Which is better — Progressive or Nationwide?
When it comes to protecting your vehicle, you can easily find a policy that fits your needs and budget with Progressive. Whether you want liability-only coverage or full protection, Progressive offers it all – collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured motorist, medical payments and more.
Nationwide is one of the most recognizable and trusted insurance companies in the United States, offering customers an expansive selection of policy options. Its rates are competitive and generally lower than other companies in our survey, although it may not have the most discounts.
Keep reading to see how Progressive compares to Nationwide based on the top auto insurance companies survey.
Pros – Progressive vs. NationwideProgressive Pros
- Good for discounts
- High renewal rate
Nationwide Pros
- Cheap rates
- Great claims service
How Progressive and Nationwide score on customer satisfaction
Progressive and Nationwide earned similar survey scores for customer satisfaction – 85% of Progressive customers said they were satisfied vs. 84% of Nationwide customers.
| Insurance Company | Percent of customers that are satisfied |
|---|---|
| Progressive | 85% |
| Nationwide | 84% |
Do Progressive and Nationwide customers plan to renew?
When it comes to renewing their policies, Progressive and Nationwide customers mostly plan to renew – to the tune of 97% for both companies.
| Insurance Company | Percent of customers who plan to renew with the company |
|---|---|
| Progressive | 97% |
| Nationwide | 97% |
How Progressive and Nationwide score on policy offerings
Progressive 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 these two car insurance companies.
| Insurance Company | Percent of customers satisfied with the company’s policy offerings |
|---|---|
| Progressive | 84% |
| Nationwide | 84% |
Which is cheaper, Progressive or Nationwide?
Nationwide is the more affordable option for car insurance coverage for all ages and drivers after receiving a ticket. The two companies’ discounts are comparable, so drivers should consider this when choosing between the two car insurance companies.
Which is cheaper at various ages?
Nationwide provides the cheapest annual average rates for full coverage in the nation and has cheaper rates for teens, young adults, the average adult age 40 and seniors.
| Insurance Company | Age 16-19 | Age 20-24 | Age 40 | Age 65 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $7,190 | $2,914 | $1,686 | $1,594 |
| Nationwide | $4,488 | $2,111 | $1,190 | $1,086 |
Which is cheaper with a ticket?
Nationwide, one of the leading car insurance companies in the United States, has lower rate increases for drivers who receive tickets compared to Progressive. On average, Nationwide penalizes drivers with a 30% rate increase for tickets, while Progressive increases rates by 41%.
| Company | Average Annual Rate | Average Rate After a Ticket | $Increase | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $1,984 | $2,797 | $813 | 40.95% |
| Nationwide | $1,530 | $1,994 | $464 | 30.34% |
Progressive vs. Nationwide car insurance discounts
When it comes to discounts for car insurance, Progressive and Nationwide offer a similar savings percentage. On average, customers can save around 8%, but Progressive drivers save more money because they’re spending more overall on their policies than Nationwide drivers.
TABLE:
| Company | Percent Difference |
|---|---|
| Progressive | 8.21% |
| Nationwide | 8.77% |
Progressive vs. Nationwide available discounts
| Discount | Progressive | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | Yes | Yes |
| Anti-Theft Device | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commute | – | – |
| Days Advanced Purchase | Yes | Yes |
| Days Per Week Driven | – | – |
| Education | Yes | – |
| Electronic Funds Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic Signature | Yes | – |
| Homeowner | Yes | Yes |
| Lower Annual Mileage | Yes | Yes |
| Loyalty – Years Renewal With Company | Yes | Yes |
| Marital Status | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Policy | Yes | Yes |
| Paperless/Electronic Documents | Yes | Yes |
| Payment Type | Yes | Yes |
| Primary Use | Yes | Yes |
| Profession | Yes | – |
| Purchase Status | – | – |
| Safety Devices | Yes | Yes |
| Telematics | Yes | Yes |
| Vehicle Ownership | – | – |
Progressive vs. Nationwide: 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 and Progressive have AM Best scores of A+.
Progressive vs. Nationwide: J.D. Power auto claims satisfaction score
Progressive and Nationwide scored highly in the latest J.D. Power customer satisfaction survey for auto insurance, with Progressive receiving 861 and Nationwide 868. These scores are just below the industry average of 873.
FAQ: Progressive vs. Nationwide
Can I buy Progressive car insurance online?
Yes. You can buy car insurance instantly online by getting a quote from Progressive.
Can I buy Nationwide car insurance online?
Yes. Buy a Nationwide car insurance policy online or by calling 1-888-869-5727.
Who should get Progressive car insurance?
Progressive offers a range of unique coverage options for its auto insurance customers, such as accident forgiveness and a vanishing deductible. Progressive is an ideal choice for customers who want to bundle their home and auto policies.
Who should get Nationwide car insurance?
Nationwide offers competitive rates and comprehensive coverage. With Nationwide, they can be sure they get quality coverage and great customer service.
What other types of insurance does Progressive offer?
Other Progressive insurance policies:
- Homeowners
- Renters
- Condominium
- Mobile home
- Umbrella liability
- Life
What other types of insurance does Nationwide offer?
Other Nationwide insurance policies:
- Homeowners
- Renters
- Condo
- Boat/personal watercraft
- Life
- Long-term care
- Pet
- Dental
- Umbrella
- Identity theft
- Specialty health
- Travel
- Wedding
- Flood
- Business
Resources & Methodology
Sources
J.D. Power. “Insurers Struggle to Manage Expectations in Auto Claims Process as Repair Times Increase.” Accessed February 2024.
Methodology
Insure.com, which is CarInsurance.com’s sister site in the fall of 2022 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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.