Nationwide Auto Insurance Review (2021)

Learn everything you need to know about Nationwide with our Nationwide auto insurance review. We’ll look at Nationwide’s standard policies as well as their full coverage auto insurance options.

Insurance can be a tough topic to research. Just plugging “car insurance near me” into Google will give you hundreds of pages to sort through. That can make just about every shopper panic.

You might know everything about coverages and the type of insurance you want, but then you have to figure out where you’re going to get it. There are so many options in today’s market when you’re shopping for insurance.

There are captive agencies, independent agencies, and you can even get a quote without talking to a licensed agent. The possibilities are endless when you’re looking for reasonable car insurance.

With all the options out there, choosing the right auto insurance company for you and your needs may be challenging. We’re going to make this process a little easier for you by covering the ins and outs of Nationwide auto insurance so you can see if it may be a good fit for you.

In addition to affordable Nationwide auto insurance, there are lots of companies out there and we can help you with those too. Anytime you’re ready, plug in your ZIP code here to get free quotes from multiple insurance companies.

Nationwide Auto Insurance Rates

How much is this policy going to cost me? That’s the lingering question most consumers have when filling out a form to get an insurance quote.

Each company may be slightly different in how it weighs your information assessing risk. So how does an insurance company assess risk?

We’re going to break it down for you. First, let’s take a look at gender, age, and marital status.

There are several factors that affect auto insurance rates. As you might have suspected, young drivers are considered to be a higher risk due to their lack of experience, so they are rated at a much higher premium.

Nationwide Auto Insurance Rates Compared to Other Companies

Nationwide Insurance rates compared to other top companies can be seen in the chart below.

As you can see, Nationwide offers rates on the lower end compared to some companies.

Nationwide Versus State Average

Let’s take a look at how Nationwide compares to the average cost for car insurance in each state.

Georgia offers some of the most expensive Nationwide rates.

Nationwide Coverage Level Rates

As you would expect, the more coverage you have, the more you pay. Well, take a look at the chart below. In some states, you’ll notice a higher coverage for a lower premium.

Coverage level rates can vary significantly depending on where you live.

Nationwide Credit History Rates

Your credit impacts your auto insurance rates; if you have poor credit, you’re going to pay more than someone with good credit.

As you can see from the chart above, a lower credit score can sometimes cost you over $1,000 more on your insurance premium compared to someone with a good credit score.

Nationwide Driving Record Rates

One of the more obvious factors in determining your insurance premium is your driving record. If your record reflects poor driving habits, your insurance company is going to charge you more.

The table below gives you an idea of how much that speeding ticket is going to cost you.

A DUI is considered one of the most egregious offenses and you will pay a lot more if you have one on your driving record.

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Nationwide Auto Insurance Coverage

Nationwide has a wide range of coverages that it offers to consumers, though these do vary to some extent by state.

Below is a list of common coverages that Nationwide offers.

• Bodily Injury Liability
• Property Damage Liability
• Personal Injury Protection
• Uninsured Motorist
• Underinsured Motorist
• Medical Payments
• Collision
• Comprehensive
• Towing and Labor
• Rental Car Expense
• Gap Coverage
• Full Coverage
• Accident Forgiveness
• Roadside Assistance
• Vanishing Deductible
• Total Loss Deductible Waiver
• Classic Car Coverage

For more information on the types of coverage offered, contact your local Nationwide office.

Nationwide’s Discounts

Nationwide offers a multitude of different discounts available to consumers. Below is a list of discounts provided.

Depending on your circumstances, these discounts could significantly lower your insurance premium. Nationwide also offers two discounts specifically related to green initiatives: paperless documentation and paperless billing.

Nationwide ranked 7th in our 12 best auto insurance providers for green living in part because it has a very specific target of reducing its carbon footprint by 26 percent by 2026. To date, it has already reduced its footprint by 21 percent.

Nationwide Bundling Options

Another easy way to save with Nationwide is to bundle your insurance. This means you use Nationwide for all of your insurance needs. So, for example, if you own a home and a car you would use Nationwide for both lines of insurance. This way you would receive the Nationwide multi-policy discount.

Nationwide Programs

Smartride is also a program used by Nationwide to help consumers receive discounts. This product is either an app-based program or a device inserted into your car.

Smartride tracks your driving habits and rewards you for driving safely with a discount on your premium. You can save up to 40 percent when using this feature.

Nationwide has so many discounts available, you’ll definitely be able to find a few to shave down that premium.

