Nationwide Motorcycle Insurance Review

Nationwide Motorcycle Insurance Ratings at a Glance

A motorcycle policy is a must-have for people who drive motorcycles. But motorcycle insurance rates can widely vary from motorcycle insurance companies, and that's why it's important to do your research and find the best motorcycle insurance coverages to help insure any losses. Can the Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company protect you and your bike properly? Perhaps, but you need to look at what this form of vehicle insurance does and how it can help you on a daily basis.

Nationwide has an excellent selection of motorcycle insurance products. They include:

• Bodily injury liability: This coverage helps pay the medical costs of other parties if you’re involved in an at-fault accident. Remember, this includes any injury that occurs whilst you are operating or managing the bike.
• Property damage liability: If you’re found to be responsible for an accident, this coverage helps to pay for the damage to the other party’s vehicles or other property. Bodily injury and property damage liability coverage are required by most states.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance: This coverage helps with the costs if you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver. This coverage is required in some states.
• Medical payments/Personal injury protection: This protection helps with the medical costs of those involved in an accident, regardless of whether you’re found to be at fault. Many carriers refer to personal injury protection as PIP in their documents and marketing.
• Collision: If you’re involved in an accident, this coverage helps to pay for your motorcycle to be repaired or replaced. Think of this as your typical insurance policy.
• Comprehensive: Damage that’s not from an accident, including fires, theft and vandalism, will be covered by comprehensive insurance. Having collision and comprehensive coverage is sometimes referred to as having full coverage. 
• Custom equipment: This optional coverage helps to pay for repairing or replacing aftermarket parts and equipment on a custom motorcycle. You can have 12 bikes on one policy, up to $50,000 per bike and up to $30,000 for custom gear. Trailers may also be covered.
• Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM): This coverage helps to pay for repairs with OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts when available, and if OEM parts aren’t available, they’ll pay you based on the fair market value of the OEM part. 
• Roadside assistance: This coverage can also pay for trip interruption, if you prefer. At the very least, the roadside assistance plan helps with towing or getting you back on the road safely.

Remember that you should abide by all the motorcycle safety best practices you learned when you get your license because your insurance can offer coverage for property damage or personal injury, but it cannot make you safe every day.

Nationwide’s premiums aren’t publicly available. According to J.D. Power, the average cost for a motorcycle insurance policy is $519. This price varies based on factors like where you live, how often you ride, the type of bike you have, your level of riding experience and whether you qualify for any discounts, which we discuss below. 

Nationwide has multiple options for getting in touch. One of the best resources is your agent, who can assist you with making changes to your coverage and more. You can also call Nationwide at 1-877-669-6877. Nationwide has a chatbot on its website that can answer many of your questions, and you can also contact customer service through its mobile app. It’s likely best to call when you’re involved in a motorcycle accident as most motorcycle insurance companies want to get as much information as they can that a chatbot often cannot handle.

The Nationwide mobile app has 4-star ratings in the Google Play store. It offers facial and fingerprint login, the ability to make payments, digital ID cards, the ability to file and track your claims and ways to connect with roadside assistance. Overall, it’s a useful app, but Android users, in particular, seem to have occasional issues. 

Nationwide also offers several options for paying out from policies. Your agent is an excellent resource throughout this process. You can also file a claim by phone at 1-800-421-3535, online or using the mobile app. 

Nationwide agents across the country get it. You’re just as unique as your bike. So no matter what type of bike you have and what you call it — chopper, hog, dirt bike, moped or enduro — and if it has 2 wheels or 3, Nationwide can provide insurance coverage that protects riders on any road that’s traveled.

• Vintage, customized and antique motorcycles: Nationwide offers an immense selection of classic car coverage. You can get vintage and antique motorcycle insurance policy products for classic motorcycles, and it covers kit and vintage bikes up to $30,000 per bike.

• Mopeds: You might argue that a moped really isn’t a motorcycle. Even by any other name, an increasing number of states now require insurance for the vehicle to be considered street legal. That includes vehicles with 50cc engines or smaller. Nationwide covers these vehicles and scooters with super fast 50cc engines to those with a 500cc engine for regular street use.

