Liberty Mutual vs. Nationwide: Which Is Best? (2024)

Low rates and high customer satisfaction ratings make Nationwide a better option for car insurance than Liberty Mutual.

Daria Kelly Uhlig
Daria Kelly Uhlig
  • Licensed Realtor with 10+ years in personal finance content

  • Contributor to Nasdaq and USA Today

Daria is a licensed Realtor and resort property manager specializing in personal finance, real estate, and insurance topics. In her spare time, she practices photography.

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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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Liberty Mutual and Nationwide are two of the largest U.S. auto insurance companies by market share, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).[1] Liberty Mutual offers an impressive list of optional car insurance coverages and discounts, but Nationwide has slightly cheaper average rates and a pay-as-you-drive insurance option that can save you money.

Before you decide which company is the best choice, you should check customer reviews and compare quotes, coverages, discounts, and customer satisfaction ratings.

Here’s what you need to know about coverage offerings from Liberty Mutual and Nationwide to find the cheapest car insurance for you.

Quick Facts
  • The average cost of liability insurance is $96 per month from Liberty Mutual and $85 from Nationwide.

  • You can save up to 30% on coverage from Liberty Mutual and up to 40% from Nationwide through the companies’ respective telematics programs.

  • Nationwide has an AM Best financial strength rating of A+ (Superior), and Liberty Mutual has a rating of A (Excellent).

Liberty Mutual vs. Nationwide: The verdict

Though both companies have great coverage options, Nationwide offers slightly cheaper average auto insurance rates and higher customer satisfaction than Liberty Mutual.

Nationwide has a below-average number of customer complaints filed with the NAIC, while Liberty Mutual has an above-average number of complaints for a company of its size.

The two car insurance companies have similar coverage offerings, but Liberty Mutual has a couple of add-ons Nationwide doesn’t, including better car replacement and teachers’ auto insurance. Nationwide has cheaper rates on average, but Liberty Mutual has a few extra discounts you can benefit from.

The best company for you will depend on your driver profile and coverage needs. See how Liberty Mutual and Nationwide compare below.

FactorLiberty MutualNationwide
Insurify Quality (IQ) Score3.84.3
J.D. Power customer satisfaction score799 out of 1,000806 out of 1,000
Average quote: liability only$96$85
Number of available discounts1311
Number of states where it operates5048
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. 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.

Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual is the nation’s third-largest insurance company selling personal auto insurance, with a 4.95% share of the market. The company ranked 20th in overall customer satisfaction in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, receiving a below-average rating.[2]

Compare personalized, real-time quotes
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.
3.8
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
819
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.
$202/mo

In business for more than 100 years, Liberty Mutual offers auto, homeowners, condo, renters, flood, life and other insurance products. Policyholders have access to numerous discounts, including bundling, good student, military, student-away-at-school, claims-free, violation-free, and multi-car discounts. Liberty Mutual has an A rating for financial strength from A.M. Best and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. However, the company has three times the expected rate of complaints in the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer Complaints Index, and low ratings on consumer review sites Trustpilot and Sitejabber.

Pros
  • Wide range of available discounts

  • Accident forgiveness available

Cons
  • Many negative reviews and customer complaints

  • Premiums are relatively high compared to industry average

Teresa - March 25, 2024
Verified

High rates

In my opinion, the rates are high.

Judith - March 24, 2024
Verified

Frustrated and Disappointed!

Starting my policy a month behind without informing me was the first mistake. Having to wait on hold for mediocre customer service is very frustrating!

Roberta - March 24, 2024
Verified

Some Good and Some Bad!

Be sure to compare rates.
Read our Liberty Mutual review

Nationwide

With 1.99% of the personal auto insurance market share, Nationwide is the 10th-largest U.S. car insurance company. With a ranking slightly below the study average, Nationwide ranked 15th in overall customer satisfaction in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study.

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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

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Liberty Mutual RightTrack vs. Nationwide SmartRide

Participating in the Liberty Mutual RightTrack program can earn you a 30% discount. You’ll earn a 10% discount when you enroll and can qualify for up to 20% more after you download the app on your phone and let it monitor your driving for 90 days. It’s an easy way to save money, but you might have to wait until your policy renews to benefit from the discount.

Nationwide’s SmartRide telematics program offers a discount of up to 40%. You get 10% off for enrolling and up to 30% more for downloading and activating the app. The potential discount is larger for SmartRide than RightTrack, but you’ll have to let the app monitor your driving for as long as six months.

Liberty Mutual vs. Nationwide: Which is the cheapest?

Nationwide has slightly lower average car insurance rates for both a liability-only and full-coverage policy.

On average, drivers pay $85 per month for liability insurance and $187 for full-coverage insurance from Nationwide. Liberty Mutual policyholders pay an average of $96 per month for liability insurance and $202 for full-coverage insurance.

Keep in Mind

Your own rate will depend on many different factors, including your driving record, gender, marital status, ZIP code, credit score, the type of car you drive, and whether the car has advanced safety features.[3]

Nationwide: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record

People with a clean driving record earn the cheapest average rates because insurers view them as low-risk drivers. Nationwide is the cheaper option for liability insurance than Liberty Mutual, though the difference is marginal.

