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Written by:
Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.
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Reviewed by:
Leslie Kasperowicz
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Managing Editor
Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.

Is Nationwide or Geico better?

Nationwide is one of the most well-known insurance companies in the United States, offering a wide variety of policy options for its customers. They have competitive rates that are typically lower than other companies in our survey; however, they may not have the best discounts. If you’re looking for a one-stop shop for all your insurance needs, Nationwide is a great choice. 

Geico is another top auto insurance provider in the U.S., known for having some of the cheapest rates. Our rate analysis shows that Geico is cheaper than its main competitors, making it a great option for people looking to save money. Additionally, Geico also has high ratings for customer satisfaction, ease of service and renewals. If you’re looking for affordable auto insurance with great customer service, Geico is the way to go. 

Keep reading to see how Nationwide compares to Geico based on the top auto insurance companies survey.

Tip iconPros – Nationwide vs. Geico

Nationwide Pros

  • Affordable rates
  • Good claims service

Geico Pros

  • Cheap rates
  • Highly recommended by customers

How Nationwide and Geico score on customer satisfaction

Nationwide and Geico have consistently earned high levels of customer satisfaction, with Nationwide ranking at 84% and Geico at 85%. This is especially impressive, considering the competition in the insurance industry today.

Insurance CompanyPercent of customers that are satisfied
Nationwide84%
Geico85%

Do Nationwide and Geico customers plan to renew?

In our survey, 92% of respondents said they plan to renew with Geico. However, some of their competitors had even more impressive numbers – Nationwide, for example, saw 97% of customers planning to renew. This is a testament to the dedication that companies like Geico and Nationwide have to providing the best possible service to their customers.

Insurance CompanyPercent of customers who plan to renew with the company
Nationwide97%
Geico92%

How Nationwide and Geico score on policy offerings

Geico and Nationwide both achieved impressive customer satisfaction ratings; 84% of those surveyed reported being either satisfied or highly satisfied with the policy offerings provided by the companies. This is an encouraging result and shows that both Geico and Nationwide are providing policy options that customers value.

Insurance CompanyPercent of customers satisfied with the company’s policy offerings
Nationwide84%
Geico84%

Is Nationwide or Geico cheaper?

Nationwide and Geico are two of the leading car insurance providers in the United States. Both providers offer highly competitive rates for various driver types, from young drivers to seniors. While both providers offer savings for different levels of coverage, Nationwide and Geico have comparable rates for all age groups and driver types. 

Which is cheaper at various ages?

Rates for the average 40-year-old driver and senior drivers are cheaper with Nationwide, whereas teens and young adult drivers will get cheaper rates at Geico.

Annual average car insurance rates for Nationwide vs. Geico
Insurance CompanyAge 16-19Age 20-24Age 40Age 65
Nationwide$4,488$2,111$1,190$1,086
Geico$3,855$1,941$1,266$1,177

Which is cheaper with a ticket?

While the amount of increase after a ticket can vary depending on the nature and severity of the ticket, the premium increase for both Nationwide and Geico drivers is similar.

Annual average car insurance rates after a ticket for Nationwide vs. Geico
Insurance CompanyAverage Annual RatesAverage Rates After a Ticket$Increase% Increase
Nationwide$1,530$1,994$46430.34%
Geico$1,356$1,883$52738.84%

Nationwide vs. Geico car insurance discounts

Both companies provide customers with discounts; savings are around 7% with a Geico policy, while Nationwide offers nearly 9% in discounts. 

Annual discounts for Nationwide vs. Geico
CompanyPercent Difference
Nationwide8.77%
Geico7.03%

Nationwide vs. Geico available discounts

Discount Nationwide Geico
Air BagsYesYes
Anti-Theft DeviceYesYes
Daily CommuteYes
Days Advanced PurchaseYes
Days Per Week DrivenYes
EducationYes
Electronic Funds TransferYes
Electronic Signature
HomeownerYesYes
Lower Annual MileageYesYes
Loyalty – Years Renewal With CompanyYesYes
Marital StatusYesYes
Multi-PolicyYesYes
Paperless/Electornic DocumentsYes
Payment TypeYesYes
Primary UseYesYes
ProfessionYes
Paperless/Electronic DocumentsYes
Safety DevicesYesYes
TelematicsYesYes
Vehicle Ownership

Nationwide vs. Geico: AM Best credit rating 

AM Best is a financial rating agency that measures the financial strength of insurance companies. A company’s AM Best score can range from an A++ (the best score) to a D (the worst). Nationwide’s AM Best score is an A+, and Geico’s AM Best score is even higher, an A++. 

