Nationwide vs. Farmers: Which Is the Best? (2024)

Nationwide stands out as the better car insurance choice against Farmers, thanks to a combination of affordable prices and better availability throughout the U.S.

Michelle Lambright Black
Michelle Lambright Black

Michelle Lambright Black is a credit expert, freelance writer, and founder of CreditWriter.com. She has over 20 years of experience writing and speaking about credit and money, and focuses on helping families and small business owners make smart, informed decisions about their credit, money, and financial products (including insurance). Michelle's work has appeared in publications such as Yahoo! Finance, Reader's Digest, Parents, FICO, Forbes, Bankrate, The Seattle Times, MarketWatch, BuySide from Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and more. She's also a three-time finalist for the best personal finance freelancer award from the Plutus Foundation. When she isn't writing or speaking about credit and money, Michelle loves to travel with her family or read a good book. You can connect with Michelle on Instagram or Twitter

Chris Schafer
Edited byChris Schafer
Chris Schafer
Chris SchaferSenior Editor
  • 15+ years in content creation

  • 7+ years in business and financial services content

Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

Updated March 26, 2024

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Nationwide and Farmers are top insurance companies with long-established histories. Both companies are well-known for selling car insurance along with other types of insurance, including homeowners insurance, life insurance, and more.

Nationwide provides car insurance everywhere in the U.S. except for Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Maine. Farmers’ auto insurance coverage options are slightly more limited, offering coverage in 42 states.

If you’re trying to decide whether Nationwide or Farmers is a better fit for your car insurance needs, it’s important to compare rates, customer service reputation, discount opportunities, coverage options, and other factors.

Quick Facts
  • Nationwide’s average rates are $85 per month for liability insurance, and Farmers’ average rates are $110 for the same coverage.

  • Both insurance companies offer several discounts to reduce your car insurance rates, but Farmers offers more discounts than Nationwide.

  • Nationwide and Farmers both earn high Insurify Quality (IQ) Scores of 4.3 and 3.8 out of 5, respectively.

Nationwide vs. Farmers: The verdict

Nationwide will be the better choice for most drivers. Nationwide’s average car insurance rates are lower in every driver category, including for teen drivers, people with clean driving records, drivers with tickets, senior drivers, and people with bad credit. And while neither insurer offers coverage in every U.S. state, Nationwide offers car insurance to drivers in more states than Farmers.

But Farmers outshines Nationwide in one area: discounts. If you can qualify for multiple auto insurance discounts from Farmers, it might be worth considering a policy from this insurance company because you may be able to find coverage at a more affordable rate.

It’s worth the effort to compare quotes from both companies to see which insurance company can offer you the best rate. The table below can also show you some key features that Nationwide and Farmers have to offer.

FactorNationwideFarmers
Insurify Quality (IQ) Score4.33.8
J.D. Power customer satisfaction score806 out of 1,000802 out of 1,000
Average quote: liability only$85$110
Number of available discounts1122
Number of states where it operates4642
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
  • Insurify uses an in-house, proprietary method to rate and review the best car insurance companies. The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 crucial criteria, including average premiums, customer satisfaction, discounts, third-party ratings, and more, to calculate a final score for a company.

    Criteria are weighted by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings. With the IQ Score, Insurify is able to provide quantitative ratings for drivers to better compare car insurance companies and make informed decisions to meet their coverage needs.

Nationwide

Nationwide is one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S. In 2022, it was the 10th-largest insurance company, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).[1]

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IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
4.1
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
815
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$85/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$187/mo

In business since 1925, Nationwide is one of the largest insurers, and sells car, homeowners, life insurance, umbrella insurance, and more. In addition to liability, collision and comprehensive, Nationwide provides optional coverages such as towing and labor, rental car, and gap. The company also offers accident forgiveness, and a vanishing deductible that lowers your deductible for each year you drive safely. Nationwide has an A+ rating from A.M. Best for financial stability, and an only slightly higher-than-expected number of customer complaints in the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer Complaints Index.

