5+ years in auto insurance and personal finance writing
Featured in top personal finance publications
Lindsay is a widely published creator of auto insurance content. She also specializes in real estate, banking, credit cards, and other personal finance topics.
Thomas Fitzgerald is an insurance writer at Insurify with a focus on auto insurance. He seeks to make the insurance buying process simple and effective through clear, educational content. Thomas received his bachelor's degree from Wake Forest University and his master's from the University of Chicago. Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn.
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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Farmers vs. Nationwide: A Summary
If you’re on the hunt for an auto insurance policy, two reputable companies you may consider are Farmers and Nationwide. We’ll go over everything you need to know to compare these two companies, but first, here’s where they stand in terms of average monthly premium and our Insurify Composite Score, which encompasses a variety of data.
Insurance Company
Avg. Monthly Car Insurance Quote
Insurify Composite Score
The Insurify Composite Score is a proprietary rating calculated by a team of data scientists at Insurify, weighing multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company. Inputs to the score include financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch; J.D. Power ratings; Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints; mobile app reviews; and user-generated company reviews.
Farmers
$107
85
Nationwide
$101
89
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
ICS Score Explanation:
The Insurify Composite Score (ICS) is a proprietary rating calculated by a team of data scientists at Insurify, weighing multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company.
Inputs to the score include financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch; J.D. Power ratings; Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints; mobile app reviews; and user-generated company reviews.
Farmers
Farmers was founded in 1928 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Farmers was the first major insurance provider to offer interest-free monthly payment plans. The company provides home, auto, business, and life insurance across the United States. Farmers has excellent financial strength ratings, though they’re not the best in the industry.
Farmers Insurance had far fewer complaints with the NAIC in 2021 than expected based on the company’s size. Farmers was also ranked above average for insurance claims satisfaction by J.D. Power. However, the company was ranked below average in the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study.
Farmers has a highly rated mobile app and offers a telematics program for drivers to save money. Beyond the standard coverage options, Farmers also offers rideshare coverage, new car replacement coverage, guaranteed-value coverage for classic cars, and more. Farmers also offers accident forgiveness and will forgive one accident for every three years without one.
Pros
Excellent financial strength ratings
Highly rated mobile app
Offers accident forgiveness
Cons
Mixed customer satisfaction ratings
Relatively expensive average premiums
Nationwide
Nationwide was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The company offers a variety of insurance products, including, auto, life, and homeowners insurance, in addition to banking and investing products. Nationwide has superior financial strength ratings from several independent rating agencies.
However, Nationwide ranked below average in the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study and received the lowest score in the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study. On the positive side, Nationwide received fewer complaints than expected with the NAIC in 2021 given the company’s size.
Nationwide offers two telematics programs, one for safe driving and one for low-mileage drivers. You can also get classic car insurance from Nationwide. In addition to comprehensive and collision coverage, Nationwide also offers other add-ons, like roadside assistance and gap insurance. The company also provides several insurance discounts.
Pros
Superior financial strength ratings
Two telematics programs
Fewer complaints than expected with the NAIC in 2021
The Insurify Composite Score is a proprietary rating calculated by a team of data scientists at Insurify, weighing multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company. Inputs to the score include financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch; J.D. Power ratings; Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints; mobile app reviews; and user-generated company reviews.
1
Clearcover
Best Overall
$135
97
2
Nationwide
Best for Safe Drivers
$199
89
3
American Family
Best for Families with Teen Drivers
$234
89
4
Safeco
Best for Drivers with Poor Credit
$186
86
5
Farmers
Best for Rideshare Coverage
$239
85
6
Foremost
Best for Hassle-Free Claims
$159
82
7
Liberty Mutual
Best for Accident Forgiveness
$241
82
8
Mercury
Best for Face-to-Face Service
$232
81
9
Progressive
Best for Senior Drivers
$147
80
10
Travelers
Best for Young Drivers
$163
80
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Nationwide and Farmers were two of the best insurance companies we reviewed. Both are reputable companies with excellent financial strength ratings. In addition, both offer unique coverages that would especially appeal to owners of classic cars. Nationwide is also a great option for low-mileage drivers to save money.
Compare Farmers vs. Nationwide: Which Is Cheaper?
Nationwide is cheaper than Farmers on average. However, the two companies are very close in price. Farmers is cheaper than Nationwide for certain types of drivers, such as those with violations on their driving records. Farmers is also cheaper for low-mileage drivers and motorists in certain age groups.
The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in 2022
Rank
Insurance Company
Average Cost Per Month
ICS
The Insurify Composite Score is a proprietary rating calculated by a team of data scientists at Insurify, weighing multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company. Inputs to the score include financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch; J.D. Power ratings; Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints; mobile app reviews; and user-generated company reviews.
