The Hanover auto insurance

Overview

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., known to customers as The Hanover, is a publicly traded property and casualty insurer (NYSE: THG) headquartered in Worcester, Massachusetts. It ranked #25 among U.S. private passenger auto insurers by 2025 direct premiums written according to NAIC market share data, with $1.52 billion in auto premiums and a 0.41% national share.

The Hanover sells exclusively through independent agents. Commercial insurance is the larger part of the business, but personal lines produced $2.6 billion of net written premium in 2025, of which personal auto was $1.49 billion. The company markets personal lines in 19 states and focuses on account business, meaning households that insure both home and car with it; about 89% of its personal policies in force are account business. Roughly half of its personal lines premium comes from just two states, Michigan and Massachusetts. In Michigan it also does business under the Citizens name, and Michigan alone produces about 41% of its personal auto premium.

History

The Hanover Fire Insurance Company opened in 1852 at Hanover Square in Manhattan and appointed its first independent agent, Samuel S. Coe of Cleveland, that year. It paid claims after the great fires in Portland, Maine (1866), Chicago (1871) and Boston (1872). A 1911 charter change let it write marine and automobile insurance, and in 1915 its Citizens brand wrote the first auto policy in Michigan.

The company renamed itself The Hanover Insurance Group in 1958, moved its headquarters from New York to Worcester in 1969, and in 1974 bought all shares of Citizens Mutual Insurance Company. In 2003 it recommitted to selling only through independent agents. It acquired commercial business from OneBeacon Insurance Group in 2009, and in 2010 and 2011 bought the Lloyd's of London specialty insurer Chaucer, which it agreed to sell to China Re in 2018.

John C. Roche became president and CEO in 2017. Richard W. Lavey, the chief operating officer, is listed as CEO-elect. In its 2025 annual report, the company said it is working to diversify personal lines beyond Michigan and Massachusetts to reduce its concentration in those states.

Auto insurance coverage

The Hanover sells three personal auto offerings through agents. Connections is its stand-alone auto policy. Platinum is its most popular package, combining home and auto in one account with one bill, one effective date and savings on both policies. Prestige is designed for higher-value homes and cars; see high-net-worth auto insurance: what private client carriers add.

Beyond liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured motorist and medical payments or personal injury protection, The Hanover offers several notable endorsements:

• Accident forgiveness, which forgives the first surchargeable accident in any 36-month period.
• Deductible dividends, a disappearing deductible that reduces your collision deductible as soon as it is added, by up to $500 over five years.
• Newer car replacement, which pays the actual cash value of a car one model year newer than yours after a total loss.
• OEM parts coverage, either for the three most recent model years or lifetime OEM coverage for as long as parts are available.
• A range of rental options, including rental reimbursement, rental car coverage, single-limit and extended rental reimbursement.
• Roadside assistance, which the company says typically costs about $20 per vehicle per year and is billed directly when you use its provider network of more than 50,000 service providers in the U.S. and Canada.

Discounts and programs

The Hanover publishes few individual discounts. Its main savings come from packaging: Platinum customers save on both home and auto premiums when both are insured with the company. It also offers Smart Savings discounts for completing its accident prevention courses. Rates and discounts are quoted through independent agents, and the company does not promote a smartphone telematics program on its consumer pages. Drivers who want a usage-based discount may need to compare other carriers.

Claims

Policyholders can report and track claims through a My Hanover Policy account, the Hanover Mobile app, or by calling 800-628-0250. Platinum customers can report claims 24/7 at 800-799-6977, and Prestige customers have a dedicated claims line at 877-922-2774. The same 800-628-0250 number dispatches roadside assistance for personal lines customers. The Hanover's site also offers an online auto glass request, a repair shop locator and text updates on claim status.

Ratings and reputation

On August 14, 2026, AM Best affirmed the A (Excellent) financial strength rating of The Hanover's property/casualty companies with a stable outlook, citing the strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization and recent improvement in underwriting results, rate increases and reserve releases after earlier severe weather losses. AM Best also pointed to regional exposure to natural catastrophes.

Satisfaction results are weaker. In the J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, The Hanover scored 600 in New England, 10th of 13 insurers and below the 631 regional average, and 633 in the North Central region, which includes Michigan, below the 645 regional average and tied with Travelers in the bottom half of 20 ranked insurers. The Hanover was not ranked in J.D. Power's 2025 claims satisfaction study.

Who it suits

The Hanover suits homeowners who want to keep home and auto with one carrier through a local independent agent, particularly in Michigan and Massachusetts, and who value endorsements such as OEM parts, deductible dividends and accident forgiveness. Owners of high-value homes and vehicles can look at Prestige. Drivers who want to buy online, seek a telematics discount or rank customer satisfaction scores highly may find better fits elsewhere.

• Strengths: A (Excellent) AM Best rating affirmed in August 2026; strong optional endorsements including lifetime OEM parts and deductible dividends; home-and-auto packages with one bill; long history with Michigan auto through Citizens.
• Weaknesses: Below-average J.D. Power scores in both regions where it was ranked in 2026; sold only through agents in 19 states; heavy concentration in Michigan and Massachusetts; few published discounts and no promoted telematics program.

How to contact The Hanover