Allmerica Financial Alliance Auto Insurance Review (2023)

Is The Hanover Insurance Group a Good Choice?

Hanover is a smaller insurance company that you may not have heard of. When most people think about insurance, big names like Geico and Allstate typically come to mind. However, are the largest auto insurance companies the best? Not always.

The Hanover may not be the largest company around, but it is big for a regional insurer. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) ranks it as at number 22 of the 25 largest insurance companies in the nation. Learn more about the company at our Hanover auto insurance review.

For example, Hanover is the first insurance company to offer a policy called “Toys” coverage. It’s not for all the stuff you buy your kids; it’s for all the fun stuff you buy yourself. This coverage is only available for those who already have a personal auto insurance policy with Hanover, as it’s an add-on and cannot be purchased separately.

The Toys coverage can be purchased to protect motor homes, golf carts, dune buggies, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, antique vehicles, classic vehicles, trailers, and campers.

The policy only covers physical damage. If you want other types of coverage on these vehicles, a policy will need to be customized specifically for you by Hanover.

Because they are a smaller company, they have to be more creative in the policies they offer to attract clients. This means they might have the perfect policy for you. The downside of this, however, is that Hanover’s coverage is only available through an agent, meaning you cannot get an online quote for a policy.

What is Hanover’s availability by state?

According to the Hanover insurance home page, their coverage is not available nationwide. The company only provides Arkansas auto insurance, Connecticut auto insurance, Georgia auto insurance, Illinois auto insurance, Indiana auto insurance, Louisiana auto insurance, Maine auto insurance, Massachusetts auto insurance, Michigan auto insurance, New Hampshire auto insurance, New Jersey auto insurance, New York auto insurance, Ohio auto insurance, Oklahoma auto insurance, Virginia auto insurance, Wisconsin auto insurance, and Tennessee auto insurance at this time.

This means you can get Hanover insurance in Howell, Michigan, or Gatlinburg, Tennessee, but folks in Dallas, Texas, don’t have access to a Hanover policy.

Most of the states listed above are among the states with the highest auto insurance rates in the nation. Given that all of the above states require insurance when buying a car, it is important to get a quote for a policy before you make a purchase.

The Hanover Insurance Group Discounts Available

Hanover states that they offer the following auto insurance discounts:

• Good Student Discount – Like most insurance companies, Hanover is happy to reward responsible students with a discount. Typically, a discount of this kind is available to students with a B average or higher, but Hanover’s website doesn’t provide their specific requirements, so you may need to reach out to your agent and ask if this is a discount you might be entitled to.
• Student Away at School Discount – If you have a student on your policy who is away at school and won’t have access to your vehicle on a regular basis, you may be entitled to this discount.
• Low Mileage Discount – If you don’t drive much you have a decreased risk of being in an accident. Hanover is happy to reward you for your reduced risk with a discount on your premium.

While these three discounts are the only ones listed on the Hanover website, there are many other potential discounts that may apply to your policy. Check with your agent to see if Hanover will provide any of the following discounts:

• Pay in Full Discount – This discount is available if you pay your premium all at once rather than month-by-month.
• Anti-Theft Device Discount – Many companies offer a discount on your comprehensive coverage if you have certain anti-theft devices installed on your vehicle.
• Multi-Car Discount – You may be entitled to a discount if you insure multiple vehicles with Hanover.
• Safe Driving Course Discount – You may be entitled to a discount if you pass a certified driving course.
• Multi-line Discount – If you have multiple policies with Hanover you should be entitled to a multi-line discount.
• Affinity Groups – If you work for a company that is associated with Hanover auto insurance, or if you belong to an organization connected to the company, you may be entitled to a discount. Check with your agent to see if your employer or organization is affiliated with Hanover.

Keep in mind that insurance companies update their discounts all the time. You may want to verify the current available discounts with your independent agent.

What programs are available from Hanover?

Hanover’s biggest selling point is their Platinum Auto programs, all of which offer a fantastic combination of coverage options. For Hanover platinum insurance reviews, continue reading below:

Platinum Auto Essential

This plan offers some amazing benefits, including:

• Waiver of Deductible
• Child Passenger Restraint System Replacement Coverage
• Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Parts
• Mechanical Parts Replacement
• Ultimate Rental
• Vehicle Key Replacement Coverage
• Excess Custom Equipment
• Excess Electronic Equipment

For more information about the mechanical parts replacement, take a look at the video below:

There are other plans available as well, including:

Platinum Auto Advantage

This plan offers all of the coverages listed above and adds:

• New Car Replacement Coverage
• Newer Car Replacement
• Second Chance Accident Forgiveness
• Deductible Dividends

Platinum Auto Elite

This plan offers everything included in the other two platinum plans and bundles in several other coverages, including:

• Pet Injury Protection
• Rental Car Insurance
• Trip Interruption
• Rental Coverage Upgrade
• Home Care Services
• Accidental Airbag Deployment
• Accidental Death Benefit

You can reach out to your independent agent for details about these plans and how the benefits apply to you.

