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2/5

discounts

4.5/5

complaints

3/5

satisfaction

4.5/5

stability

2.6/5

affordability


pros

checkmarkOffers many of the common discounts, like bundling, multi-car, good student, safe driver, anti-theft, paperless and defensive driving
checkmarkOffers an additional discount if you choose automatic payments
checkmarkOffers mechanical breakdown assistance and identity theft coverage as add-ons

cons

closeDoes not offer new car or better car replacement coverage
closeDoes not offer discounts for payment in full or airbags

Verdict

Nationwide has an average score in customer service and is above average in resolving complaints. When compared to most other insurers, the cost of insurance from Nationwide is neither expensive nor inexpensive.

MoneyGeek evaluated the cheapest car insurance companies and best car insurance providers across the U.S. to help you learn more about Nationwide and other insurers in the market. You can also use our comparison tool to see how the insurer stands against other companies.

How Does Nationwide Rank for Customer Service?

To properly evaluate insurance providers, MoneyGeek uses a combination of ratings and reviews, including J.D. Power customer satisfaction ratings, AM Best financial strength scores and other trusted sources. Overall, Nationwide is one of the best auto insurance companies available today.

Customer Satisfaction Rating

First Notice of Loss:
4/5
Estimation of Process:
4/5
Repair Process:
4/5
Claims Servicing:
4/5
Rental Experience:
4/5
Settlement:
4/5

Based on data provided by J.D. Power, Nationwide earns a score of 822 out of 1,000 points for customer satisfaction. The industry average is 835, so Nationwide's reputation in this area is slightly worse than the typical insurer. J.D. Power's data was also used for these star ratings, which show how Nationwide ranks in several specific categories.

Customer Complaint Ratio

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is a regulatory body that evaluates customer service standards by logging the overall number of complaints received and comparing the median number of complaints against the national median of 1.00. Nationwide gets a score of 0.53, denoting a significantly lower number of complaints than most competitors.

Nationwide Auto Insurance Quotes: How Much Does it Cost?

MoneyGeek collected car insurance quotes from Nationwide across 29 states where it sells insurance and averaged the quotes for our sample driver. Based on our analysis, the insurer is neither cheap nor expensive compared with other companies at an average rate of $1,341 per year.

In addition, we also found that Nationwide has moderate pricing for all four of our sample drivers, including those seeking full coverage and minimum coverage, drivers with speeding tickets and young drivers.

To find the cheapest insurance offers, shop around and compare quotes from different companies. Still, price shouldn’t be your only consideration when buying car insurance. Factors such as customer satisfaction and complaint ratios help determine an insurer’s overall value proposition.

Average Annual Cost of Car Insurance with Nationwide versus National Average

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  • Driver Type
    Nationwide Average Rate
    National Average
  • Full Coverage
    $1,341
    $1,372
  • Minimum Coverage
    $729
    $764
  • Speeding Ticket on Record
    $1,561
    $1,698
  • 18-Year-Old Driver
    $4,912
    $5,057

Is Nationwide Car Insurance Expensive or Cheap? Why?

Nationwide insurance premiums are moderate (neither expensive nor cheap) for most drivers, including those with full coverage, minimum coverage, drivers with violations and young drivers.

Insurance companies are seldom transparent about determining their car insurance coverage pricing. Like the majority of insurance providers, Nationwide charges more for full coverage and for young drivers or those with traffic violations.

Insurance Rates

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Discounts Offered by Nationwide That Can Help You Save

Nationwide offers discounts to help with the cost of insurance. It provides most of the common discounts, including ​​safe driver, defensive driver, good student, anti-theft, bundling, paperless and multi-car. However, unlike many insurers, it does not offer discounts for airbags or paying in full.

On the other hand, Nationwide offers a discount for automatic payment, which is not usually available with most insurance companies. You can claim this discount if you set up your policy payments to be automatically deducted from your bank account.

