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Table of contents
Nationwide and Progressive are two of the largest car insurance companies. Progressive has a market share of about 17%, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Nationwide is smaller, with a market share of just over 1%.[1]
Progressive stands out for its below-average premiums and car insurance endorsements, but it doesn’t have the best customer satisfaction. Nationwide has excellent customer satisfaction in select regions and great claims satisfaction, but it offers fewer discounts than Progressive.
Here’s what you should know about Nationwide and Progressive, including differences in coverage, average cost, discounts, customer satisfaction, and more.
Nationwide has fewer auto insurance complaints than Progressive, but both insurers have a lower-than-average amount of customer complaints, according to the NAIC.
Progressive has a slightly better financial strength rating than Nationwide.
Both companies offer a telematics-based safe driver rewards program.
Nationwide vs. Progressive: Our verdict
Choose Progressive if you want the cheapest auto insurance. Progressive has lower average premiums than Nationwide across the board, even for young drivers and high-risk drivers. It also offers a bigger selection of discounts, which can help you save more. Progressive is also a better pick for customization options, with unique add-on coverages like pet injury coverage.
Nationwide wins over Progressive for customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction. It also receives fewer complaints than Progressive, according to the NAIC complaint index.
Nationwide and Progressive are both reputable companies in the insurance industry. Getting personalized quotes can help you decide which insurance company can offer you the best coverage at the lowest rate for your situation.
Nationwide vs. Progressive
Average price Prices based on average across state-minimum and full coverage car insurance $139/mo* | Average price Prices based on average across state-minimum and full coverage car insurance $130/mo* |
Overall rating 4.2 | Overall rating 3.2 |
Value for money 3.7/5 | Value for money 3.0/5 |
Customer service 4.0/5 | Customer service 3.3/5 |
Claims handling 4.2/5 | Claims handling 3.4/5 |
Special highlight Usage-based savingsAI-generated from 506 user reviews | Special highlight Competitive ratesAI-generated from 7878 user reviews |
Nationwide: Best for claims satisfaction
| User Reviews | 4.2 |
|---|---|
| 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. | $182/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 has better overall customer satisfaction than Progressive.
In the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, Nationwide has above-average customer satisfaction ratings in the New York, North Central, Southeast, Southwest, and Texas regions. Nationwide also has an above-average claims satisfaction rating in the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, whereas Progressive rates below average.
Excellent customer and claims satisfaction ratings
Premiums below the national average
Few complaints with the NAIC
Some discounts and programs vary by state
Limited discounts compared to Progressive
Low Trustpilot rating
Progressive: Best for coverage options
| 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. | $97/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. | $163/mo |
Customers appreciate the insurer’s good customer service and initial affordability but dislike the consistent price increases and complex claims process.
Customers appreciate the insurer’s good customer service and initial affordability but dislike the consistent price increases and complex claims process.
Progressive is a better auto insurance company than Nationwide when it comes to coverage options. Progressive has nine optional coverages, including pet injury coverage, vehicle protection coverage, custom parts and equipment value (CPE) coverage, and trip interruption coverage.
In addition to its below-average car insurance rates, Progressive also has more discounts than Nationwide. Progressive offers savings for homeowners, smart students, bundling, having continuous insurance, paying in full, and more.
Many available add-ons
Cheaper average premiums than Nationwide
Many available discounts
Rated below average for customer satisfaction in most regions
Poor claims satisfaction rating from J.D. Power
Low Trustpilot rating
Progressive vs. Nationwide: Which is cheaper?
Progressive has cheaper average auto insurance premiums than Nationwide.
The following table shows how costs from Progressive and Nationwide compare for different auto policy types and driver profiles. The average monthly quotes reflect costs for liability insurance unless otherwise specified.
Driver Type | Nationwide | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Adult drivers | $84 | $133 |
| Liability-only coverage | $96 | $97 |
| Full coverage | $182 | $163 |
| Drivers with a speeding ticket | $128 | $128 |
| Drivers with a DUI | $141 | $154 |
| Drivers with an at-fault accident | $130 | $140 |
| Poor credit drivers | $116 | $126 |
| Good credit drivers | $85 | $131 |
| Teen drivers | $201 | $192 |
| Senior drivers | $64 | $64 |
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Liability quotes start at $44/mo.
Nationwide vs. Progressive car insurance discounts
Progressive offers a few more car insurance discounts than Nationwide. But Nationwide still has a good selection of discounts that could help you save money on your car insurance policy.
Notably, both companies offer multi-policy discounts when you bundle car insurance with another insurance product, like renters insurance, home insurance, or life insurance.
The table below shows how discount offerings from Nationwide and Progressive compare.
