Hollay Ghadery Last Updated On: August 3, 2023

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A Complete Guide to Nationwide Insurance Company

If you’re in the market for insurance, you have lots of options. There are plenty of big names in the business, but bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better. Nationwide has been around for almost a century, so they’ve got experience to back them up. 

But what else should you know about Nationwide, and should you choose them for your insurance needs? Keep reading for all that and more. 

Who Is Nationwide Insurance?

Nationwide has been around for over 90 years. They started out as a small mutual auto insurer for farmers in Ohio, and have since grown to be one of the top insurance providers in the world. 

Nationwide is a company of firsts: they were the first insurer to offer pet insurance, a seat belt incentive, the first major insurance provider to endorse Medicare, to launch an iPhone app, and more. 

Nationwide has always pushed the envelope, but are they the right insurance provider for you? Keep reading for a detailed Nationwide insurance review to find out.

The Insurance Services Offered by Nationwide

Nationwide has grown from auto insurance to a national insurance provider over the years, and now offers a wide range of insurance policies. These include:

  • Home Insurance
  • Auto Insurance
  • Motorcycle Insurance
  • Renters Insurance
  • Condo Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Travel Insurance
  • Flood Insurance
  • Classic car Insurance
  • Umbrella Insurance

You can also get your RV, boat, personal watercraft, scooter, ATV, and snowmobile insured because transportation comes in all forms.

Plus, Nationwide offers some unique insurance products that aren’t widely seen by major insurance providers. These include pet insurance, dental, long-term care, identity theft, specialty health, and even wedding insurance (likely more in demand post-pandemic). 

And this is all under the umbrella of personal insurance. What’s unique about Nationwide is that they offer a dedicated business insurance section that has incredibly detailed coverage options, including: 

  • Business owners
  • Business Auto
  • Workers’ compensation
  • Crime insurance
  • Cyber liability 
  • Builder’s risk
  • Accounts receivable
  • Equipment breakdown
  • Errors & commission 
  • Inland marine
  • Business income
  • And more

Essentially, anything that could happen to you or your business is covered under a Nationwide policy. But that’s not all; Nationwide also offers industry-specific policies for small businesses, including:

  • Breweries
  • Retail
  • Wholesale
  • Food & beverage
  • Farm & ranch
  • Photography
  • Wedding 
  • Churches
  • Contractors
  • And more

As a small business owner, it could be enticing to have an insurance policy geared directly towards you and your specific business. You can also get your group insurance plans for employee benefits all in one place. 

It’s clear that Nationwide has no shortage of insurance products. But the cost is often more important than a variety of policies for the consumer, so how do they stack up? We’ll explore that next.

The Average Cost of Nationwide Insurance

As with any insurance policy at any provider, the quotes you will receive can vary widely depending on your unique factors, like age, health, driving history, etc. But it helps to know roughly where Nationwide Insurance falls on the spectrum in terms of cost; are they one of the more pricey providers, or are they a good option for low-cost insurance? 

We’ll go through the two main buckets of insurance to help give you an idea: home and auto. 

Nationwide Auto Insurance Costs

The good news is that Nationwide offers affordable car insurance coverage. The average full coverage policy is $1,422 annually and the average minimum coverage policy is $567 per year.

To put that into perspective, the national average lands at $2,014 and $622, respectively. This means you can score cheap auto insurance at Nationwide, if that’s what you’re looking for. 

Here are even more points of reference when it comes to Nationwide car insurance reviews:

  • A driver with a clean history will pay $1,422 annually for full coverage at Nationwide, but $2,014 nationally on average
  • A speeding ticket will cause that to jump to $1,684 annually for full coverage at Nationwide, or $2,427 per the national average
  • A 19-year-old can expect to pay $2,059 annually for full coverage at Nationwide, but $3,345 nationally on average 

Keep in mind that your quotes can differ depending on your vehicle, your driving history, state and zip code, and more. 

Ready to switch providers after this Nationwide car insurance review? Read this before you switch car insurance. 

Nationwide Home Insurance Costs

Another of the most popular insurance policies is home insurance. And, luckily, the savings continue: after a Nationwide home insurance review, the average cost of a Nationwide home insurance policy with $250,000 in dwelling coverage is $1,153 annually. Compare that with the national average of $1,428, and it means that Nationwide has more than affordable home insurance.

If it’s time to renew your home insurance, you want to make sure you’re still getting the best rate. Read this for more tips on what to do before renewing home insurance.

Nationwide Discounts

If you’ve ever shopped for insurance, you know that almost all insurance providers offer discounts in some form. Nationwide is no exception. They have a number of discounts offered depending on the insurance product.

