Nationwide vs American Family: Which is Better for You?
Compare rates from the top car insurance companies in your area.
Nationwide or American Family: Which company is best for you?
Deciding on a car insurer is difficult: companies' rates differ by location, age, and driving history, and companies offer an array of discounts. Nationwide and American Family are two of the most popular insurance companies, providing competitively priced policies across most of America.
To help make insurance shopping seamless, we gathered average rates from American Family and Nationwide. The below cover myriad rating factors, including credit score, driving behavior, and age. Take a look at these rates and find the right policy for you.
Looking for in-depth analysis? Read full-length reviews of Nationwide and American Family.
Nationwide vs. American Family: by credit level
If you have extremely bad credit, Nationwide could be preferable to Nationwide. On average, Nationwide offers better prices than American Family for drivers with credit scores of 579 or less. Those with outstanding credit — a score of 800-plus — should lean toward View average insurance rates by credit score for American Family and Nationwide below.
INSURER RATES BY CREDIT SCORE: AMERICAN FAMILY VS. NATIONWIDE
| Credit level | Nationwide avg. annual premium | American Family avg. annual premium |
| Very Poor (300-579) | $1,593 | $1,931 |
| Fair (580-669) | $1,262 | $1,294 |
| Good (670-739) | $1,283 | $1,220 |
| Very Good (740-799) | $1,109 | $1,009 |
| Exceptional (800-850) | $1,037 | $941 |
Nationwide vs. American Family: by citation
If you are saddled with an at-fault accident, speeding ticket, reckless driving citation, or DUI on your résumé, American Family could be a better choice than Nationwide. Every insurer prices its policies differently, so don't be afraid to shop around to understand which insurer is best for you.
INSURER RATES BY VIOLATION: AMERICAN FAMILY VS. NATIONWIDE
| Infraction | Nationwide avg. annual premium | American Family avg. annual premium |
| At-fault accident (damage < $1,000) | $1,836 | $1,763 |
| At-fault accident (damage > $1,000) | $1,475 | $990 |
| DUI/DWI | $2,691 | $1,857 |
| Reckless driving | $2,508 | $1,857 |
| Speeding ticket | $1,469 | $1,270 |
Nationwide vs. American Family: by age
Car insurance companies use age to estimate risk, pricing premiums accordingly. Insurance is commonly most expensive for teens — because of their inexperience — and relatively affordable for middle-aged drivers. Since each insurance company rates ages differently, it's smart to shop around and find the perfect policy for you.
As a general rule, teen drivers should choose Nationwide instead of American Family: NATIONWIDE offers average yearly savings of $186, compared to American Family.
INSURER RATES BY AGE: AMERICAN FAMILY VS. NATIONWIDE
| Age tier | Nationwide avg. annual premium | American Family avg. annual premium |
| Teens | $3,624 | $3,810 |
| 20s | $1,582 | $1,685 |
| 30s | $1,163 | $1,685 |
| 40s | $1,151 | $1,089 |
| 50s | $1,114 | $1,089 |
| 60s | $1,028 | $986 |
Finances aside, Nationwide and American Family come with pros and cons, including the insurers' discount programs, add-ons, customer satisfaction ratings, and financial stability. Dive into the data before making your decision.
| Discount Comparison | Nationwide | American Family |
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| Good Student |
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| Multiple Vehicles |
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| Good Driver |
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| Defensive Driver |
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| Student Away at School |
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| Driver Training | ||
| Green Vehicles | ||
| Affinity Membership Alum |
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| Advanced Purchase |
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| Pay in Full | ||
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| eSign or ePay | ||
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| Military |
| Ratings Comparison | Nationwide | American Family |
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| Financial Strength | Superior | Excellent |
| JD Power Rankings | Average | Above average |
| User Satisfaction | 4.3/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Other Products | Nationwide | American Family |
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| Other Features | Nationwide | American Family |
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| About | Auto Insurance from Nationwide gives you peace of mind when you're on the road. Save money without sacrificing coverage by participating in one of our usage-based discount programs, and save even more with multi-policy discounts. With our On Your Side Claims® Service, you'll get a written guarantee on repairs and a choice of qualified car repair shops you can trust. | American Family strives to provide their customers with industry-leading service, an exceptional claims experience and products that build long-term relationships. |
| Roadside Assistance | Nationwide's Roadside Assistance is available in select states. Two levels of emergency Roadside Assistance coverage—Basic and Plus—are available. Nationwide Roadside Assistance Basic applies to everyone on your policy, in any car you might occupy with coverage that includes towing up to 15 miles, ditch extraction service, emergency fuel, battery jump-start, locksmith services up to $100 and tire changes. Nationwide Roadside Assistance Plus includes all the previously listed services in addition to a tow up to 100 miles and trip interruption coverage that may reimburse your expenses up to $500 for alternate transportation, lodging and meals if you find yourself broken down 100 or more miles from home. | American Family’s Emergency Roadside Service covers reasonable costs you can incur if you're car breaks down. These costs may include mechanical labor for up to one hour at the place of your vehicle’s breakdown, towing to the nearest place where the necessary repairs can be made, delivery of gas and oil, the cost of labor for a tire change or battery charge (not including the cost of any delivered item), and the cost of labor for locksmith services (not including the cost to replace locks or keys). |
| Additional Discounts | Nationwide offers additional savings through a Family Discount, which allows you to share discounts with members of your family. | None Available |
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