Nationwide Insurance Reviews

We give Nationwide insurance an overall score of 4.3 stars out of 5.0 for its impressive coverage options, A+ financial strength rating, and strong industry reputation. While many providers offer similar coverage and customer service standards at slightly cheaper rates, Nationwide is worth considering.

Here are our official ratings across cost, coverage, reliability, and customer service:

Is Nationwide A Good Insurance Company?

Nationwide provides an extensive range of auto insurance policies at relatively competitive car insurance premiums. Customer reviews of Nationwide are quite mixed, but the company receives above-average marks for its claims process and financial stability.

Nationwide Auto Insurance Review Highlights

Compared with other car insurance companies, Nationwide has several unique features and characteristics, including:

• Standing: Nationwide is among the most reputable car insurance companies in the industry. In our industry-wide review of the best car insurance companies, we ranked Nationwide as the eighth-best provider.
• Discount opportunities: Nationwide offers many unique discounts opportunities and usage-based programs, like SmartRide® which offers up to 40% off an insurance premium.
• Coverage options: Drivers can purchase any of the standard types of coverage from Nationwide along with add-ons like guaranteed asset protection (GAP), roadside assistance, and towing coverage.

Nationwide Pros And Cons

Here are a few of the pros and cons of purchasing a Nationwide car insurance policy.

Nationwide Car Insurance Rating

During our in-depth research on Nationwide, we found that the company is well-regarded in the industry overall. It holds high ratings from sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which rates companies based on how likely they are to interact with customers, and AM Best, which assess a company’s financial ability to pay out claims to customers.

Nationwide Insurance Customer Satisfaction

Our Jalopnik reviews team conducted a survey on the quality of 15 different car insurance providers. Of the near 7,000 respondents, 3.3 percent had a Nationwide policy. The table below showcases the average ratings Nationwide received from customers across several survey categories:

Founded: 1926
States available: All states except Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Massachusetts
AM Best financial strength rating: A+
Insurance types: Auto, motorcycle, home, renters, umbrella, travel, dental, identity theft, and life insurance

For almost a century, Nationwide insurance has offered quality policies to customers across the United States. The Columbus, Ohio-based company has grown over the years to become the eighth-largest auto insurer in the country, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

Coverage choices for Nationwide policyholders range from basics such as collision and liability insurance to guaranteed asset protection (GAP coverage) and vanishing deductibles. You’ll find all your options for Nationwide coverage below:

Nationwide Roadside Assistance (And Other Coverage Options)

Here are other coverage options offered by Nationwide insurance:

The vast majority of Nationwide insurance reviews speak highly of the provider’s range of coverage plans. While you’re required to meet your state’s minimum coverage limits, it’s recommended to exceed these requirements for additional coverage.

Nationwide holds an excellent A+ rating for financial strength from AM Best. This means that in the case of an accident, you’ll be covered by a reliable provider that can easily cover your financial needs.

The average cost for a full-coverage car insurance policy with Nationwide is about $107 per month or $1,281 per year, which is cheaper than the national average of $1,730 per year. These costs are for a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record and good credit. While Nationwide insurance costs tend to be slightly higher than those from many competitors in the industry, the provider’s average rates across many categories still fall below the national average.

Nationwide Auto Insurance Rates Comparison

The price you pay for your car insurance premium with Nationwide is determined by a number of factors, which we’ll discuss in detail below. For this reason, Nationwide car insurance rates will vary on an independent basis and may be different compared to the cost estimates you see in the sections below.

Nationwide Car Insurance Rates for Good Drivers

Drivers with good credit and clean driving histories can find the cheapest rates at most companies. The table below shows how the average rates of Nationwide compare to the rates of other national providers for a 35-year-old married driver with good credit and a good driving record.

Nationwide Car Insurance Rates by Age

Drivers in their teens and early 20s will see higher rates from Nationwide for having less experience behind the wheel. Here are the average rates per age group for full-coverage car insurance at Nationwide:

Nationwide Car Insurance Rates by State

Below, you’ll find Nationwide insurance rate estimates from select states for a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record and good credit. These numbers provide ballpark pricing, so expect your quoted rates to vary.

Many of these Nationwide cost estimates are quite competitive for each state. Our team has broken down cost estimates based on a variety of situations and driver profiles below to highlight how Nationwide compares to the competition. To get a sense of what you’d pay for auto insurance, get free car insurance quotes from the company and other top insurance providers.

While it’s nice to find a cheap car insurance quote, rates don’t always stay the same over time. In our survey, we found that 41 percent of participants have experienced an increase in their car insurance rates without an obvious cause like a ticket or at-fault accident. This was across different providers.

