The Hanover Renters Insurance Review 2024

The Hanover sells renters insurance through local agents, with a choice of three coverage packages.
Sarah Schlichter
By Sarah Schlichter 
Updated
Edited by Caitlin Constantine

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Hanover

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Best for renters who want to work with an agent to get the right coverage.

Coverage options

About average

Discounts

Great set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected
insurance-product-card-logo

Hanover

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Best for renters who want to work with an agent to get the right coverage.

Coverage options

About average

Discounts

Great set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

About Hanover renters insurance

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

The Hanover renters insurance earned 4.5 out of 5 stars for overall performance. The Hanover offers three different renters insurance packages, so policyholders can choose just the basics or upgrade to fuller coverage. The company shines when it comes to service, drawing far fewer consumer complaints than expected for an insurer of its size. Based in Massachusetts, The Hanover sells policies in 20 states.

The Hanover is among NerdWallet’s Best Renters Insurance Companies for 2024.

Our star ratings are based on consumer complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; financial strength grades from AM Best; coverage and discounts available; and the overall consumer experience. See our criteria for evaluating renters insurance companies.

Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines that ensure fairness and accuracy in order to help you choose the financial products that work best for you. Here is a list of our partners and here’s how we make money.

Where The Hanover stands out

Flexible coverage. Between its packages and a la carte options, The Hanover has coverage that will suit most renters.

Consumer complaints. Aside from its poorly rated app, The Hanover draws very few consumer complaints for a company of its size, suggesting that most policyholders are satisfied with their coverage.

Where The Hanover falls short

Availability. The Hanover’s renters insurance policies are unavailable in more than half of the U.S.

No online quotes. You can’t get a quick quote online but instead will have to speak with an agent.

State availability

The Hanover sells personal insurance policies in 20 states.

Availability may change at any time. Coverage may not be available to all renters in a given state.

The Hanover renters insurance coverage

Landlords sometimes require tenants to purchase a policy with a minimum amount of renters liability insurance, but otherwise, the coverage you choose is generally up to you. Below are the four types of coverage included in most standard renters policies:

Type of coverage

What it does

Covers your clothing, furniture, electronics and other belongings.

Pays for hotel stays, restaurant meals or other expenses if you have to live elsewhere while your home undergoes covered repairs.

Pays out if you're responsible for injuries to other people or damage to their property.

Covers injuries to other people in your home, regardless of fault.

The Hanover offers three renters insurance packages:

Basic. The basic policy includes all the standard coverage listed above, plus coverage for any alterations your landlord lets you make to your home.

Select. Upgrade to the select package, and you’ll get additional coverage for identity fraud, lock replacement and refrigerated foods lost in a power outage. Plus, The Hanover will cover your personal belongings on a replacement cost basis rather than actual cash value. That means if your belongings are stolen or destroyed, The Hanover will pay enough for you to buy brand-new replacements. With actual cash value coverage, you’d be paid only what the items were worth at the time of the claim — which might not be much for older items.

Select Plus. This package includes all of the above plus up to $10,000 for damage if water backs up into your home from a sewer, drain or sump pump overflow. You’ll also get expanded coverage for your belongings. For instance, if you lose a piece of jewelry or break something fragile, The Hanover would cover those items. This package also includes broader liability coverage against lawsuits and waives your deductible if you lose more than 50% of your personal property limit in a covered claim.

The Hanover also offers individual add-ons for collectibles, home-based businesses and higher water backup limits.

Discounts

Depending on where you live, The Hanover may offer discounts for:

  • Bundling renters and auto insurance.

  • Having approved safety, security or smart-home devices in your home.

  • Getting a renters insurance quote a certain amount of time before you want the policy to start.

Consumer complaints

The Hanover received far fewer than the expected number of home insurance complaints to state regulators relative to its size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. (NAIC home insurance complaints also cover other home policy types, including mobile home, renters and condo insurance.)

Consumer experience

Website: Although you can’t get quotes or buy renters insurance on The Hanover’s website, you can use it to manage an existing policy. Log in to pay bills, file claims and see policy information.

App: You can use The Hanover’s app to view policy details, file and track claims, pay bills and contact your agent. However, the app doesn't have high ratings in the App Store or on Google Play, with many users reporting technical glitches.

Claims: You can submit a claim on The Hanover’s website, through the app or by calling 800-628-0250. Claims tracking is available through your online portal, as well as the app.

Customer service: Call 800-922-8427 or contact your local agent for support.

Other home insurance companies to consider

Not ready to make a decision? You may be interested in these other renters insurance companies:

Current Product

Hanover Renters Insurance
Allstate Renters Insurance
Amica Renters Insurance
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
NerdWallet rating 

4.0

/5
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5

Complaints to NAIC 

Far fewer than expected

Complaints to NAIC 

More than expected

Complaints to NAIC 

Far fewer than expected

Coverage 

About average

Coverage 

About average

Coverage 

About average

Discounts 

Great set of discounts

Discounts 

Great set of discounts

Discounts 

Great set of discounts

Bottom line 

Best for renters who want to work with an agent to get the right coverage.

Bottom line 

Solid coverage and discounts, available across the U.S.

Bottom line 

Ideal for renters who value coverage and customer service.

Frequently asked questions

The Hanover sells homeowners, watercraft, umbrella, business and auto insurance, among other policies. Learn more with our Hanover auto insurance review.

To get a quote, you must contact a local agent. You can find one on The Hanover’s website.

Yes. Depending on where you live, The Hanover may restrict coverage for certain breeds.

A previous version of this article listed an incorrect phone number for The Hanover's customer service. It has been corrected.

Methodology

Renters insurance star ratings methodology

NerdWallet’s renters insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints, coverage options, discounts and online experience. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our full renters insurance rating methodology.

Insurer complaints methodology

NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2020-2022. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.

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