Auto Insurance Discounts

Smart consumers take advantage of discounts wherever they can. At Nationwide, you can take advantage of the following auto insurance discounts:

  • Multi-policy
  • Defensive driving course
  • Anti-theft
  • Safe driver
  • Automatic payments
  • Accident free
  • Good student

Plus, Nationwide offers two branded discounts: SmartRide, and SmartMiles.

SmartRide is their usage-based discount, based on your driving habits as documented through the app. You get a discount just for signing up for the program (10%) and then increased discounts depending on your driving (up to 40%).

SmartMiles is a pay-per-mile discount program that saves you money by driving less. Your driving is tracked either through a plug-in device or via a connected car.

Home Insurance Discounts

With your home insurance, you’re not left out in the rain either. Nationwide offers the following discounts on homeowners insurance:

  • Multi-policy
  • Home purchase (within last 12 months)
  • Prior insurance
  • Gated community
  • Smart home
  • Protective device
  • Home renovation
  • Claims free
  • Roof rating

While not everyone can live in a gated community, it’s certainly more accessible to update your roof, install protective devices, or install smart devices. There’s a discount for everyone, as long as you’re willing to look for it.

Need insurance now? We’ve got you. For access to Nationwide insurance quotes and more, click here.

Nationwide Insurance Reviews

Cost and variety of policies are important, but it’s just as important to know who you’re forking over your hard-earned cash to monthly or annually. That’s why we’ve combed through Nationwide insurance reviews to get you the information you need to make a decision:
  • AM Best gives Nationwide an A+ rating, which shows that they have a strong financial ability to pay their claims.
  • According to the 2022 J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study, Nationwide ranked below average in overall customer satisfaction in the four out of five regions it was evaluated in.
  • In the 2022 J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction Survey, Nationwide also ranked slightly below average.
  • In the 2022 J.D. Power Property Claims Satisfaction Study, Nationwide ranked above average and was one of the top five insurance providers ranked.
  • The 2022 J.D. Power Life Insurance Study ranked Nationwide much higher than the industry average for individual life insurance.
  • In the CRASH Network report on the best car insurance companies in terms of quality repairs and customer service, Nationwide ranked a lowly “C”.
It’s clear that Nationwide has some work to do in terms of customer satisfaction, but if you have a history of staying claims-free, you might still be happy with Nationwide for their cost and policies.

Nationwide Across the Nation

Nationwide is one of the bigger names in insurance, which means it’s widely available. You can find Nationwide auto insurance in all states except Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Massachusetts. You can’t get Nationwide home insurance in the same states, plus Florida, New Jersey, and New Mexico.

Filing an Insurance Claim

With Nationwide, you can file a claim online, by calling their 1-800 number (anytime of day or night), or through the app. The mobile app also allows you to do a number of other things, including:
  • Get your insurance ID card
  • Pay a bill
  • File a claim
  • Track your auto claims
  • Change coverage
  • Add/replace drivers
  • Add/replace vehicles
  • And more
For many, the option of a mobile app is enticing in this day and age, especially when many insurance providers are lagging behind in technology.

More to Consider About Nationwide

If corporate sustainability is important to you, Nationwide is not shy in that department:
  • Nationwide has contributed $588 million since 2000 to non-profits.
  • In 2021, they focused on the United Way, Feeding America, American Red Cross, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
  • Nationwide cares about environmental sustainability, with measures such as investing in sustainable farming and renewable energy, recycling, and reducing waste.
  • Diversity and inclusion are also important to Nationwide, with their C-suite made up of 22% women and 22% being racially/ethnically diverse, and having been voted one of the best places to work for LGBTQ+ equality.
Knowing who you’re doing business with matters. After all, if you’re handing over your hard-earned money to a company, you want to know that they’re doing some good with it. Nationwide has a number of initiatives that can help you feel good about giving them your business.

Nationwide Banking Services

If having your insurance and banking products in one place seems convenient, Nationwide could be a good fit for you. They partner with Axos Bank to offer everything from day-to-day banking accounts, mortgages, refinancing, personal loans, and more.

Is Nationwide Right for You?

After a detailed Nationwide insurance review, you’ve probably already decided whether or not Nationwide should get your insurance business. Whether or not they’re the right fit for you will likely come down to policy availability, cost, and consumer reviews. Nationwide straddles the middle line in all categories, so your best bet is to get a quote and decide from there.

Save yourself some time by getting access to free quotes here. Whether you’re looking for home, auto, or life insurance, we’ve got you covered.

Hollay Ghadery Hollay Ghadery is a writer and editor who is passionate about financial literacy as a means to personal fulfillment. Hollay has over 18 years of experience creating content about a range of topics related to personal finance, including insurance, investing, banking, and credit cards. When Hollay isn't writing, she's spending time with her four children, two dogs, and three goats.

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