Nationwide Auto Insurance Review

Nationwide Ratings at a Glance

Nationwide Insurance offers a broad range of auto insurance coverage options to help customers build the policy they want to balance protection with budget. For many customers, the cost of the insurance falls in the middle of the market.

For those who want to save more money based on safe driving practices, the company’s SmartRide device can help offer additional discounts. Usage-based insurance is still not widely available, so it’s nice to know it is an option as a Nationwide customer.

Liability Coverage

Most states require that drivers carry liability coverage and each state outlines the minimum liability coverage you must hold. Minimum coverage is rarely enough in the case of a serious accident or accident involving multiple drivers.

Liability coverage provides protection in the case of bodily injury or property damage that is not your own. That means that you’ll be covered if you injure someone else or cause damage to other property.

The cost for this coverage will vary based on the limits you select. Your assets can also play a role in how much liability coverage you need to protect yourself financially.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

When you’re involved in a car accident that is not your fault but the at-fault party has no car insurance or their insurance is insufficient to cover your bills, your insurance can step in to pay the difference.

When you have this coverage, it protects you for expenses including medical, loss of income from an inability to work after an accident and additional covered damages.

This coverage can also protect you when you are a pedestrian or riding your bike. Other rare scenarios, such as getting in an accident with a stolen vehicle, are also covered if you have this on your policy.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Car accidents can cause damage to more than just your property. It can also cause injuries, which lead to medical bills, lost wages, funeral expenses, rehabilitation costs and other expenses. Those expenses can add up quickly if you don’t have personal injury protection, also known as PIP.

Generally, the at-fault party’s insurance covers property and bodily injury damage. But in no-fault accident scenarios, PIP coverage comes in to help protect you. 

Comprehensive and Collision Coverage

Comprehensive coverage provides protection for a variety of scenarios, including:

• Accidents involving animals
• Falling objects (tree branches or debris)
• Fires, explosions or civil commotions
• Hail or other weather events
• Theft
• Vandalism

As the name indicates, collision coverage protects you in case you hit another vehicle, a vehicle hits you or your vehicle rolls over on the roadway.

Rental Reimbursement and Roadside Assistance

After an accident, many cars must spend some time at a repair shop. During that time, the driver can suffer disruptions to daily life without their vehicle. Rental reimbursement provides a comparable rental car to yours while it is in the shop. You can choose how much rental coverage you want up to $7,500. 

Roadside assistance provides help when you break down on the side of the road. This coverage is available in all states where comprehensive and collision insurance apply, except California and Indiana where it is a separate coverage.

You’ll enjoy coverage whether you are driving your vehicle or riding in someone else’s. The coverage includes towing services up to 100 miles from where your vehicle breaks down. Plus, you can enjoy the following roadside services:

• Battery service
• Extraction from a public road
• Lockout service (up to $100)
• Supply delivery, such as oil, fuel, water and other fluids
• Tire inflation or change

Accident Forgiveness

An accident shouldn’t send your insurance premiums through the roof. In most states, Nationwide Insurance offers accident forgiveness for up to one at-fault accident on a policy. Fender benders or minor accidents that are under the company’s accident threshold won’t impact your rates. Plus, there is no maximum number of minor accidents you can have on a policy while still enjoying minor accident forgiveness.

New Car Replacement

If your vehicle that is three years old or newer is totaled during an accident, you can get it replaced with the same make and model. This is optional coverage you’ll have to add to your policy, and it is only available in select states.

Gap Insurance

Gap insurance helps pay the difference between the cash value of your vehicle compared to what you owe on the loan or lease. Most auto loans require that you carry this coverage to protect them in case your vehicle is totaled. To get gap insurance, you’ll need to purchase comprehensive and collision coverage on the vehicle you’re insuring.

Diminishing Deductible

The safer you drive, the lower your deductible can be when you have Nationwide Insurance. Each year you are not involved in an accident, your deductible goes down by $100 for a maximum of $500 off your deductible.

Discounts Offered by Nationwide

• Accident-free discount: When you have no accidents on your record, you can save on your insurance.
• Anti-theft discount: Vehicles with anti-theft devices can qualify for discounted insurance.
• Automatic payments discount: Pay your insurance premiums with automatic deductions from your bank account and enjoy a discount.
• Defensive driving discount: Complete a state-approved driver safety class and enjoy discounts in some states. In other states, you must be 55 years of age or older to claim this discount.
• Good student discount: Drivers ages 16-24 who maintain a B average in high school or college can earn this discount.
• Multi-policy discount: Purchase both auto and homeowners insurance through Nationwide and save.
• Paperless discount: Receive your bills and documents electronically from the insurance company to enjoy this discount.

