CarInsurance.com Insights
- Nationwide ranked No. 7 in our 2026 Best Car Insurance Companies analysis, with an overall score of 4.19 out of 5.
- Its average full-coverage rate of $205 per month is just under the average rate of $209.
- Nationwide customers are very loyal (94% plan to renew), but the company’s discount score lags behind most competitors.
To get a thorough picture of what it’s like to be a Nationwide policyholder, I tested the quote process from start to finish and combed through two years of consumer data. I found Nationwide to be a reliable mid-range option; it earns high marks for trust and digital experience, but falls a bit short on discounts.
As part of my research, I studied the results of CarInsurance.com’s 2026 consumer survey of more than 2,000 customers, conducted by Dynata. I also used Quadrant Information Services’ rate data, AM Best financial strength ratings, NAIC complaint data and my personal Nationwide quote test. Nationwide is available in 46 states plus Washington, D.C.
Below, learn everything you need to know about Nationwide car insurance, including the claims process, what it’s like to request a quote and the average cost compared to other insurers.
How Nationwide's Online Quote Process Stacks Up: An Expert's Honest Take
When our car insurance expert put Nationwide's online quote tool to the test, the experience was exactly what most people hope for: simple and free of unnecessary hurdles. The process only required basic personal information and a quick driving history check, nothing overwhelming. What stood out? Nationwide only factors in violations if a driver has three or more minor infractions on record. So even with a speeding ticket in the household, the quote came back unaffected, a relief for a lot of drivers who might assume one mistake automatically raises their rates.
I put Nationwide’s online quote tool to the test, and there’s one thing that caught me off guard — in a good way. Unlike most carriers, Nationwide only counts minor violations against you if there are three or more on your household’s record. One speeding ticket in my household didn’t affect my quote at all. That’s a pretty important advantage if your record isn’t spotless. My final quote was $89 per month for full coverage on a 2025 Subaru Outback.
Quick verdict scorecard
| CIC overall score | 4.19 / 5 |
| 2026 national rank | No. 7 of 15 (national + regional carriers) |
| Full coverage rate | $205/month (market average: $209/month) |
| AM Best | A (Excellent) — as of Nov. 7, 2025 |
| NAIC complaint index | 0.51 (below average — fewer complaints than expected for its size) |
| Best for | Drivers who want solid national coverage with strong digital tools and fair pricing |
| Not ideal for | Shoppers prioritizing discount depth or bundling value |
At a glance
Nationwide is a dependable mid-range option with below-average complaints and a strong digital experience. It ranked No. 7 out of 15 in our 2026 analysis with a score of 4.19 out of 5. It has an average full coverage rate of $205 per month, which is $4 below the market average.
Pros
- Average rates are lower than most competitors’
- Lower-than-average customer complaints, per the NAIC complaint index
- A variety of discounts is available, including rewards for safe driving with its SmartRide app
- Highly rated for customer satisfaction
Cons
- Coverage is not available in all states
- Some discounts aren’t available in all states
- The SmartRide program isn’t available in all states
Who is Nationwide best for?
Nationwide is worth a quote if you want a nationally available insurer with a strong digital experience and a below-average complaint record. It scored 4.19 out of 5 in our 2026 rankings and placed No. 7 overall. The company offers affordable rates, and safe drivers who use its SmartRide app can cut rates by up to 40% with sustained good driving.
Nationwide scored the highest for usage-based insurance in the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, receiving 698 out of a possible 1,000 points. It also received the highest ranking for service in the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Insurance Digital Experience Study with a score of 730.
Speak with a friendly agent and get your quote in minutes!
How much does Nationwide car insurance cost?
Our rate analysis found that Nationwide’s average car insurance rates are lower than the average. Its average monthly premium for drivers with a clean driving record was $205, just below the market average of $209. It costs less than State Farm ($239), Progressive ($223) and Allstate ($267), though GEICO ($179), Travelers ($175) and top regional carriers like Erie and American Family ($159 each) undercut it by a wider margin.
Nationwide sits in the middle of the 16 insurers we analyzed — below average, but not among the cheapest. The $74-per-month gap between Nationwide and USAA adds up to nearly $900 a year. That said, Nationwide consistently undercuts the three largest national competitors — Allstate, State Farm and Progressive. That’s important for drivers who don’t qualify for USAA membership and can’t access regional carriers like Erie.
