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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, State Auto offers significantly more affordable premiums than Hanover
• Hanover may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than State Auto Insurance
• State Auto tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record

Hanover or State Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Hanover or State Auto as your top options, but between the two, which company has less expensive prices for car insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, State Auto has average rates that are around 70% a month cheaper than those from Hanover.

However, State Auto may not be the cheapest or best option for every single driver out there. Auto insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like how good your credit score is, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, where you live, and all sorts of other factors, so rates could change drastically from person to person.

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

Hanover vs. State Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Hanover and State Auto only compete against each other in one states, with State Auto offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Illinois has the most noticable difference, where State Auto rates are 1064 less expensive than insurance prices at Hanover.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance cost than just where you live. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. As you can see above, teens who use State Auto save over 60% per month compared to those who use Hanover.

Even so, both companies will lower premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Hanover policyholders decrease more than 60% and State Auto's prices drop almost 75% 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 most affordable rates out there.

When looking at Hanover and State Auto specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? State Auto gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $446 cheaper than the national average for Hanover.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are generally more expensive for single drivers than they are for married policyholders? That's usually because married couples tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with State Auto premiums coming in at about a third of Hanover's. The advantage for married drivers with State Auto is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 75% a month.

Hanover or State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Men typically pay more for insurance than women. That's because men are more likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, which increases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Men generally pay around $60 per month more than women with Hanover, and about $24 more with State Auto.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, State Auto offers the lowest average rates for both men and women, with average premiums $612 less for men and $576 cheaper for women.

Hanover vs. State Auto: 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 for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, State Auto has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $149. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, State Auto again has the edge, with policies averaging around $369 a month to Hanover's 1196.

Is Hanover or State Auto 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.

At-fault collisions and speeding tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is Hanover or State Auto more affordable for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Hanover for their insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 26% after getting a speeding ticket. State Auto policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 22%.

But State Auto tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket, offering premiums that are 72% and 74% less expensive, respectively, compared to Hanover Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Hanover drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates rise by just under 35%, while those who have insurance through State Auto will see about a 35% increase.

At the end of the day, State Auto offers the most affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average rates coming in at $269 compared to Hanover Insurance's $943.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even a collision. For example, Hanover increases average premiums by nearly $400 per month -- that's nearly a 40% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, State Auto tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $380 to Hanover's 1013.

How does Credit Score Impact Hanover and State Auto Rates?

Did you know many car insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Michigan and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect many policyholders out there.

Insurance carriers argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the lowest premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, State Auto will usually reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, State Auto comes in more than 11.82 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save about 57% with State Auto compared to average prices from Hanover.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

State Auto typically offers lower rates than Hanover when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 69% a month less with State Auto compared to Hanover, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about 81% per month.

Is Hanover or State Auto 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 auto insurance companies will charge for coverage. Usually, the more milage you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

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

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

Where you live can play a considerable role in how much you pay for insurance. Generally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers due to the number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

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

Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $225 a month with State Auto compared to Hanover's $750. People in suburban areas pay around $236 with State Auto compared to Hanover's $842 monthly. In urban areas, State Auto's average premiums are about $317 per month compared to Hanover's $966.

Hanover vs. State Auto Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many car insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Hanover and State Auto so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

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

Both companies offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, distant student discounts, and discounts for being a good student -- but Hanover also offers discounts for annual mileage, DRL, education, and more.

On the other hand, State Auto has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advantage program discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, employee discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Hanover or State Auto Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the right fit for you?

State Auto might be best for you if....

• Your driving record contains an at-fault accident.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's car insurance policy.

Hanover might be best for you if...

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

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

Hanover vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Hanover or State Auto cheaper?

State Auto is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $259 a month with State Auto and $853 for Hanover. That being said, that doesn't mean State Auto will be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are a bunch of different variables that come into play when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, Hanover or State Auto?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Hanover and State Auto offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use lots of different factors when calculating the premiums they charge. Variables like gender, your driving record, age, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Hanover and State Auto use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance company 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 ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Hanover or State Auto 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.