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Nationwide car insurance review 2021
Last updated:
Excellent all around support, coverage, rates and more
finder.com's rating: 3.5 / 5
★★★★★
Bottom line: Unlike some of its competitors, Nationwide balances great discounts and service, though it doesn’t accept drivers with too many claims or accidents.
optional
Roadside assistance
Yes
New car protection
Accident forgiveness
Details
| States served | All states except AK HI LA and MA |
|---|---|
| Roadside assistance | Optional |
| Accident forgiveness | Yes |
| New car protection | Yes |
| Pay schedule | 12 months, 6 months, Monthly |
| Claims methods | Online, Phone |
| Rideshare coverage | No |
| SR-22 support |
Yes |
Pros
- A.M. Best A+ Superior rating
- On Your Side Auto Repair Network
- Plenti rewards program
Cons
- Potentially high rates
- Inconsistent support
| Anti-theft device discount | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bundling discount | Yes |
| Defensive driving discount | Yes |
| Good student discount | Yes |
| Loyalty discount | Yes, up to 15% |
| Homeowner discount | No |
| Military discount | No |
| Safety device discount | Yes |
| Special employment discount | No |
| Usage-based discount | Yes, 5-40% |
Expert review
Review by
Roslyn McKenna
roslyn.mckenna@finder.comRoslyn McKenna is an insurance publisher for Finder, where she's driven to help people get a great deal on insurance to protect their families and finances. Roslyn earned a BA in writing and communications from Maryville College and has written professionally for more than a decade, showing up on Bankrate, MSN and Reader's Digest.
Expert review
Nationwide is one of the largest insurance companies in the country. The company stands at the forefront of technology like Auto Watch, which lets you keep track of your car repairs, and the EZ Ag app that helps farmers manage their unique accounts.
Though its prices may cost more than the competition, you may want Nationwide for its high-quality service and accessibility. Agents are available by email, through an app, over the phone, in person or by online chat.
How to apply for Nationwide car insurance
Nationwide’s website offers a straightforward application for auto insurance coverage. Whether you apply online, by phone or with an agent, get started with these steps:
Online
- Start by visiting the Nationwide website, clicking Insurance and protection, then Auto.
- Enter your ZIP code, then Get a quote.
- Enter your basic contact and car information, including make and model. Tap continue.
- Add driver and prior insurance info. Hit continue.
- Answer each question to see if you’re eligible for any discounts, then click continue.
- Review details, select desired policy options, then continue to begin purchase.
- Choose your policy start date, enter contact information, then continue.
- Add your payment details to buy your policy. If you run into roadblocks, you can call an agent directly.
By phone
If you’d prefer to apply for coverage by phone, you can reach a Nationwide agent at (877) 669-6877.
Local agent. You can use Nationwide’s agent locator to get personal customer service near you.
What discounts can I get with Nationwide?
Nationwide offers a number of auto insurance discounts on its already competitively priced rates.
- Accident-free. Get better rates if you have at least five years of safe driving.
- Advance quote. Save up to 5% if you get a quote at least eight days before your start date.
- Airbag. Get up to 30% off medical payments coverage if your car is equipped with airbags.
- Affinity. Lower rates if you’re a member of a partner organization like the Farm Bureau.
- Anti-theft device. Earn a discount if your vehicle is equipped with anti-theft technology.
- Automatic payments. Get a discount when you sign up for automatic bill pay.
- Defensive driving. Save up to 10% for completing an approved driver safety course. In some states, you must be over age 55 to qualify.
- Family Plan. Save when you add family or household members to your Nationwide plan.
- Good student. Students who hold a B average or above can get discounted rates.
- Loyalty. Save up to 5% if you stay insured with Nationwide for three years and up to 15% if you stay with Nationwide for five years.
- Multi-policy. Save up to 20% when you bundle your home, auto or other insurance policies.
- New vehicle. Save up to 16% when you insure a car made within the last five years. The age requirements may vary by state.
