Nationwide vs. Direct Auto: Compare rates and discounts

Nationwide vs. Direct Auto

One of the top 10 providers in the country, Nationwide has been insuring drivers since 1926. Unlike Nationwide, Direct Auto is fairly new to the auto insurance industry. They also only provide insurance in 13 states.

If you look closer, you’ll find even more differences between Direct Auto and Nationwide. Nationwide gets an A in user satisfaction from the Better Business Bureau, while Direct Auto gets consistently poor reviews from consumers and an F from the BBB.

In light of all of these negatives, you might be wondering why you should even consider Direct Auto. The company’s saving grace might be that it provides coverage for high-risk drivers. If you find yourself in this situation, Direct Auto might be an option.

Take a look at our detailed comparison below to find out which provider is right for you.

	Nationwide	Direct Auto
About the provider	Nationwide is not just an auto insurance company, it is also one of the largest financial services companies in America. Its flexible options and member resources are among a few of the reasons people have chosen Nationwide since 1926.	Founded in 1991, Direct Auto Insurance offers low-cost insurance policies to “nonstandard” drivers — also known as high-risk drivers — who might have a hard time finding coverage elsewhere. But beware, the company gets very poor reviews and only services 13 states.
Price	Policy costs depend your personal situation. Visit Nationwide for a quote based on your specific needs.	Policy costs depend your personal situation. Visit Direct Auto for a quote based on your specific needs.
States served	46	13
User satisfaction*	A	F
J.D. Power ratings**	3/5 on overall claims satisfaction	N/A
Driver discounts	View driver discounts	View driver discounts
Vehicle discounts	View vehicle discounts	View vehicle discounts
	Read Review	Read Review

* Based on Better Business Bureau’s company rating
** Based on the 2016 U.S Auto Claims Satisfaction Study

Driver discounts

	Nationwide	Direct Auto
Good student	Varies (full-time student, B average or higher, 16 to 24)	Up to 10% (unmarried, full-time student, B average or better)
Defensive driver
Good driver	Up to 10% (no at-fault accidents and free of major violations for at least 5 years)	Up to 10% (violation and accident-free for 36 months)
Pay in full discount
Multicar		Up to 25%
Military		Up to 25% (active service member)
Homeowner		Up to 15%
Other discounts	Multi policy discount – Up to 20% SmartRide discount – 5-40% (usage based discount using plug-in device) USAA Family Plan – Up to 25% Easy-Pay sign-up discount Affinity car insurance discounts – For members of partner business or organization Paperless documents discount – Varies	Senior citizen – Up to 5% (55+, completed a motor vehicle prevention course) Prior coverage discount – Up to 25% (at another insurance company for 6 months, no more than 90 day lapse between coverage) Renewal discount – Up to 20% (no policy lapse in prior 12 months, renew 7-10 days prior to expiration) Welcome back discount – Up to 6%
	Read Review	Read Review

Vehicle discounts

	Nationwide	Direct Auto
Anti-theft device	Varies (factory-installed deterrents)	N/A
Anti-lock brake		N/A
Passive restraints	N/A	N/A
Air bag		N/A
Other discounts
	Read Review	Read Review

Bottom line

Nationwide’s solid reputation makes it the better choice, but if you don’t qualify for coverage through Nationwide, you might want to consider Direct Auto. Compare your car insurance options to find the best insurance company for you.