Nationwide’s Financial Ratings

If you’re shopping for insurance, you definitely want to check out a company’s financial ratings. It’s important to know that your insurer could afford to pay your claim if you need to file one.

You should also look at customer service ratings. You want to feel secure that someone will be there to help you if you have a problem. Read on for Nationwide reviews and ratings from some of the top rating agencies.

A.M. Best

A.M. Best gives Nationwide an A+ rating. This rating is the highest honor from A.M. Best. A.M. Best is one of the oldest and most recognized agencies used to determine financial ratings.

Read on for Nationwide Insurance reviews from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Better Business Bureau

Chances are most shoppers have heard of the Better Business Bureau. You often see their stickers proudly located at the entrance of businesses. But what does this mean exactly?

Take a look at this video to learn more about the BBB.

The BBB has strict accreditation standards. Nationwide has gone through this rigorous testing and holds the rating of an A+ with the BBB.

Nationwide Moody’s Rating

In 2017, Moody’s awarded Nationwide with a high rating of A1. Moody’s is a globally recognized rating agency with a strict rating process. This is another feather in the cap for Nationwide’s financial status.

Nationwide S&P Rating

S&P is another well-known and respected rating agency. It’s been in business for over 150 years and operates in 28 countries.

S&P gave Nationwide an A+. We’re starting to see a trend in the ratings given to Nationwide!

Nationwide NAIC Complaint Index

So, what is the NAIC and what do they do?

“The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is the U.S. standard-setting and regulatory support organization created and governed by the chief insurance regulators from the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories.”

Below are statistics from the NAIC showing the complaint ratio and some other helpful stats.

Based on the numbers, it’s clear that Nationwide gets a relatively insignificant number of complaints.

Nationwide auto insurance reviews can also be found on a lot of online services, such as the Nationwide Insurance reviews on Yelp.

Nationwide J.D. Power

What makes J.D. Power a little different from the other rating agencies? J.D. Power’s ratings come from the opinions of consumers who have and still use the product or company being rated. In a 2016 press release, Nationwide received an 874 out of 1,000 on auto claims satisfaction.

Insurance is one of those necessary things you must have even if you never use it. Unfortunately, when you do need to use your insurance, it’s due to a loss in property or medical care after a car accident.

When you need to file that claim, you want good customer service. You’ll need someone to walk you through that claim and get you back on your feet or behind the wheel of your vehicle again.

With Nationwide receiving a high score for claims satisfaction, you can rest assured that if and when a loss occurs, Nationwide will be there to help.

Nationwide Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports is another organization that values the opinions of the consumer. This organization is known for providing accurate information about products and services.

In 2017, Nationwide received an 88 out of a possible 100 in regards to their claim process. This score shows consumers are very satisfied with their Nationwide experience.

Getting a Nationwide Quote Online

Let’s take a look at how to get Nationwide auto insurance quotes on the company website. After getting a quote, you can buy Nationwide auto insurance online.

Personal Information

Once you’re on the Nationwide website, you’ll be asked a series of questions, starting with some information about yourself. This will include where you live.

Vehicle Details

Next, you’ll move on to your vehicle details. You’ll need to enter your car’s year, make, and model. You will also need to fill in information about how much you drive and whether you own or lease your vehicle.

Your vehicle details are collected using mostly drop-down menus.

Prior Insurance

You’ll also need to input your prior insurance information. Nationwide wants to make sure you have continuous coverage with no lapse, so you’ll want your new insurance to pick up when your old insurance expires or is canceled.

Prior insurance information will also be taken using mostly drop-down menus.

Live Chat

If you need assistance at any time, Nationwide has a live chat feature. This is helpful for any questions you may have.

Local Agency

Getting a quote online with Nationwide is very easy, but you can also find a local agent and talk with them directly to obtain your quote.

Now imagine having to do that for multiple companies to compare rates. Hard right? It doesn’t have to be. Use our FREE quote tool above to easily compare rates from multiple companies.

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Canceling Your Nationwide Auto Insurance Policy

If you’re not happy with your Nationwide policy or you no longer need insurance, you have the option to cancel your policy.

Does Nationwide have a cancellation fee?

Nationwide does not charge a fee for canceling your insurance.

Is there a refund?

Depending on how much you’ve paid, you may receive a refund. If you’ve paid your premium in full and decide to cancel the policy mid-term, you will receive a refund of any unused premium.

How to Cancel with Nationwide

Canceling your Nationwide policy can be done by phone, in person, or in writing. The best way is to contact your local Nationwide agency.