1
USH&C
$44
Not Rated
2
Metromile
$63
Not Rated
3
Direct Auto
$64
Not Rated
4
Travelers
$65
80
5
Kemper
$71
Not Rated
6
Progressive
$87
Not Rated
7
Mile Auto
$91
85
8
National General
$93
58
9
Clearcover
$94
97
10
GAINSCO
$94
Not Rated
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Farmers and Nationwide are not the cheapest auto insurance companies we reviewed. In fact, both companies charge more than the industry average. For every type of driver, there’s another insurance company offering better average rates than Farmers or Nationwide.
Compare Farmers vs. Nationwide Car Insurance by Age
Age is an important factor when determining car insurance rates because it directly relates to your experience on the road. Teen drivers are more likely to be in an accident than any other age group, so teens pay the most for car insurance coverage. Drivers in their 50s and 60s pay the lowest rates, and there is typically an increase for older drivers.
Some companies offer discounts to offset age-related price hikes, like good student discounts or mature driver discounts. And every insurer will evaluate your age a little differently. Here’s what you can expect from Nationwide and Farmers based on your age group.
Age
Farmers
Nationwide
Teen
$343
$278
20s
$106
$98
30s
$102
$107
40s
$97
$84
50s
$82
$75
60s
$87
$78
70s
$106
$90
80s
$118
$100
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Nationwide is cheaper than Farmers on average for nearly every age group except drivers in their 30s. Farmers is especially expensive for teen drivers, charging $65 more per month on average than Nationwide. But keep in mind that car insurance companies consider more than just your age when setting your rates.
Compare Farmers vs. Nationwide Car Insurance by Gender
Auto insurance providers will also consider your gender when setting your premiums. Women tend to pay slightly less than men at any age, but especially in their teen years. That’s because teen males are more than twice as likely to be in a fatal crash as teen females. Here’s what Farmers and Nationwide are charging each gender on average.
Insurance Company
Avg. Monthly Car Insurance Quote for Men
Avg. Monthly Car Insurance Quote for Women
Farmers
$108
$106
Nationwide
$105
$98
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Which is cheapest for men?
Nationwide is slightly cheaper than Farmers for men, but both companies cost more than the industry average. For example, Farmers is $27 more expensive per month than the industry average. By contrast, GEICO only charges $47 per month for men.
Gender
Farmers
Nationwide
Industry Average
Men
$108
$105
$81
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Which is cheapest for women?
Nationwide is about $8 cheaper than Farmers on average for women. However, both companies charge more than the industry average. Nationwide is $20 more than the industry average, while Farmers is $28 more than the industry average. Other companies charge women as little as $42 per month.
Gender
Farmers
Nationwide
Industry Average
Women
$106
$98
$78
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Compare Farmers vs. Nationwide Car Insurance by Mileage
When you apply for car insurance coverage, you provide your estimated mileage. This typically has a minimal impact on insurance premiums, but some companies offer lower rates to low-mileage drivers. You can usually get a bigger discount if you enroll in a usage-based program. Nationwide offers a program specifically for low-mileage drivers.
Which is cheapest for drivers with high mileage?
Nationwide is cheaper than Farmers by about $8 for high-mileage drivers, but both companies charge at least $20 more than the industry average. The cheapest companies for high-mileage drivers are USAA and GEICO.
Annual Mileage
Farmers
Nationwide
Industry Average
20,000
$106
$98
$78
15,000
$106
$98
$78
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Which is cheapest for drivers with low mileage?
For motorists who drive an estimated 5,000 miles per year, Farmers is the cheaper insurance company. For motorists who drive an estimated 10,000 miles per year, Nationwide offers cheaper rates. However, both companies charge at least $18 more than the industry average for low-mileage drivers.
Annual Mileage
Farmers
Nationwide
Industry Average
5,000
$96
$102
$78
10,000
$106
$98
$78
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Compare Farmers vs. Nationwide Car Insurance by Credit Score
Auto insurance companies in most states consider your credit-based insurance score, which is based on information in your credit report, when establishing your monthly premium. Unlike lenders, who are concerned about repayment, auto insurers are worried about the increased likelihood of claims-filing that is associated with poor credit.
In some states, such as California, this practice is prohibited. But in most places, drivers with poor credit will pay significantly higher rates for car insurance than drivers with excellent credit. Here’s what Farmers and Nationwide are charging policyholders based on their credit tier.
Which is cheapest for good credit?
Farmers is cheaper than Nationwide for drivers with good and excellent credit. Farmers charges especially generous rates for excellent credit but still costs $8 more than the industry average rate.
Credit Tier
Farmers
Nationwide
Industry Average
Excellent
$68
$81
$60
Good
$85
$92
$71
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Which is cheapest for bad credit?
Farmers is cheaper for drivers with average credit, while Nationwide is cheaper for drivers with poor credit. Nationwide’s rates for poor credit are generous but still cost $5 more than the industry average. Neither company was able to beat the industry average for poor or average credit.
