Allstate vs. Nationwide: Which Is the Best? (2024)

Allstate’s lower prices and higher customer service rating earn it an Insurify Quality (IQ) Score of 4.2 out of 5, slightly beating out Nationwide’s 4.3.

Courtney Washington
Courtney Washington

Courtney Washington is a Texas A&M University graduate. Her extensive knowledge and background in auto, home, and umbrella policies make her a one-stop shop for insurance advice and information. She loves to help her readers understand their insurance choices so they can make informed decisions about their coverage.

Katie Powers
Edited byKatie Powers
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Katie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
  • Licensed auto and home insurance agent

  • 3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing

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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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
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Konstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
  • 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.

Updated March 26, 2024

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Allstate and Nationwide are two of the largest car insurance companies in the country. The insurers have similar coverage options and discount programs with a few key differences. For example, Allstate has more discount offerings, while Nationwide offers more coverage add-ons, like a total loss deductible waiver.

Both companies offer competitive rates below the national average of $157 per month. You should always compare quotes from multiple insurers, including Allstate and Nationwide, to find the cheapest car insurance and type of policy that meets your insurance needs.

Here’s what you need to know about Allstate and Nationwide before buying a new car insurance policy.

Quick Facts
  • The national average cost of coverage from Allstate is $62 per month for liability coverage and $139 for full-coverage insurance.

  • Nationwide policyholders pay $85 per month for liability insurance and $187 for full coverage, on average.

  • Allstate has 14 available discounts, and Nationwide has 11.

Allstate vs. Nationwide: The verdict

The two car insurance companies have a similar quality of coverage, but Allstate’s lower prices and slightly higher J.D. Power rankings for customer and claims satisfaction make it the better choice for many drivers.

See how the two insurers compare below.

FactorAllstateNationwide
Insurify Quality (IQ) Score4.24.3
Customer satisfaction score814806
Average quote: liability only$62$85
Number of available discounts1411
Number of states where it operates5047
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
  • Insurify uses an in-house, proprietary method to rate and review the best car insurance companies. The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 crucial criteria, including average premiums, customer satisfaction, discounts, third-party ratings, and more, to calculate a final score for a company.

    Criteria are weighted by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings. With the IQ Score, Insurify is able to provide quantitative ratings for drivers to better compare car insurance companies and make informed decisions to meet their coverage needs.

Allstate

Allstate personal auto insurance policies make up about 11% of the market share in the U.S. Its the fourth-largest car insurance company in the country.[1]

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IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
4.2
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
833
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.
$62/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.
$139/mo

Founded by Sears department store executives in 1931, Allstate offers auto, home, motorcycle, ATV, renters, condo, and term life insurance. Operating in all 50 states, the company has superior ratings from A.M. Best for financial strength and credit. However, Allstate has many negative reviews on consumer websites, and a slightly higher-than-average complaint rating in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Consumer Complaint Index. Allstate offers many discounts, including for good students, multiple policies, bundling auto and home insurance, new vehicles, safe driving, and good payment history.

Pros
  • Well-established with superior ratings from A.M. Best

  • Pay-per-mile option available

Cons
  • Low customer satisfaction

  • Rates are merely average compared to other insurers

Anitra - March 26, 2024
Verified

Fair

I'm not happy with the way they changed my policy. The price went from $122 to $401.

Palline - March 26, 2024
Verified

I feel discouraged

Customer service varies greatly depending on the agent.

Sherry - March 25, 2024
Verified

Happy Camper

Any time I call for clarification on a question, it's handled immediately and in a manner I can understand. I have confidence in the office I deal with and I am assured that I receive all my discounts.
Read our Allstate review

Nationwide

Nationwide has about 2% of the overall insurance market share, making it the 10th-largest U.S. car insurance company.[1]

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IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
4.1
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
815
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.
$85/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.
$187/mo

In business since 1925, Nationwide is one of the largest insurers, and sells car, homeowners, life insurance, umbrella insurance, and more. In addition to liability, collision and comprehensive, Nationwide provides optional coverages such as towing and labor, rental car, and gap. The company also offers accident forgiveness, and a vanishing deductible that lowers your deductible for each year you drive safely. Nationwide has an A+ rating from A.M. Best for financial stability, and an only slightly higher-than-expected number of customer complaints in the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer Complaints Index.

Pros
  • Numerous discount and savings opportunities

  • SmartRide (for safe drivers) and SmartMiles (for low-mileage drivers)

Cons
  • Not available in every state

  • Some discounts and programs not available in all states

John - March 25, 2024
Verified

No Explanation

They should explain why they raised the premium for car insurance by 78%.

William - March 22, 2024
Verified

They are very fair

'Nationwide is on your side' says it all.