Remember, the rate you pay may be higher or lower, depending on various factors, some of which are beyond your control. Your age, gender, driving history, location, choice of vehicle and coverage selections can each affect the rate you pay for car insurance, and each state has its own regulations.
| Company | Monthly premium |
|---|---|
| USAA* | $131 |
| American Family | $159 |
| Erie | $159 |
| Auto-Owners | $171 |
| Travelers | $175 |
| GEICO | $179 |
| Auto Club Group (AAA) | $185 |
| Nationwide | $205 |
| Progressive | $223 |
| Amica | $231 |
| State Farm | $239 |
| Auto Club Enterprises (AAA) | $243 |
| CSAA Insurance Group (AAA) | $251 |
| Farmers | $257 |
| Allstate | $267 |
| Mercury | $270 |
*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.
Source: Quadrant Information Services, 2026. Profile: 40-year-old driver, clean record, good credit, Honda Accord LX, 100/300/100 liability limits, full coverage.
When I quoted Nationwide online, I came away with a $89 monthly rate for full coverage on a 2025 Subaru Outback. That’s well below the average for my driver profile. My quote included $100,000/$300,000 bodily injury liability, $100,000 property damage, a $500 comprehensive and collision deductible, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and $5,000 in medical payments.
Nationwide car insurance discounts and savings
Nationwide’s SmartRide app offers a 10% discount just for signing up and up to 40% off later if your driving habits hold up. It offers several other discount options, too, like multi-policy and autopay, but there are fewer choices than with other insurers. Nationwide’s discount score was 56% in our 2026 survey, below the category average.
Nationwide offers the following car insurance discounts:
- Multi-policy
- SmartMiles, which offers flexible premiums based on how much you drive
- Accident forgiveness
- Good student
- Defensive driving course completion
- Anti-theft devices
- Safe driver (five or more years accident-free)
- Autopay
- Paperless statements
When I went through the quote process, three things stood out. First, Nationwide automatically applied an anti-theft discount to my 2025 Subaru Outback, with no prompting required. The SmartRide enrollment screen offered 10% off immediately when I signed up. And the driving history section only asks whether you have three or more minor violations on record. One speeding ticket in my household didn’t move my rate at all. That’s worth knowing if your household record isn’t spotless.
Keep in mind that SmartRide isn’t available in all areas, and poor driving habits may result in no discount for you.
Coverage options
Nationwide offers standard coverages like liability, collision, comprehensive, PIP, medical payments and uninsured/underinsured motorist. It also offers seven add-ons worth knowing about. The Vanishing Deductible reduces your out-of-pocket costs each accident-free policy period. Accident forgiveness shields your rate after one at-fault incident. Gap coverage protects financed or leased vehicles.
Here’s a rundown of Nationwide coverage options:
- Liability: This coverage pays for property damage or bodily injury you cause to another person.
- Collision: If you’re in a crash and your vehicle is damaged, collision helps pay for repairs.
- Comprehensive: This coverage extends to other types of damage that may occur to your car, including hail damage, theft, fire and vandalism.
- Medical payments: You may hear this referred to as “MedPay.” It pays medical expenses if you or your passengers are injured in an accident.
- Personal injury protection (PIP): A type of coverage that helps with other expenses resulting from an accident, such as rehabilitation costs or lost wages.
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist: This coverage helps cover costs when you’re involved in a crash with a driver who doesn’t have enough insurance.
In addition to those standard coverage options, you can tailor your policy with other add-ons, including:
- Rental car expense
- Gap coverage
- Towing and labor
- Accident forgiveness
- Roadside assistance
- Vanishing deductible
Nationwide claims experience
You can file a Nationwide claim through the mobile app, the online portal, or by phone at 1-800-421-3535. The app earns 4.7 out of 5 on the iOS App Store (68,000+ reviews) and 4.5 on Google Play (20,000+ reviews). Nationwide also guarantees repairs at authorized shops for as long as you own the vehicle.
Managing your car insurance claims is relatively straightforward with the Nationwide Mobile app, available on both iOS and Android devices.
The Nationwide mobile app has a 4.7 out of 5-star rating on the Apple App Store, with nearly 68,000 reviews as of May 2026.
On the Google Play Store, the app receives 4.5 stars, based on almost 20,000 reviews and over one million downloads.
In addition to using the Nationwide app, you can also file a claim in several other ways:
- Using the online self-service tool
- By phone at 1-800-421-3535
Nationwide customer satisfaction
Nationwide customers report strong satisfaction: 88% are satisfied overall and 94% plan to renew. Both categories land above our 2026 survey average. Nationwide claims handling scores 81%, four points above the category average. The one soft spot is discounts, where Nationwide scores 56%, well below the category benchmark.
See the results below of our 2026 consumer survey of 2,000+ auto insurance customers, where Nationwide scored above average on satisfaction, trust and claims handling. Discounts and bundling are the clearest weak spots.
