Nationwide Auto Insurance Review
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Is Nationwide right for you? Look at the elements that complete your driver profile, including past accidents and your age demographic, to determine whether or not you’ll be eligible for a lower rate.
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Looking to insure your vehicle? There are plenty of reputable auto insurers to choose from, but honing in on your best option takes careful consideration of the type of coverage you want. Nationwide is known for its insurance and financial services and slogan, “being on your side.” Nationwide is one of the largest insurance companies in the world, but is it really on your side?
One of the more expensive insurance providers depending on your financial history and vehicle, Nationwide's auto insurance is ideal for car owners looking for several specific qualities. These include long-term savings, accident forgiveness, and an annual assessment to ensure they receive the discounts they’re eligible for. While the value of its services for the considerable raters is debatable, Nationwide stands firm as a reliable auto insurance option. Our insurance review will help you make the right choice.
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What is Nationwide auto insurance?
Columbus, Ohio-based Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company has offered consumers insurance and financial services for over 90 years. Types of insurance offered include life insurance, pet insurance, renters insurance, and homeowners insurance. Nationwide also writes car insurance policies for motorcycle and classic car insurance in the auto segment.
Its auto insurance policies check the basic boxes one would expect an auto insurer to offer policyholders, not to mention a few unique benefits like free annual assessments, gap insurance, and vanishing deductibles. Another of Nationwide’s strengths? Its Office of Customer Relations, strengthens the line of communication between the company and its customers and contributes to its overall positive ratings. However, keep in mind that even though Nationwide has a dedicated customer relations team, it is often outscored in customer satisfaction by other insurers in its space.
Nationwide is a reasonable choice for car owners looking for various coverage plans. Its discounts and incentive programs especially appeal to low-risk drivers, new drivers, and families.
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How does Nationwide auto insurance work?
If Nationwide sounds like a good option for your auto insurance needs, the next step is to sign up online. You can use the nationwide mobile app or the website to get a quote. Here’s what each step of the process looks like.
Get a quote in under 7 minutes
Once you’ve landed on Nationwide, you'll notice a “Get an Online Quote” button.
Answer the questionnaire
After starting your quote, you’ll be redirected to a page to answer questions about yourself. Enter basic information, like your full name and state of residence, to get started. Make sure “Auto” is selected under the insurance options.
Give a little more information
Next, the Nationwide site will prompt you to fill out further personal information. You’ll also need to select an accurate description of your driving history. It pays to be honest here, as you’ll want the most accurate estimate of the cost of insuring your vehicle through Nationwide before committing. You’ll choose between “Excellent,” “Pretty good,” and “Needs work” as categorical descriptions of your driving history.
Finish online registration
Once you’ve followed the steps to obtain your online quote, you’ll have the information you need to go forward with Nationwide or choose a different insurer. If you need assistance or don’t feel comfortable inputting your information on the Nationwide website, you can reach an associate at 1-888-891-0148.
How much does Nationwide’s car insurance cost?
Insurers usually use a list of qualities to help them determine the cost of an auto insurance package, and that list often overlaps with other auto insurers. For example, Nationwide considers age, location, driving record, car make and model, eligibility for discounts, and policy limits when determining the cost of auto insurance.
But the insurer offers many car insurance discounts. An example is students who take defensive driving can earn a student discount and good student discounts for having good grades, among other insurance programs offered.
According to Bankrate, Nationwide's average auto insurance premium for full coverage is $150 per month, while minimum coverage is $62 monthly. By comparison, the average cost of car insurance is $1,982 per year, according to Nerdwallet.
Nationwide’s auto insurance features
So, what makes Nationwide stand out from competitors? Its incentive programs and unique coverage options can be a make-or-break for car owners.
Gap insurance
If your car is stolen or completely totaled, gap insurance can be a lifesaver–and all insurers don’t offer it. Gap insurance pays the difference between the value of your car when the accident occurred and the remaining balance on your loan or lease. Some lenders even require gap insurance, which moves Nationwide to the top of the rankings for some consumers.
Vanishing deductible
If you’re a safe driver, the vanishing deductible discount is your reward through the company's safe driving discounts. For every year you go without having an accident, your deductible drops by $100 and caps at $500. The potential savings could make Nationwide the most financially attractive insurer over time.
On Your Side Review
Being overcharged by insurance providers is a prevalent concern amongst car owners. What happens if you agree to a particular plan and end up overpaying year after year? Nationwide’s On Your Side Review ensures that doesn’t happen. Every year, or after a major life event, it offers a free assessment to help determine if your plan is still right for you. The On Your Side Review also vets participants for discount eligibility for benefits they might not already receive.
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Who is Nationwide’s auto insurance best for?
Nationwide has options for car owners with different needs. That said, it tends to be best for people with specific qualities.
Car owners looking for long-term coverage
Nationwide ’s vanishing deductible program can result in big savings but adds up over time. For this reason, Nationwide is probably best for those looking to choose an insurer and stick with them for the foreseeable future. It emphasizes this point on its website, saying “we insure members for a lifetime.”
