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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Safety offers significantly cheaper rates than Hanover
• Hanover offers more discounts than Safety Insurance
• Safety has more affordable prices for residents of urban areas

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering Hanover or Safety, but between the two, which one has less expensive rates for car insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Hanover is quite a bit more expensive than Safety, with premiums averaging $853 per month compared to just $217 with Safety.

Even so, Safety may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. Auto insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how old you are or how good your credit score is (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 Safety is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each company broken down by lots of different rate factors.

Hanover or Safety: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Hanover and Safety only compete against each other in two states, with Hanover offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Massachusetts, Hanover is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at the overall average premiums. Safety is the less expensive option in New Hampshire.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just where you call home. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance prices of any group out there on the road. That's normally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance rates. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Safety for their car insurance pay more than $500 less than those who use Hanover.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your prices drop significantly by the time drivers turn 25. Safety offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Hanover's average rates lower over 60% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the most affordable insurance premiums you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for car insurance.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Safety gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $164 per month compared to Hanover's $613.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance rates are usually cheaper for married drivers than they are for those who are single? This usually boils down to married couples having more than one car on their policy -- something lots of car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Safety is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices around $759 a month more affordable than Hanover, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Safety is also obvious, where drivers save more than $450 per month.

Hanover vs. Safety: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men tend to pay more for insurance than women? This is because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, which raises the chances of an insurance claim.

On average, women see premiums about 7% a month less with Hanover, and around 5% less with Safety.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, Safety offers the lowest average rates for both men and women, with average premiums $660 less for men and $611 cheaper for women.

Hanover or Safety: 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.

For most people, auto insurance can be pretty complicated. 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 end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Safety generally offers significantly less expensive prices of $122 compared to Hanover's $509. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Safety again has the edge, with policies about $500 per month cheaper than Hanover, on average.

Is Hanover or Safety 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.

Tickets and accidents will most likely raise your rates, but is Hanover or Safety more affordable for drivers with less-than-perfect 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 Safety usually raises rates around $61 per month, on average.

However, Safety is normally the less expensive option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket, offering premiums that are 79% and 77% more affordable, respectively, compared to Hanover Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Hanover drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices increase by just under $350, while those who have insurance through Safety will see about a $95 increase.

Overall, Safety offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $226 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 -- generally a lot more than an accident or ticket. On average, Hanover will climb your prices around 39% after a DUI, while Safety's average rates climb by over 60%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Safety tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $324 a month compared to 1013 from Hanover.

How does Credit Score Impact Hanover and Safety Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when carriers determine your monthly bill. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

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

So, which company offers the cheapest premiums for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Safety. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save more than 35% compared to Hanover, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $375 or 71% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Safety typically offers lower prices than Hanover when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $668 a month less with Safety compared to Hanover, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about 1643 monthly.

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

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly premiums. That's because the more miles you drive, the more likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

Safety tends to be the cheaper option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure. Safety's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 75% more affordable than Hanover. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay about 74% less with Safety over Hanover.

Hanover vs. Safety: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a sizable impact on your monthly insurance payment. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because there are a lot more vehicles on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

Safety tends to offer the lowest rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable prices from both companies, but Safety comes out on top with average rates around $148 per month. Safety also has cheaper average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $684 and $621 per month respective difference when compared to Hanover drivers in similar areas.

Hanover vs. Safety Discounts

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

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Hanover and Safety so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Overall, Hanover has advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Safety offers a grand total of 18 discounts, while Hanover has 21.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like annual mileage discounts, distant student discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and group discounts. Hanover also offers ABS discounts, defensive driver discounts, DRL discounts, and more that Safety does not.

On the flip side, Safety has a couple unique discounts of its own -- book transfer policy discounts, e-signature discounts, employee discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Hanover or Safety Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Hanover or Safety the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Safety might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You live in an suburban area.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Hanover might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Hanover and Safety. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to 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 a handful of carriers, not just Hanover and Safety. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Hanover vs. Safety FAQs

Is Hanover or Safety cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Safety is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $217 a month compared to $853 for Hanover. That being said, Safety won't necessarily be the lowest company for every driver, since there are several different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Hanover or Safety?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Hanover and Safety offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at several different variables when calculating the premiums they charge policyholders. Factors like 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 Safety calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

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

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