Nationwide auto insurance review: Customizable & cheap
Nationwide has cheaper-than-average-rates and some unique coverage options, like a vanishing deductible and accident forgiveness.
By
Rachael BrennanRachael BrennanSenior Editor & Licensed Insurance ExpertRachael Brennan is a licensed auto insurance expert and a former senior editor at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.
Edited by
Anna SwartzAnna SwartzSenior Managing EditorAnna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.
Our proprietary ratings methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the “Ratings methodology” section for more details.
4.2
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A+
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
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The bottom line
While it doesn’t make the top of our best car insurance companies list, Nationwide is a good auto insurance option that offers lower-than-average rates and all the basic coverage you’ll need, along with some valuable add-ons like gap insurance and a total loss deductible waiver.
Nationwide also offers an annual coverage review (called an On Your Side review) which helps customers make sure their car insurance coverage still meets their needs. Nationwide offers coverage in 46 states, but isn’t available in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, or Massachusetts.
Pros
Low rates
Few customer complaints
Annual coverage review
Cons
Not available in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana or Massachusetts
Liability coverage: Covers the costs if you damage someone else's car or injure another driver in an at-fault accident.
Personal injury coverage: Also known as PIP, this helps cover the cost if you or your passengers are harmed in an accident. PIP is required in some states.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Also known as UM/UIM, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage pays for your repair bills or medical expenses if you’re in an accident caused by a driver who doesn’t have car insurance, or whose insurance doesn’t cover the full extent of the damage. UM/UIM is required in some states.
Comprehensive coverage: Covers the costs of non-collision damage done to your car, including weather, flood, fire, falling objects, animal-related damage, vandalism, and theft.
Collision coverage: Covers the cost of the damage to your car in the case of an accident, no matter who is at fault.
Additional coverages offered
Nationwide offers several different types of additional car insurance coverage that drivers may choose to add to their policies, including:
Gap insurance: if your car is totaled, this pays the difference between what you owe on your loan or lease and the overall cash value, so you aren’t stuck owing money on a car that isn’t driveable.
Medical payments coverage: Helps with medical costs for you and your passengers in the event of a covered accident. Typically a small amount of coverage, between $1,000 and $10,000.
Accident forgiveness: If your driving record is clean, your rates won’t increase with the first at-fault accident or minor violation.
Rental car expense coverage: Also known as loss of use or transportation expense coverage, this covers the costs of a rental car in the case your car is in the shop after a covered accident.
Roadside assistance: Provides coverage for towing, tire change, fuel delivery, jumpstarts, and lockout services in the event of a breakdown.
Vanishing deductible: Safe drivers can earn $100 off your deductible each year, up to $500. If you have $500 deductibles (or lower) your deductible could be completely waived in an accident.
Total loss deductible waiver: This waives your comprehensive and collision deductible in the event of a total loss.
Nationwide also offers a variety of other coverages that can be bundled with your auto insurance for a potential discount, including:
We used data provided by Quadrant to compare the average cost of a full coverage Nationwide policy (50/100/50 coverage limits with a $500 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage) to competitor rates for the same coverage with the same driver profile. Our rates were built around a single driver (aged 30, 35, and 45) driving a 2017 Toyota Camry LE about 10,000 miles per year.
Customer experience
3.9/5
Nationwide scored 868 out of 1,000 on J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, which is slightly lower than the industry-average score of 871. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) National Complaint Index Report, Nationwide also had an incredibly low number of customer complaints in 2021, which means Nationwide customers are pretty happy with their auto insurance experience.
Coverage options
3.3/5
Nationwide offers 15 different types of auto insurance coverage, which means it falls in the middle of the pack when compared to competitors. However, Nationwide offers some unique additional coverage options, including a vanishing deductible benefit and a total loss deductible waiver.
Financial strength
3.9/5
Nationwide has decent financial ratings, scoring an A+ with AM Best, A+ with S&P, and A1 with Moody’s. This means Nationwide is in a good financial position to pay out its customers’ claims.
How much does Nationwide auto insurance cost?
