Nationwide
- Receives fewer complaints to state regulators than expected for a car insurance company of its size.
- Wide variety of options for customers who want to buy multiple products from one company.
- Generous extras for some loyal customers such as minor accident forgiveness, pet injury coverage and car key replacement.
- Often more expensive than average for drivers with recent accidents or driving violations.
- Doesn't sell auto insurance policies in all states.
NerdWallet's take on Nationwide auto insurance
Nationwide earned 4.8 stars out of 5 in our analysis for its digital features and well-regarded claims service.
Best for: Drivers who want standout digital features and straightforward coverage add-ons. Infrequent drivers and drivers with good records might also like Nationwide for its usage-based car insurance options.
Not ideal for: Drivers with a recent driving violation or accident, who may find cheaper rates at another company.
Where Nationwide car insurance stands out
Digital features. Nationwide’s website and mobile app support its strong online experience. Both allow you to get quotes, file and track claims, change your policy, access documents, and more.
Coverage options and extras. Nationwide has add-ons that aren’t always offered by other insurance companies, like gap insurance and accident forgiveness. Depending on your coverage and the length of time you’ve been with Nationwide, you might qualify for other features, including “fender bender” forgiveness.
Customer satisfaction. Nationwide receives fewer complaints than expected for its size. Nationwide also ranks very well compared to other insurance companies in a customer satisfaction study by J.D. Power that focuses on the claims process.
Where Nationwide car insurance falls short
Availability. Not everybody can get car insurance from Nationwide. The insurer offers coverage in 46 states and the District of Columbia. Nationwide isn’t available in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana or Oklahoma.
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How much does Nationwide car insurance cost?
Nationwide car insurance costs an average of $229 per month or $2,746 per year for full coverage car insurance, according to our November 2025 analysis. The national average is $192 per month, or $2,300 per year.
Not every driver will get the same rates from Nationwide. Instead, your car insurance rates will depend on personal factors like your age, credit score, driving history and location, as well as other details such as the vehicle you drive.
Nationwide car insurance rates vs. other large insurers
Nationwide’s car insurance rates are generally in the middle of the pack when it comes to large U.S. insurers.
We recommend comparing car insurance quotes from multiple companies before buying a policy. This will help you see which insurers offer cheap rates in your area for drivers like you.
Below are average annual rates for a full coverage policy for a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving history and good credit.
» MORE: Compare car insurance rates
Nationwide auto insurance rates by age
According to our analysis, the cost of car insurance from Nationwide may be about average for some drivers, but your rates will depend on your age. Young drivers may have a more difficult time finding cheap rates with Nationwide.
When you first get your license, your car insurance rates will be a lot higher than average. But over time, as long as you keep a good driving record, it gets easier to find cheap insurance.
20-year-olds
Nationwide: $6,159/year National: $4,684/year
The average cost of Nationwide car insurance for 20-year-old drivers is $6,159 per year, or $513 per month. For some drivers that may be more expensive than the national average for this age group.
Our analysis also found that Nationwide's car insurance rates for 20-year-old drivers may be more expensive than average when compared to other large auto insurers.
These are rates for a stand-alone policy. But it’s usually cheaper for teens and young adult drivers to join a parent’s or guardian’s car insurance than it is to buy their own.
40-year-olds
Nationwide: $2,678/year National: $2,232/year
The average cost of Nationwide car insurance for 40-year-old drivers is $2,678 per year, or $223 per month. The national average cost for this age group is $2,232 per year, or $186 per month.
Our analysis also found that Nationwide's rates for 40-year-old drivers may be higher than those of some other large auto insurers.
60-year-olds
Nationwide: $2,259/year National: $1,988/year
The average cost of Nationwide car insurance for 60-year-old drivers is $2,259 per year, or $188 per month. That may be in line with the national average cost of car insurance for this group.
Our analysis also found that Nationwide's rates for 60-year-old drivers are close to average compared to other large auto insurance companies.
- More Nationwide auto rates by age
Age Company median rate National median rate 20 $6,159 $4,684 30 $2,840 $2,375 35 $2,746 $2,300 40 $2,678 $2,232 50 $2,483 $2,074 60 $2,259 $1,988 70 $2,522 $2,125
Nationwide auto insurance rates by driver profile
According to our analysis, drivers may be more likely to find cheaper car insurance from another insurance company if they have a recent driving violation on their record.
Driving violations and accidents almost always make car insurance more expensive. Surprisingly, in most states your credit-based insurance score, which is tied to your credit history, can also affect the cost of your insurance — sometimes more than a driving violation.
Below are Nationwide's average full coverage rates for 35-year-old drivers.
Poor credit
Nationwide: $3,862/year National: $3,850/year
The average cost of Nationwide car insurance for drivers with poor credit is $3,862 per year, or $322 per month. Nationwide’s rates for drivers with poor credit may be close to average for this group of people.
