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

Quick Facts

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

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

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

You might have narrowed it down to Hanover or Shelter for your next policy, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Shelter is quite a bit cheaper than Hanover, with premiums averaging $208 per month compared to $853 with Hanover.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Shelter will be the less expensive option for each driver. Insurance carriers vary their prices depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, how old you are, where you live, and a ton of other factors, so rates could differ drastically from person to person.

Wanting to know if Hanover or Shelter is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Hanover or Shelter: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Hanover and Shelter only compete against each other in one states, with Shelter offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Arkansas has the most noticable difference, where Shelter premiums are over 70% less expensive than auto insurance rates at Hanover.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance bill than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. That's normally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Shelter save more than $500 a month compared to those who use Hanover.

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

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Hanover and Shelter? Shelter gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older more than 75% cheaper than the national average for Hanover.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance prices than married policyholders. That's because policies for married couples generally cover more than one car, which many carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Shelter is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates about $756 per month less expensive than Hanover, on average. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Shelter offers the cheapest average premiums.

Hanover vs. Shelter: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance companies will tend to offer men more expensive rates.

Generally, women see premiums around 7% a month less with Hanover, and about 11% less with Shelter.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Shelter comes out as the most affordable option for both genders. On average, women save about $627 per month and men save around $662 with Shelter compared to the average Hanover policyholder.

Hanover or Shelter: 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, car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Shelter typically offers significantly more affordable prices of $129 compared to Hanover's $509. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Shelter again has the edge, with policies about $500 a month cheaper than Hanover, on average.

Is Hanover or Shelter 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.

It's no secret secret that accidents and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Hanover or Shelter -- has the lowest prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Hanover policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $221 per month if they get a ticket, while Shelter generally raises prices around $39 a month, on average.

However, Shelter is typically the less expensive option for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 77% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 78% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Hanover can expect to see about an $326 -- or around 35% -- increase in their insurance premiums. Drivers who use Shelter for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $92 (or 39%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their insurance carrier.

Overall, Shelter offers the cheapest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly prices averaging $234 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 ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, Hanover increases average premiums by just under $400 per month -- that's just under a 40% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Shelter tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $277 a month compared to 1013 from Hanover.

How does Credit Score Impact Hanover and Shelter Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (for example, California and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for quite a few drivers.

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

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Shelter. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 25% compared to Hanover, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $339 or 64% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Shelter typically offers lower prices than Hanover when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $635 a month less with Shelter compared to Hanover, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around 1643 monthly.

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

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Generally, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure, Shelter offers less expensive premiums than Hanover. Shelter average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over $500 more affordable than Hanover. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay more than $500 less with Shelter over Hanover.

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

Where you call home can have a pretty big impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Typically, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

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

In urban areas, Shelter Insurance's average rates are about 76% less than Hanover Insurance. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 78% less with Shelter compared to Hanover. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 73% with Shelter compared to Hanover.

Hanover vs. Shelter Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

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

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

Hanover blows Shelter away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 21 different discounts to Shelter's 10.

Both companies offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for getting driver training, discounts for being a good driver, and multi-policy discounts -- but Hanover also offers ABS discounts, annual mileage discounts, distant student discounts, and more that Shelter does not.

Shelter's discounts come through just a few categories, including Advance Quote, Anti-Theft, Defensive Driver, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Hanover or Shelter Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which carrier is the best one for you and your specific driver profile?

Shelter might be best for you if....

• You have below-average credit.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" car insurance.
• You have a short commute.

Hanover might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- Hanover has the most.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Hanover and Shelter. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from several companies, not just Hanover and Shelter. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Hanover vs. Shelter FAQs

Is Hanover or Shelter cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Shelter is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $208 per month compared to $853 for Hanover. But Shelter won't necessarily be the most affordable company for each policyholder, since there are many different variables that are considered when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, Hanover or Shelter?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Hanover and Shelter offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at several different factors when calculating the rates they charge drivers. Variables such as gender, age, your driving record, where you park your car, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Hanover and Shelter calculate premiums using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

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

The only way to find the 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, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Hanover or Shelter 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.