4.8out of 3,000+ reviews
Nationwide Car Insurance Review: Ratings and Quotes (2023)
Nationwide’s reach and long history of underwriting insurance products have positioned it as one of the best car insurance companies.
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Searching online for car insurance can lead to discovering different providers. Nationwide is one insurer that you may come across in your search. It’s one of the largest insurance companies by market share.[1]
Nationwide offers various auto insurance options in most states and generally has positive ratings among customers. A thorough Nationwide auto insurance review will help you determine whether this insurer is a fit for your coverage needs and preferences.
Quick Facts
Nationwide’s full-coverage car insurance costs an average of $182 a month.
The company also provides various discounts to help drivers save.
Customer reviews are mixed, and Nationwide is not available in Alaska, Louisiana, or Massachusetts.
What is Nationwide auto insurance?
Nationwide is a large insurance company that’s been around for more than 95 years.
Since its founding in 1926 as a small auto insurance company, Nationwide has grown to serve more customers and provide various auto insurance services.
Nationwide was the first major insurer to launch a mobile app, according to its company history. The company also created the first 24-hour claims-reporting service for customers who need assistance outside of normal business hours.
How does Nationwide auto insurance work?
Nationwide is a Fortune 100 company that had $52.9 billion in record total sales in 2021 and $2.8 billion in record net operating income.[2] Nationwide sells more than auto insurance and also offers financial investment planning services.
The company sells auto insurance policies online and through licensed agents. Nationwide earns money from customers’ premium payments and also pays out a portion of that money for approved claims.
Nationwide auto insurance coverage
Nationwide offers several types of auto insurance coverage. Full-coverage insurance costs an average of $182 per month, while liability-only insurance costs $167 per month on average.
Comprehensive
This coverage offers additional protection for damage to your vehicle from vandalism, theft, and weather events.
Liability
Liability insurance covers damage to another person’s vehicle and their medical expenses from an accident when you’re at fault. Liability is the most basic form of auto insurance, so costs will be lower, but you won’t receive coverage for damage to your car.
Collision
Regardless of who’s at fault, collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle after an accident. If you have an auto loan, your lender will likely require collision insurance.
Uninsured motorist
This coverage helps pay for damages to your car and medical costs for you and your passengers after an accident that an uninsured or underinsured motorist causes. This is optional coverage but could come in handy if you only have liability and an uninsured driver hits your car.
Nationwide also has the following specialty coverage options:
Accident forgiveness: For drivers with clean records, accident forgiveness can prevent your rates from increasing after an accident.
Vanishing deductible: You can get a $100 decrease in your deductible for every year you’re claims-free with Nationwide, up to $500.
Total loss deductible waiver: Nationwide will waive your deductible if it declares your car a total loss. With this coverage, you won’t have to pay a deductible for a car you won’t drive anymore.
Roadside assistance: If you need help on the road, this coverage provides 24-hour assistance for fuel, tire changes, and more.
How to get a car insurance quote from Nationwide
You have multiple ways to get a car insurance quote from Nationwide. An easy way to get a quote is online:
Go to Nationwide’s website.
Select the “Personal” tab near the top.
Click “Insurance & protection.”
Then, select “Auto” underneath “For your ride.”
Enter your ZIP code and click “Start your quote.”
During the online quote process, Nationwide may perform a public record search and possibly even pull up your car’s VIN for convenience. Once you click “Agree and Continue,” you can view or complete your quote for up to 60 days.
You can also call 1 (877) 669-6877 to get a quote by phone and get connected with an insurance agent.
Shopping around to compare options from multiple insurers may save you time and help you narrow down the best prices. You can use a quote-comparison platform like Insurify to compare rates with Nationwide and its competitors all in one place.
Nationwide car insurance cost by state
Car insurance requirements and prices vary depending on the state you live in.[3] Here’s how much you can expect to pay for Nationwide full-coverage and liability-only auto insurance in some of the most-populous states.