If you’re able to build your credit by paying off your existing accounts or raising your credit limits, re-apply for car insurance to see if you can get cheaper car insurance.
(California, Hawaii and Massachusetts don't allow insurers to use credit when determining car insurance rates.)
Speeding ticket
Nationwide: $3,628/year National: $2,931/year
The average cost of Nationwide car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket is $3,628 per year, or $302 per month. For comparison, the average cost of car insurance after a speeding ticket is $2,931 per year, or $244 per month.
Some drivers may find that Nationwide’s rates after a speeding ticket are more expensive compared to those of other large auto insurance companies.
At-fault crash
Nationwide: $4,419/year National: $3,405/year
The average cost of Nationwide car insurance for a driver with an at-fault crash is $4,419 per year, or $368 per month. But the average cost of insurance after an accident is $3,405 per year, or $284 per month.
Our analysis also found that Nationwide's rates after an at-fault crash may be more expensive for some drivers compared to other large auto insurers.
DUI
Nationwide: $5,764/year National: $4,265/year
The average cost of Nationwide car insurance for driver with a DUI or DWI is $5,764 per year, or $480 per month. That may be more expensive for this group than the national average and higher than rates from other large car insurance companies.
Nationwide auto insurance discounts
Nationwide has lots of car insurance discounts that you could use to lower your rates. Discounts aren’t available in every state, but you could save on your policy with Nationwide by:
Bundling more than one insurance policy from Nationwide.
Insuring more than one vehicle.
Owning a vehicle with anti-theft equipment, even if it’s installed after you buy the car.
Maintaining at least a B average as a student who is 16 to 24 years old.
Having no accidents or traffic violations for at least five years.
Signing up for automatic payments ,choosing paperless documents or paying your policy all at once.
Completing an approved safety course if you’re 55 or older.
Nationwide suggests a couple of tricks that could help you find more affordable insurance. By checking whether your policy lines up with your insurance needs, you could avoid paying for more coverage than you need. Accident forgiveness may also help you avoid higher rates after a crash.
If you’re looking for the cheapest auto insurance rates possible, you may have to buy the minimum car insurance needed to drive in your state, though doing this can leave you without enough coverage after a serious accident. Read our cheap car insurance article to see average minimum car insurance rates by company and state.
Nationwide car insurance coverage
Nationwide’s full coverage car insurance includes the standard types of coverage offered by most insurers:
- Liability insurance
Liability car insurance pays for others’ injuries or property damage you cause in a car accident, up to your auto policy limits. There are two types:
Bodily injury liability covers others’ medical expenses after an accident where you are at fault.
Property damage liability covers the repair costs to other vehicles, fences, mailboxes or buildings from an accident.
Is it required? Yes. Every state, except for Virginia and remote parts of Alaska, requires drivers to have a minimum amount of liability car insurance in order to drive legally.
- Personal injury protection
Also known as "no-fault insurance," PIP covers your own injuries and medical expenses after a crash, regardless of who's at fault, up to your policy limits. Depending on your state, PIP could also help pay for:
Lost wages if you're unable to work due to your injuries from a car accident.
Services you can't perform because of an accident, such as house cleaning or child care.
Funeral costs if an injury from an accident leads to death.
A small death benefit as a cash payout.
Is it required? Personal injury protection is required in the following states: Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon and Utah.
- Medical payments coverage
Medical payments coverage, or MedPay, helps pay for your medical expenses or funeral costs after a car accident, no matter who's at fault, up to your policy limits. It also pays for medical bills if you or one of your family members is hit by a car while on foot, riding a bike or traveling as a passenger in someone else’s car.
Is it required? MedPay is required in Maine and New Hampshire, and can be purchased as an optional add-on in most other states. In a few states, MedPay can't be purchased because personal injury protection is required.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage pays out if you're in an accident where the at-fault driver has no liability car insurance, or not enough to cover your injuries or property damage. It can also be used to pay for your passengers’ and household family members’ injuries.
Is it required? Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is required in Washington, D.C., and the following states: Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
- Collision insurance
Collision insurance reimburses you to fix or replace your car if you crash into another car or object. It can also pay for hit-and-runs, rollovers and damage caused by uninsured or underinsured drivers.
Collision insurance becomes less useful the older your car is. That's because it reimburses you for repairs only up to the actual cash value of your car, minus your deductible.
Is it required? Collision insurance isn't mandatory in any state, but most lenders require it if you finance or lease your car. And when you buy collision insurance, you'll likely have to also get comprehensive insurance, which pays for damage to your car from non-traffic-related causes.
- Comprehensive insurance
Comprehensive insurance reimburses you to fix or replace your car after non-traffic-related causes, such as:
Weather events, like hail, floods or tornadoes.
