Nationwide vs. Progressive: Which Is the Best? (2025)
Progressive’s cheaper car insurance premiums and more discounts give it an edge over Nationwide.
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Written byAnna Baluch
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4+ years writing insurance and personal finance content
MBA from Roosevelt University
Anna leverages her personal finance and insurance knowledge to create educational content that helps people make smart financial decisions.
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Edited byCourtney Mikulski
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Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
Over 3 years of experience producing content on insurance and personal finance.
Key architect of Insurify's quality score.
Courtney's deep knowledge of personal finance goes beyond insurance and includes credit cards, consumer loans, and banking. She loves creating practical content.
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Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
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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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Table of contents
Nationwide and Progressive are two of the top car insurance companies in the U.S. by market share. Both companies offer various coverages, but Progressive’s car insurance rates are slightly more affordable, according to Insurify data. Also, Progressive serves customers in all 50 states, but Nationwide doesn’t sell car insurance in Alaska, Hawaii, or Louisiana.
Before you choose a car insurance company, make sure you compare rates, customer service, discounts, coverages, financial strength ratings, and more. Here’s what you need to know about Nationwide versus Progressive so you can make an informed decision and choose the right insurance company for your needs.
Quick Facts
The average cost of liability insurance is $96 per month with Nationwide and $101 per month with Progressive.
Nationwide and Progressive offer various coverages, discounts, and telematics driving programs for additional savings.
Nationwide’s rating was higher than Progressive’s in J.D. Power’s 2023 auto claims satisfaction study.[1]
Nationwide vs. Progressive: The verdict
When you compare Nationwide and Progressive, you’ll find that these two auto insurance companies are very similar. They offer the same main coverage levels plus very similar add-ons and discounts.
Both insurers sell optional insurance policies such as gap insurance, roadside assistance, and rental car assistance. Popular discounts from both companies include a loyalty discount, multi-car discount, and good student discount.
Overall, Progressive’s premiums are cheaper than Nationwide’s for various driver profiles. In addition, Progressive has a slightly higher Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and holds a larger market share than Nationwide.
Factor  | Nationwide | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Insurify Quality (IQ) Score | 9.0 | 8.7 |
| Customer satisfaction score | 3.7 | 3.5 |
| Average quote: liability only | $96 | $101 |
| Number of available discounts | 11 | 13 |
| Number of states where it operates | 47 | 50 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
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.
Nationwide
Nationwide is one of the largest auto insurers, with just less than 2% of the overall market share, but it scored below average in many regions in J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study.[2] [3]
| 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 |
4.3
Best choiceBased on 897 verified guest reviews and ratings
How drivers feel about Nationwide
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.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Usage-based savings
Accident forgiveness
Recreational vehicle coverage
How drivers feel about Nationwide
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.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Usage-based savings
Accident forgiveness
Recreational vehicle coverage
Reviews (499)
Joyce
Verified Review
Excellent
Reviewed in New York on November 2025
Find an insurance that helps out senior citizens.
Raymond
Verified Review
Above Average
Reviewed in New York on November 2025
Good experience, especially with the claims department.
Edward
Verified Review
Happy for the most part
Reviewed in Pennsylvania on November 2025
I haven’t had any claims, but roadside assistance could be better.
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
641NAIC Index
Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.
0.7A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
A+Why we picked this company
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.
Pros
Offers 24/7 roadside assistance coverage add-on
SmartRide (for safe drivers) and SmartMiles (for low-mileage drivers)
Accident forgiveness available
Cons
Below-average customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power
Some discounts and programs not available in all states
Not available in every state
Progressive
Progressive is the third-largest car insurance company and holds about 14% of the industry’s total market share.[2] It also scored below average in several regions in J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study.[3]
| JD Power J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale. | 622 |
|---|---|
| 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. | 8.7 /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. | $101/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. | $173/mo |
How drivers feel about Progressive
Customers appreciate the insurer’s good customer service and initial affordability but dislike the consistent price increases and complex claims process.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Competitive rates
Easy buying process
Telematics program
How drivers feel about Progressive
Customers appreciate the insurer’s good customer service and initial affordability but dislike the consistent price increases and complex claims process.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Competitive rates
Easy buying process
Telematics program
Reviews (7,467)
Don
Verified Review
Check them out
Reviewed in Florida on November 2025
Considerably cheaper than others.
