Nationwide Auto Insurance Review: Should you buy in 2024?

What You Should Know About Nationwide

Yes, Nationwide car insurance is good. With an A.M. Best and Better Business Bureau rating of A+, this auto insurer consistently meets obligations to its policyholders. When considering rates, available discounts, and coverage options, Nationwide offers its customers various ways to get the insurance coverage they need for an affordable price. 

Nationwide also offers customers several options for contacting customer service, including phone, social media, and the Nationwide mobile app. These options allow the company to work toward making customer interactions effortless, personal, and reassuring.

Nationwide Insurance Coverage Options

Nationwide offers many standard car insurance coverages, including: 

• Bodily injury liability. Covers the cost of bodily injury to other drivers and passengers involved in an accident you caused.
• Property damage liability. Covers the cost of property damage to other vehicles involved in an accident you caused. 
• Personal injury protection. Covers the cost of medical expenses, death benefits, and lost wages for you and your passengers after an accident.
• Medical payments. Covers the cost of medical expenses for you and your passengers after an accident. 
• Underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage (UIM/UM). Covers costs associated with property damage and bodily injury following an accident caused by another driver with no insurance, insufficient insurance, or a hit-and-run-driver.
• Collision insurance. Covers the cost of vehicle damage after a collision with a vehicle or object, regardless of fault. 
• Comprehensive insurance. Covers the cost of vehicle damage resulting from theft, vandalism, or environmental factors, including floods and fires.

These standard coverage options meet the minimum insurance requirement, but drivers can choose higher limits to ensure sufficient protection.

For example, if your state requires $15,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $20,000 in bodily injury liability per accident, and $10,000 in property damage liability per accident, increasing each limit can save you money in the event of an accident. You’ll pay a higher premium, but you won’t have to pay out of pocket for bodily injury or property damage costs your policy didn’t cover.

Nationwide Add-On Car Insurance Coverage Options

Customers interested in coverage beyond the standard insurance offerings can opt for the following add-ons:

• Roadside assistance. Assists in roadside emergencies, including fuel delivery, tire change, jump-start, or tow.
• Towing and labor coverage. Reimburses drivers with comprehensive coverage for towing expenses and on-site vehicle repair following a breakdown. 
• Rental reimbursement coverage. Provides access to a rental car or other transportation while your car is in a repair shop after a covered accident.
• GAP insurance. Covers the difference between the car’s value and the remaining loan balance or lease if your car gets totaled in an accident.
• Accident forgiveness. A no-cost feature that protects you from a rate increase following a minor violation or your first at-fault accident. 
• Vanishing deductible. A no-cost feature that reduces your deductible by $100 every year, up to $500, for being a safe driver. 
• Total loss deductible waiver. Waives your comprehensive or collision deductible in the event of a total loss.

While add-on coverage options vary by state, any additional protection can benefit drivers.

Does Nationwide offer rideshare insurance?

Standard car insurance policies don’t cover business use of your vehicle. Unfortunately, Nationwide doesn’t offer the necessary coverage if you drive for a transportation or rideshare company like Uber or Lyft. 

This means if you are involved in an accident while driving for a rideshare company, you’ll have to pay out of pocket for property damage, medical bills, and any other accident-related expenses. 

If your rideshare company doesn’t offer insurance, determine the cheap auto insurance companies that accept rideshare and purchase coverage before driving.

Nationwide Usage-Based Car Insurance

SmartRide is Nationwide’s free usage-based insurance program. Drivers aren’t required to participate, but this is one of many ways to lower your insurance premium significantly. 

Here’s how the program works: 

1. Enroll in SmartRide and download the SmartRide app. At the time of enrollment, drivers receive an initial discount of 15%. 
2. SmartRide monitors your driving habits over a four to six-month period by tracking miles driven, acceleration, hard braking, and nighttime driving. All tracked information is available in the app for you to review.
3. Based on this information, Nationwide applies a discount of up to 40% when your policy renews. Drivers who enroll in the program aren’t guaranteed a discount. Additionally, insurance premiums don’t increase if the app shows poor driving habits.  