Bobbie - March 16, 2024
Verified

Excellent

Nationwide is a great insurance company, but the cost is high.
Read our Nationwide review

Allstate Drivewise vs. Nationwide SmartRide

Both Nationwide and Allstate offer telematics programs that reward safe drivers with helpful discounts. The mobile apps score you based on mileage, braking, acceleration, and speed habits. Enrolling in one of these programs also provides direct feedback about the safest way to operate your vehicle.

You can earn a 10% discount just for signing up for Nationwide’s SmartRide program, and up to 25% for safe driving habits. Allstate auto insurance also offers an initial discount for signing up for Drivewise and a safe driving discount every six months you’re accident-free. You’ll receive rates based on your driving habits.

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Allstate vs. Nationwide: Which is the cheapest?

Generally speaking, Allstate has lower rates for coverage than Nationwide. But the cheapest car insurance company for you depends on several factors, including your driving record, marital status, ZIP code, chosen insurance coverage, past car insurance claims, and more.

More mature drivers with a clean record can expect to pay lower insurance rates than young drivers and people with many incidents on their driving record. Insurers typically view drivers with past incidents like speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, moving violations, and DUIs as high-risk drivers to insure.

Allstate: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record

Allstate offers the best deal for drivers with a clean record.

Driver TypeAllstateNationwide
Clean driving record$62$85
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Allstate: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket

For drivers with a speeding ticket, Allstate has more affordable coverage, on average.

Driver TypeAllstateNationwide
Drivers with a speeding ticket$71$99
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Allstate: Cheapest for teen drivers

Teen drivers pay lower average car insurance rates with Allstate than Nationwide.

Driver TypeAllstateNationwide
18-year-old$107$139
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Allstate: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit

Drivers with a poor credit score can find cheaper coverage from Allstate, on average.

Driver TypeAllstateNationwide
Drivers with bad credit$67$89
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Allstate: Cheapest for senior drivers

Senior drivers can find the best rates with Allstate insurance.

Driver TypeAllstateNationwide
Senior drivers$49$58
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

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Compare coverages: Allstate vs. Nationwide

As with most national auto insurance companies on the market, Allstate and Nationwide auto insurance have many of the same coverage offerings, including standard coverages like:

Allstate car insurance and Nationwide car insurance both also offer a number of add-on policies, with some variation. Compare available insurance endorsements below.

CoverageAllstateNationwide
Gap insuranceYesNo
Rental reimbursementYesYes
Vanishing deductibleYesYes
Total vanishing deductible waiverNoYes
Roadside assistanceYesYes
Rideshare coverageYesNo

Compare discounts: Allstate vs. Nationwide

Allstate and Nationwide offer almost the same number of auto insurance discounts, but Allstate policyholders can benefit from a few more, including a new-car discount. Nationwide offers discounts for driving fewer miles during a policy period, but it doesn’t have a discount for military members.

You can compare discount offerings from the two companies below.

DiscountAllstateNationwide
Clean driving recordYesYes
Defensive driving courseYesYes
Multi-policyYesYes
Multi-carYesYes
Low mileageNoYes
Telematics (safe driving app)YesYes
Anti-theft deviceYesYes
New carYesNo
Military/affiliationYesNo
Good studentYesYes
LoyaltyNoYes
Auto payYesYes
Student away at schoolYesYes
HomeownerYesYes
Alternative fuelNoYes

Allstate vs. Nationwide FAQs

Deciding on the right insurer that meets your specific needs and price point can be hard. The following information should help answer your remaining questions and help you make an informed decision.

  • Is Nationwide the same as Allstate?

    No. Though the companies offer similar coverage nationwide, they’re different companies. Allstate has lower average auto insurance rates than Nationwide, but both companies offer coverage below the national average. Both companies have good reputations in the insurance industry.

  • Is Nationwide good at paying claims?

    Yes. Nationwide has an AM Best financial strength rating of A+ (Superior), which indicates an ability to pay claims. But the company ranked slightly below average in customer satisfaction in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study.[2]

  • What are the main differences between Allstate and Nationwide insurance policies?

    On average, Allstate offers cheaper car insurance policies than Nationwide. Allstate has more available discounts, but Nationwide has a few extra coverage offerings.

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 50+ 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
Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:
  • 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.

Sources

  1. National Association of Insurance Commissioners. "2022 Property and Casualty Market." Accessed February 14, 2024
  2. J.D. Power. "Auto Insurers Manage Customer Expectations as Repair Cycle Times Double in Two Years, J.D. Power Finds." Accessed February 14, 2024
Courtney Washington
Courtney Washington

Courtney Washington is a Texas A&M University graduate. Her extensive knowledge and background in auto, home, and umbrella policies make her a one-stop shop for insurance advice and information. She loves to help her readers understand their insurance choices so they can make informed decisions about their coverage.

Katie Powers
Edited byKatie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
Photo of an Insurify author
Katie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
  • Licensed auto and home insurance agent

  • 3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing

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

media logomedia logo
Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
  • 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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