Mike
Verified Review
Changes
Reviewed in Wisconsin on November 2025
I appreciate this company and the price I pay. I just wish (as a senior) it was easier to speak to a representative. I needed to alter some info but can't figure out how to do it.
Brandon
Verified Review
Insurance rates rise massively even if you are a safe driver. My rate went up 50% because my area is growing, nothing to do with my individual driving habits.
Reviewed in Alabama on November 2025
Insurance rates rise massively even if you are a safe driver. My rate went up 50% because my area is growing, nothing to do with my individual driving habits.
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
622NAIC Index
Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.
0.97A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
A+Why we picked this company
Progressive is the second-largest U.S. auto insurer by market share. The company offers more than 30 insurance products, including auto, home, renters, motorcycle, life, and more. Progressive customers can save through numerous discounts, including ones for bundling auto with a Progressive home or renters policy, for good students or students away at school, enrolling in automatic payments, and more. The insurer’s optional coverages are robust, from loan/lease payoff coverage to providing up to $1,000 for veterinary bills if your pet is injured while riding in your car with you.
Pros
Rewards for good drivers
Numerous coverage options and discounts available
Optional coverage for pet injuries
Cons
Much lower-than-average overall customer satisfaction ranking in J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study
Trustpilot rating of 1.1 stars (out of 5) from more than 1,000 reviews
Rates trend higher than rates from many competitors
Get Car Insurance Online
Rates start at $40 per month
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Based on 7,669+ reviews
4.8/5
Nationwide SmartRide vs. Progressive Snapshot
Both Nationwide and Progressive offer a discount program for safe drivers. These programs use telematics tools, such as mobile apps and plug-in devices, to track driving behaviors like speeding and phone usage behind the wheel.
With Nationwide SmartRide, you can land a 15% discount just for enrolling and a maximum discount of 40% for proving you’re a safe driver. Unlike many other telematics programs, SmartRide won’t cause your premiums to increase if the mobile app detects dangerous driving behaviors.
Progressive Snapshot lets customers choose between a mobile app or plug-in device that can collect data like aggressive driving, abrupt braking, speeding, phone usage, and late-night driving. Since Snapshot is also a mileage-based program, you can save even more on your car insurance policy if you’re a low-mileage driver.
Unlike SmartRide from Nationwide, Progressive’s Snapshot may increase your rate if it detects unsafe driving behaviors. According to Progressive, Snapshot participants save an average of $231 per year on their auto policy.
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Usage-Based Insurance: Benefits, Drawbacks and How It Works
Nationwide vs. Progressive: Which is the cheapest?
Car insurance is slightly cheaper with Progressive than Nationwide. But your premiums will depend on various factors like your location, ZIP code, age, marital status, credit score, driving record, and annual mileage. That’s why it’s a good idea to shop around, explore the best car insurance companies, and compare car insurance quotes.
Progressive: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record
Your driving record is one of the most important factors that influences your car insurance rates. For people with a clean driving record, Progressive car insurance coverage is slightly cheaper than Nationwide.
Driver Type | Nationwide | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $96 | $101 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Nationwide: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket
Getting a speeding ticket can signal to insurers that you’re a risky driver, so they may increase your rates to offset that higher risk. Drivers with speeding tickets may find cheaper car insurance rates with Nationwide.
Driver Type | Nationwide | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers with a speeding ticket | $125 | $128 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Nationwide: Cheapest for teen drivers
Young drivers with minimal experience on the road pay more expensive premiums than older, more experienced drivers. For teen drivers and young adults, Nationwide has cheaper rates than Progressive, on average.
Driver Type | Nationwide | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| 18-year-old | $200 | $192 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Nationwide: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit
Many states allow car insurance companies to consider a driver’s credit history when calculating car insurance rates.[4] Drivers with bad credit may find more affordable auto insurance coverage through Nationwide.