If you chose to call, you may call your local Nationwide agent or call the main office at 800-882-2822. You can also mail your request to:

One Nationwide Plaza
1 West Nationwide Boulevard
Columbus, OH 43215

You must send your name, address, and policy information along with a signed letter stating your cancellation intent and date.

When can I cancel?

You can cancel your Nationwide policy at any time.

Nationwide Loss Ratio

Loss ratios can be a confusing part of insurance, but it’s an important factor to look at. If a company makes $300,000 in premiums and pays out $150,000 in claims, its loss ratio is 50 percent.

If a company has a loss ratio of 100 percent, it is spending all premiums on losses and is not financially stable. If a company has a lower loss ratio, it may not be very good at paying out claims.

When you file a claim, you don’t want to worry about your insurer not being financially secure or refusing to payout. For an example of how Nationwide’s loss ratio has changed over the years, check out the chart below.

As you can see, there has been mostly minimal change in Nationwide’s loss ratio.

Making a Claim with Nationwide

Nationwide makes a normally stressful situation, like dealing with a claim, a breeze.

Notify Nationwide

You will first want to notify Nationwide that a loss has occurred. You can do this in a few different ways:

• Use your Nationwide auto insurance login to access your account and file online
• Call the Nationwide auto insurance phone number at 800-421-3535
• Contact your local agent
• You can also reach an agent at 866-633-5749

For the information you need, read on.

Information Needed

Nationwide require several pieces of information in order to make a claim:

• Name and address
• Personal information of witnesses or injured parties
• Loss information
• Nationwide policy number

Once your claim has been filed, a claims professional will be assigned to your case.

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Nationwide Online Presence and Apps Available

We saw earlier that Nationwide has a very strong television presence with its catchy commercials, but what about its website and app?

Nationwide excels here as well. The company has a mobile app for Apple users and Andriod users. This mobile app makes doing anything with your policy super easy, even filing a claim.

Here are just a few functions the app offers customers:

• Make a payment
• Manage payment methods
• Obtain ID cards
• File a claim
• Get claim information
• Ask for roadside assistance

The website is as easy to use as the mobile app. It’s very user-friendly with easy to read tabs and a search bar. You’re sure to find anything you need on the Nationwide website.

Nationwide Company History

Nationwide has been helping customers insure their valuable assets for over 85 years. It started out in Ohio as a small auto insurer for local farmers and has now become one of the largest insurers for multiple lines of insurance.

Nationwide: Growth Over the Years

One way to measure the success of a company is to measure its growth over a matter of years.

Nationwide has slowly declined in the market share and premiums written, but it still holds strong in the top 10 companies.

Nationwide Today

Nationwide has made some changes recently. As of July 2020, all Nationwide insurance agents have become independent agents. What does this mean?

There are two types of agent. A captive agent only sells insurance for one company. An independent agent sells insurance from multiple companies, giving customers a wider range of options.

At renewal, if your insurance with a company goes up, then you can speak to your independent agent and s/he can quote you with another one of their companies. You don’t have to leave your agent or give your information to another agency and essentially start the quoting process over again.

Nationwide’s new business model opens doors for agency owners and customers and promotes growth for Nationwide as a company as well.

Employees of Nationwide

Do you like insurance so much you want to work for a major player in the industry? Well, if the answer is yes, Nationwide may be your place.

Nationwide is considered a large corporation, with 31,766 employees. You can usually tell how great a company is to work for by its turnover and how long employees have been around.

Two to five years is the highest category, but not far behind are the employees staying put for over 20 years. Chances are you wouldn’t stick around with a company for over 20 years if you didn’t enjoy working there.

Average Age

Over 75 percent of Nationwide employees are between the ages of 22 and 54.

Employee Experience

Out of employees asked, 88 percent said Nationwide is a great place to work. With numbers like that, no wonder the company’s customer service is so great.

Awards Won by Nationwide Auto Insurance

Below is a list of awards won by Nationwide Insurance.

• #21 in Best Workplaces in Financial Services & Insurance 2019
• #26 in Best Workplaces in Texas 2019
• #57 in 2019 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®
• #53 in Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® 2018
• #15 in Best Workplaces in Financial Services & Insurance 2018
• #82 in Best Workplaces for Millennials 2018
• #16 in People’s 2018 Companies that Care list
• #61 in Best Workplaces for Women 2018
• #49 in Best Workplaces for Diversity 2018
• #39 in Best Workplaces for Millennials 2017
• #54 in Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® 2017
• #6 in Best Workplaces in Financial Services & Insurance 2017
• #23 in PEOPLE’s 2017 Companies that Care list
• #29 in Best Workplaces in Texas 2017
• #50 in Best Workplaces for Women 2017
• #19 in Best Workplaces for Diversity 2017
• #43 in Best Workplaces for Diversity 2016
• #71 in Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® 2016

As you can see just from 2016-2019, Nationwide has quite an extensive list of awards.