When it comes to cost, Nationwide auto insurance is $1,475 per year, slightly less than the national average for a full-coverage policy with bodily injury liability limits of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident. This is about 10% lower than the national average premium of $1,638.
Coverage amount
Average annual rate for Nationwide
Required state minimum
$624
Full coverage ($50,000/$100,000)
$1,475
Full coverage ($100,000/$300,000)
$1,671
Keep in mind that your rates are based on a number of personal factors, including your driving history and your ZIP code. You can work with an insurance expert when you get a Nationwide quote to determine which discounts may be able to help lower your rates.
What discounts does Nationwide offer?
Nationwide lists nine available auto insurance discounts on its website, including:
Multi-policy discount: You can bundle multiple types of Nationwide insurance, like homeowners insurance or renters insurance, with your auto insurance for a discounted price.
SmartRide discount: Allow an app to track your driving behavior and you may get a discount if you are a safe driver.
SmartMiles discount: You can add a device to your car to track how many miles you drive, and low-mileage drivers may earn a lower rate.
Accident-free discount: Keep your driving record accident-free for a discounted rate.
Good student discount: This rewards full time students from ages 16 to 24 when they maintain at least a B average.
Defensive driving discount: You get a discount on your rates with Nationwide for completing a defensive driving course.
Anti-theft discount: If you can prove your car has certain anti-theft devices, you can save money on your car insurance.
Safe driver discount: You can get a discount if you avoid major traffic violations and at-fault accidents for five years or more.
Automatic payment discount: If you set up auto-withdraws from your bank account, you can receive a one-time discount on your rates.
Nationwide’s SmartRide vs. SmartMiles
Both SmartRide and SmartMiles are tracking apps that Nationwide uses to help you save money on your car insurance, but that is where the similarity ends.
SmartRide is a usage-based program that monitors your driving behavior to offer you a discounted rate. Lots of car insurance companies now offer similar programs, in which drivers agree to be monitored in exchange for saving money.
With SmartRide, safe driving behavior is rewarded with lower rates while risky behavior, like speeding and hard braking, mean you won’t save as much (or you may not see any savings at all.) We found that drivers typically saved 40% on their car insurance by downloading the SmartRide app.
Average annual rate
With SmartRide
$1,084
Without SmartRide
$1,486
SmartMiles, on the other hand, is a pay-per-mile car insurance program that lets you save money on your car insurance if you don’t do much driving. With SmartMiles, your rate can change from month-to-month based on how many miles you’ve driven, giving you more control over your car insurance costs.
Nationwide auto insurance state availability
Nationwide offers car insurance in 46 states, including:
You can’t get Nationwide coverage if you’re in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, or Massachusetts. Although Nationwide is available in most states, it’s not actually available nationwide.
What to expect with Nationwide auto insurance
How to get a quote: Customers can get a Nationwide quote online, through an agent, or by calling 888-869-5727.
Customer service options: Nationwide has a customer service website that can help answer customer questions, or customers can call 877-669-6877 for assistance.
How to file a claim: Customers can reach out to their Nationwide agent, log in to their mobile app or the Nationwide website, or call 800-421-3535 to file a claim.
How to cancel your policy: Contact your agent to cancel your Nationwide policy or call the company directly at 877-669-6877.
Nationwide has a score of 868 out of 1,000 on the J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction Survey. Nationwide’s J.D. Power score is lower than the industry average, but that doesn’t mean its customers are unhappy; Nationwide also has one of the lowest NAIC complaint scores in the industry, which means their customers aren’t complaining (much) about their coverage.
Is Nationwide a good insurer?
Yes, Nationwide is a good auto insurance company with strong financial ratings and a decent number of coverage options.
How does Nationwide rate as an insurance company?
Policygenius rated many different auto insurance companies on a variety of factors, including cost, coverage options, customer service, and financial stability. Nationwide scored a 4.2 out of 5, which is a good overall score. At least 15 companies received a higher overall score than Nationwide, but that doesn’t mean Nationwide is a bad choice; it is important to compare quotes from multiple companies to make sure you are getting the best possible coverage for your needs.
Rachael Brennan is a licensed auto insurance expert and a former senior editor at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.
Anna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.
