Nationwide Home and Auto Insurance Reviews
- Expertise: Auto insurance, home insurance and renters insurance
- Education: University of California-Berkeley (BA in History)
Rob Bhatt is a licensed insurance agent and joined the staff of Lending Tree in 2021. Previously, he spent more than 20 years writing for and editing regional publications in California, Nevada and Washington. Rob enjoys helping readers understand how different coverages work so they can make informed purchasing decisions, and he specializes in producing research-backed content for LendingTree about auto, home and renters insurance. His work has been cited by ABC, Business Insider, MSN and Yahoo.
Nationwide is one of the 10 largest companies in the U.S. for both home and auto insurance. Its rates are higher than national averages, but its discounts can make it an affordable choice. Nationwide gets mixed customer-service ratings.
Pros
Offers gap coverage, accident forgiveness and reduced-deductible program
Affordable rates for drivers with bad credit
Better-than-average complaint ratings
Cons
Higher-than-average rates for homeowners and most drivers
Below-average customer satisfaction ratings
Nationwide reviews: Is Nationwide a good company?
Nationwide is a good company to contact for a home or car insurance quote. The company’s rates are a little higher than national averages. However, it offers several discounts that can make these prices more affordable.
Although its satisfaction ratings are below industry averages, Nationwide has better-than-average complaint ratings from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Nationwide is rated A (excellent) for financial strength from AM Best. An A rating is AM Best’s third-highest score.
Nationwide insurance ratings at a glance
| Rating | Nationwide’s score | Industry average |
|---|---|---|
| Overall auto satisfaction | 806 | 820 |
| Overall home satisfaction | 812 | 819 |
| Auto complaint rating | 0.46 | 1.0 (lower is better) |
| Home complaint rating | 0.95 | 1.0 (lower is better) |
| Financial strength | A rating by AM Best | Third-highest rating |
Sources: J.D. Power, NAIC, AM Best
How much is Nationwide car insurance?
Nationwide charges an average of $963 a year for liability car insurance, or $80 a month. This is 25% higher than the national average of $64 a month.
Auto liability insurance covers injuries and damage you cause to others in a car accident. It’s required by law in most states.
Liability car insurance rates by company
| Company | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $597 |
| Geico | $727 |
| American Family | $728 |
| Progressive | $791 |
| Travelers | $835 |
| Nationwide | $963 |
| Allstate | $1,158 |
| Farmers | $1,188 |
Nationwide’s rates for full-coverage car insurance average $2,226 a year, $186 a month. This is 13% higher than the national average of $164 a month.
Full coverage includes collision and comprehensive coverage. These cover your own car for damage and theft. Neither is required by law, but you usually need both for a car loan or lease.
Full-coverage car insurance rates by company
| Company | Full coverage |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,487 |
| Travelers | $1,919 |
| American Family | $1,920 |
| Geico | $1,937 |
| Progressive | $2,032 |
| Nationwide | $2,226 |
| Allstate | $2,609 |
| Farmers | $3,091 |
How much is Nationwide car insurance after a ticket or accident?
Nationwide’s car insurance rates for drivers with a ticket or accident are higher than national averages.
Nationwide charges drivers with a speeding ticket an average of $2,839 a year for full coverage, or $237 a month. This is 17% higher than the national average of $202 a month.
Nationwide’s rates for drivers with a DUI (driving under the influence) conviction is 21% higher than the national average.
Nationwide car insurance rates for prior incidents
| Incident | Nationwide annual rate | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding ticket | $2,839 | $2,427 |
| At-fault accident | $3,460 | $2,930 |
| DUI | $4,376 | $3,626 |
Is Nationwide good for drivers with bad credit?
Nationwide is a good company for an auto insurance quote if you have bad credit. It charges drivers with bad credit an average of $3,147 a year for full coverage, or $262 a month. This is 15% less than the national average of $309 a month.
Car insurance rates for drivers with bad credit
| Company | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| Geico | $3,093 |
| Nationwide | $3,147 |
| American Family | $3,170 |
| Progressive | $3,472 |
| Travelers | $3,506 |
| Allstate | $4,211 |
| Farmers | $4,890 |
| State Farm | $5,654 |
In most states, insurance companies use your credit history to help determine how risky you may be to insure. However, California, Massachusetts and six other states ban or limit this practice.
How much is Nationwide car insurance for young drivers?