Safe driver discount: Drive safely for five years or more while on a Nationwide Insurance policy and save. Safe driving includes no violations, tickets or accidents.

As far as large insurance companies go, Nationwide Insurance has one of the lowest complaint ratios according to Forbes Advisor.

Purchasing a policy through Nationwide Insurance is easy, and most customers say they would recommend the experience to friends and family. 

Reaching customer service with questions or to make adjustments to a policy is simple and most customers say they are satisfied after an interaction with the company.

Automobile insurance has grown at a rate that far exceeds that of inflation. Several factors contribute to the rising costs including drivers covering more miles each year, medical expenses increasing and the rising cost of collision repair.

However, Nationwide Insurance is well known for being middle of the market when it comes to insurance costs. It’s a good insurance company for those with average credit, but if you have a violation on your record at all, it likely won’t be very competitive for you.

That’s why it gets three stars for its price and value. Because the claims service is good, it helps offer greater value, but the price for monthly premiums is certainly higher than that of other insurance companies.

Review your insurance policies all in one place with the mobile app. View digital versions of your ID cards without having to rifle through your wallet or center console. In most states, digital ID cards are now accepted during traffic stops, but be sure to check with your state before relying on the digital card.

Make policy changes directly from the app, such as adding a new vehicle or driver to the policy. Complete payments or view payment history to reference premiums and your budget. Update payment information from the app to keep recurring payments running smoothly.

File a claim quickly and securely using the mobile app. The form will take you through a step-by-step interview to document crucial accident information while it is fresh in your mind. 

The company has another mobile app called Nationwide SmartRide, which provides insights for usage-based insurance.

When you purchase an auto policy through Nationwide Insurance, you receive many outstanding benefits at no additional cost.

• Car key replacement: Up to $400 in replacement value if you lose your keys, lock them inside the vehicle or they get stolen. This is a reimbursable expense after you provide proof of receipt for replacement.
• Automatic fender bender forgiveness: Minor accidents won’t lead to an increase in your premiums.
• Special deductible provision: If you suffer a covered loss to your home and auto, the company waives the lower of the two deductibles.
• Auto repair network: When you get your vehicle repaired at a network repair shop, the work is guaranteed for as long as you own or lease the vehicle.
• Pet protection: If your pet is riding along with you in your vehicle, you can enjoy up to $1,000 for injury or loss of your cat or dog that your family owns.
• 24-hour claims service: If you want to talk to someone about a claim, you can call any time of day to open a claim or ask a question.

Online account access: View your account online and make changes to policies with ease.

As a large insurance company, Nationwide Insurance offers some of the best technology to make managing your policy and account details simple. You can file and track claims online or use the mobile app. Using its digital resources helps make the user experience excellent. But you’ll also have an agent that you can reach out to with questions when you can’t manage a question or inquiry yourself.

Nationwide Auto Insurance vs. Competitors

The extensive coverage options Nationwide Insurance offers help it beat out more specialized insurance providers. Its coverage in 47 states makes it one of the most widely available insurance providers in the country.

While this is specifically a Nationwide auto insurance review, the company offers many additional insurance products, including life, home, business, pet, farm, annuities, mutual funds, retirement plans and specialty health services. With such an extensive offering, it is possible to meet your full insurance and financial services needs with one company. 

The company’s largest competitors include Allstate, Liberty Mutual and State Farm when it comes to insurance. Each is a large insurance company offering extensive products with many rider and cover options. The addition of the financial services products helps strengthen Nationwide Insurance’s position.

This Nationwide auto insurance review awards the company 4 stars overall. While the company has extensive coverage options, excellent customer and claims services, and good user services, the total price of the policy can be a major deterrent for first-time customers unsure whether the price is worth the added benefits. 

And like most aspects of purchasing insurance, you don’t fully know what you’re paying for unless you encounter a claim, and people purchase insurance hoping they never need to call upon the coverage.

Explore Coverage Options and Cost

The best way to know whether an insurance company is right for you is to get a quote based on your unique needs and coverage preferences. While the auto coverage might cost more than your current provider, bundling all needs under one insurance company can help you experience the best benefits. Get a quote now to see if Nationwide Insurance is right for you.

Frequently Asked Questions