Nationwide vs. Geico: J.D. Power auto claims satisfaction score

Geico and Nationwide scored highly in the latest J.D. Power customer satisfaction survey for auto insurance, with Geico receiving 874 and Nationwide 868. These scores are around the industry average of 873, indicating that customers have had a positive experience with these companies when filing auto claims. 

FAQ: Nationwide vs. Geico

Can I buy Nationwide car insurance online?

Yes. Buy a Nationwide car insurance policy online or by calling 1-888-869-5727.

Can I buy Geico car insurance online?

Yes. Buy a Geico car insurance policy online.

Who should get Nationwide vs. Geico car insurance?

Both companies offer competitive pricing and excellent customer service, making them both great choices for auto insurance. Customers looking for the best coverage should compare policies and rates to find the right fit. With either Geico or Nationwide, they can be sure they are getting reliable coverage and excellent customer service. 

What other types of insurance does Nationwide offer?

Other Nationwide insurance policies include:

  • Homeowners
  • Renters
  • Condo
  • Boat/personal watercraft
  • Life
  • Long-term care
  • Pet
  • Dental
  • Umbrella
  • Identity theft
  • Specialty health
  • Travel
  • Wedding
  • Flood
  • Business

What other types of insurance does Geico offer?

Other Geico insurance policies include:

  • Homeowners 
  • Renters 
  • Condo 
  • Mobile home 
  • Flood insurance
  • Landlord insurance
  • Business insurance, including BOP, worker’s compensation, medical malpractice, professional liability, general liability and cyber liability.
  • Life
  • Pet
  • Travel
  • Umbrella

Note: Not all policies are underwritten directly; some are underwritten by other companies.

Resources & Methodology

Sources

J.D. Power. “Insurers Struggle to Manage Expectations in Auto Claims Process as Repair Times Increase, J.D. Power Finds.” Accessed January 2024.

Methodology

Insure.com, which is CarInsurance.com’s sister site, surveyed more than 1,500 insurance consumers (1,080 people with auto insurance). Online market research company Slice MR conducted the survey. 

Respondents were asked to name their auto insurer and grade it in the following categories – customer satisfaction, ease of service and policy offerings. The percentage of respondents who said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their insurer is presented in the results.

Respondents ranked their insurer’s top three attributes out of more than a dozen presented – including claims satisfaction, digital experience, discounts, military discounts, best for young drivers and teens, best for college students, best for senior drivers, best for drivers with a ticket, best for high-risk drivers and best for auto/home bundling.

For a number one choice, five points were given; for a second choice, three points; and for a third choice, a single point. The total points for each choice – first, second and third – were then divided by the number of each company’s customers who responded to that survey question to create a percentage. Those percentages are presented in the results as survey scores.

Respondents were then asked if they would recommend their auto insurer to someone else and whether they would renew with their company. The percentage who said yes is presented in the results.

Finally, respondents were given the statement “I trust my insurance company” and asked if they strongly agreed, agreed, disagreed or strongly disagreed with it. The percentage of those who said they agreed or strongly agreed is presented in the results.

The editors compiled the survey results and then selected – based on the number of survey responses – the top companies for further evaluation. 

They then collected National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ complaint data, which ranks a company by the number of customer complaints it receives, and A.M. Best data, which measures financial strength. 

They also collected insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services.

With the help of Prof. David Marlett, Ph.D., Managing Director of the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center at Appalachian State University, the editors created a rating system to determine which insurance companies were best in each sector.

For auto insurers, we took the following and gave each a weight.

  • Survey: 40% of the total score (10% customer satisfaction, 10% recommended, 10% renewal rate and 10% claims handling)
  • Annual premium: 20% of total score
  • AM Best: 25% of total score
  • NAIC: 15% of total score
  • Each insurer was awarded from 1 to 5 stars. No insurer in our star ranking received less than 1 star and 5 stars was the most any insurer could receive.
Laura Longero

Ask the Insurance Expert

Laura Longero

Executive Editor

Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

John McCormick

Ask the Insurance Expert

John McCormick

Editorial Director

John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.

Leslie Kasperowicz

Ask the Insurance Expert

Leslie Kasperowicz

Managing Editor

Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.

Nupur Gambhir

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Nupur Gambhir

Managing Editor

Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.

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Executive Editor

Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.