We recommend drivers use the SmartRide app, but you can use a telematics plug-in device to monitor driving habits if your vehicle used to be in a Nationwide usage-based insurance program. For more information, see buying usage-based auto insurance.

Read More: Nationwide SmartRide Review: Should you buy?

Nationwide Pay-Per-Mile Car Insurance

In addition to SmartRide, Nationwide offers a pay-per-mile car insurance program called SmartMiles. Designed for infrequent drivers, SmartMiles uses your monthly mileage to determine your rates. You’ll still get standard coverage and an automatic safe driving discount of up to 10%.

SmartMiles isn’t available in all states, but luckily, there are other ways to keep insurance premiums affordable.

Nationwide Insurance Mobile App

Nationwide customers can download the mobile app to quickly and conveniently complete the following tasks: 

• Obtain insurance ID cards
• Manage and make payments
• File and track claims
• Update, change, or edit coverage, drivers, and vehicles

The mobile app is a great way to promptly view your policy if you can’t log into your account from a computer. 

Purchasing a Nationwide Car Insurance Policy

Customers can buy Nationwide auto insurance by getting an online Nationwide insurance quote.

The online quote will ask for the following information:

• Name
• Sex
• Date of birth
• Address
• Email address
• Phone number
• Social security number
• Marital status
• Vehicle make, model, year, body style, VIN, safety features, and weekly mileage
• List of vehicle drivers, including their names, ages, and list of driver safety courses, if applicable

Once you receive your Nationwide quote, you can review the recommended coverage options and rates before purchasing.

Filing Nationwide Claims

Following an accident, drivers can file a claim with Nationwide by:

• Visiting the Nationwide website
• Using the mobile app
• Contacting your local agent
• Calling the Nationwide insurance phone number at 800-421-3535

When filing a claim, you’ll be asked to provide the following information: 

• Name
• Address
• Policy number
• Witness or involved party’s name and address
• Loss information

Once you file the claim, Nationwide will begin the process and review the information. There may be additional information or documents necessary to complete the processing of your claim and investigation, such as legal notices or medical bills. 

Throughout the claims process, you can check the status by logging into your account, calling the Nationwide claims phone number at 800-421-3535, or texting 252467.

How do I contact Nationwide? 

Between filing claims, adjusting coverage, and updating addresses, customers have many reasons to contact Nationwide.

Customers can contact Nationwide in several ways:

• Phone. 877-669-6877
• Chat. www.nationwide.com
• Mail. One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215-2220
• Online Contact Form. www.nationwide.com/personal/contact/online-form?language=en
• Social Media. Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter

You can find contact information for local agents using Nationwide’s online search tool for customers who prefer to connect with an agent instead of a customer service representative. 

Additional Insurance Products Offered by Nationwide

In addition to auto insurance, Nationwide offers its customers a host of personal insurance products, including:

• Life
• Pet
• Dental
• Umbrella
• Identity theft
• Specialty health
• Travel
• Wedding
• Homeowners
• Renters
• Condo
• Private client
• Flood
• Motorcycle
• Snowmobile
• Classic car
• ATV
• RV
• Boat
• Personal watercraft
• Scooter
• Golf cart

If you’re interested in any of the above insurance products, you could potentially save by bundling with auto insurance. Nationwide also offers various business insurance and financial products.

Nationwide Insurance Rates Breakdown

Insurance rates are one of the most significant factors people consider when choosing a car insurance company. When shopping around, drivers can see different rates, and the most affordable is likely to win.

Like other auto insurance companies, Nationwide uses several factors to calculate insurance premiums, including age, location, vehicle type, and driving record.

Here’s a list of Nationwide car insurance premiums by state along with other top insurers.

As mentioned, insurers consider location when calculating premiums, so rates vary depending on a driver’s location.

Let’s see how Nationwide car insurance costs compare to its competitors and the national average.

Nationwide Auto Insurance Rates for Teen Drivers

Due to their inexperience, teen drivers have high premiums. In fact, drivers between 16 and 19 have the highest premiums of any other age group. 

Although rates for teen drivers can be high, Nationwide’s good student discount can lower the cost.

For more information, see buy cheap auto insurance for teenagers.