Falling objects, such as tree limbs.
Fire or explosions.
Hitting an animal.
Car theft and broken windows.
Earthquakes.
Vandalism or civil disobedience, such as a riot.
Comprehensive insurance becomes less useful the older your car is. That's because it reimburses you for repairs only up to the actual cash value of your car, minus your deductible.
Is it required? Comprehensive insurance isn't mandatory in any state, but most lenders require it if you finance or lease your car. And when you buy comprehensive insurance, you'll likely have to also get collision insurance, which pays for damage to your car from traffic-related causes.
Optional coverage
Nationwide also offers some types of optional coverage, such as:
Gap insurance. If you total a car that you’re leasing or are paying off, gap insurance helps cover the difference between your car’s value and the amount you still owe on your loan or lease.
Who needs it? You often have to carry gap insurance if you have an auto loan or lease your car. Gap insurance could be worth having even if you’re not required to get it, especially if you drive a new vehicle or have a large remaining balance.
Vanishing deductible. This optional program allows you to chip away at your deductible by earning credits for driving safely. For every year you don’t have an accident, your deductible goes down by $100, up to a $500 reduction.
Who needs it? If you’re usually a safe driver and don’t have a history of accidents, you might be able to use this add-on to reduce the future costs of an accident. But it might not be right for you if you’re fine with paying your entire deductible.
Accident forgiveness. If you were involved in an accident, your rates would ordinarily go up. With accident forgiveness, you could avoid this rate increase after your first at-fault accident.
Who needs it? If you qualify for accident forgiveness and can afford it, it might be worthwhile to to avoid a potential big price increase. Nationwide car insurance costs an average of $229 per month with a clean record, but $368 per month with one accident.
Roadside assistance. Nationwide has two tiers of roadside assistance. Both provide services like towing, gas delivery and lockout services. The premium option will also help pay for some other expenses, like lodging and transportation if you’re stranded more than 100 miles from your home.
Who needs it? You may want to have roadside assistance if you don’t receive similar benefits from a credit card or auto club membership, like AAA. Consider the premium option if you take multiple trips per year that are at least 100 miles away from home.
Total loss deductible waiver. Ordinarily, when you need to make a comprehensive or collision claim, an amount of money will come out of your claim. This amount is called your deductible. The total loss deductible waiver lets you avoid your comprehensive or collision deductible in a total loss.
Who needs it? You might want this coverage if it fits in your budget and you don’t want to worry about paying a deductible if you need to make a claim after a total loss.
Extras offered by Nationwide
Nationwide also includes extras for some drivers. You may be eligible if you have an auto, home or condo policy with Nationwide. You’ll be enrolled in these perks if you qualify, but you won’t necessarily be eligible for all of them.
Car key replacement. This pays up to $400 if your key is lost, damaged, stolen or left in your car. It's only available if you have comprehensive insurance.
Pet injury protection. This pays up to $1,000 in veterinary expenses if your pet is injured or dies in a covered crash.
Minor accident forgiveness. Your rates won’t increase if you have a small accident or fender bender if the repair costs are under an amount set by Nationwide. There is no limit on the number of accidents you have for this perk.
Emergency lockout. This reimburses up to $250 for services needed to get back into your home.
Auto and home deductible waiver. Your deductible will be waived or you’ll get reimbursed for your lowest deductible if a covered loss affects both your house and car.
Mortgage protection coverage. If you need to buy a new home due to a total loss, Nationwide will reimburse up to $1,500 of closing costs and additional monthly payments. Mortgage protection coverage would apply to you only if you have a qualifying home insurance policy with Nationwide.
When shopping for car insurance, it's important to understand what coverage you want and what you’re required to buy. Most states require a minimum amount of car insurance to drive a vehicle, but if you can afford it, for most drivers we recommend getting full coverage insurance.
Nationwide usage-based programs
Some drivers could save money by signing up for one of Nationwide’s usage-based car insurance programs, SmartRide and SmartMiles. Usage-based car insurance provides you with the same coverage as a regular policy, but what you pay is tied to your driving habits.
SmartRide: The SmartRide app monitors some of your driving habits for four to six months. The program measures your speed, the number of miles you drive, the times you drive and your acceleration. You get a 15% discount for signing up and could qualify for a larger discount when you renew your policy. Even if you don’t qualify for a larger discount, participating won’t cause your rates to go up.
SmartMiles: With SmartMiles, the number of miles that you drive directly affects your car insurance costs. Your monthly rates change with your mileage. If you’re a low-mileage driver and you qualify for the 10% safe driving discount that’s available with SmartMiles, signing up could help you lower your insurance rates.
Is Nationwide a good insurance company?
Nationwide is a good car insurance company compared to other large insurers. Besides its standout online tools and coverage options, Nationwide has a solid reputation among its customers.
