Nationwide Auto Insurance: User Reviews and Quotes (2024)

Nationwide is the 10th-largest auto insurance company in the U.S. by market share. The insurer sells coverage in most states, though it started as a small business in 1926 in Columbus, Ohio.

Nationwide sells home, renters, pet, life, and other insurance products in addition to numerous vehicle insurance coverages. Its car insurance rates are below average, and while it doesn’t have the cheapest national average rates, Nationwide offers competitive auto insurance quotes in many states. J.D. Power also ranked Nationwide highest for usage-based insurance, which can help people save by driving safely or paying per mile.

Here’s what to know about Nationwide as you shop for car insurance.

How Nationwide compares to other insurance companies

How Nationwide rates compare to competitors

Nationwide isn’t among the cheapest car insurance companies based on national averages but could still offer competitive rates in your area and for your unique needs. Farmers and Travelers are two of Nationwide’s top competitors, and Nationwide offers lower rates than both insurers.

Here’s how Nationwide’s national average full-coverage rate compares to the rates of several different companies.

Average cost of Nationwide auto insurance

Nationwide’s average auto insurance rates are below the national average for full-coverage and liability-only insurance, though they’re not the cheapest available. But higher-risk drivers, like young drivers and drivers with a speeding ticket or DUI, pay below-average rates for coverage. For example, drivers with an at-fault accident on their record pay about 25% more for a Nationwide auto insurance policy versus the national average increase of 47%.

Here’s how Nationwide’s average monthly liability-only rates compare to the national average for a few different driver profiles.

Nationwide car insurance cost by state

Many factors affect your auto insurance premiums, and your location is one of the big ones. Your state insurance market, regional inflation, and local severe weather — like fire, hail, or hurricanes — can influence your rates. Drivers in urban areas also tend to pay more than rural drivers, given the increased risk of theft and accidents in densely populated areas.

Nationwide’s rates are often below average but rarely the cheapest option in most states. Rates do vary widely, though. For example, drivers pay a monthly average of $63 in Alabama and $151 in Georgia for liability coverage.

These are the average monthly liability-only insurance quotes for Nationwide in each state, compared to the overall state average liability-only quote.

Nationwide car insurance discounts

It’s important to consider car insurance discounts when choosing the right insurance company since savings vary and insurers offer different options. For example, SmartRide, Nationwide’s usage-based insurance program, rewards you for safe driving. Low-mileage drivers could also save with SmartMiles, a pay-per-mile program that could lower your costs if you don’t drive much or very far.

Always ask about what discounts you’re eligible for since not all insurers will automatically apply them and you may have to provide documentation.

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How customers feel about Nationwide

Like most insurers, Nationwide’s online reviews are mixed. On Trustpilot, Nationwide reviews add up to a “bad” score of 1.6 out of 5. While some negative comments report frustration with renewals conditional on repairs, other responses praise the claims process and customer service. The insurer scores 1.12 out of 5 for customer reviews with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) but is still an A+ accredited business. 

Nationwide consistently scores average in industry customer and claims satisfaction ratings but also receives fewer complaints than other auto insurers.

These are a few sources to consider to learn how Nationwide customers feel about their insurer.

Nationwide customer reviews

Insurify asks consumers to rate their insurance companies and collects the information so shoppers can hear from people directly about their experience. These are all real, verified Nationwide insurance reviews, and more policyholders report their experiences every day.

Nationwide ratings

Industry ratings can help you understand an insurance company’s business reliability and how it scores for customer satisfaction. A higher score from financial credit-rating agency AM Best lets you know that an insurer has good risk management and can pay claims reliably.

Consumer insights agency J.D. Power measures customer and claims satisfaction among auto insurers, and Nationwide mostly ranks slightly below average. It ranks highest in the usage-based insurance category, though, with a score of 842/1000, and it ranks above average in a couple regions.

The insurer’s National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) company complaints index score tells you how the company’s number of complaints compares to the industry average for a company of its size.

Nationwide car insurance coverage options

Nationwide offers standard coverage options, including liability coverage that meets state minimum insurance requirements, collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages, personal injury protection, and medical payments. Drivers can also purchase optional coverages, like roadside assistance, accident forgiveness, and gap insurance.