CIC 2026 consumer survey data
| Metric | Nationwide | Category avg |
|---|---|---|
| Customer satisfaction | 88% | 85% |
| Ease of service | 87% | 88% |
| Policy offerings | 85% | 84% |
| Recommended by customers | 88% | ~86% |
| Trustworthiness | 94% | ~90% |
| Renewal rate | 94% | ~91% |
| Claims handling | 81% | 78% |
| Digital experience | 84% | ~82% |
| Discounts | 56% | ~68% |
| Auto and home bundling | 72% | ~79% |
Source: CarInsurance.com 2026 consumer survey — 2,000+ auto insurance customers, conducted by Dynata.
Nationwide’s 94% renewal rate is one of the strongest results in our 2026 survey. Drivers who have been with the company tend to stay, even when cheaper options are available. That kind of retention usually signals something deeper than price satisfaction alone.
Sophie’s tip
Before you rule out Nationwide because its discount score is lower than a competitor’s, check whether SmartRide is available in your state. If you drive fewer than 12,000 miles a year or have a clean record, the telematics savings can more than offset a small discount menu — and 94% of Nationwide customers stick around to find that out.
Nationwide ranks very highly for its customer service. In the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, Nationwide ranked fourth with 729 points, far above the industry average of 700.
Nationwide ranked even higher for its digital offerings. The company received 730 out of a possible 1,000 points in the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Insurance Digital Experience Study, the highest score among all insurers (except USAA, which is only available to members of the military and their families).
The NAIC Complaint Index, which measures the frequency of complaints per insurer relative to its size, indicates that Nationwide receives fewer complaints than expected.
AM Best assigned Nationwide an A (Excellent) rating for financial strength and deemed its outlook stable, indicating that it should have no issues paying out its auto insurance claims.
My verdict on Nationwide car insurance
As an auto insurance provider, Nationwide is a solid bet, even if it isn’t the flashiest option out there. It ranked No. 7 in our 2026 analysis with a score of 4.19 out of 5, which is respectable, if not spectacular.
What stood out when I got my quote: Nationwide only counts minor violations against you if there are three or more on your record. One speeding ticket in my household didn’t move my rate at all. For many drivers, that’s an important financial break that may not appear on most comparison sites, but is definitely worth requesting a quote.
At an average of $205 per month for full coverage, Nationwide’s pricing is quite competitive. It’s below the market average, though it’s slightly higher than GEICO and Travelers. If you’re a careful driver, SmartRide is worth exploring, and just signing up earns 10% off.
A few weak spots I need to point out are Nationwide’s discounts and bundling. If maxing out discounts is your top priority, Allstate and Liberty Mutual both outperform Nationwide in that category.
Overall, I think Nationwide is a sound choice for drivers who want reliable national coverage, a well-rated app and a competitive rate.
Frequently Asked Questions: Nationwide
Is Nationwide cheaper than other car insurance companies?
Yes. Nationwide’s average monthly car insurance premium is lower than many of the insurers we evaluated in our rate analysis. Keep in mind that car insurance rates can vary based on your driving history, location, coverage selections and even gender, so compare multiple quotes to find the best balance of price and coverage.
What discounts does Nationwide offer?
Nationwide’s SmartRide telematics app could save you up to 40% with good driving. There are plenty of other available discounts, too, including multi-policy, good student and safe driver discounts, for example.
Does Nationwide offer accident forgiveness?
Yes, Nationwide offers accident forgiveness in select states as an add-on to your policy. It can only be used once per policy to avoid a rate increase after your first at-fault accident.
How do I file a claim with Nationwide?
Filing a claim is straightforward, whether you file through the Nationwide mobile app, the website or by calling an agent. Nationwide offers digital tools for submitting photos and documenting damage and you can track the progress of your claim, too.
Does Nationwide offer telematics or usage-based insurance?
Yes. In fact, Nationwide is ranked No. 1 for usage-based insurance in a J.D. Power study. The telematics program is called SmartRide and it uses a mobile app to track your driving habits and will adjust your rates accordingly.
Sources
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners. “National Complaint Index Report.” Accessed May 2026.
- J.D. Power. “Auto Insurer Websites and Apps Become Battleground for New Customers as Policy Shopping Activity Skyrockets, J.D. Power Finds.” Accessed May 2026.
- J.D. Power. “Satisfaction with Auto Insurance Claims Strained by Higher Deductibles, More Total Losses, J.D. Power Finds.” Accessed May 2026.
Still have a question? Ask our experts
Get advice from an experienced insurance professional. Our experts will help you navigate your insurance questions with clarity and confidence.
Browse all FAQs