• Scooters: If you want to ride your scooter on streets and highways, you’ve got to have insurance on it. Insurance coverage still is extremely valuable even if you don’t plan on using the scooter every day for getting back and forth to work or play.

• Dirt bikes: Most states don’t legally allow them on the street, however, you and your dirt bike can benefit from being properly covered with insurance. Nationwide’s dirt bike insurance options includes collision and comprehensive coverage, as well as personal property, bodily injury and medical payment coverage. If you use your dirt bike in extreme sports, those coverages are particularly important options.

• Sports bikes: Riders often are drawn to high-performing sports bikes, often called crotch rockets, because these supersports motorcycles are head turners that have far more horsepower than other motorcycles. That makes them faster, with the power to travel speeds up to 190 mph. As fun as they can be, riders are four times as likely to have fatal accidents than other types of motorcycles. That’s why various features such as an anti-lock brake system can affect policy rates. Before setting out for a go-fast ride, discuss with a Nationwide agent adequate and essential levels of coverage for these popular, speedy sports bikes.

• Touring motorcycles: You can bring along all the essentials while traveling on a touring motorcycle. Between the GPS, radio, and the gear stored in the bike’s bags and panniers, be sure your contents are covered by balancing your homeowners’ coverage with the touring bike’s coverage for a worry-free traveling experience.

• 3-wheelers and auto cycles: Whether you’ve got a converted or factory-built 3-wheeler or an autocycle, it can be protected with a Nationwide motorcycle insurance policy. Converted trikes may require additional custom equipment coverage to insure after-market modifications. Auto cycle insurance varies from state to state: In some states 3-wheelers are considered and insured as motorcycles; other states require the same coverage as cars.

• Multiple motorcycles: If you’re a collector or want to enjoy different bikes, Nationwide offers policy options for numerous bikes covered under 1 policy for up to $50,000 for each bike.

• New and like-new motorcycles: Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) endorsements help ensure your motorcycles are repaired with new parts from the OEM. If an OEM part is unavailable, payment is based on the fair market value of the new part. This type of coverage is available for new motorcycles and until the motorcycle is 10 years old.

Available Discounts and Tips on Getting the Best Rates

You can save money on Nationwide’s motorcycle insurance by buying multiple policies like home, vehicle or life policies. You also can get discounts by bundling your other vehicles, boats, snowmobiles and ATVs. Here are some other ways you can save:

• Motorcycle safety course: Earn a discount on motorcycle insurance coverage by completing an approved safety course. Visit the Motorcycle Safety Foundation to learn about what types of courses are available.

• Theft-recovery device: If you add a professionally-installed radio or GPS theft-recovery system, you can save money on comprehensive coverage.

• Homeowner: If you own a home, condo, townhome or mobile home, you’re eligible for a discount.

• Paid in full: You’ll pay less for your motorcycle insurance by paying your entire policy premium in full when you buy or renew your policy.

• Anti-lock brakes: If your motorcycle is equipped with a factory-installed anti-lock braking system (ABS), you’ll get a discount.

• Affinity member: Get a discount just for being a member of a qualifying organization. Nationwide partners with hundreds of organizations, including alumni associations, professional groups, sports groups and special interest groups.

• Riding association: If you’re a member of the Harley Owners Group or another riding association, you can earn a discount.

Nationwide Motorcycle Insurance vs. Competitors

How does Nationwide stack up against its competitors? It offers its products through an agent network. Many insurers no longer have agents, and with other companies, you could buy a policy without ever interacting with a person. That’s a benefit to some people and a drawback to others. 

Its motorcycle product offerings are similar to other carriers, but it also offers a full range of additional products, including homeowners, renters and life insurance. 

Nationwide offers an established track record and a variety of coverage options and discounts. You have an agent you can turn to for policy advice and other assistance. With its many product offerings, you can take care of your insurance needs in one place, simplifying your financial life. 

Is Nationwide right for you? That depends on many factors that you may consider when reading through these motorcycle insurance options.

Remember, too, that Nationwide offers some of the best rates for “high-risk” bikers so we recommend it if you’re looking for a cheaper rate. Want to learn more about motorcycle insurance? Check out other motorcycle insurance companies and learn even more about motorcycle insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

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