- Paperless. Get a recurring discount when you switch to paperless billing and notifications.
- Telematics. Earn up to 40% off by joining Nationwide’s SmartRide program. The program uses a device plugged into your car to track your driving behavior, giving feedback for safe driving.
What car insurance coverage does Nationwide offer?
Nationwide offers a standard set of coverage options to protect you while on the road.
- Collision. Pays for damage to your car if you hit another car or object.
- Comprehensive. Pays for non-collision car damage like vandalism, theft, fire, hail or flooding.
- Liability. Covers expenses if you damage a vehicle or injure someone in an accident.
- Medical payments. Helps with accident-related medical costs, regardless of who’s at fault.
- Personal injury protection. Pays for medical expenses, work loss, funeral costs and home services or child care if you get accident injuries.
- Property damage liability. Protects you if your car damages someone else’s car or other property.
- Roadside assistance. Reimburses you for towing and other roadside services if your car breaks down while traveling.
- Uninsured motorist. Provides injury and property damage coverage if another driver hits your car but doesn’t have enough insurance to pay for it.
What extra perks does Nationwide offer?
Nationwide offers several special programs and features to benefit its customers:
- Accident forgiveness. This program helps you avoid rate increases for your first at-fault accident after going claim-free for a set timeframe.
- Auto Watch. You can track car repairs online.
- Member connections. Nationwide hosts town hall style events where members can speak up about their experience and give feedback.
- On Your Side auto repair network. Nationwide has a network of auto repair shops that provide great service and guaranteed repairs.
- Plenti rewards. Sign up to earn discounts and cashback at major stores across the country.
- Vanishing deductible. This optional program lowers your deductible by $100 for every year that you don’t have an accident, up to $500.
Nationwide car insurance reviews and complaints
Nationwide holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) as of October 2020. Despite its high rating, over 230 customers have filed BBB complaints. Customers are unhappy with denied claims, billing issues and unexpected rate changes.
That said, Nationwide has followed up on customer complaints in a timely manner, showing many of them marked as resolved.
However, most customers only go online to speak up about major issues with a product or service. It’s common to see multiple complaints but few positive reviews.
Alternatives to Nationwide
See how Nationwide stacks up to other companies’ coverage, benefits and discounts. Check the Compare box to see up to four companies side by side.
Nationwide car insurance rates
Example monthly rates can give you an idea of what you’ll pay when insuring with Nationwide.
| California | New York | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 year old man | $146 | $215 |
| 18 year old woman | $146 | $274 |
| 25 year old man | $89 | $240 |
| 25 year old woman | $89 | $203 |
| 35 year old man | $77 | $222 |
| 35 year old woman | $77 | $160 |
| 45 year old man | $73 | $222 |
| 45 year old woman | $73 | $222 |
| 56 year old man | $72 | $216 |
| 56 year old woman | $72 | $182 |
How do I find a Nationwide local agent near me?
Find personalized service through one of Nationwide’s 10,000+ local agents. To find one near you, you can use the agent locator tool:
Nationwide agent locator
- From the main website, enter your ZIP code in the Find an Agent box. Click Go.
- View agents near you via the map or list.
- Choose your preferred agency and call or visit in person, using the contact info given.
How does Nationwide bundling work?
Nationwide lets you bundle more types of policies to land a discount than many insurance companies. Nationwide’s bundling options include:
- Home or condo
- Renters
- Life
- Motorcycle
- Commercial auto
- Classic cars
- RVs, travel trailers or campers
- ATVs, snowmobiles and golf carts
- Boats or personal watercrafts
- Scooters
- Identity theft
- Flood
- Umbrella
- Travel
- Pet
- Wedding
- Accident medical
- Dental
- Business
Frequently asked questions about Nationwide
Car insurance ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
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We rank insurers from one to five stars based on key factors including customer satisfaction, policy options, price, billing, claims, and support. We create these rankings to help you narrow down an insurance provider that best suits your budget and coverage needs.