Discount | Nationwide | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Safe driver | ✔ | ✖ |
| Defensive driving course | ✔ | ✖ |
| Multi-policy | ✔ | ✔ |
| Multi-car | ✖ | ✔ |
| Low mileage | ✔ | ✖ |
| Telematics | ✔ | ✔ |
| Anti-theft device | ✔ | ✖ |
| New car | ✖ | ✖ |
| Military/affiliation | ✖ | ✖ |
| Good student | ✔ | ✔ |
| Loyalty | ✖ | ✖ |
| Auto pay | ✔ | ✔ |
| Student away at school | ✖ | ✔ |
| Homeowner | ✖ | ✔ |
| Alternative fuel | ✖ | ✖ |
| Pay in full | ✖ | ✔ |
Compare customer satisfaction and financial strength
Looking at a company’s customer satisfaction and financial strength ratings can help you determine whether it’s a good insurer for you. Nationwide and Progressive both have solid overall ratings, but each ranks higher than the other in certain categories.
Though Nationwide and Progressive both have solid AM Best financial strength ratings, Progressive’s is slightly higher. Both companies have fewer complaints than expected with the NAIC, but Nationwide had slightly fewer complaints than Progressive. That said, Nationwide ranked better overall in customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power.[2]
The insurers both have similarly low customer review ratings on the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Below, you can see how Nationwide and Progressive stack up.
Score | Nationwide | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| IQ Score | 9.0 | 8.7 |
| Customer reviews | 4.2/5 (920 reviews) | 3.2/5 (16,428 reviews) |
| J.D. Power | 645 | 621 |
| AM Best rating | A (Excellent) | A+ (Superior) |
| NAIC complaint index | 0.70 | 0.96 |
| BBB reviews | 1.12 out of 5 stars | 1.09 out of 5 stars |
Recent customer reviews of Nationwide car insurance
To help insurance shoppers choose the best car insurance company, Insurify collects reviews from real policyholders who compare insurance quotes using the site. Specifically, we ask people how they feel about their insurer’s customer service, coverage options, and prices. Check out these verified Nationwide insurance reviews to see what customers think about the company.
Recent customer reviews of Progressive car insurance
Before you choose an insurance company, it can be helpful to read reviews to see what real policyholders think about the insurer. That’s why we collect reviews from verified Progressive customers who successfully compare quotes using Insurify.
Here’s what current and past Progressive policyholders have to say about their experience with the insurance company.
Nationwide SmartRide vs. Progressive Snapshot
Nationwide and Progressive both offer telematics programs that track driving behaviors and reward safe drivers with reduced premiums. Telematics programs differ from pay-per-mile programs, where insurers determine your premium based on the distance you drive.
Nationwide customers can enroll in the SmartRide program, which looks at driving habits like miles driven, acceleration, hard braking, and nighttime driving. After 80 days of driving, you can receive a premium discount based on how safely you drove. Eligible customers can get an initial discount for enrolling, plus a discount of up to 40% for driving safely.[3]
Progressive Snapshot works similarly to Nationwide’s program. You’ll use the Progressive mobile app or a plug-in device to track your trips and driving behaviors, like time of day, hard braking, rapid acceleration, and phone use. Progressive says the average customer saves $169 for signing up for Snapshot and an average of $322 for completing the program.[4]
One of the differences between Nationwide SmartRide and Progressive Snapshot is that Nationwide customers won’t see a rate increase for unsafe driving. But with Progressive, it’s possible that your rate could go up with risky driving habits.
Feature | Nationwide SmartRide | Progressive Snapshot |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Drivers who travel short distances | Drivers who want to earn the biggest potential discounts |
| Savings potential | Up to 40% based on driving behavior | Average savings of $322 upon program completion |
| How it works | Uses the Nationwide app and your smartphone | Uses the Progressive app and your smartphone, or a plug-in device |
| Availability | 45 states (not in AK, CA, HI, LA, and NY) | 49 (not in CA) |
| Data tracked | Miles driven, acceleration, hard braking, and nighttime driving | Time of day, hard braking, rapid acceleration, and phone use |
| App rating (App Store/Google Play) | 4.7/5 4.5/5 | 4.8/5 4.6/5 |
| Average discount for good drivers | Not advertised | Average discounts of $169 upon enrollment and $322 upon program completion |
| Driver feedback tools | App shows your progress and current discount | App shows trips, driving status, and tips for safer driving |
| Gamified rewards | ✖ | ✖ |
| Compatibility | Smartphone app only | Smartphone app or plug-in device |
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Compare coverages: Nationwide vs. Progressive
Progressive and Nationwide offer minimum coverage and full-coverage policies. But when it comes to optional coverages, Progressive is the clear winner, with a few more coverage offerings. For example, Progressive has add-ons like rideshare, custom parts and equipment value, and pet injury coverage, while Nationwide doesn’t.
See how auto insurance products from Nationwide and Progressive compare in the table below.
Coverage | Nationwide | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability (BI) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Property damage liability (PD) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Personal injury protection (PIP insurance) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage (UIM/UM) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Collision | ✔ | ✔ |
| Comprehensive | ✔ | ✔ |
| Roadside assistance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Rental reimbursement | ✔ | ✔ |
| Gap insurance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Pet injury | ✖ | ✔ |
| Custom parts and equipment value | ✖ | ✔ |
| Accident forgiveness | ✔ | ✔ |
| Classic car insurance |
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