Complaints: Nationwide receives fewer complaints than expected from its policyholders for a company of its size.
Shopping: Nationwide ranks above average for its buying process, according to J.D. Power’s U.S. Insurance Shopping Study.
Claims satisfaction: Nationwide is near the top of J.D. Power’s U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, which measures how customers feel about an insurer’s claims process.
See what you could save on car insurance
Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.
More information about Nationwide car insurance
There are a few ways to contact Nationwide if you have questions about your policy or you want to file a claim.
Customer service: Call 1-877-669-6877 for service-related questions.
Website: Nationwide’s website has a portal where you can pay bills, file and track claims, manage policies and view documents.
Mobile app: You can manage your policy, start a claim, call for roadside assistance and get auto insurance ID cards on the Nationwide mobile app, available for iOS and Android.
Other Nationwide insurance reviews
How we review auto insurance companies
Our editorial team considers these factors when reviewing auto insurance companies:
- Financial strength
We use AM Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims. NerdWallet does not recommend companies with a rating lower than a B.
- Complaints
These ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The best auto insurance companies have fewer than the expected number of complaints.
- Ease of use
This category looks at how easily consumers can interact with an insurer through its mobile app and website. This includes how much coverage information is offered online, whether a user can start and track a claim online and get a quote and mobile app scores based on the Apple and Google Play store ratings.
- Discounts
We look at the kind of discounts a company offers and the total number of discounts available.
Read our full auto insurance methodology.
We nerd out on car insurance
Our goal is to give you what you need to make smart decisions about your car insurance.
Here’s why you can trust NerdWallet:
We do our homework. We regularly evaluate and review many of the insurance companies we write about. And all of our content is fact-checked before publication. This means the star ratings you see on our reviews are accurate and up-to-date.
We analyze the data. We update our average car insurance rates every month. To do that, we analyze more than 500 million rates from across the country. These rates are provided by Quadrant Information Services.
We are unbiased. NerdWallet’s content is never influenced by our business partners and advertisers. Learn more about how we write in our editorial guidelines.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get an auto quote from Nationwide?
How do I get an auto quote from Nationwide?
You can get an auto insurance quote online or by contacting a Nationwide agent.
In which states does Nationwide sell policies?
In which states does Nationwide sell policies?
Nationwide sells auto insurance policies in all states except Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana and Oklahoma.
How do you file a claim with Nationwide?
How do you file a claim with Nationwide?
You can file an auto claim online, via the mobile app or over the phone at 800-421-3535.
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.J.D. Power. 2025 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study. Accessed Dec 19, 2025.
- 2.J.D. Power. 2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. Accessed Dec 19, 2025.
Methodology
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2022-2024. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
Auto insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines and full ratings methodology for auto insurance.
Average rates methodology
NerdWallet averaged rates based on public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We examined rates for men and women for all ZIP codes in any of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Although it’s one of the largest insurers in the country, Liberty Mutual is not included in our rates analysis due to a lack of publicly available information.
In our analysis, “good drivers” had no moving violations on record; a “good driving” discount was included for this profile. Our “good” and “poor” credit rates are based on credit score approximations and do not account for proprietary scoring criteria used by insurance providers.
These are average rates, and your rate will vary based on your personal details, state and insurance provider.
Sample drivers had the following coverage limits:
$100,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person.
$300,000 bodily injury liability coverage per crash.
$50,000 property damage liability coverage per crash.
$100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person.
$300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per crash.
Collision coverage with $1,000 deductible.
Comprehensive coverage with $1,000 deductible.
We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:
We changed the credit tier from “good” to “poor” as reported to the insurer to see rates for drivers with poor credit. In states where credit isn’t taken into account, we only used rates for “good credit.”
For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash costing $10,000 in property damage.
For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken-driving violation.
We used a 2022 Toyota Camry LE in all cases and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven. We analyzed rates for drivers of the following ages: 20, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60 and 70.
Auto insurance survey methodology
The opt-in survey of 7,503 U.S. adults ages 18 and older was conducted online by Russell Research on behalf of NerdWallet in June and July 2024. Respondents were asked to rate one auto insurance brand they obtained or renewed a policy within the past 12 months, with at least some changes to the original policy. These brands were rated on overall satisfaction, overall value, online experience, trustworthiness, mobile app experience, claims experience and customer support on a scale of 1-100.
Only brands with 100 or more qualifying respondents are reported. Of those respondents: 300 were State Farm customers, 300 were Progressive customers, 300 were Allstate customers, 300 were GEICO customers, 100 were USAA customers, 157 were AAA customers, 100 were Liberty Mutual customers, 100 were American Family customers, 100 were Farmers customers, 100 were Travelers customers and 101 were Nationwide customers.
