month, on average.

Even so, Progressive tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 76% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 79% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Hanover drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums rise by just under 35%, while those who have insurance through Progressive will see around a 30% increase.

Overall, the cheaper rates come from Progressive, with monthly prices averaging $214 compared to Hanover Insurance's $943.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. For example, Hanover increases average premiums by just under $400 a month -- that's just under a 40% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Hanover and Progressive Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly auto insurance rates. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect many policyholders out there.

Insurance companies argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable prices.

Looking at Hanover and Progressive specifically, which carrier has the most affordable rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you put on your vehicle each year, the less likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

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

Hanover vs. Progressive: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a big impact as well. Typically, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Progressive normally comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable prices from both carriers, but Progressive comes out on top with average rates around $154 a month. Progressive also has less expensive average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 79% and 79% per month respective difference when compared to Hanover drivers in similar areas.

Hanover vs. Progressive Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as you can.

The difficult part is finding all of the discounts you qualify for, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Hanover and Progressive offer their customers so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Progressive blows Hanover away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 13 more discounts than Hanover.

Both companies offer a lot of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, distant student discounts, and EFT discounts -- but Progressive also offers advanced safety feature discounts, agency transfer discounts, continuous insurance discounts, and more that Hanover does not.

On the flip side, Hanover has a couple unique discounts of its own -- annual mileage discounts, discounts for getting driver training, experienced operator discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Hanover or Progressive Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables auto insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best fit for you?

Progressive might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You live in an urban area.
• You and your spouse are buying insurance together.

Hanover might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Hanover and Progressive. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car insurance.

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

Hanover vs. Progressive FAQs

Is Hanover or Progressive cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Progressive is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $180 a month compared to $853 for Hanover. That being said, Progressive won't necessarily be the lowest company for each driver, since there are lots of different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Hanover or Progressive?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Hanover and Progressive offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at lots of different variables when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Factors such as age, where you live, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Hanover and Progressive use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Hanover or Progressive at all!

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.