Is Nationwide Car Insurance Good? Reviews and Expert Insights

Nationwide is among the most affordable large national insurers and below the average in most states for those with good driving records. Additionally, Nationwide earned above-average marks in the latest J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study.

However, premium increases following driving violations or accidents tend to be higher with Nationwide compared to many other national carriers.

Nationwide has an average premium of $1,735 a year, or about $145 a month. That is 24.3% below the all-insurer nationwide average of $2,294 for the same driver profile.

Cost by driver age

While Nationwide premiums are below average, it is particularly competitive for older drivers. Here’s a look at Nationwide’s average premium by driver age:

Cost by driving record

While Nationwide is very affordable for those with clean driving records, the company adds larger surcharges than average for applicants who report a recent speeding ticket, have an at-fault accident, or a DUI conviction.

Credit and your Nationwide premium

If you have poor credit, Nationwide may be worth a look. According to our research, Nationwide is much more tolerant of drivers with poor credit scores compared to most large carriers. Nationwide drivers with very low credit scores get charged about 85% more than one with very good or excellent credit. That is still significant, but it’s about 46% lower than national industry averages.

Note: Some states do not let insurers use credit to set auto rates. California and Michigan both bar the practice, and Nationwide sells car insurance in both.³ Ask how the company treats credit where you live.

Nationwide sells the standard personal auto coverages:

• Bodily injury and property damage liability

• Collision

• Comprehensive

• Uninsured and underinsured motorist

• Medical payments

• Personal injury protection (in states that use it)

• Rental car expense

• GAP coverage

Terms and availability vary by state.⁴

Nationwide also offers these optional features, or policy endorsements, that you can add to your policy for additional protection:

• Vanishing Deductible. This benefit reduces your deductible by $100 for each year you drive without a claim, up to a $500 maximum credit. After an accident, the credit resets to $100 off.⁴

• Total loss deductible waiver. Waives your comprehensive or collision deductible if your vehicle is totaled.⁴

• Roadside Assistance. Covers towing, fuel delivery, jump-starts and tire changes on the road.⁴

• Accident Forgiveness. This optional add-on can help prevent a rate increase after a first qualifying at-fault accident. This benefit covers anyone on the policy but can be used only once per policy.⁵

• Fender Bender Forgiveness: If Nationwide's payout on a property damage or collision claim comes in under a $2,000 threshold, no accident surcharge applies, even if you were at fault. There is also no limit on how many times this can apply. Available in select states.⁶

What is the “Nationwide On Your Side Review”?

The Nationwide On Your Side Review is a free policy review Nationwide offers all members. It’s simply a conversation with a Nationwide insurance professional about whether your coverage levels are still appropriate given your assets and lifestyle.⁷

Your agent will help you identify gaps in your auto, home, renters, or other coverages, and also help you identify discounts you may qualify for and should be receiving.⁷ Nationwide recommends you schedule an On Your Side Review each year, or after a major life change such as a marriage, a birth, a move or a new vehicle.

Nationwide advantages include very attractive pricing for drivers with clean driving records. It is also very competitive for those with poor credit scores, imposing a lower premium surcharge on them compared to most car insurance companies.

Nationwide also excels when customers have a claim, as evidenced by their above average J.D. Power claims satisfaction score.

Its primary drawback is how steeply it penalizes drivers who have one or two accidents or traffic violations on their record. 

Nationwide offers two significant usage-based programs, as well as discounts for bundling, good students, and those with established safe driving records. Drivers can also qualify for more discounts by taking defensive driving classes and installing anti-theft devices.

Note that not all discounts are available in every state. 

SmartRide is a telematics-based program that tracks your driving habits through a mobile app for four to six months. The program will measure and track miles driven, hard braking incidents, rapid acceleration, idle time, and how much you drive between midnight and 5 a.m. SmartRide is not mandatory. But it’s free to enroll, and drivers receive a 10% discount on enrollment. Good drivers can earn discounts of up to 40%, though terms vary by state.⁹

The final discount applies at your next renewal.

SmartMiles is a usage-based insurance program designed for low-mileage drivers.⁸ Your SmartMiles premium includes two components: A fixed “base premium,” and a variable component based on how many miles you drove in the previous cycle.

SmartMiles can be a great match for people who work from home or keep a rarely used second car and who want to keep their premiums low.

A few things to bear in mind:⁸

• Only the first 250 miles count on any single day. So long road trips won’t count against you.

• Some hybrids, electric vehicles, diesels, and cars manufactured before 1996 are not compatible with the tracking device.

• Your base premium and per-mile rate stay fixed for the whole policy term unless you change your policy.

The program is not available in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, New York or Oklahoma. Michigan drivers are directed to SmartRide instead.⁸

Nationwide and GEICO offer comparable rates on average, though Nationwide earns the highest claims satisfaction score among the five insurers listed below.

Nationwide's satisfaction record is better than its price would suggest. It scored above average in the 2025 claims study and ranked highest in the usage-based insurance category of the 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study.

AM Best rates Nationwide Property and Casualty Group A (Excellent), meaning it considers the group well able to pay claims.¹

You can get a Nationwide car insurance quote online, by phone or through an agent. Compare identical limits, deductibles and optional coverages when you evaluate quotes.

1. Gather your driver's license number, vehicle identification number, current coverage limits and deductibles, and the driving history of everyone in your household.

2. Ask for quotes at both 50/100 and 100/300 liability limits so you can weigh the added protection against the actual price difference.

3. Ask about Accident Forgiveness, Vanishing Deductible and the total loss deductible waiver, which are optional and vary by state.

4. Ask whether SmartRide or SmartMiles fits your driving, and confirm the program is offered in your state.

5. Compare against at least two other carriers at identical limits and deductibles.