Nationwide Insurance Review
- With 4.4/5 stars in 2024, Nationwide is a good insurance company.
- Read Nationwide reviews, complaints and prices before you buy.
Nationwide insurance: Ratings and reviews
Nationwide is one of the most popular car insurance companies in the country. It's known for affordable rates and for offering a wide variety of coverage options. In this review, we'll look at Nationwide's average rates and some unique aspects of Nationwide’s insurance coverage options that set it apart from other insurance companies.
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Multiple telematics programs
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Above average number of products
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High customer service ratings
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Not available in every state
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Rates may be on the rise
Is Nationwide a good insurance company?
Most of The Zebra's review incorporates how well Nationwide performs in terms of customer service. In order to determine that we looked at the following third-party ratings.
Claims Satisfaction: Below average
- Nationwide earned Below average marks in J.D. Power's most recent auto claims satisfaction study[1]
Customer Satisfaction: Above average
- J.D. Power also rated Nationwide as Above average in overall auto customer satisfaction[2]
Complaint Index: Below average
- The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) receives Below average customer complaints for Nationwide[3]
Financial Strength: Superior
- Nationwide received an Superior financial strength rating from A.M. Best for its ability to pay out claims[4]
The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey
In addition to third-party ratings, we also incorporated the results from our own consumer survey where we ranked which car insurance companies are the best based on feedback from real customers. In this survey, Nationwide scored 8.52/10 overall. Despite receiving a relatively high overall score, the company did not rank in the top five for any individual category.
How much does Nationwide insurance cost?
Currently, the national average for a 6 month car insurance policy is $880, whereas Progressive is about $738 or roughly 16% cheaper than a typical policy, so it is one of the cheapest auto insurance options available. It is also worth mentioning that they are one of the cheaper companies for home insurance.Â
The table below shows how Nationwide auto insurance compares against other top insurers.Â
| Company | Avg. Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Travelers | $112 |
| Nationwide | $123 |
| GEICO | $129 |
| State Farm | $131 |
| Chubb | $148 |
| Farmers | $149 |
| Progressive | $157 |
| The Hartford | $201 |
| Allstate | $201 |
As with any insurance carrier, the cost of Nationwide car insurance varies based on your age, generally getting cheaper as you grow older.
The following table shows Nationwide's auto insurance rates for a variety of different age brackets.
| Age Group | Avg. Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Teens | $404 |
| 20s | $170 |
| 30s | $123 |
| 40s | $118 |
| 60s | $112 |
| 50s | $112 |
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool data methodology
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.
The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.
For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.
Discounts offered
In addition to the programs we listed above, Nationwide also offers some ways to save that are competitive with other car insurance companies. Below are highlights of Nationwide's discounts and reward programs. See more information on common discounts for car insurance.
- Multi-policy discount: Nationwide advertises average savings of around 20% for a home-and-auto policy bundle.Â
- Good student discount: If you or someone on your insurance policy is aged 16 to 24 and maintains a B average or better, you can qualify for this student discount.
- Safe driver:Â If you steer clear of major accidents or violations for at least five years, you can earn this discount.
- Easy Pay sign-up:Â By linking your bank account to your Nationwide policy, you can earn a discount.
In addition to the discounts listed above, Nationwide also offers a number of driver-based discounts that include those for Affinity memberships, taking defensive driving courses, going accident-free, and having anti-theft devices installed in your vehicle. View all of Nationwide's discounts here.
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Nationwide car insurance coverage options
Nationwide car insurance can likely provide all the coverage you need, whether you're seeking basic state-mandated liability coverages or full coverage insurance for a high-value vehicle. These coverages include comprehensive and collision coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, personal injury protection (where applicable), medical payments and more. Read on to find out more about some of Nationwide's unique coverage options.
- Towing and labor coverage: Nationwide offers a roadside assistance package, providing 24/7 help to any policyholder stranded by an inoperable vehicle. Whether you’ve had an accident or you need a battery recharge, this coverage can get you moving again.
- Coverage for Uber and Lyft: In order to protect customers who drive for Uber and Lyft, Nationwide offers rideshare coverage.
- Rental reimbursement coverage: If your vehicle is damaged in a collision, this coverage will reimburse your rental car costs.
- Gap coverage assistance:Â If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, gap coverage pays the difference between what you owe and your vehicle's depreciated market value.
Learn more about Nationwide's coverage options here.
Nationwide telematics programs
SmartRide is Nationwide’s telematics insurance program. Using an in-car plugin and mobile app, SmartRide tracks the way you drive in order to more accurately determine your car insurance rates. It also provides feedback in an effort to encourage safe driving.
Nationwide SmartMiles is the company's mileage-based insurance program. Those who don't drive often could potentially save money with this program, as it rewards low-mileage drivers with cheaper rates.
Nationwide insurance review: Summary
Put simply, Nationwide is a high-quality major insurance carrier that offers a satisfying range of insurance products at reasonable prices. With strong customer service ratings, bundling options, and a telematics program, customers can rest assured that Nationwide will provide what they are looking for in an insurer. The Zebra believes that Nationwide is a great choice for a variety of customers.
Methodology — how The Zebra reviews insurance companies
The team of insurance experts at The Zebra considers the company's standing in five main categories to come up with an overall rating. These metrics are weighted according to importance and are detailed below:
- Price (20%): Using the base profile detailed below, we compared the company's average rate with the national average. If it surpassed this average, we gave a lower rating; if it fell below, we awarded a higher rating.
- Coverage (20%): The highest-scoring companies offer a variety of coverage options, including bundling options, roadside assistance, telematics, beyond-basic coverage levels, and a variety of other coverage types.
- Customer service (30%): We averaged ratings from JD Power, the NAIC complaint index to come up with a rating for the company's customer service. In instances when a company is not rated, we may use alternative rating agencies such as the Better Business Bureau and Trust Pilot.
- Financial strength (10%): We use AM Best to determine a company's financial standing. In some cases when a company is not rated by AM Best, we may use an alternative measure such as Demotech.
- The Zebra's Customer Satisfaction Survey (20%): The Zebra conducts an annual survey measuring customer satisfaction for many of the top insurance companies with the goal of ranking both the best auto insurance companies and best home insurance companies. Read more below.
For our auto insurance review, we analyzed more than 83 million insurance rates spanning every U.S. ZIP code using a sample user profile: a 30-year-old single male driver with a Honda Accord, good credit and full coverage at these levels:
- $50,000 per person/$100,000 per incident for bodily injury liability
- $50,000 per incident for property damage liability
- $500 deductibles for collision and comprehensive coverage
For our home insurance review, rates are based on a sample user profile: a 45-year-old married homeowner living in a 2,500-square-foot single-story home built in 2011 with these coverage levels:
- $200,000 for the dwelling
- $20,000 for other structures
- $100,000 for personal property
- $100,000 for personal liability
- $1,000 deductible
These sample premiums are dynamic and automatically refresh whenever the newest data is made available.
To generate pricing for particular rating factors, we adjusted this profile based on common pricing factors used by major car insurance companies. These factors include credit score, coverage level and others.
For The Zebra's Customer Satisfaction Survey, findings are based on an online quantitative survey of 4,134 current U.S. auto and home insurance customers, with Census-balanced sampling by age, gender and region. Categories with n=<20 responses are considered insufficient sample size and are not reported. This survey was developed by The Zebra and executed by independent research firm Maru/Blue in 2023.
Nationwide insurance: Frequently asked questions
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About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.