Nationwide Vs. State Farm

Nationwide and State Farm both made our list for the best car insurance nationwide, and now we’re pitting the providers head to head. When it comes to students, State Farm auto insurance takes the win with great discounts and a safe driving program for drivers under the age of 25. But senior drivers ultimately find better coverage with Nationwide car insurance.

Here’s a quick overview of each insurer before we get into the details:

*Although State Farm advertises nationwide availability, the company is no longer taking on new customers in Massachusetts or Rhode Island.

You can find great standard coverage options with Nationwide and State Farm, as well as roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement. The table below shows a complete Nationwide vs. State Farm coverage comparison.

Both Nationwide and State Farm offer the standard types of auto insurance. While Nationwide has more policy add-ons, you may not want or need these extra choices. The descriptions below explain the non-standard coverage options mentioned in the chart above.

• Accident forgiveness insurance: This type of coverage from Nationwide can help you avoid an increase in car insurance rates after your first at-fault accident.
• Deductible savings: Nationwide’s vanishing deductible program decreases your car insurance deductible by $100 for every year of accident-free driving (up to $500).
• Total loss deductible waiver: If you purchase this type of coverage with a Nationwide auto insurance policy, you won’t have to pay the comprehensive or collision deductible if your car is declared a total loss after an accident.
• Rideshare insurance: Uber and Lyft drivers will find the coverage they need with State Farm. This insurance covers your passengers’ medical bills after an accident, as well as rental cars.

Overall, we think that Nationwide has slightly better choices for coverage than State Farm, but that will all depend on what you’re looking for specifically.

Our cost research shows that Nationwide tends to be more affordable for drivers than State Farm. According to our cost estimates, Nationwide averages around $1,281 per year for a full coverage policy, while State Farm costs an average of $1,481 per year.

Nationwide Vs. State Farm Car Insurance Discounts

Here’s a look at Nationwide vs State Farm discounts:

When comparing Nationwide vs. State Farm, we’re glad to see that both companies have safe driver and defensive driving discounts.

Nationwide’s affinity membership discount helps those in certain academic and professional associations save on car insurance, and State Farm has great student discounts for drivers that maintain good grades and those who leave vehicles at home while away at school.

Nationwide SmartRide® Vs. State Farm Drive Safe & Save™

Both State Farm and Nationwide offer usage-based driving programs that can help reduce your premiums. The details of each program differ slightly and are highlighted in the chart below.

In addition to Drive Safe & Save, another State Farm offering is the Steer Clear® program for drivers under 25 years old. The educational training app improves driving skills and reinforces safe driving habits by rewarding young drivers with discounts.

You can learn a lot from an auto insurance company’s industry reputation. Both Nationwide and State Farm come highly recommended by professionals like AM Best and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). AM Best assesses financial strength, or a company’s ability to pay out on claims, and the BBB reviews business practices and transparency, among other factors.

In terms of customer service, let’s take a look at J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance StudySM, which measures satisfaction by region. The study focused on customer satisfaction with interactions, policy offerings, price, the billing process and policy information, and claims. All ratings were based on a 1,000-point scale.

As you can see, State Farm bested Nationwide in every region in the United States, although some regions were a close battle.

Nationwide Vs. State Farm Customer Reviews

Finally, here are some reviews from real customers to help you in your decision comparing Nationwide vs State Farm.

Nationwide Insurance Reviews

“I’ve been dealing with Bob [and] Terry [at] Nationwide for [three] years, and their professionalism, timeliness, and knowledge is simply fantastic. I just can’t say enough good [things] about [the] way they handle every aspect [of] this account. I highly, highly recommend them!”

-R.C. via BBB

One of [Nationwide’s] insured hit me two days ago. I filed my claim on that day and still haven’t heard from anyone there. I have called and emailed. My vehicle is not able to be driven, and I was hoping for good service and some help getting into a rental quickly. Wishful thinking.”

-Tasha P. via BBB

State Farm Insurance Reviews

“I have been with this [State Farm] agent now for more than 20 years. I have never had an issue with anyone at this office and have stayed with them because of the wonderful customer service all of the staff at this location has provided me. I would refer anyone to them in a heartbeat.”

-Mickey via BBB

“Constantly raising rates and very rude staff [at State Farm]. Won’t return my calls explaining why my rates [were raised] twice within [three] months… This company price gouges you for the same things until you can no longer afford their coverage.”

– Jack M. via BBB

Nationwide and State Farm are both well-regarded national insurers with strong industry reputations and stable financial ratings. While Nationwide offers a wider selection of coverages, State Farm typically offers lower rates and boasts better customer reviews.

Ultimately, we think State Farm is the better choice for most drivers, but that will all depend on what you’re looking for and for which discounts you qualify. We recommend getting quotes from both Nationwide and State Farm so that you can compare your own coverage and rates. Beyond the car insurance company that you choose, factors like your age, vehicle make and model, and driving history can affect the quotes you receive. So what’s right for someone else may not be right for you.

Read more about each of the providers in our State Farm insurance review and our Nationwide insurance review.

Top Auto Insurance Companies

When you’re shopping for car insurance, it’s smart to get quotes from multiple providers. After you’ve compared Nationwide vs State Farm, take a look at Geico and Progressive, two auto insurance providers that performed highly in our industry review. Both earned 4.6 out of 5.0 stars.

Why You Should Consider Geico

After doing our homework, we named Geico auto insurance the best in the nation for its great value and customer experience.

Geico has strong reviews from experts like AM Best and the BBB. Standard coverage is available in addition to roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and mechanical breakdown insurance. Plus, Geico has usage-based car insurance through the DriveEasy® mobile app in some states.

To learn more, read our full Geico review.

Why You Should Consider Progressive

Drivers in their 20s, and those with DUIs on record may find the best coverage with Progressive car insurance. We named the provider best for high-risk drivers.

Progressive has high marks from AM Best. In addition to standard coverage, you can get things like towing and labor, custom parts and equipment value, and more. We also like Progressive’s tech like the Name Your Price® tool, which allows you to start your search for car insurance with your budget.

To learn more, read our full Progressive insurance review.

How We Rate Insurers

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 Better Business Bureau (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.