Families
Nationwide offers accident forgiveness, which helps car owners dodge any rate increases after someone on their policy has a crash. Parents with teenage or new drivers on their plan tend to like this perk, as it lowers the risk of insuring multiple vehicles. Keep in mind, this specific policy is not available in all states. Additionally, Nationwide will only forgive one accident on any given policy.
Who shouldn’t use Nationwide’s auto insurance?
While Nationwide has its positives, it’s also not the best option for everyone.
Rideshare drivers
Some insurance companies allow drivers to add rideshare insurance to their personal coverage plans, as companies like Uber and Lyft often don’t provide this to drivers. If you’re a rideshare driver, you might want to consider State Farm, GEICO, Allstate, Progressive, Mercury, or Farmers auto insurance instead.
Individual car owners aged 25 or under
Compared with other auto insurers, Nationwide had one of the highest rates for the 25-year-old driver profile. If you’re a younger driver, you might want to look elsewhere for a more wallet-friendly option.
Pros and cons
Making a pros and cons list can clarify what you need from an insurance provider compared to what you’re willing to compromise on. While not everyone has the same pros and cons when it comes to Nationwide car insurance, here are a few of the common advantages and disadvantages of getting auto insurance Nationwide.
Pros
- Nationwide doesn’t tend to penalize those with low credit. Drivers with low credit tend to be charged more for insurance, or not given the same discounts as those with high credit. Nationwide tends to keep rates affordable for car owners with lower credit scores.
- Minimal upcharge for high-mileage car owners. The difference in rate between drivers who have an annual mileage under 6,000 miles and those who exceed that range is minimal with Nationwide.
- Rewards for loyal clients. Nationwide’s vanishing deductible is a positive incentive to go with the company and stay with them. If you’re a low-risk driver looking for a long-term insurance provider, Nationwide could be a good choice over time.
Cons
- Limited coverage for rideshare drivers. Many insurance companies are developing more flexible companies for rideshare drivers, but Nationwide isn’t one of them. If you’re thinking that ridesharing could be part of how you cover your bills now or in the future, this could be a major con.
- If you have a bad driving history, Nationwide can be expensive. Speeding violations and accidents will raise your expected rate significantly, and a DUI could even double it. Ask your representative how a flawed driving record could impact the cost of your coverage.
- Below average customer service. In the 2023 J.D. Power study, Nationwide ranks below industry average in term of claims satisfaction. The company scored 875 out of 1,000, compared to industry average average of 878.
Nationwide vs. competitors
Here’s what Nationwide looks like when you compare them to its competitors.
Insurer | Gap Coverage | J.D. Power Rating |
Nationwide | Optional | 875/1,000 |
Farmers | Yes | 878/1,000 |
GEICO | No | 871/1,000 |
Nationwide vs. Farmers
Compared to Farmers, Nationwide often offers better rates to those with poor credit and teen drivers. However, Farmers does have a student away at school discount, which Nationwide doesn’t offer and could be attractive to families with children in college. Farmers also has additional discounts that Nationwide doesn’t offer, such as a discount for green vehicles. Plus, Farmers consistently ranks higher in customer satisfaction studies.
Nationwide vs. GEICO
Nationwide is known for giving better rates to drivers with poor credit. Even though GEICO is known for discounted rates, Nationwide is often still more competitive for this demographic. When it comes to discounts, the two companies are well-matched, although GEICO offers military discounts while Nationwide does not. Even though Nationwide’s customer service ranks below average, it ranks higher than GEICO in this area, which could be a selling point.
FAQs
Is Nationwide good auto insurance?
Nationwide is a large insurer that offers services throughout the country, with a solid financial rating and slightly below-average customer service rating. Reviewing the advantages and disadvantages of their policies can help you determine if they are a good insurer for you.
Are Nationwide and Allied the same company?
Yes, Allied and Nationwide merged in 1998.
Is Nationwide insurance expensive?
In general, Nationwide’s auto insurance rates are similar to many of its competitors. They do have a track record of offering more competitive rates to those with poor credit. However, they tend to offer higher rates after an accident than some of their competitors. They also have fewer discounts than their competitors, which could make alternative auto insurers more attractive to those who qualify for discounts. When reviewing discounts, seek out multi-policy discounts for bundling multiple insurance products like homeowners with your auto.
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The bottom line
Is Nationwide right for you? Look at the elements that complete your driver profile, including past accidents and your age demographic, to determine whether or not you’ll be eligible for a lower rate. It never hurts to get a quote on the Nationwide website, which is a quick and easy process to give you an idea of your annual rate. An agent can help you determine which benefits and discounts apply to you specifically and the estimated cost of your auto insurance. After that, weigh the pros and cons of getting a rate with Nationwide. It’s good to shop online and compare car insurance quotes before committing to one auto insurer.
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Writer
Jolene Latimer has her Master's in Specialized Journalism from the University of Southern California. She writes about personal finance, entertainment, sports, and more.
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