Credit Tier
Farmers
Nationwide
Industry Average
Poor
$135
$125
$120
Average
$91
$102
$78
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Compare Farmers vs. Nationwide Car Insurance by Driving Record
Another factor that indicates to insurers the likelihood that you’ll file a claim is your driving history. It shows whether you take precautions and drive safely. If you have violations like speeding tickets or DUIs on your record, that’s going to show your insurer that your driving behavior could get you into an accident.
Every insurer will evaluate your driving record a little differently, but in general, drivers with a clean record will get the best rates. Here’s what Farmers and Nationwide charge policyholders based on their driving history.
Which is cheapest for good drivers?
Farmers is more than $10 cheaper than Nationwide per month for drivers without any infractions on their records. However, neither company beats the industry average. Nationwide is $24 costlier than the industry average.
Violation
Farmers
Nationwide
Industry Average
Clean Record
$91
$102
$78
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Which is cheapest after a speeding ticket?
Farmers is a few dollars cheaper than Nationwide for drivers who have been caught speeding, but the company still charges $25 more than the industry average. Meanwhile, Nationwide charges $28 more than the industry average.
Violation
Farmers
Nationwide
Industry Average
Speeding Ticket
$129
$132
$104
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Which is cheapest after an accident?
Nationwide hikes up rates for drivers who have caused crashes, and both companies charge more than the industry average. But Farmers is the cheaper of the two options, charging $27 less than Nationwide.
Violation
Farmers
Nationwide
Industry Average
At-Fault Accident
$127
$154
$113
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Which is cheapest after a DUI?
A DUI is a serious offense that requires your insurance company to file an SR-22 on your behalf, so most companies drive up rates for DUI drivers, but Farmers is particularly generous to motorists who have been caught driving under the influence. In fact, Farmers’ premiums are $22 less than the industry average. Meanwhile, Nationwide is more costly.
Violation
Farmers
Nationwide
Industry Average
DUI
$132
$182
$155
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
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Farmers vs. Nationwide Car Insurance: What discounts does each offer?
Farmers Discounts
Multi-policy
Multicar
Signal (telematics)
Affinity
Paperless
Good payer
Safe driver
Good student
Distant student
Youthful driver
Mature driver/defensive driver/senior driver
Homeowner
Autopay
Full pay
Safety features (antilock brakes, anti-theft device, etc.)
Nationwide Discounts
Multi-policy
SmartRide (telematics)
SmartMiles (telematics)
Accident-free
Good student
Safe driver
Defensive driver
Paperless
Autopay
Anti-theft
Discount
Farmers
Nationwide
Multi-policy
Multicar
Telematics
Affinity
Paperless
Autopay
Full pay
Good payer
Good student
Distant student
Youthful driver
Safe driver
Defensive driver
Accident-free
Homeowner
Safety features
Our Methodology and How We Compared Farmers and Nationwide
The car insurance quotes provided in Insurify’s insurance company comparison guides are based on the analysis of over 50 thousand insurance quotes from 500 ZIP codes nationwide. Insurify’s data science team performs a comprehensive analysis of factors car insurance providers weigh to calculate rates, including driver demographics, driving record, credit score, desired coverage level, and more to give representative samples.
Insurify’s analysis also incorporates the Insurify Composite Score (ICS) assigned to each insurance provider. The ICS is a proprietary rating calculated by weighing multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company.
Ratings used to calculate the ICS include Financial Strength Ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch; J.D. Power ratings; Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints; mobile app reviews; and user-generated company reviews.
With the above insights and ranking methods, Insurify is able to offer car insurance shoppers a window into how insurance providers compare to one another in terms of both cost and quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, Farmers or Nationwide?
Nationwide is slightly cheaper than Farmers on average. However, Farmers is cheaper for many types of drivers, including low-mileage drivers, drivers with good credit, and drivers who have violations on their driving records. Still, both companies charge high rates relative to the industry average. Cheaper providers include GEICO, USAA, and State Farm.
Which is better, Farmers or Nationwide?
Based on our analysis of a variety of data, Nationwide ranks better than Farmers. But both companies are reputable and provide great coverage options. Depending on your coverage needs and your individual quote, one of these companies may be better for you.
How can I compare Farmers and Nationwide?
This guide covers the similarities and differences between these two companies, but if you want to know your individual rate with each one, use a car insurance comparison tool to get a customized quote. You’ll be able to compare a range of insurance companies to find an insurance policy that meets your needs and fits your budget.
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Lindsay FrankelInsurance Writer
Lindsay Frankel is a content writer specializing in personal finance and auto insurance topics. Her work has been featured in publications such as LendingTree, The Balance, Coverage.com, Bankrate, NextAdvisor, and FinanceBuzz.
Thomas Fitzgerald is an insurance writer at Insurify with a focus on auto insurance. He seeks to make the insurance buying process simple and effective through clear, educational content. Thomas received his bachelor's degree from Wake Forest University and his master's from the University of Chicago. Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn.
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.