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Last updated: March 22, 2023
Nationwide Car Insurance Pricing
Bringing you low-cost auto insurance with all the bells and whistles you want
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You’ve probably heard the slogan “Nationwide is on your side.” Nationwide focuses on what its insurance does for you, rather than exclusively on price. However, it might be the cheapest car insurance for you, depending on your driver profile. Plus, Nationwide has a long list of discounts to help you save on its already competitively priced auto insurance.
This Nationwide car insurance pricing guide will give you a better understanding of the company’s rates, discounts, and key benefits.
Car Insurance Rates
Nationwide’s average annual premium is $1,614, which is almost $500 cheaper than the industry average of $2,071. Here are some interesting cost considerations:
- A liability-only policy averages $937 per year for a 30-year-old. This type of car insurance would fall under the minimum coverage for most states.
- A full-coverage policy averages $2,698 for a 50-year-old. The more auto insurance coverage you have, the more expensive your rates are. Full coverage includes liability, collision, comprehensive, and medical payments coverage/personal injury protection.
- Adding a teen driver averages $2,932 per year.
Your car insurance premium depends on a lot of factors, so don’t expect it to align perfectly with the average. Your location, age, car, and driving history, as well as whether you have state minimum liability or full coverage, will affect your rate.1
We recommend shopping around for rates to make sure you are getting the best price for the coverage you desire. When you get multiple quotes, make sure the coverage options match (property damage liability, medical payments, comprehensive, collision, etc.).
Discounts
Nationwide offers the following discounts to help reduce the cost of auto insurance:
- Multipolicy: You can save an average of $646 when you bundle home and auto insurance.
- SmartRide: If you add a tracking device to monitor your driving habits, you can get a discount for signing up. Plus, it will reduce future premiums, based on your driving history.
- Accident-free: Nationwide gives you a discount when you maintain an accident-free driving record for five years.
- Good student: Drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 who maintain a 3.0 or better GPA are eligible for this discount.
- Defensive driving: If you are 55 or older and take and pass an approved defensive driving class, you qualify for a reduction in your premium.
- Anti-theft: Get a discount when you equip your car with anti-theft devices, since these safety features make car theft less likely.
- Safe driver: This discount is for drivers who don’t have any tickets for five years.
- Automatic payments: Get a one-time discount when you enroll in automatic deductions from a bank account.
Favorite Features
Accident Forgiveness
Even good drivers have accidents occasionally. Nationwide doesn’t believe that you should be penalized for the occasional accident. Accident forgiveness prevents your insurance rate from increasing after an at-fault accident. You can use it once on your policy, but you would have to have opted in and paid for this feature previously.
Local Agents
Nationwide sells auto insurance policies through a network of independent agents around the country. These agents reside in local communities, giving them an edge in understanding the local market. This model allows Nationwide to bring personalized service to all of its customers.
TIP:
Even though Nationwide uses independent agents, the company still has a national call center number so you can get the help you need when your agent isn’t available.
Nationwide App
Nationwide offers an app to help customers manage accounts and file claims, and the company regularly updates the app based on customers’ feedback. One customer noted that the app has gotten faster over time, thus making it easier to use.
The app has a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars in the Google Play store and a 4.5-star rating in the Apple App Store. Customers appreciate that the app reduces the time they’d otherwise spend on hold.
Usage-Based Auto Insurance Program
The usage-based SmartMiles program tracks how many miles you drive and bases your rate on that data. The fewer miles you drive, the lower your rate will be.
This program is different from when an insurance company simply rates you as a “high-miles” or “low-miles” driver, where there is a premium break at a certain threshold, usually around 7,500 miles per year. Rather, SmartMiles gives lower rates to someone driving 1,000 miles versus someone driving 2,000 miles; it’s all based on actual miles driven.
SR-22 Filing
Nationwide will file an SR-22 with the DMV on your behalf if you need it. The state requires an SR-22 if you have a serious road violation, such as driving under the influence or driving without insurance. The SR-22 form demonstrates that you have minimum car insurance coverage on the car you are driving.2
24/7 Emergency Roadside Assistance
Nationwide offers emergency roadside assistance. Taking advantage of this feature means that you will not be stuck on the side of the road without a place to get help. Nationwide will tow the car to the nearest repair facility, add gas to the gas tank if you run out, or offer help in fixing a flat tire. This service compares to AAA but is only a couple of dollars a month when you add it to your policy, thus helping you save money.
