Nationwide Car Insurance Pricing

Nationwide offers cheaper-than-average rates for most drivers, but costs more for teens and high-risk drivers.

• Nationwide’s full coverage averages $1,987/year — about $370 below the national average of $2,356/year.
• Rates are higher than average for teen drivers ($6,665/year) and drivers with a DUI ($4,772/year).
• Bundling home and auto insurance saves an average of $1,032/year.
• Nationwide is available in 47 states and D.C., excluding Alaska, Hawaii, and Louisiana.

For the most part, Nationwide offers good value compared to similarly-sized competitors. Nationwide’s average annual premium for full coverage is $1,987, which is almost $370 cheaper than the national average of $2,356. This is a trend that applies across most categories.

There are a few exceptions. Minimum coverage is $722 per year, which is the same as the national average. The teen driver rate of $6,665 per year is $611 higher than the national average, while the DUI rate of $4,772 per year is $311 higher.

Below, we’ve broken down Nationwide’s premiums across categories. Since rates depend on location, age, car, driving history, and more, we recommend getting a quote to verify your rate.

Nationwide offers the following discounts to help you save on premiums:¹

• SmartRide: Get 10 percent off when you sign up to monitor your driving, and up to 40 percent off depending on your driving score.
• Multipolicy: Save an average of $1,032 when you bundle home and auto insurance.
• SmartMiles: If you don’t use your car frequently, sign up for Nationwide’s SmartMiles pay-per-mile program and pay less on your monthly premium.
• Accident-free: Receive a discount for remaining an accident-free driver.
• Good student: Applies to drivers between ages 16 and 24 who maintain at least a B average (3.0 GPA).
• Defensive driving: If you are 55 or older and pass an approved defensive driving class, you’ll get a discount.
• Anti-theft: Get a discount when you equip your car with anti-theft devices. You may need to show proof you’ve installed the device.
• Safe driver: You may receive a lower premium for staying free of accidents and major violations for at least five years.
• Automatic payments: Get a one-time discount when you enroll in automatic payments with your bank account.

Accident Forgiveness

Add Accident Forgiveness to your policy for an additional fee, and you’ll be protected from a potentially large increase in your premium if you get into an at-fault accident. You can use Accident Forgiveness once per policy.

Local Agents

Nationwide sells policies through a network of independent agents around the country. These agents offer personalized service with a human touch, as well as specialized knowledge of your local market.

SmartMiles Pay-Per-Mile Program

This is a program tailored towards low mileage drivers who don’t frequently use their car. You use the SmartMiles app to track how many miles you drive, then get a rate based on that data. The fewer miles you drive, the lower your rate will be.

SR-22 Filing

Nationwide will file an SR-22 with the DMV for you, if needed. Most states require an SR-22 if you have a serious road violation, such as a DUI or driving without insurance. The SR-22 form demonstrates that you have minimum car insurance coverage on the car you are driving.

Roadside Assistance

You can add 24/7 roadside assistance to your policy for a small fee. This service is comparable to that of AAA, but is far cheaper. It covers the following: towing, ditch extraction, gas delivery, jumpstarts, lockout service, flat tire change, and more. Choose from Basic or Plus plans for the service level appropriate for you.

Nationwide sells auto insurance policies in 47 states and the District of Columbia. However, it is not available in these states: 

• Alaska
• Hawaii
• Louisiana

To cancel your auto insurance policy, contact your agent or call Nationwide directly at 877-669-6877. You can cancel at any time. When you cancel, Nationwide will return any unearned premium to you.

Nationwide is a private company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. It’s headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

Here’s a brief history of the company:

• 1926: Nationwide started in 1926 as the Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.
• 1934: Farm Bureau Mutual acquired a fire insurance company and wrote its first property-insurance policy. It expanded from just five states to 12 states and Washington, D.C.
• 1943: Farm Bureau Mutual officially changed its name to Nationwide in 1955.
• 1963: Nationwide introduced a seat belt incentive that provided extra medical benefits to customers who wore seat belts in accidents.
• 1968: Nationwide debuted 24-hour claims reporting.
• 2007: The company established Nationwide Bank in 2007. It was subsequently acquired by Axos Bank in 2018.
• 2009: Nationwide became the first major insurance carrier to release an iPhone app, starting a trend for digital insurance cards and easier account management.

Local agent: The best way to get service on your policy is to contact your local agent. Find their contact info on your statement or insurance card.

National service line: Dial 877-669-6877 to reach customer service for help.

Claims hotline: Call 800-421-3535 to get help with a claim.

Email form: If you still need help, email Nationwide on the form at this link: https://www.nationwide.com/personal/contact/online-form?language=en

Nationwide is one of the country’s largest auto insurance carriers. While it offers cheaper than average rates in general, rates in a few categories can be higher than average. Customers can also utilize Nationwide’s many discounts to help reduce premiums. We recommend getting a quote to verify if its pricing is competitive for you.