Canceling Your Hanover Auto Insurance Policy

Before you decide to cancel your Hanover auto insurance, make sure you’re managing your auto insurance policy by having another one set up first. Canceling without having new coverage in place could leave you with a gap in coverage, which would mean your vehicle was unprotected during that time.

A gap in coverage could also increase your rates for your new policy.

Once you have a new policy in place, you may have some questions about cancellation, which we’ll do our best to address here.

Is there a cancellation fee?

The Hanover website doesn’t specify if there is a cancellation fee for terminating your policy. Given that each state has different rules and regulations when it comes to insurance, this isn’t out of the ordinary.

They do state, however, that there may be a processing fee depending on how you pay your bill, i.e., whether you pay directly through their site or a third party vendor.

Is there a refund?

The answer to this question is similar to the statement above regarding cancellation fees.

The laws and rules vary from state to state, so customers in some places may be entitled to a refund while others may not, or may only be entitled to a partial refund.

If you have insurance through Hanover, your best bet is to reach out to your independent agent who arranged your policy and find out whether or not you’re entitled to a refund on car insurance.

How do you cancel?

Again, you’ll want to get in touch with your independent agent and let them know you would like to cancel your auto insurance policy. If you used them to purchase a new policy, they may have already put things in motion to cancel your policy through Hanover without any extra work on your part.

You may also find that your new insurance company will take care of your cancellation for you, so make sure to ask when you’re setting up the new policy if taking care of the termination of your old policy is a service that they offer.

If you don’t want to reach out to your agent, you can call the Hanover customer service department at 1-800-922-8427 and they can connect you to someone who can help you get your policy canceled.

When can I cancel?

Most states allow you to cancel an auto insurance policy at any time as long as you have a new policy to replace it to prevent a gap in coverage. Some states may have different rules, however, so check with your state’s insurance website or your agent to make sure you know when you can cancel your policy.

Typically, policies go into effect at midnight and are terminated effective 11:59 p.m. This is the best way to guarantee you’re never left with a gap in coverage.

How to Make a Hanover Auto Insurance Claim

To file an auto insurance claim with Hanover, call their claims department directly at 1-800-628-0250. They can walk you through the process of filing a claim and answer any questions you may have.

Once you’ve filed a claim, expect to hear from an adjuster within one business day. When you hear from your adjuster, they will:

• Ask you for a statement to get the details of the accident
• Review your policy and the specific coverages that are available to you
• Explain the damage estimate process to you and let you know the next steps in getting your car repaired or replaced
• Inform you whether or not a deductible will apply

If you have any questions about your claim, feel free to reach out to your adjuster or your independent agent.

How to Get a Hanover Auto Insurance Quote Online

While many of the largest insurance companies in the country offer online quote systems, Hanover requires you to contact an independent agent to get a quote.

If you have questions about how to find an independent agent in your area, you can always search online or use Hanover’s agent search page.

Keep in mind, however, that it’s always best to find an agent with no affiliation to any particular insurance company. This is the only way you can be certain that there is no conflict of interest.

Hanover: Auto Insurance Ratings

There are various organizations that rate insurance companies on everything from financial stability to consumer satisfaction, making it easier for customers to choose which insurance company is right for them.

The ratings for Hanover are as follows.

A.M Best – A.M. Best gives Hanover an A rating on financial stability. Their scale goes from A++ to D, so this is a solid rating, but nowhere near the best possible rating for a company.

Better Business Bureau (BBB) – The Better Business Bureau rates companies on ethics and consumer complaints by state. While the BBB gives Hanover an A+ rating in Massachusetts, the consumers on the site rate the company less than two stars, so it may be worth your time to do some research before making a purchase.

Moody’s – Moody’s rates companies based on financial aspects, from Aaa to C, with Aaa being the highest rating and C being the lowest. In 2019, Moody’s gave Hanover a rating of Baa2, which was an improvement from their rating the year before.

Standard & Poor’s – Standard & Poor’s, otherwise known as S&P, also rates insurance companies based on their financial abilities. On a scale from AAA to D, the company gives Hanover an A rating.

