Nationwide Car Insurance Review 2022

Nationwide Car Insurance Rate Comparison for Good Drivers

Nationwide’s average premiums for good drivers are smack dab in the middle of rates from other large car insurance companies we analyzed.

Nationwide’s $1,540 average cost for a good driver is about $360 higher than the cheapest company (Geico) and nearly $585 lower than the most expensive company (Farmers). Car insurance companies love good drivers. They’re often cheap to insure since good drivers don’t usually file many claims or get into accidents. Use that to your advantage if you’re a good driver and shop around at renewal time. You may find an insurer that’s willing to give you a much lower rate because of your excellent driving history.

Related: Best car insurance companies of 2022

Nationwide Car Insurance Rate Comparison for Drivers With a Speeding Ticket

Nationwide customers with a good driving record can expect to see an average increase of $430 at renewal time after a single speeding ticket. That’s a bigger rate hike for a speeding ticket than other top competitors, except for Progressive and Farmers.

Nationwide Car Insurance Rate Comparison for Drivers Who Caused an Accident With an Injury

Similar to other comparisons, Nationwide is in the middle of the pack when it comes to average rates for drivers who caused an accident that resulted in an injury to someone else.

If you cause an accident, it’s a good time to shop around for car insurance and get quotes from multiple companies. A good place to start is State Farm, which has the lowest average rates for drivers who caused an accident with an injury, among large companies analyzed by Forbes Advisor.

Nationwide Car Insurance Rate Comparison for Drivers With a DUI

Nationwide has the highest average rates for drivers with a DUI compared to top competitors.

Each insurance company gauges a driver’s risk differently. The higher the risk, the higher your rates will be. But some insurers put more emphasis on a driving infraction like a DUI than other insurance companies. If you have Nationwide, you may want to comparison shop and get quotes from competitors, especially State Farm and Progressive, which have the lowest average national rates for drivers with a DUI among top companies.

Related: Best car insurance after a DUI

Nationwide Car Insurance Rate Comparison for Drivers With Poor Credit

A person’s credit history is one metric that many insurers use when determining rates. Note that California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan don’t allow credit to be factored into car insurance pricing.

Nationwide has lower rates for drivers with poor credit compared to most top competitors. Why would an insurer care about a driver’s credit? Insurance companies believe credit history influences whether a person will file insurance claims. The theory goes that someone with poor credit is more likely to file a claim than someone with good credit, so insurers often charge higher rates to drivers with bad credit.

Nationwide Car Insurance Rate Comparison for Adding a Teen Driver

Teen drivers have less experience on the road and are prone to taking more risks while driving. That’s a combination that insurance companies don’t like, so you can expect to pay hundreds or even thousands more for car insurance after you add a teen to your policy.

The good news for Nationwide customers is that the insurer has the lowest average rate increase after a policyholder adds a teen to a policy. If you choose Nationwide, ask about the company’s good student discount.

Related: Best car insurance for teens 

Nationwide Car Insurance Rate Comparison for Young Drivers Ages 18 to 25

While Nationwide has the best rates for adding a teen to a policy, the company isn’t quite as generous when it comes to young drivers who get their own insurance coverage.

Drivers between age 18 and 25 pay nearly $3,000 on average for a car insurance policy, based on a Forbes Advisor analysis of large auto insurance companies. Nationwide’s rate for young drivers is close to that average. Geico has the cheapest rate for young drivers and State Farm has the most expensive rate among top companies.

A driver’s age is one of the many metrics insurers use when setting rates and they gauge that risk differently. Make sure to shop around—both when you get your first policy and at least every few years later. You could save thousands on your car insurance by simply getting quotes and finding the cheapest insurer.

Nationwide Car Insurance Rate Comparison for Senior Drivers Age 65+

Nationwide has decent car insurance rates for senior drivers when compared to top competitors. One way to save more is to maximize your discounts, including bundling auto and home policies, which Nationwide estimates can save you an average $646 a year. Senior drivers can also earn a defensive driver discount by successfully completing a state-approved accident-prevention course.

Related: Best car insurance for seniors