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Licensed Realtor with 10+ years in personal finance content
Contributor to Nasdaq and USA Today
Daria is a licensed Realtor and resort property manager specializing in personal finance, real estate, and insurance topics. In her spare time, she practices photography.
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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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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At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.
Table of contents
Liberty Mutual and Nationwide are two of the largest U.S. auto insurance companies by market share, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).[1] Liberty Mutual offers an impressive list of optional car insurance coverages and discounts, but Nationwide has slightly cheaper average rates and a pay-as-you-drive insurance option that can save you money.
Before you decide which company is the best choice, you should check customer reviews and compare quotes, coverages, discounts, and customer satisfaction ratings.
Here’s what you need to know about coverage offerings from Liberty Mutual and Nationwide to find the cheapest car insurance for you.
The average cost of liability insurance is $161 per month from Liberty Mutual and $96 from Nationwide.
You can save up to 30% on coverage from Liberty Mutual and up to 40% from Nationwide through the companies’ respective telematics programs.
Nationwide has an AM Best financial strength rating of A+ (Superior), and Liberty Mutual has a rating of A (Excellent).
Liberty Mutual vs. Nationwide: The verdict
Though both companies have great coverage options, Nationwide offers slightly cheaper average auto insurance rates and higher customer satisfaction than Liberty Mutual.
Nationwide has a below-average number of customer complaints filed with the NAIC, while Liberty Mutual has an above-average number of complaints for a company of its size.
The two car insurance companies have similar coverage offerings, but Liberty Mutual has a couple of add-ons Nationwide doesn’t, including better car replacement and teachers’ auto insurance. Nationwide has cheaper rates on average, but Liberty Mutual has a few extra discounts you can benefit from.
The best company for you will depend on your driver profile and coverage needs. See how Liberty Mutual and Nationwide compare below.
Factor | Liberty Mutual | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Insurify Quality (IQ) Score | 7.7 | 9.0 |
| J.D. Power customer satisfaction score | 799 out of 1,000 | 806 out of 1,000 |
| Average quote: liability only | $161 | $96 |
| Number of available discounts | 13 | 11 |
| Number of states where it operates | 50 | 48 |
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
- Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
- Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 55,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
- Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
- Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
- Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
Liberty Mutual
Liberty Mutual is the nation’s third-largest insurance company selling personal auto insurance, with a 4.95% share of the market. The company ranked 20th in overall customer satisfaction in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, receiving a below-average rating.[2]
| User Reviews | 3.5 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 7.7 /10 |
| 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. | $161/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. | $218/mo |
Drivers appreciate the ease of making payments and the company’s helpful customer service. But they dislike the frequent and unexplained rate increases, and some report difficulties in communication and claim handling.
Drivers appreciate the ease of making payments and the company’s helpful customer service. But they dislike the frequent and unexplained rate increases, and some report difficulties in communication and claim handling.
Liberty Mutual offers auto, homeowners, condo, renters, flood, life, and other insurance products. Auto policyholders can save with numerous discounts, including bundling, good student, military, student-away-at-school, claims-free, violation-free, and multi-car discounts. Liberty Mutual has an A rating for financial strength and credit from AM Best. The company often scores low for customer satisfaction and has more than three times the expected number of complaints from private auto policyholders, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Consumer Complaint Index.
Wide range of available discounts
Accident forgiveness available
Available in all 50 states and D.C.
Many negative reviews and customer complaints
Premiums are relatively high compared to industry average
Low customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power
Nationwide
With 1.99% of the personal auto insurance market share, Nationwide is the 10th-largest U.S. car insurance company. With a ranking slightly below the study average, Nationwide ranked 15th in overall customer satisfaction in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study.
| User Reviews | 4.3 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9 /10 |
| 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. | $96/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. | $180/mo |
Drivers appreciate the helpful and knowledgeable customer service but dislike the frequent and significant rate increases. Some also found the claims process to be slow and frustrating.
Drivers appreciate the helpful and knowledgeable customer service but dislike the frequent and significant rate increases. Some also found the claims process to be slow and frustrating.
Nationwide operates in 46 states and Washington, D.C., selling car, homeowners, life, umbrella, and more types of insurance coverage. In addition to liability, collision, and comprehensive, Nationwide provides optional coverages such as towing and labor, rental car, and gap insurance. The company also offers a vanishing deductible that lowers your deductible for each year you drive safely. Nationwide has an A rating from AM Best for financial stability and fewer-than-expected customer complaints in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Consumer Complaint Index.
Offers 24/7 roadside assistance coverage add-on
SmartRide (for safe drivers) and SmartMiles (for low-mileage drivers)
Accident forgiveness available
Below-average customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power
Some discounts and programs not available in all states
Not available in every state
Liberty Mutual RightTrack vs. Nationwide SmartRide
Participating in the Liberty Mutual RightTrack program can earn you a 30% discount. You’ll earn a 10% discount when you enroll and can qualify for up to 20% more after you download the app on your phone and let it monitor your driving for 90 days. It’s an easy way to save money, but you might have to wait until your policy renews to benefit from the discount.
Nationwide’s SmartRide telematics program offers a discount of up to 40%. You get 10% off for enrolling and up to 30% more for downloading and activating the app. The potential discount is larger for SmartRide than RightTrack, but you’ll have to let the app monitor your driving for as long as six months.
Liberty Mutual vs. Nationwide: Which is the cheapest?
Nationwide has slightly lower average car insurance rates for both a liability-only and full-coverage policy.
On average, drivers pay $96 per month for liability insurance and $180 for full-coverage insurance from Nationwide. Liberty Mutual policyholders pay an average of $161 per month for liability insurance and $218 for full-coverage insurance.
