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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Rockford Mutual offers significantly more affordable rates than Hanover
• Hanover may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Rockford Mutual Insurance Company
• Rockford Mutual tends to be a much less expensive option for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse

Hanover or Rockford Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Hanover or Rockford Mutual for your next policy, but which company will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Rockford Mutual is quite a bit cheaper than Hanover, with prices averaging $169 a month compared to $853 with Hanover.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Rockford Mutual will be the cheaper option for every single driver. Insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on how old you are or how good your credit score is (among a whole bunch of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Hanover and Rockford Mutual by several different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Hanover vs. Rockford Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Hanover and Rockford Mutual only compete against each other in one states, with Rockford Mutual offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Illinois has the most noticable difference, where Rockford Mutual prices are 1210 less expensive than auto insurance rates at Hanover.

But there's more to calculating car insurance premiums than just where you live. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's normally 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.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 80% less per month by choosing Rockford Mutual over Hanover.

But with both companies, you'll see your prices drop significantly by the time drivers turn 25. Rockford Mutual offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Hanover's average rates reduce more than 60% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the most affordable car insurance premiums you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually reduces their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise rates.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Hanover and Rockford Mutual? Rockford Mutual gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older over 80% cheaper than the national average for Hanover.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance prices than married policyholders. That's because policies for married couples normally cover several vehicles, which several carriers will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with Rockford Mutual prices coming in at around a quarter of Hanover's. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - Rockford Mutual has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Hanover or Rockford Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into collisions and get tickets, they are less likely to file a claim with insurance. So, insurance carriers will tend to charge women less than men.

Typically, women see rates about 7% a month less with Hanover, and around 9% less with Rockford Mutual.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Rockford Mutual offers the lowest average premiums for both men and women, with average prices $706 less for men and $662 cheaper for women.

Hanover vs. Rockford Mutual: 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.

Car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

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

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Rockford Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $88. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Rockford Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging about $251 per month to Hanover's 1196.

Is Hanover or Rockford Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their auto 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 at-fault accidents will most likely raise your prices, but is Hanover or Rockford Mutual more affordable for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Hanover for their insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up around 26% after getting a speeding ticket. Rockford Mutual policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 29%.

That being said, Rockford Mutual tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket, offering premiums that are 81% and 80% cheaper, respectively, compared to Hanover Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Hanover increasing by around 35%. Rockford Mutual has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay nearly 25% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Rockford Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $158 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 collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. Hanover drivers usually see a 39% increase in their auto insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Rockford Mutual will generally climb rates by about 48%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Rockford Mutual tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $229 to Hanover's 1013.

How does Credit Score Impact Hanover and Rockford Mutual Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it does affect quite a few drivers out there.

The reasoning insurance carriers use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so usually, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper premiums.

So, which company offers the cheapest rates for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Rockford Mutual will typically reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Rockford Mutual comes in just under 38.64 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save about 73% with Rockford Mutual compared to average prices from Hanover.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Rockford Mutual typically offers lower premiums than Hanover when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 80% a month less with Rockford Mutual compared to Hanover, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about 88% a month.

Is Hanover or Rockford Mutual 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 your monthly rates. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car each year, the less likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

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

Hanover or Rockford Mutual: 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 big impact as well. Typically, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders since there are a lot more vehicles on the road where they live, which increases the chances of an accident.

Rockford Mutual boasts the most affordable average rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Rockford Mutual Insurance Company's average prices are about 76% less than Hanover Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay around 84% less with Rockford Mutual compared to Hanover. Those in rural areas can expect to save about 81% with Rockford Mutual compared to Hanover.

Hanover vs. Rockford Mutual Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

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

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

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good student, and discounts for being a homeowner. Hanover also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, annual mileage, and more.

On the other hand, Rockford Mutual has a proprietary discount of their own -- a renewal discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Hanover or Rockford Mutual Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Hanover or Rockford Mutual the right carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Rockford Mutual might be best for you if....

• You have a clean record.
• You have above-average credit.
• You want to save money while purchasing car insurance for a teenager.

Hanover might be best for you if...

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

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Hanover and Rockford Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on car insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple carriers, not just Hanover and Rockford Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Hanover vs. Rockford Mutual FAQs

Is Hanover or Rockford Mutual cheaper?

Rockford Mutual is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $169 per month with Rockford Mutual and $853 for Hanover. However, that doesn't mean Rockford Mutual will be the lowest company for every driver, since there are lots of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Hanover or Rockford Mutual?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Hanover and Rockford Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use a lot of different variables when determining the prices they charge. Things like age, your driving record, where you park your car, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Hanover and Rockford Mutual use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Hanover or Rockford Mutual 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.