Car Insurance Comparison Tool

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The cost of car insurance is highly personalized and varies from driver to driver. Auto insurance companies weigh several factors when considering your rate, including age, driving record, address, the type of car you drive and more. The MoneyGeek calculator estimates how much you could pay for car insurance, without entering your personal information. The estimator can help you decide if it's time to switch car insurance companies or find a provider that fits your needs and budget.

Does Nationwide Offer Broad or Unique Coverage?

Nationwide, like all auto insurance companies, offers standard coverages such as liability, comprehensive and collision insurance.

Nationwide policyholders also have the option to purchase several add-on coverages: roadside assistance and rental car and travel reimbursement as well as accident forgiveness, gap insurance and deductible modification. However, the insurer does not offer two of the add-on coverages typically available, including new car replacement or better car replacement.

The car insurance company does offer two relatively uncommon add-on coverages: identity theft and total loss deductible waiver. Identity theft coverage through Nationwide pays up to $25,000 for expenses if you or anyone in your household are a victim of identity theft or fraud. The total loss deductible waiver through Nationwide covers your comprehensive or collision deductible if your vehicle is deemed a complete loss after an accident.

What Online Auto Insurance Tools Does Nationwide Offer?

When you shop for car insurance, you might be interested in some of Nationwide’s advanced options. These include a robust online shopping and claims experience and their special SmartRide and SmartMiles plans that allow for saving opportunities. They also offer policyholders numerous resources, including a detailed learning center and real-time repair updates.

Nationwide offers many customer-centric features that make the insurance experience easier and more convenient.

  • Type of Feature
    Description
  • Online Price Quotes
    Nationwide offers an easy online quote tool that immediately provides pre-packaged insurance quotes according to customer information, with room for further customization.
  • Online Bill Pay
    You can easily pay bills through the mobile app or website.
  • Online Claims
    Nationwide provides a simple claims process through its online portal and mobile app.
  • Mobile App
    Nationwide’s robust mobile app allows for online claims, policy management and roadside assistance. There is a separate app for its SmartRide program for safe drivers.
  • Calculators
    You can access rate calculators for several insurance options provided by Nationwide through their website or mobile app.

Other Nationwide Insurance Products

Apart from car insurance, Nationwide also provides a host of other insurance solutions. It might be a good idea to bundle policies to get discounts. See how Nationwide compares to other insurance companies for home and auto insurance bundles and renters bundle discounts in your state.

  • Type of Product
    Description
  • Homeowners Insurance
    This covers the cost of repairing or replacing your home if it gets damaged. Homeowners insurance can also come with loss of use coverage, medical payments coverage and coverage for specific weather events.
  • Renters Insurance
    Renters insurance covers property damage and stolen items for renters. It can also include coverage for expensive items and moving costs.
  • Life Insurance
    Nationwide offers universal, variable, term and whole life insurance policies.
  • Classic Car Insurance
    Nationwide offers classic car insurance in partnership with a third party. This comes with lower premiums and guaranteed value coverage.
  • Recreational Vehicle Insurance
    Nationwide provides insurance for motorcycles, boats, RVs, snowmobiles, ATVs and golf carts.

Financial Strength

AM Best evaluates insurance companies’ financial situations and issues the AM Best Financial Strength Ratings, an indication of fiduciary stability. While this does not serve as a warranty to policyholders, it indicates that the provider is more likely to pay legitimate claims. Nationwide receives a solid rating of A+, only one notch below the maximum rating of A++.

Insurance Rates

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How to Make a Car Insurance Claim With Nationwide

It is easy to file a claim with Nationwide auto insurance using their website, mobile app or voice-activated Claims Center phone line.

Contact Nationwide Car Insurance

Methodology and Assumptions

To evaluate and review auto insurance companies, MoneyGeek carefully weighs factors such as price, financial strength, policy features, customer satisfaction, service and other leading indicators. MoneyGeek also references publicly available data from industry leaders such as J.D. Power, AM Best, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and the Better Business Bureau. Learn more about MoneyGeek’s review methodology here.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick has analyzed the property and casualty insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. Currently, he leads P&C insurance content production at MoneyGeek. Fitzpatrick has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.


sources