Nationwide Auto Insurance Review [2024]: Is it Really On Your Side?

Nationwide is a car insurance company with multiple standard and specialty coverage options. Although Nationwide scored below average on some customer satisfaction rankings, it could be a good option to compare against other companies, considering it offers loyalty perks like pet injury coverage and car key replacement.

This Nationwide auto insurance review can help you understand the company's coverage options, available discounts, and whether it might offer you the best price on car insurance.

Nationwide auto insurance: Is it worth it?

Pros	Cons
Multiple coverage options available, including roadside assistance and guaranteed asset protection (GAP) insurance. Loyalty perks in most states, like key replacement, pet injury coverage, and minor accident forgiveness. A+ financial strength rating from A.M. Best.	Lower than average customer service rankings from J.D. Power and the Better Business Bureau. Nationwide auto insurance is not available in all 50 states. Customers can start a quote online but will likely be directed to contact a Nationwide insurance agent by phone to get their final price and discuss available discounts.
Our verdict: Nationwide has high ratings from A.M. Best and offers multiple coverage and discount options. It has a below-average customer rating from J.D. Power, but it is worth comparing against other carriers for its multiple discounts and customer loyalty perks.

What is Nationwide?

Nationwide was founded in 1926 in Columbus, Ohio, and is headquartered there today. It offers standard auto insurance policies and customized specialty coverages based on your needs. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III) and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), it has grown into one of the largest writers of private passenger auto insurance in the U.S.

Nationwide has an A+ (Superior) rating from A.M. Best, an insurance credit rating agency. It also has a below-average complaint index from the NAIC in 2021, meaning it had fewer than expected customer complaints.

However, Nationwide scored below average in several regions in the 2022 J.D. Power Regional Customer Satisfaction Surveys. It has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, but customer reviews only scored it 1.16 out of 5.

Year founded	1926
Types of coverage	Bodily injury liability Property damage liability Personal injury protection (PIP) Uninsured/underinsured motorist protection Medical payments Collision Comprehensive Towing and labor Rental car expense GAP coverage Accident forgiveness Vanishing deductible Roadside assistance Total loss deductible waiver
Discounts available	Multi-policy Anti-theft Defensive driving SmartRide SmartMiles Safe driver Accident free Automatic payments Good student Go paperless
Where you can use it	Desktop portal Mobile app for Android, iPhone, and iPad
Customer support	Visit Nationwide.com to file a claim, pay your bill, or start a quote. To finalize a quote or only get an auto quote, you’ll need to contact an agent at 1-888-891-0153 File a claim 24/7: 1-800-421-3535 Customer Service: ​​ 1-877-669-6877 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern weekdays 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Eastern Sat/Sun
Availability	All U.S. states and Washington D.C., except Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Louisiana.

What auto insurance does Nationwide offer?

Nationwide has various policies to help you find the coverages that best fit your situation. Although the type of insurance and policy amounts will vary based on your state’s laws, you can add extra coverage options to protect you and your family.

Nationwide car insurance is available in 46 states and Washington, D.C., but it does not sell auto policies in Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Louisiana. Additionally, not all policy types will be available in all areas.

Nationwide offers multiple auto insurance coverage options, including:

• Bodily injury liability: If you’re at fault in an accident and the other driver is injured, this coverage will help pay for their medical bills and loss of income.
• Property damage liability: If you are at fault in an accident, this coverage helps pay for the other party’s property damage. It doesn’t cover your car in an accident.
• Medical payments: Medical payments coverage helps with medical expenses for you or your passengers after a covered accident.
• Personal injury protection (PIP): PIP is similar to medical payments insurance but offers additional coverage for assistance services and rehabilitation care if you can’t work after an accident. It can also help pay for funeral costs if a policyholder dies from an accident. PIP insurance is not available in all states.
• Uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist protection: Uninsured coverage assists with expenses related to being hit by a driver without insurance and can help cover the damage to your vehicle and medical bills. If the person who hits you has insurance but doesn’t have enough liability insurance, underinsured motorist coverage can help fill in any gaps.
• Collision: Collision insurance helps cover expenses related to the damage or totaling of your vehicle from an accident or other type of collision, even if you are found at fault in an accident.
• Comprehensive: Comprehensive coverage helps pay for expenses related to damage caused by events other than an accident, like vandalism, theft, weather, fallen trees, hail, or hitting an animal while driving. A lender or leasing company may require you to keep both collision and comprehensive coverage for the length of your loan or lease.
• Towing and labor coverage: If your car is stuck or broken down, this coverage will reimburse you for towing expenses to a repair shop or onsite labor to get your car running again. To have this coverage through Nationwide, you must also have comprehensive coverage.
• Rental car expense: Rental reimbursement covers renting a car while your vehicle is being repaired after an accident.
• GAP coverage: If your leased or financed car is totaled before paying for it in full, this coverage can help you “close the gap” between what you owe and the actual cash value of the vehicle. Nationwide GAP coverage is only available in certain states, and only cars under six years old are eligible.
• Accident forgiveness: If you’re in your first at-fault accident or have a minor moving violation, this coverage will prevent your premium rate from increasing. Note that you can only use this coverage once per policy.
• Vanishing deductible: With this coverage, you could earn $100 off your Nationwide deductible each year that you don’t have an accident or other claim, up to $500.
• Roadside assistance: This coverage helps cover roadside services, like having someone help you change a tire, bring you gas, help you arrange a winch or tow, or jump your battery. The coverage applies 24/7, and available options may vary by state.
• Total loss deductible waiver: If your vehicle is deemed a total loss after an accident or another covered event, this coverage add-on could waive your entire deductible, potentially saving you hundreds or thousands of dollars, depending on your policy.