Knowing insurance terms and definitions can help you understand policies as you shop. Here’s what each type of coverage includes.

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  Liability coverage

  Liability insurance includes bodily injury and property damage liability protection, which cover injuries or damage you cause to another person or their property.

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  Collision coverage

  Collision insurance pays for damage to your car if you hit another vehicle or a stationary object, like a fence or tree. It also pays in case of rollover accidents.

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  Comprehensive coverage

  Comprehensive insurance reimburses you for losses from theft or damage from something other than a crash with a car or object. It covers damage from fire, flooding, windstorms, hail, vandalism, animals (including a collision with a deer), and more.

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  Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

  This reimburses you if a driver without insurance — or enough insurance to cover the damage — hits your vehicle. Uninsured motorist coverage can also pay for medical expenses and vehicle damage in a hit-and-run accident.

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  Medical payments (MedPay) coverage

  MedPay is optional coverage in most states. If you and your passengers need medical attention, it helps cover related bills and funeral expenses no matter who’s at fault.

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  Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage

  PIP covers accident-related medical expenses, lost wages, household services, and funeral expenses for you and your passengers regardless of fault. Some states with no-fault insurance systems require drivers to carry personal injury protection.

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  Accident forgiveness coverage

  This coverage option will help you avoid a rate increase after your first at-fault accident. It can apply to anyone insured on your policy, but only one “forgiveness” is available per policy — not per person. Generally, you’ll need to have a clean driving record for at least three years to qualify for this type of coverage.

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  Roadside assistance coverage

  Like most large insurers, Nationwide offers roadside assistance coverage. This optional add-on includes 24/7 service for towing after a breakdown, changing a tire, jump-starting your battery, and more. Nationwide also offers separate towing and labor coverage if you don’t have or want roadside assistance.

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  Rental reimbursement coverage

  This coverage will help pay for a rental if your car is in the shop for repairs after a covered event.

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  Gap coverage

  If your car is stolen or totaled, your basic coverage will likely pay you its actual cash value (ACV) — which may be less than any remaining loan or lease balance on the vehicle. Gap insurance covers the difference between your car’s ACV and what you owe so you’re not left without a vehicle still owing money on your loan or lease.

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  Vanishing deductible

  If you opt for this coverage, you’ll earn $100 off your deductible for each year of safe driving, up to $500. That means if you’re in an accident after three years of safe driving, you’d only have to pay a $200 deductible before Nationwide covers the damages.

Other options for Nationwide customers

Nationwide offers many other types of insurance, and auto insurance customers could save by bundling with other Nationwide policies, like renters or homeowners insurance.

Here are a few more coverages you can get from Nationwide:

• Vehicle: Nationwide insures motorcycles, RVs, boats, snowmobiles, classic cars, and more.

• Property: Nationwide sells renters, homeowners, condo, flood, and business insurance.

• Personal: Nationwide also offers travel, pet, umbrella, identity theft, and life insurance.

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How Nationwide SmartRide works

SmartRide is Nationwide’s telematics car insurance program, which uses a mobile app — highly rated in the App Store — to track your driving. It’s an optional discount program. Drivers get an instant 10% discount just for enrolling and can save up to 40%. Most drivers earn their discount in 80 days and, once earned, you can improve it at every renewal.

SmartRide measures four factors: miles driven, hard braking, fast acceleration, and nighttime driving. Hard braking and fast acceleration can indicate reckless driving habits, and statistics show drivers on the road more and/or late at night have a higher chance of being in an accident.

It’s free to enroll in SmartRide, and it won’t make your insurance go up. Nationwide only uses SmartRide data to calculate a discount. If you’re a confident, safe driver, or committed to practicing safe driving habits, telematics insurance could help you lower costly premiums significantly.

SmartRide is different from SmartMiles, Nationwide’s pay-per-mile insurance policy. For example: A 35-year-old driver pays a $60 base rate and a $.07 per mile rate with 500 miles per month — that’s $95 per month, versus $133 for a traditional policy. If you drive infrequently or short distances, this could be cheaper than a traditional auto policy.

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