Nationwide charges young drivers an average of $3,371 a year for liability-only car insurance, or $281 a month. This is 38% higher than the national average of $203 a month.
Car insurance rates for young drivers
| Company | Liability-only annual rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,811 |
| Geico | $2,044 |
| American Family | $2,364 |
| Travelers | $2,655 |
| Progressive | $3,193 |
| Nationwide | $3,371 |
| Allstate | $3,399 |
| Farmers | $4,227 |
Car insurance discounts from Nationwide
Nationwide offers a variety of car insurance discounts that can add up to large savings. Bundling your home and auto insurance can usually help you save the most.
You can save 10% just by signing up for SmartRide. This safety program uses a smartphone app to monitor your driving. If you maintain safe driving habits, you get future discounts on policy renewals. The company won’t raise your rates for unsafe driving.
Nationwide’s other car insurance discounts include:
- Defensive driving: Drivers age 55 and up can save money by completing an approved defensive driving course.
- SmartMiles: Nationwide’s pay-per-mile insurance program is great if you only drive occasionally.
- Good student: Young drivers age 16 to 24 who maintain a B average or better in school get a discount.
Unfortunately, Nationwide does not offer military discounts or discounts to young drivers who complete a driver training program.
Car insurance discount comparison
| Discount | Nationwide | State Farm | Progressive | Allstate | Liberty Mutual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bundling | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Safe driving app | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Good student | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Defensive driver | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Pay-per-mile program | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Driver training | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Military | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Nationwide auto insurance coverages
Nationwide offers all the normal auto insurance coverages, plus a few extras you can’t get from other insurance companies. These extras include:
- Gap coverage: Covers the shortfall between your insurance check and your loan balance if you total your car. You usually need this if you’re upside down in your financing or lease your vehicle.
- Accident forgiveness: Protects you from a rate increase after your first accident.
- Vanishing deductible: Reduces your deductible by $100 at no extra charge for every year you avoid accidents. The reductions max out at $500.
How much is Nationwide home insurance?
Nationwide’s homeowners insurance quotes average $3,055 a year, or $255 a month. This is only 7% higher than the national average of $2,844 a year, or $237 a month.
Homeowners insurance rates by company
| Company | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $2,427 |
| Allstate | $2,560 |
| Nationwide | $3,055 |
| American Family | $3,072 |
| Travelers | $3,149 |
| Farmers | $3,801 |
Homeowners insurance discounts from Nationwide
Most of Nationwide’s homeowners insurance discounts are mostly standard for the industry. One that stands out, however, is its discount for homes in gated communities.
The company also gives you discounts for:
- Bundling: The savings you get for bundling home, auto and other policies you may need apply to each one.
- Protective devices: You can save money just for having smoke detectors, burglar alarms and other protective devices.
- Renovations: Recent upgrades to your plumbing, heating, cooling and/or electrical systems can help you save.
- Recent home purchase: You can also get a discount from Nationwide if you’ve purchased your home within the past 12 months.
Home insurance discount comparison
| Discount | Nationwide | State Farm | Allstate | Liberty Mutual | American Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bundling | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Protective devices | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Home renovations | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Recent home purchase | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Gated community | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Nationwide homeowners insurance coverages
Nationwide offers all the basic home insurance coverages you need to protect your home. It also offers a few potentially valuable extras, including:
- Brand new belongings: Covers your possessions at their replacement value, with no deduction for depreciation.
- Better roof replacement: Pays to rebuild a damaged roof with safer, stronger materials.
- Water backup: Pays for cleanup and repairs if your home’s sewer or drainage system backs up.
- Service line protection: Pays to repair or replace underground utility lines. These include water, sewer and natural gas lines.
- Identity theft protection: Provides identity theft protection through Iris Powered by Generali. Plans include credit monitoring, fraud alerts and identify restoration services. The coverage limit is only $25,000, which is relatively low. But it only costs $45 a year.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Nationwide’s complaint ratings indicate it is a reliable insurance company. It had fewer confirmed complaints than average in 2023, according to the NAIC. A confirmed complaint is one that leads to a finding of fault.
You can get quotes from Nationwide’s website or a cost comparison site. Nationwide is sold through independent agents. Independent agents provide quotes from multiple companies. Some companies, including State Farm and Allstate, have captive agents. A captive agent usually only provides quotes from the company it represents.