Additionally, Nationwide offers other types of insurance products, which you can bundle with an auto policy for additional savings, including:

• Homeowners insurance
• Renters insurance
• Condo insurance
• Motorcycle insurance
• All-terrain vehicle (ATV) insurance
• Recreational vehicle (RV) and motorhome insurance
• Snowmobile insurance
• Scooter insurance
• Golf cart insurance
• Identity theft insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term care insurance
• Pet insurance
• Dental insurance
• Business insurance
• Umbrella insurance
• Travel insurance

Nationwide also partners with third-party insurance carriers to sell classic car insurance, wedding insurance, and even flood insurance.

Nationwide auto insurance: How cheap is it?

Finding the best car insurance to meet your needs means looking for the best price. Insurance companies often offer discounts on their premium prices for customers that meet specific criteria.

How to find discounts

Nationwide offers the following discounts that may lower your car insurance costs, although availability may vary by state law.

• Multi-policy discount: Having more than one policy, like home and auto, or another combination through Nationwide could help you save.
• Anti-theft devices: Factory-installed anti-theft deterrents or devices installed after purchase could save you money on insurance since they make it harder for thieves to steal your vehicle.
• Defensive driving: You might receive a discount if you are over 55 and complete a state-approved safety course.
• SmartRide: This program uses a telemetrics device installed in your car to monitor your driving habits. The safer your driving, the more you may save.
• SmartMiles: If you drive less than the national average, you may be eligible to switch to per-mile car insurance. Drivers typically pay a flat monthly fee and a per-mile charge.
• Safe driving: Drivers who go at least five years without an accident or significant moving violation on their driving record may save money on their car insurance premiums.
• Accident-free: You may earn a better rate by staying accident-free for your policy term.
• Automatic payments: Setting up automatic payments could earn you a one-time discount from Nationwide.
• Good student discount: Drivers between 16 and 24 and maintain a B average or better could save money on car insurance.
• Go paperless: Customers who sign up for paperless statements and billing can receive an ongoing discount.

In addition to its discounts, Nationwide customers may be eligible for loyalty perks. Some of its perks include:

• Car key replacement
• Pet injury coverage
• Fender bender forgiveness
• Special deductible provision
• Auto repair network

How to maximize savings

To ensure you aren’t overpaying for car insurance and help maximize your savings, consider doing the following:

Shop for multiple quotes

Insurance prices vary from company to company, so compare car insurance quotes from various providers. To help you compare, get quotes from different types of insurance carriers, like those who work through agents, those who quote directly to customers, and independent agents who offer insurance from several different carriers.

Consider raising your deductible

If you want to save more on your car insurance, consider raising your deductible (the amount you must pay before insurance kicks in). Raising your deductible can help you save on your premium since you’re taking on more of the risk if there’s an accident. But, make sureyou have the amount of your deductible set aside in savings.

Consider reducing coverage on an older car

According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), purchasing full coverage insurance may not be cost-effective if your car is worth less than ten times the insurance premium. Work with an insurance agent to confirm you have at least your state’s minimum coverage requirements and are protected if you get into an accident.

Bundle policies

Combining an auto policy with a home, renters, or another insurance policy with one company can help you save money on your car insurance. You may also get a discount if you insure more than one vehicle with the same company.

Maintain a good credit history

Not all states can factor your credit history into their premium determinations, but you may see a lower insurance bill if you have a good credit record. Pay your bills on time, keep your credit balance as low as possible, and review your credit report periodically for mistakes or fraud.

Compare insurance costs before you buy a car

Insurance premiums are based partly on the car's value and expected repair cost. When car shopping, look for a vehicle with safety features, a high overall safety rating, and the least likelihood of theft to help you pay as little as possible in insurance.

How to get an insurance quote from Nationwide

To get a quote from Nationwide, you’ll need to have some personal information available, including:

• Your name
• Address
• Phone number
• Email address
• Marital status
• If you completed an accident prevention course, and the date completed, if applicable
• Your driver’s license number
• Your car’s year, make, model, body style
• Whether you finance, lease, or own your vehicle
• Estimated weekly mileage
• Vehicle identification number (VIN), which you can find on the interior dash or the inside driver side door jamb.

You can request a quote online to bundle your auto and property insurance like a home, condo, or power sport policy. Completing a quote will take about 15-20 minutes, depending on how quickly you can access your information.

Depending on the coverage you’re looking for, you may need to talk to a Nationwide agent by phone to complete your quote and confirm you’re receiving all the discounts you are eligible for.

Nationwide FAQs

Bottom line

Nationwide insurance may be a good option for you if you want to pick from multiple standard and specialty insurance coverages. It offers a long list of discounts, though it may not have as many options as some competitors.

As you search for car insurance, Nationwide could be a good company to compare quotes against, although you may find better car insurance rates with one of its competitors. Be sure to do your homework and request multiple quotes from the best car insurance companies to know you’re getting the best price for your coverage.

Methodology

FinanceBuzz researches a number of factors in each auto insurance provider to create our reviews. These factors include cost and discounts, complaints and customer satisfaction, coverage, and ease of use. We also gather information from sources such as J.D. Power, AM Best, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), and the Better Business Bureau to ensure we provide the most useful information to our readers.