Community Service

Nationwide definitely does its fair share lending a hand in the community.

Workplace Giving

Employees give time and energy to many charities across the nation. American Red Cross, The United Way, and Feeding America are just a few of the charities Nationwide helps.

Nationwide Foundation

In addition to the time and energy provided by Nationwide employees, the company also donates significant dollars to help support the communities around them. As of 2000, Nationwide has given over $498 million in contributions to various charities and organizations.

In 2006, the foundation pledged the largest gift in its history, granting $50 million to Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Over the last six years, the foundation gifted the hospital with an additional $60 million in grants to establish and support the Nationwide Foundation Pediatric Innovation Fund.

That’s a significant amount of money. It shows that Nationwide cares about giving back.

Nationwide Commercials

Insurance companies tend to have some good commercials and Nationwide is no exception.

In 2014, Nationwide signed legendary quarterback Peyton Manning as a spokesman.

More recently, Nationwide has added country singer Brad Paisley to the spokesman mix. Here he is appearing alongside Manning.

Nationwide is definitely bringing its A-game when it comes to commercials.

Nationwide Auto Insurance Pros and Cons

We hope we’ve covered everything you need to know about Nationwide, good and bad. Listed below is a sampling of the pros and cons consumers report about Nationwide.

These are things you should keep in mind when you’re deciding whether Nationwide is right for you.

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Nationwide Auto Insurance: The Bottom Line

Nationwide gets excellent customer service ratings, but it’s not the cheapest insurance around. It’s always a good idea to shop around and make sure you’re getting the best auto insurance rate possible.

If you’re interested in homeowners insurance, Nationwide home insurance reviews are fairly positive as well.

On our site, you can find reviews for many other companies, including Geico auto insurance reviews, Allstate insurance reviews, Progressive insurance reviews, and more.

Before you decide if Nationwide auto insurance is right for you, get some comparison quotes by entering your ZIP code here. Comparing quotes can help you find the best auto insurance at the best price.

Frequently Asked Questions: Nationwide Auto Insurance

#1 – How can I qualify for a Nationwide Good Student discount?

We all know that the younger you are, the more your insurance is going to cost. Parents: if your kids receive good grades in school, you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing Nationwide has a discount for you.

For actively enrolled students ages 16-24, just show proof of a B or higher grade average and you’ll receive a good student discount.

#2 – What is the Nationwide On Your Side Review?

The Nationwide On Your Side Review is a free service for all Nationwide members. This is a great service for anyone in need of insurance.

An insurance professional will assess your personal circumstances and make sure you understand what you have and what you need. You can use this service at any time; you can have your policy reviewed at renewal or at any major life change, such as a wedding or new home.

#3 – What is the Nationwide SmartRide Program?

As previously mentioned, the Nationwide SmartRide program involves using an app or an in-car device to track your driving habits. Nationwide rewards you with discounts for driving safely. You even get a 10 percent discount just for signing up.

#4 – How does Nationwide’s Vanishing Deductible work?

Nationwide’s Vanishing Deductible allows you to earn $100 off your deductible for every year you do not have an accident. Here is what the Nationwide website says about the vanishing deductible:

“Vanishing Deductible is an optional feature. You’ll earn $100 off your deductible for each year of safe driving, up to $500. Your deductible could vanish completely. Why not be rewarded for something you’re already doing?

Here’s an example: Let’s say you have a $500 deductible. After three years of safe driving with Vanishing Deductible, you’ll earn a $300 credit. If you have an accident, you would pay just $200 toward your deductible before your insurance starts to cover any damages.

And if you have an accident, you don’t have to worry about your deductible going all the way back up to $500. Your Vanishing Deductible reward would be reset to $100, still providing you savings. If you want car insurance with no deductible or car insurance with a low deductible, ask about Vanishing Deductible today.”

This is just another money-saving option Nationwide offers its customers.

#5 – Is Nationwide’s Accident Forgiveness worth the extra cost?

Accident Forgiveness is an added coverage to your policy. There is a fee to add this to your policy, but if you get into an accident, it could save you quite a bit in the long run.

It’s definitely worth talking to your Nationwide insurance agent about the cost of this added benefit and if it could be something that would work for you.