Driver TypeLiberty MutualNationwide
Clean driving record$96$85

Nationwide: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket

If you have a speeding ticket or other violations on your record, you’ll pay more for coverage than someone with a clean record. Drivers with a past speeding ticket pay less for liability coverage on average with Nationwide.

Driver TypeLiberty MutualNationwide
Drivers with a speeding ticket$129$99

Nationwide: Cheapest for teen drivers

Teen drivers pay the highest rates of any age group due to a lack of driving experience and higher rates of accidents. Nationwide has cheaper liability insurance rates for teen drivers than Liberty Mutual, on average.

Driver TypeLiberty MutualNationwide
18-year-old$154$139

Nationwide: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit

If you have poor credit, you’ll pay more for coverage than drivers with good credit because studies have shown a link between poor credit and filing insurance claims. Nationwide auto insurance rates for a full-coverage policy for drivers with bad credit are cheaper on average than Liberty Mutual.

Driver TypeLiberty MutualNationwide
Drivers with bad credit$252$196

Nationwide: Cheapest for senior drivers

Senior drivers can find cheaper liability insurance on average with Nationwide. Compare rates below.

Driver TypeLiberty MutualNationwide
Senior drivers$78$58

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Compare coverages: Liberty Mutual vs. Nationwide

Liberty Mutual and Nationwide both offer similar standard insurance products. You can find bodily injury and property damage liability insurance, personal injury protection, uninsured/underinsured motorist, and medical payments coverage, as well as the collision and comprehensive insurance that make up a full-coverage policy.

Both companies also offer similar insurance add-ons, like accident forgiveness, gap insurance, and roadside assistance coverage. The companies have some unique offerings as well. For example, Nationwide has a total loss deductible waiver, and Liberty Mutual offers Mexico car insurance.

Optional coverages help you customize your insurance policy according to your own needs and preferences. Here’s how Liberty Mutual and Nationwide auto insurance add-on offerings compare.

CoverageLiberty MutualNationwide
Accident forgivenessYesYes
Gap insuranceYesYes
Vanishing deductibleYesYes
Roadside assistanceYesYes
Mexico coverageYesNo
Total loss deductible waiverNoYes

Compare discounts: Liberty Mutual vs. Nationwide

Liberty Mutual has higher rates than Nationwide for most categories of drivers, but it has a larger selection of discounts that can reduce your premiums.

Liberty Mutual offers discounts for students away at school, homeowners, new-car owners, and military members that Nationwide doesn’t. But Nationwide has savings opportunities for low mileage drivers that Liberty Mutual doesn’t.

Take a closer look at the discounts you might qualify for with each insurer.

DiscountLiberty MutualNationwide
Clean driving recordYesYes
Defensive driving courseYesYes
Multi-policyYesYes
Multi-carYesYes
Low mileageNoYes
Telematics (safe driving mobile apps)YesYes
Anti-theft deviceNoYes
New carNoNo
Military/affiliationYesNo
Good studentYesYes
LoyaltyNoNo
Auto payYesYes
Student away at schoolYesNo
HomeownerYesNo
Alternative fuelNoNo

Liberty Mutual vs. Nationwide FAQs

Comparing quotes from multiple auto insurance companies is the best way to find the right insurance policy at the lowest price. The following information should answer your remaining questions about Liberty Mutual and Nationwide car insurance.

  • Which company is Liberty Mutual’s biggest competitor?

    State Farm is the largest competitor in the U.S. personal auto insurance industry, with 16.84% of the market share compared to Liberty Mutual’s 4.95%. USAA and Farmers, which have 5.92% and 4.55% of the market share, respectively, are Liberty Mutual’s closest competitors.

    All these companies are top national insurers with quality coverage offerings.

  • Is Nationwide a good insurance company?

    Yes. Nationwide has an AM Best financial strength rating of A+ (Superior) and receives high ratings in J.D. Power customer satisfaction surveys. The company also received a below-average number of customer complaints filed with the NAIC for a company of its size.

  • Is Liberty Mutual good at paying claims?

    Yes. Liberty Mutual has an AM Best financial strength rating of A (Excellent), which indicates an ability to pay out claims. But Liberty Mutual ranked 20th in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, indicating customers surveyed had some issues with the company’s claims handling.

  • What are the major differences between Liberty Mutual and Nationwide Insurance?

    Nationwide has lower average rates and higher customer satisfaction ratings, while Liberty Mutual offers better discounts. Both companies have high Insurify Quality (IQ) Scores, but Nationwide earns a 4.3 out of 5, and Liberty Mutual scores 3.8.

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 Share." Accessed February 27, 2024
  2. J.D. Power. "Auto Insurers Manage Customer Expectations as Repair Cycle Times Double in Two Years, J.D. Power Finds." Accessed February 27, 2024
  3. Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?." Accessed February 27, 2024
Daria Kelly Uhlig
Daria Kelly Uhlig

Daria Uhlig is a freelance writer and editor with over a decade of experience creating personal finance content. Her work appears on USA Today, Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, Fox Business, GOBankingRates and AOL. As a licensed Realtor and resort property manager, she specializes in real estate topics, including landlord, homeowners and renters insurance. In her spare time, Daria can be found photographing people and places on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

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.

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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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