| State | Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage | Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $179 | $178 |
| Arizona | $181 | $163 |
| Arkansas | $181 | $188 |
| Connecticut | $207 | $173 |
| Illinois | $170 | $182 |
| Indiana | $150 | $123 |
| Kentucky | $248 | $247 |
| Minnesota | $148 | $158 |
| New Jersey | $251 | $284 |
| Ohio | $112 | $113 |
| Oregon | $151 | $128 |
| South Carolina | $181 | $196 |
| Tennessee | $145 | $130 |
| Texas | $225 | $190 |
| Utah | $144 | $141 |
| Virginia | $137 | $124 |
| Washington | $154 | $147 |
| Wisconsin | $136 | $120 |
Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Nationwide auto insurance rates by driving history
Driving history is another factor that can affect car insurance rates. Tickets or violations on your record can increase your insurance premiums.[3] This is why it’s important to practice safe and legal driving habits and follow the speed limit to avoid tickets and moving violations. The table below shows Nationwide’s average monthly rate for full-coverage and liability-only insurance based on driving record.
| Driving History | Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage | Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only |
|---|---|---|
| Clean record | $182 | $167 |
| With speeding ticket | $244 | $224 |
| With at-fault accident | $260 | $239 |
| With DUI | $362 | $332 |
Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Nationwide car insurance cost by age
Age is another factor that affects car insurance rates. Car accidents were the leading cause of death among U.S. teens. In 2020, nearly 2,800 teens between the ages of 13 and 18 were killed and 227,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes.[4]
Insurers view covering teens and younger drivers as a greater risk, so they may charge higher premiums. However, your car insurance rates may decrease as you get older and maintain a clean record.[3]
The table below shows the average Nationwide insurance rates for drivers based on age.
| Driver Age | Average Monthly Quote |
|---|---|
| 18 | $378 |
| 25 | $176 |
| 30 | $181 |
| 40 | $187 |
| 50 | $164 |
| 60 | $127 |
| 70 | $142 |
Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Check Out: Compare Car Insurance by Age and Gender
Nationwide car insurance discounts
Nationwide also offers a variety of discounts to help you save on your premium payment and potentially reduce your car insurance costs.
SmartRide: The safer you drive, the more you’ll save when you use the Nationwide app after enrolling in the SmartRide program. Drivers can get a 15% discount just for signing up and up to 40% for maintaining safe driving habits.
Anti-theft devices: In select states, Nationwide offers an additional discount for having an anti-theft device installed in your car. These can be either factory-installed or something you get installed after you purchase the vehicle.
Defensive driving discount: Drivers in select states who are 55 or older can receive a defensive driving discount by going 35 months with no at-fault accidents and passing a state-approved accident prevention course.
Good student: Nationwide’s good student discount is available to drivers ages 16 to 24. The driver must be a full-time college or high school student and maintain a B average to be eligible for the discount.
Multi-vehicle: If you insure more than one vehicle with Nationwide, you could qualify for a discount of up to 20% on your insurance premium.
Learn More: Car Insurance Discount Guide
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Nationwide insurance bundling options
Nationwide also sells homeowners insurance, life insurance, and renter insurance. You can get a discount on your premium when you bundle auto insurance with another one of its policies.
Customers who bundled their insurance policies saved an average of $646 on their annual premiums, according to Nationwide. Bundling auto and home insurance with Nationwide can save you up to 20%.
Nationwide insurance reviews and ratings
Company reviews are an important factor to consider when you’re trying to determine the best insurer for your coverage needs. Nationwide has a fair or average rating overall across various platforms.
It’s important to compare both the positive and negative reviews so you can make an informed decision on an insurance company.
Nationwide customer reviews
Nationwide ratings
Here’s a summary of some of Nationwide’s ratings from trusted review sites.
Better Business Bureau: 1.16 out of 5 stars
Sitejabber: 2.6 out of 5 stars
Trustpilot: 1.9 out of 5 stars
Nationwide vs. other insurance providers
The car insurance industry is highly saturated, so you have several other options for getting coverage. Here are some competitors of Nationwide and what they offer.
Nationwide vs. Allstate
Allstate is arguably one of Nationwide’s top competitors. It offers many of the same coverage and discount options as Nationwide. Both insurers have similar Trustpilot ratings — below 2 out of 5 stars — but Allstate has a higher average customer satisfaction score across regions in J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study.
Allstate’s full-coverage insurance costs an average of $212 a month, and its liability-only insurance costs an average of $146 a month. These costs are comparable to Nationwide’s average monthly costs of $182 for full coverage and $167 for liability.
Nationwide vs. Travelers
Travelers and Nationwide are two of the largest insurance companies by market share,[1] and Travelers offers many of the same coverage options as Nationwide, including accident forgiveness and rideshare insurance. Travelers also has a comparable list of discounts, offering drivers ways to save if they’re a student, pay in full, have anti-theft devices, and more.