Nationwide Car Insurance Rates for Drivers With Poor Credit

Drivers with low credit scores can expect higher car insurance premiums from Nationwide, unless they live in a state where auto insurance providers can’t use credit history to raise rates. The table below showcases the average rates on full-coverage auto insurance for low-credit drivers at Nationwide:

Nationwide High-Risk Auto Insurance Rates

In general, those with clean driving records pay lower insurance premiums than drivers who have a history of speeding tickets, car accidents, or DUI convictions. The table below shows the average rates for drivers with specific traffic violations at Nationwide:

*Speeding tickets are for 16 to 20 mph over the speed limit. Recent accidents are for a single vehicle ($2,500 worth of damage).

Is Nationwide Insurance Expensive?

In our research, we found that Nationwide is an affordable provider for most drivers. The company tends to be about 26 percent cheaper than the national average for a full-coverage car insurance policy.

Nationwide Insurance Price Comparison

The table below shows how Nationwide compares to a variety of popular providers. These estimates apply to 35-year-old drivers with good driving records and good credit.

Nationwide Car Insurance Quotes

Regardless of which auto insurance provider you choose, certain factors will affect your car insurance. The best way to ensure you pay the lowest price possible is to shop around for car insurance coverage.

Below are a few of the most common:

• Location: Car insurance rates quickly change as you cross state lines. States with demanding minimum coverage requirements, many uninsured motorists, and above-average rates of car theft will have higher costs, as will larger cities.
• Age and gender: Young men often face steep car insurance rates, though rates usually start to level out as drivers reach their mid-20s.
• Marital status: Married motorists generally pay lower premiums than single motorists, as they tend to have fewer accidents.
• Credit score: Those with low credit scores often pay high insurance premiums.
• Driving history: If you have car accidents or DUIs on your driving record, expect higher car insurance rates.
• Vehicle type: Newer cars, models often broken into by thieves, and vehicles with below-average safety scores face higher costs.

Drivers can save on their premiums by taking advantage of Nationwide’s savings opportunities. Below are a few discounts Nationwide offers:

Nationwide Usage-Based Insurance

Nationwide insurance reviews hold the company’s app-based SmartRide^® and SmartMiles^® programs in high regard. These usage-based insurance products adjust Nationwide customers’ auto insurance rates based on their driving habits.

Nationwide SmartRide And SmartMiles

SmartRide provides motorists with driving feedback and rewards them for positive adjustments to their habits behind the wheel. SmartMiles reduces monthly rates for drivers who spend less time in their vehicles.

The main downside to usage-based insurance policies such as SmartRide and SmartMiles is that an app constantly tracks drivers’ behaviors. On the other hand, the programs provide easy ways for motorists to receive some of the cheapest car insurance rates while becoming safer behind the wheel.

Nationwide’s car insurance rates are competitive when compared to other national providers such as State Farm and Geico. Drivers looking to save on car insurance can take advantage of Nationwide’s usage-based programs and its many discounts. Like most companies, Nationwide will charge higher rates for drivers under 25, and drivers that have any serious traffic violations on their records.

Nationwide Car Insurance Alternatives

While it’s worth getting free quotes from Nationwide, multiple car insurance companies offer similar coverage options at lower average prices. The recommended insurers below hold reputations for top-notch customer service and affordable monthly premiums.

USAA: Best For Military Members

Few insurance providers hold a better reputation than USAA. With extremely competitive rates and the industry’s highest marks in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study℠, it’s easy to understand why USAA insurance reviews are so strong. However, not all drivers will qualify for an insurance policy with USAA as it only offers plans to military members, veterans, and their families. If you fit into one of those categories, though, it’s worth considering an insurance policy from USAA.

Read more: USAA insurance reviews

Geico: Best For Discounts

Geico is a company with solid customer service, superb financial strength, and some of the industry’s lowest prices. Geico’s sixteen discounts and usage-based program DriveEasy can help policyholders save a lot on their already-affordable car insurance premiums. In addition to the six types of car insurance, Geico offers emergency road service, rental car reimbursement, and mechanical breakdown insurance.

Read more: Geico insurance reviews

Here are some frequently asked questions that come from Nationwide insurance reviews:

Our review process aims to deliver consistent and unbiased assessments of car insurance providers. While there are multiple qualities that make a car insurance company successful, our review team focuses on those we believe are the most important for consumers:

• Cost: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.

• Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.

• Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.

• Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the BBB to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer easy-to-use claims apps.

*Data accurate at time of publication.