Driver Type | Nationwide | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers with bad credit | $117 | $126 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Progressive: Cheapest for senior drivers
Due to physical impairments like poor vision and slower reflexes, drivers’ rates may increase when they reach their 70s.[5] Compared to Nationwide, Progressive has cheaper average premiums for senior drivers.
Driver Type | Nationwide | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Senior drivers | $65 | $64 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Compare coverages: Nationwide vs. Progressive
Nationwide and Progressive are two of the leading car insurance companies in the U.S., offering standard coverage options as well as plenty of add-ons. Both insurers sell state-minimum coverages like liability, collision, comprehensive, personal injury protection (PIP), and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Keep in mind that the exact coverage options available depend on your location. Nationwide and Progressive also have optional coverages that can provide you with additional protection and peace of mind while driving.
Here’s how Nationwide’s and Progressive’s optional coverages compare.
Coverage | Nationwide | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Gap insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Roadside assistance | Yes | Yes |
| Rental car reimbursement | Yes | Yes |
| Rideshare insurance | No | Yes |
| Towing and labor insurance | Yes | No |
| Pet injury assistance | No | Yes |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
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Compare discounts: Nationwide vs. Progressive
Nationwide and Progressive advertise similar car insurance discounts that can help you save money on your auto insurance rates. While Nationwide stands out for its low-mileage discount, Progressive has the student-away-at-school discount. Here’s a look at both insurers’ discounts.
Discount | Nationwide | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | Yes | Yes |
| Defensive driving course | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-policy | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-car | Yes | Yes |
| Low mileage | Yes | No |
| Telematics (safe driving app) | Yes | Yes |
| Anti-theft device | Yes | Yes |
| New car | No | No |
| Military/affiliation | No | No |
| Good student | Yes | Yes |
| Loyalty | Yes | Yes |
| Auto pay | Yes | Yes |
| Student away at school | No | Yes |
| Homeowner | Yes | Yes |
| Alternative fuel | No | No |
Nationwide vs. Progressive FAQs
Use Insurify’s guide to switching car insurance if you want a new policy. Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions when considering Nationwide’s coverage versus Progressive’s auto insurance coverage.
Is Nationwide the same as Progressive?
No. While Nationwide and Progressive are similar insurance companies, they’re not the same. Progressive holds a larger market share and has lower premiums.
Is Nationwide good at paying out claims?
Nationwide earned below-average ratings for overall claims satisfaction in J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study.[1] But AM Best gave Nationwide an A (Excellent) financial strength rating, indicating it can pay out future policyholder claims.[6]
Is Progressive really cheaper?
Yes. Progressive offers cheaper car insurance and more competitive rates than Nationwide, according to Insurify’s proprietary data. But your auto insurance quotes depend on factors like your location, age, driving history, credit score, vehicle safety features, and coverage needs.
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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Sources
- J.D. Power. "2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study."
- NAIC. "Property and Casualty Insurance Company Top 25 Groups and Companies by Countrywide Premium."
- J.D. Power. "2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study."
- III. "Background on: Credit Scoring."
- III. "Senior driving safety and insurance tips."
- AM Best. "AM Best Downgrades Credit Ratings of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co & Its P/C Subs; Affirms Credit Ratings of Life Affiliates."
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Anna BaluchInsurance Writer
Anna Baluch is a Cleveland-based personal finance and insurance expert. With an MBA from Roosevelt University, she enjoys writing educational content that helps people make smart financial decisions. Her work can be seen across the internet on many publications, including Freedom Debt Relief, Credit Karma, RateGenius, and the Balance. Connect with Anna on LinkedIn.
Anna has been a contributor at Insurify since December 2022.
Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
Over 3 years of experience producing content on insurance and personal finance.
Key architect of Insurify's quality score.
Courtney's deep knowledge of personal finance goes beyond insurance and includes credit cards, consumer loans, and banking. She loves creating practical content.
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.