However, Travelers’ average car insurance costs are slightly cheaper than Nationwide’s. Travelers’ average monthly rates are $172 for full-coverage insurance and $131 for liability-only insurance.
Nationwide vs. State Farm
State Farm also allows you to get a quote for auto insurance online, and the company works with more than 19,000 licensed insurance agents. State Farm offers several discounts similar to Nationwide, including driver safety programs and bundling.
Nationwide and State Farm have similar average car insurance costs. The average monthly rate for State Farm insurance is $175 for full coverage and $125 for liability-only insurance, and Nationwide’s average monthly rates are $182 for full coverage and $167 for liability-only insurance.
Nationwide pros and cons
Pros
Credible name in the industry: Nationwide has been around for almost a century and is a credible and respected name in the insurance industry.
Several auto insurance options: Nationwide offers many additional optional coverages to meet drivers’ needs.
Discounts: Nationwide offers customers several ways to save on premiums, whether you’re a student or a homeowner or you participate in its safe driver programs.
Cons
Reviews could be better: This insurer doesn’t have the highest rating or best reviews across multiple rating sites.
Not available in every state: Despite the company’s name being Nationwide, it doesn’t offer coverage in every state.
Certain features not available in every state: Nationwide states on its website that certain coverage features and even some discounts aren’t available to customers in certain states.
Filing an auto insurance claim with Nationwide
You can file a claim with Nationwide and check the status of your claim online. You’ll have to provide basic information about yourself and the reason for the claim, along with any supporting documentation on the incident and damages.
Nationwide allows you to submit photos of the incident before you submit your claim online. If you have to take a break and return to file the claim later, there’s a feature allowing you to pause the process.
After these steps are completed, you can submit the claim and wait for next steps. Nationwide will assess your claim and vehicle damage to determine what repairs it will cover.
See More: Why Do Car Insurance Companies Deny Claims?
Other Nationwide insurance products
Nationwide offers several other insurance products, including:
Classic car insurance: Protect your classic car for up to 43% less than standard auto insurance.
Boat insurance: You can protect your watercraft in and out of the water with boat insurance.
Homeowners insurance: If you own a home, you can protect it and its contents with home insurance.
Renters insurance: This coverage is used to protect your belongings while you rent. Renters insurance is an easy way to utilize the multi-policy discount and save on your monthly premium for auto insurance.
Life insurance: Protect your loved ones with a life insurance policy. Policy options include term, universal, and whole life.
Pet insurance: Nationwide offers reimbursement for veterinary expenses for accidents, serious illnesses, testing, diagnostics, and more.
Nationwide insurance FAQs
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about Nationwide insurance.
Is Nationwide legitimate?
Nationwide is a legitimate company with accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. Even though the company has an A+ rating with the BBB, it’s closed 200 customer complaints in the past three years and 63 complaints in the past 12 months.
Is Nationwide car insurance worth it?
Nationwide offers a wide variety of coverage options and comparable average rates. It’s important to compare the pros and cons along with the cost of coverage to determine if this insurer would be the best option for your coverage needs.
What is the average cost of Nationwide car insurance?
The average monthly cost of Nationwide car insurance is $182 for full coverage and $167 for liability-only insurance.
Is Nationwide good at paying claims?
In 2021, Nationwide paid $18 billion in claims to customers. It has an A+ rating with A.M. Best, indicating good financial strength and an ability to pay out future claims.
What is Nationwide’s overall customer satisfaction?
Overall, Nationwide has a mixed customer satisfaction level based on reviews, with low satisfaction on sites like Trustpilot and Better Business Bureau but an average score of 813 out of 1,000 points across regions in J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction study.
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Methodology
Data scientists at Insurify analyzed more than 40 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partner providers across the United States to compile the car insurance quotes, statistics, and data visualizations displayed on this page. The car insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers' vehicles, driving records, and demographic information. Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Service's database of auto insurance rates. With these insights, Insurify is able to offer drivers insight into how companies price their car insurance premiums.
Sources
- III. "Facts + Statistics: Insurance company rankings." Accessed February 15, 2023
- Nationwide. "Strength and stability— Nationwide 2021 Annual Report." Accessed February 15, 2023
- III. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?." Accessed February 16, 2023
- Centers for Disease Control. "Teen Drivers and Passengers: Get the Facts." Accessed February 16, 2023