Pros
  • Numerous discount and savings opportunities

  • SmartRide (for safe drivers) and SmartMiles (for low-mileage drivers)

Cons
  • Not available in every state

  • Some discounts and programs not available in all states

John - March 25, 2024
Verified

No Explanation

They should explain why they raised the premium for car insurance by 78%.

William - March 22, 2024
Verified

They are very fair

'Nationwide is on your side' says it all.

Bobbie - March 16, 2024
Verified

Excellent

Nationwide is a great insurance company, but the cost is high.
Read our Nationwide review

Farmers

Farmers has a slightly larger market share than Nationwide, holding the No. 9 spot among the top 25 insurance companies.[1]

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IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
3.8
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
815
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$110/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$250/mo

The seventh largest insurer in the U.S., Farmers has been in business for more than 100 years. The company offers about 30 different types of insurance, including auto, home, renters, flood, earthquake, life, and business insurance. Farmers offers numerous discounts, including for multiple cars, safe driving, anti-theft equipment, and bundling. Swiss insurer Zurich Insurance owns Farmers. With an A rating from A.M. Best for financial stability, Farmers has mixed online reviews from customers, and about four times as many complaints as expected in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Customer Complaint Index.

Pros
  • Many discounts

  • Robust roadside assistance program

Cons
  • Lower customer satisfaction

  • Tends to have higher premiums than some competitors

Richard - March 25, 2024
Verified

Unhappy with MetLife's Acquisition by Farmers

I was a MetLife customer until they were acquired by Farmers. Since the takeover, Farmers has increased my rates twice. My monthly payment used to be around $60, but now it's $89 for the same coverage. Despite having an almost flawless driving record with no moving violations in over 20 years, and only two tickets since 1980, it seems being an older driver with a good record doesn't count for much.

James - March 23, 2024
Verified

Beware of a Rate Increase

They doubled my policy rate on my home and auto.

Tom - March 23, 2024
Verified

No

Stay away. Pay a much lower price.
Read our Farmers review

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Nationwide SmartRide vs. Farmers Signal

Both Nationwide and Farmers offer telematics programs that reward safe driving behavior. Both require you to download a mobile app to your smartphone. Once you install the app, it’ll track a variety of driving behaviors — positive and negative — and price your coverage according to your driving habits.

For example, if you’re someone who frequently speeds, brakes hard, or drives often during rush hour or in the evening, you might pay more for insurance coverage. But if you pay attention to speed limits, drive fewer miles, and don’t drive while distracted (using your mobile phone while operating a vehicle), you may qualify for discounts.

Good to Know

Eligible Farmers Signal customers could qualify for up to $100 worth of rewards per month for focused driving. Nationwide SmartRide customers earn a 10% discount for signing up and could be eligible for up to 40% in discounts based on their driving habits.

Nationwide vs. Farmers: Which is the cheapest?

Overall, Nationwide’s average rates are cheaper than Farmers. But it’s important to remember that the insurance company you choose is just one important factor that affects your final car insurance premium costs. Other details that may affect the price you pay for auto insurance include your driving record, age, ZIP code, credit history, gender, and more.

You can see how Nationwide and Farmers compare for different driver profiles in the sections below.

Nationwide: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record

If you’re a safe driver with a blemish-free driving record, Nationwide has more affordable rates. Farmers customers pay nearly 25% more for the same type of coverage, on average.

Driver TypeNationwideFarmers
Clean driving record$85$110
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Nationwide: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket

If you have a speeding ticket on your driving record, Nationwide’s car insurance rates are cheaper than Farmers.

Driver TypeNationwideFarmers
Drivers with a speeding ticket$99$126
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Nationwide: Cheapest for teen drivers

Nationwide offers significantly lower rates to teen drivers. But remember that young drivers pay higher insurance premiums because their lack of driving experience leads to an increased risk of filing claims.

Driver TypeNationwideFarmers
18-year-old$139$187
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Nationwide: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit

In many states, you’ll pay more for car insurance if you have bad credit. Drivers with poor credit pay lower average car insurance premiums with Nationwide than they do with Farmers.