National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) – NAIC gives Hanover a complaint ratio of 0.68. In this ranking system, lower numbers are much better than higher ones.

J.D. Power – According to J.D. Power, Hanover rates about average across the board, with slightly worse than average ratings in price and slightly better than average ratings in interaction.

Consumer Reports – Consumer Reports, on the other hand, reports that Hanover rates Very Good to Excellent across the board.

These are not the only groups that rate insurance companies, but they are the largest and most well-known. However, one of the best options to find out about Hanover insurance is through word-of-mouth, so ask people you know who have the insurance what they think of the company.

Hanover: Auto Insurance History

Started as a home and business insurance company in 1852, Hanover was very popular with early investors, including famous author Washington Irving. It was named for its original location, Manhattan’s Hanover Square.

In 1911, the company expanded its coverage to include automobiles, underwriting a policy for baseball’s most famous player, Babe Ruth, in 1915.

In 1969, the company moved its headquarters to Massachusetts. In 2013, Hanover reached the milestone of having more than $5 billion in written premiums.

The Hanover Insurance Group Coverage Options

Hanover offers a variety of personal insurance coverage options that can be customized to fit the personal insurance needs of its clients.

Hanover home insurance options are:

• Basic policy
• Select policy
• Select plus policy
• Select premium policy
• Select premium extra policy

You should choose your policy based on the coverage you need for your home, the value of your home, and the value of your assets.

Its types of auto insurance coverage may include:

• Various liability auto insurance limits
• Collision or comprehensive auto insurance
• State required liability
• Original equipment manufacturer parts (OEM parts)
• Newer car replacement
• Deductible dividends
• Roadside assistance
• Transportation expense
• Medical payments coverage/ personal injury protection coverage

This coverage helps pay legal expenses if you are sued due to an accident or something that happens on your property, or if your identity is stolen.

What are Hanover’s bundling options?

It can be difficult to determine exactly what options for bundling insurance policies are available because Hanover does not offer online quotes, but they do offer a discount for bundling your policies. This is in line with most other major insurance companies.

If you have more than one insurance policy with Hanover, it would be worth your time to verify with your agent that you’re receiving a multi-line discount as well as any other discounts that may be available to you.

Hanover Business Lines of Insurance

Hanover has insurance for many different types of businesses including:

• A business owner’s policy
• Workers’ compensation
• Commercial auto insurance
• Commercial umbrella insurance

Different businesses need different coverage options.

Hanover is one of the few insurance companies to carry a specific plan for mid-sized businesses. Mid-sized businesses are often overlooked and forced to choose between small business insurance and large business insurance options, neither of which fit the needs of a mid-sized business.

Hanover’s mid-sized business insurance policy is customized to match the needs of the business.

Inland marine policies from Hanover are specifically for businesses that own or operate watercraft. Hanover has policies that are right for both in-depth and simply marine businesses.

Hanover also offers commercial surety bonds. Surety bonds are contracts between a hired contractor and the client. For example, if you hire a construction contractor to build an addition on your home, you would want them to be bonded so if they did not hold up their end of the bargain, or a natural disaster ruined the construction before it was complete, you’d be covered.

The Bottom Line

Hanover tends to be more expensive than its competitors, with lower rankings by most standard metrics. This doesn’t mean the company is a bad choice for you, however.

Their financial rankings are perfectly reasonable and they offer a wide variety of coverages, some of which are not available from the competition, which might be enough to tilt you in their favor.

If you feel that doing business with an independent agent is the best choice for you, it may be worth your time to consider purchasing a policy from Hanover. Ask your agent for a quote and if they know of any other products that might be a better fit for your needs.

If you’re looking for online quotes for multiple companies, use our FREE tool below to start saving money on auto insurance today.

Frequently Asked Questions

#1 – Is Hanover good insurance for cars?

This is a tough question. While the company has received decent financial ratings and employees seem happy to be there, the Allmerica financial insurance company’s customer service ratings tend to be low, and you will require a middleman to access their service.

However, their platinum plans and Toys coverage make them unique in the market, so if these things appeal to you it might be worth your time to reach out to an independent agent for a quote.

#2 – How do you receive Hanover discounts?

Hanover offers a number of discounts, though that information is difficult to find on their website. You can review the section on discounts above or reach out to your agent for more information.

#3 – What is the Hanover Insurance A.M. Best rating and what does it mean?

Hanover Insurance has an A rating with A.M. Best, which is considered “Excellent.” While its rating could be higher, it’s high enough to indicate that it should have no problems paying claims in the foreseeable future.