Nationwide Insurance Rates for Adult Drivers

Young adult drivers have more experience than teen drivers, making them less likely to file a claim. If a teen driver maintains a good driving record, rates for young adult drivers usually drop by 20% when they turn 20.

Like teen drivers, young adult drivers in college between 20 and 24 can save on Nationwide car insurance with a good student discount.

Ideally, adult drivers 25 and up have exhibited safe driving habits and improved their driving skills, so rates can drop significantly during this period.

If you receive any traffic violation or get in an accident, rates can be higher than what you would expect for an adult driver, regardless of experience behind the wheel. 

For more information, see average auto insurance rates by age.

Nationwide Auto Insurance Rates for Senior Drivers

Senior drivers 60 and up can expect higher insurance premiums. Even those with good driving records tend to have high rates. 

Since senior drivers may drive far less than they used to, Nationwide pay-per-mile coverage, SmartRide, could allow them to save, making it more fitting for their budget. For more information, see buy cheap auto insurance for senior citizens.

Nationwide Rates After a Speeding Ticket

Nationwide customers can expect a change in their premium after receiving a speeding ticket. However, a speeding ticket doesn’t always increase your insurance rates, depending on your driving record.

If your rates increase, it could impact them for the next three to five years. Avoiding additional speeding tickets can help lower rates once the initial speeding ticket fades from your driving record. If you need high-risk coverage, check out buy high-risk auto insurance coverage.

Nationwide Insurance Rates After an Accident

It’s not uncommon for an accident to trigger an increase in your Nationwide insurance premium. Similar to a speeding ticket, an accident can impact your premium for up to five years. 

Although an accident can negatively impact insurance rates, Nationwide offers accident forgiveness, so drivers with this optional coverage won’t have to worry about a rate increase following an at-fault accident. For more information, see cheap auto insurance companies that accept drivers with multiple accidents.

Nationwide Car Insurance Rates After a DUI

Does auto insurance cover DUI accidents? Generally, drivers can maintain insurance with their current auto insurer after a DUI or switch to another company, but a DUI negatively impacts rates no matter who insures you. 

Your rates may not increase immediately, but your insurer will review your driving record upon policy renewal. So, your insurer will eventually find out about the violation and raise your rates. 

Nationwide Rates for Drivers With Poor Credit

Car insurance companies frequently run credit checks to understand how risky someone may be to insure. To most insurers, poor credit means a higher likelihood that the driver will file a claim, while a driver with good or excellent credit may be less likely to file a claim.

Nationwide may consider a person’s credit score when determining rates, but there are cheap auto insurance companies that don’t check credit if you’re worried about potentially high rates. However, coverage through a no-credit-check auto insurance company can still be expensive.

How much is minimum coverage with Nationwide?

As you know, the cost of minimum coverage varies by state. If you’re considering minimum coverage from Nationwide, you’ll want to look at the cost.

While most states require a specific amount of minimum coverage, some drivers opt for additional coverage offering them more financial protection after an accident. To find state-specific totals, see minimum auto insurance required by state.

How much is full coverage with Nationwide?

Full coverage auto insurance often includes liability, collision, comprehensive, rental reimbursement, and roadside assistance.

With this additional coverage, insurance premiums are higher than a policy with minimum coverage.

Nationwide Discounts Available

here are several ways for Nationwide customers to save on insurance thanks to the wide range of auto insurance discounts listed below:

• Accident-free discount. Earn a discount for being accident-free.
• Anti-theft discount. Save money by having a vehicle with an anti-theft device.
• Defensive driving discount. Earn a discount after enrolling and completing a state-approved driver’s safety course based on age. 
• Automatic payments discount. Earn a discount when you sign up for automatic payment deduction from your checking or savings account.
• Good student discount. Get a discount for drivers 16 to 24 with a high school or college average of a B or higher. 
• Multi-policy discount. Get a discount for bundling your Nationwide car and homeowners insurance.
• Paperless discount. Earn a discount for receiving bills and any other insurance-related documents electronically.
• Safe driver discount. Get a discount on your insurance premium for five or more years without a traffic violation or accident.

Depending on your location and age, certain discounts may be unavailable. Check with your local agent to confirm which discounts are available in your area.