Your own rate will depend on many different factors, including your driving record, gender, marital status, ZIP code, credit score, the type of car you drive, and whether the car has advanced safety features.[3]
Nationwide: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record
People with a clean driving record earn the cheapest average rates because insurers view them as low-risk drivers. Nationwide is the cheaper option for liability insurance than Liberty Mutual, though the difference is marginal.
Driver Type | Liberty Mutual | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $161 | $96 |
Nationwide: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket
If you have a speeding ticket or other violations on your record, you’ll pay more for coverage than someone with a clean record. Drivers with a past speeding ticket pay less for liability coverage on average with Nationwide.
Driver Type | Liberty Mutual | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers with a speeding ticket | $204 | $125 |
Nationwide: Cheapest for teen drivers
Teen drivers pay the highest rates of any age group due to a lack of driving experience and higher rates of accidents. Nationwide has cheaper liability insurance rates for teen drivers than Liberty Mutual, on average.
Driver Type | Liberty Mutual | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| 18-year-old | $276 | $200 |
Nationwide: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit
If you have poor credit, you’ll pay more for coverage than drivers with good credit because studies have shown a link between poor credit and filing insurance claims. Nationwide auto insurance rates for a full-coverage policy for drivers with bad credit are cheaper on average than Liberty Mutual.
Driver Type | Liberty Mutual | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers with bad credit | $252 | $219 |
Nationwide: Cheapest for senior drivers
Senior drivers can find cheaper liability insurance on average with Nationwide. Compare rates below.
Driver Type | Liberty Mutual | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Senior drivers | $131 | $65 |
Compare coverages: Liberty Mutual vs. Nationwide
Liberty Mutual and Nationwide both offer similar standard insurance products. You can find bodily injury and property damage liability insurance, personal injury protection, uninsured/underinsured motorist, and medical payments coverage, as well as the collision and comprehensive insurance that make up a full-coverage policy.
Both companies also offer similar insurance add-ons, like accident forgiveness, gap insurance, and roadside assistance coverage. The companies have some unique offerings as well. For example, Nationwide has a total loss deductible waiver, and Liberty Mutual offers Mexico car insurance.
Optional coverages help you customize your insurance policy according to your own needs and preferences. Here’s how Liberty Mutual and Nationwide auto insurance add-on offerings compare.
Coverage | Liberty Mutual | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Accident forgiveness | Yes | Yes |
| Gap insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Vanishing deductible | Yes | Yes |
| Roadside assistance | Yes | Yes |
| Mexico coverage | Yes | No |
| Total loss deductible waiver | No | Yes |
Compare discounts: Liberty Mutual vs. Nationwide
Liberty Mutual has higher rates than Nationwide for most categories of drivers, but it has a larger selection of discounts that can reduce your premiums.
Liberty Mutual offers discounts for students away at school, homeowners, new-car owners, and military members that Nationwide doesn’t. But Nationwide has savings opportunities for low mileage drivers that Liberty Mutual doesn’t.
Take a closer look at the discounts you might qualify for with each insurer.
Discount | Liberty Mutual | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | Yes | Yes |
| Defensive driving course | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-policy | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-car | Yes | Yes |
| Low mileage | No | Yes |
| Telematics (safe driving mobile apps) | Yes | Yes |
| Anti-theft device | No | Yes |
| New car | No | No |
| Military/affiliation | Yes | No |
| Good student | Yes | Yes |
| Loyalty | No | No |
| Auto pay | Yes | Yes |
| Student away at school | Yes | No |
| Homeowner | Yes | No |
| Alternative fuel | No | No |
Liberty Mutual vs. Nationwide FAQs
Comparing quotes from multiple auto insurance companies is the best way to find the right insurance policy at the lowest price. The following information should answer your remaining questions about Liberty Mutual and Nationwide car insurance.
Which company is Liberty Mutual’s biggest competitor?
State Farm is the largest competitor in the U.S. personal auto insurance industry, with 16.84% of the market share compared to Liberty Mutual’s 4.95%. USAA and Farmers, which have 5.92% and 4.55% of the market share, respectively, are Liberty Mutual’s closest competitors.
All these companies are top national insurers with quality coverage offerings.
Is Nationwide a good insurance company?
Yes. Nationwide has an AM Best financial strength rating of A+ (Superior) and receives high ratings in J.D. Power customer satisfaction surveys. The company also received a below-average number of customer complaints filed with the NAIC for a company of its size.
Is Liberty Mutual good at paying claims?
Yes. Liberty Mutual has an AM Best financial strength rating of A (Excellent), which indicates an ability to pay out claims. But Liberty Mutual ranked 20th in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, indicating customers surveyed had some issues with the company’s claims handling.
What are the major differences between Liberty Mutual and Nationwide Insurance?
Nationwide has lower average rates and higher customer satisfaction ratings, while Liberty Mutual offers better discounts. Both companies have high Insurify Quality (IQ) Scores, but Nationwide earns a 9.0 out of 5, and Liberty Mutual scores 7.7.
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 500+ 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
- 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.
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Allstate Car Insurance Review: Ratings and Quotes - Insurify
Sources
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners. "2022 Property and Casualty Market Share."
- J.D. Power. "Auto Insurers Manage Customer Expectations as Repair Cycle Times Double in Two Years, J.D. Power Finds."
- Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
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Daria Uhlig is a freelance writer and editor with over a decade of experience creating personal finance content. Her work appears on USA Today, Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, Fox Business, GOBankingRates and AOL. As a licensed Realtor and resort property manager, she specializes in real estate topics, including landlord, homeowners and renters insurance. In her spare time, Daria can be found photographing people and places on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Daria has been a contributor at Insurify since October 2022.
)
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
Featured in
)
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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