Driver TypeNationwideFarmers
Drivers with bad credit$89$124
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Nationwide: Cheapest for senior drivers

Nationwide offers cheaper insurance rates to senior drivers compared to Farmers.

Driver TypeNationwideFarmers
Senior drivers$58$82
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Compare coverages: Nationwide vs. Farmers

Nationwide and Farmers offer a similar suite of insurance coverage options. Both insurance companies provide drivers with standard liability car insurance, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, personal injury protection (PIP), medical payments coverage, collision coverage, and comprehensive coverage.

Both insurance companies also offer an assortment of add-ons you can consider for your car insurance policy. You can see the offerings for Nationwide and Farmers in the table below.

CoverageNationwideFarmers
Gap insuranceYesNo
Towing and roadside assistanceYesYes
Rental car reimbursementYesYes
Accident forgivenessYesYes
Vanishing deductibleYesNo
Total loss deductible waiverYesNo
New-car replacementNoYes

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Compare discounts: Nationwide vs. Farmers

Farmers offers more discounts than Nationwide. In some cases, this might make up for the fact that Farmers has higher average insurance rates.

Here’s a look at some of the different types of discounts available from each insurer.

DiscountNationwideFarmers
Safe driving discountYesYes
Defensive driving courseYesYes
Multi-policyYesYes
Multi-carYesYes
Low mileageYesNo
Telematics (safe driving app)YesYes
Anti-theft deviceYesYes
Military/affiliationNoYes
Good studentYesYes
LoyaltyNoNo
Auto payYesYes
Student away at schoolNoYes
HomeownerNoYes
Alternative fuelNoYes (California only)
Accident freeYesNo
Pay in fullNoYes
Shared family carNoYes

Nationwide vs. Farmers FAQs

Nationwide or Farmers might be a good fit for your car insurance needs depending on your specific situation. As you search for the best car insurance company for you, consider this additional information about these two popular insurance companies.

  • Is Nationwide a strong insurance company?

    Yes. Overall, Nationwide is a strong insurance company. The company earns a high IQ Score of 4.3 out of 5 based on a combination of factors, including low rates, strong financial stability, a variety of discounts, and numerous auto insurance options.

    Nationwide also has an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best, indicating a strong ability to pay claims.

  • Does Farmers or Nationwide typically offer lower premiums?

    Nationwide offers car insurance coverage at a lower cost, on average, when compared to Farmers.

    The average rate for liability car insurance with Nationwide is $85 per month. Farmers customers pay an average of $110 per month for liability car insurance.

    Full-coverage car insurance costs an average of $187 per month with Nationwide versus $250 per month with Farmers.

  • What are the key differences between Nationwide and Farmers insurance?

    Perhaps the biggest difference between Nationwide and Farmers is the rates that the two insurance companies charge their customers. If cheaper rates are your priority, Nationwide offers lower insurance premiums in every category.

    But Farmers gives its customers more opportunities to earn discounts. If you’re eligible to stack multiple discounts together with Farmers, you might want to consider it in certain situations.

Methodology

Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.

Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).

Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:

  • Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
  • Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
  • No additional coverage
Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:
  • Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
  • Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible

Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.

Sources

Michelle Lambright Black
Michelle Lambright Black

Michelle Lambright Black is a credit expert, freelance writer, and founder of CreditWriter.com. She has over 20 years of experience writing and speaking about credit and money, and focuses on helping families and small business owners make smart, informed decisions about their credit, money, and financial products (including insurance). Michelle's work has appeared in publications such as Yahoo! Finance, Reader's Digest, Parents, FICO, Forbes, Bankrate, The Seattle Times, MarketWatch, BuySide from Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and more. She's also a three-time finalist for the best personal finance freelancer award from the Plutus Foundation. When she isn't writing or speaking about credit and money, Michelle loves to travel with her family or read a good book. You can connect with Michelle on Instagram or Twitter

Chris Schafer
Edited byChris SchaferSenior Editor
Chris Schafer
Chris SchaferSenior Editor
  • 15+ years in content creation

  • 7+ years in business and financial services content

Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

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