Classic-Car Insurance
| Type of insurance | Model year |
|---|---|
| Classic and antique tractors | 1997 and older |
| Collector and classic car | 1979 and older |
| Collector and raced motorcycles and scooters | 1996 and older, and some 1997-2022 |
| Collector Truck and SUVs | 1996 and older |
| Military vehicle | 2002 and older |
| Modified vehicles | 1950 and older |
| Retired commercial vehicles | 1997 and older |
You don’t insure classic cars the same way you insure day-to-day cars. That’s because the market value of a classic car is higher than the depreciated value, and most people don’t drive a classic car more than a few thousand miles per year, to keep the car’s condition pristine, thereby lowering the accident risk. Insuring these cars takes a special policy; Nationwide offers classic-car insurance and classifies cars as either a classic or an antique.
Classic cars vary based on make and model. Most collector cars were manufactured in or before 1979. Collector trucks and SUVs are from 1996 or before. You can also have limited editions, exotics, supercars and replicas that are newer that qualify for collector’s car insurance. Nationwide will even insure vintage tractors or military vehicles with this coverage. The policy comes with the liability options that any normal insurance policy would offer.
Where this policy differs is in the value of the car for comprehensive and collision coverage. These cars have higher values than standard cars, and your policy is priced to insure them properly.
Availability
Nationwide sells auto insurance policies in 45 states and the District of Columbia. However, it is not available in these states:
- Alaska
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Louisiana
- Maryland
Cancellation Policy
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.
DID YOU KNOW?
When you pay your premium, the insurance company doesn’t use it all immediately. What it doesn’t use yet is called an unearned premium. When canceling policies, policyholders have a right to all unearned premiums.
Company Background
Nationwide started in 1926 as the Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. In 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., in 1943. Farm Bureau Mutual officially changed its name to Nationwide in 1955.
In 1963, Nationwide introduced a seat belt incentive that provided extra medical benefits to customers who wore seat belts in accidents. In 1968, Nationwide debuted 24-hour claims reporting. The company established Nationwide Bank in 2007. (It was subsequently acquired by Axos Bank in 2018.) In 2009, Nationwide became the first major insurance carrier to release an iPhone app, starting a trend for digital insurance cards and easier account management.
Nationwide’s headquarters is in Columbus, Ohio. It is a private company that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.
Nationwide Contact Information
You can get service on your Nationwide insurance policy by contacting your local agent or by calling the national service line at 877-669-6877. The claims hotline is 800-421-3535. You may also email Nationwide by using the form located at https://www.nationwide.com/personal/contact/online-form?language=en.
Conclusion
Nationwide is a national leader in auto insurance. It does an excellent job of keeping prices very competitive and below the national average. You can reduce rates even further by adding popular discounts to your policy. Let us help you get a car insurance quote today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my documents from Nationwide auto insurance that won’t load?
- Open your phone app, or log in to your account at https://www.nationwide.com/personal/login.
- Select the document you want to load.
- If the document won’t load, contact your local agent so they can email it to you.
How does Nationwide auto insurance compare to other car insurance companies?
Nationwide has very competitive rates. The company’s average annual auto insurance rate is $1,614, which is below the national average of $2,071. Nationwide’s financial strength and customer satisfaction ratings are on a par with those of other top carriers, though it fell below average in the J.D. Power customer service survey.
What are the ratings for Nationwide auto insurance?
AM Best gives Nationwide an A- rating, which demonstrates the financial strength of the company. Moody’s affirms Nationwide with a rating of A1, which demonstrates stability, and S&P rates Nationwide AA-, which means the company has a strong capacity to meet its financial obligations.
Nationwide has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. It ranked 12th in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, with a score of 787, which is 33 points below the national average. So, although Nationwide has excellent financial stability ratings, its customer service ratings are not as high, according to J.D. Power.
How do you avoid being on hold when calling Nationwide auto insurance?
- Locate your local agent’s phone number on your statement or insurance card.
- Call the number for your local agent.
- Avoid calling the call center (877-669-6877). Instead, use it as a last resort.
Citations
Vehicle Liability Insurance Requirements. U.S Department of State.
https://www.state.gov/vehicle-liability-insurance-requirements/SR-22 Insurance Information and Requirements. DrivingLaws.org.
https://www.drivinglaws.org/sr-22-overview.html
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