Nationwide is a leading auto insurance company in the United States, offering a wide range of coverage options and discounts. It is known for its strong customer service and financial stability. But is it the best choice for you?
Here is a comprehensive review of Nationwide auto insurance to help you decide.
Nationwide Auto Insurance Review
Nationwide auto insurance coverage may be a suitable option for drivers who value policy customization. The firm provides coverage alternatives that you might not find at other insurance providers, according to our analysis of Nationwide Insurance. These consist of a disappearing deductible and accident forgiveness, although the availability of these features may vary based on state laws and where you live.
Through its collaboration with Hagerty, Nationwide provides auto insurance for vintage cars and personal auto insurance. It’s noteworthy that Hagerty also offers coverage for collectable motorbikes and scooters, vintage military vehicles, and even retired commercial vehicles. This makes coverage appealing to owners of antique, classic, and muscle cars.
There are several states where nationwide auto insurance is unavailable. Washington, D.C. and 46 other states sell coverage. Currently, coverage is not available to drivers in Massachusetts, Hawaii, Louisiana, Alaska, or Hawaii. Nationwide’s bankrate score was not higher due to its lack of 24/7 customer support and nationwide availability.
Nationwide Auto Insurance Coverage
It’s critical to comprehend what coverage you need and what you wish to get while looking for auto insurance. For example, driving a car requires having a minimum level of auto insurance in most states. As an alternative, full-coverage insurance might interest you if you want more security. To learn how the most popular kinds of auto insurance coverage operate, read about them.
In addition to the standard features and benefits of auto insurance, Nationwide provides the following extras:
#1. Insurance Gaps
This settles the difference between the amount still owed on your loan or lease and the car’s cash worth when it was totaled or stolen. Your lender can need this kind of insurance, and to obtain it, you’ll need to purchase comprehensive and collision coverage.
#2. Disappearing Tax Credit
By driving carefully, you can reduce insurance deductibles with this optional programme. Your deductible is reduced by $100 annually if you do not have an accident, up to a maximum reduction of $500.
#3. Review on Your Side
You can benefit from a free evaluation conducted by a nationwide representative annually or following a significant life event. The exam will help you decide if your insurance plans are appropriate for your needs and will review any possible reductions.
#4. Forgiveness for Accidents
By doing this, you can prevent a rate increase if you or a policyholder cause a collision. Not all states offer it, and Nationwide will only cover one accident per insurance.
#5. Waiver of Total Loss Deductible
This policy allows you to forgo your collision or comprehensive deductible if your vehicle is totalled.
Types of Nationwide Auto Insurance Coverage
Nationwide provides a variety of coverage options. To create a personalised auto insurance policy that’s ideal for you, you can select the features you desire. Although this may be regarded as “full coverage,” there isn’t a predetermined complete coverage plan; instead, you must choose the coverage you desire.
It’s important to evaluate and contrast the plans that each of your shortlisted vehicle insurance companies offers. Nationwide Auto Insurance offers more than just what the majority of its rivals do. These are a few of its principal products:
#1. Property Damage and Bodily Harm Liability
Auto liability insurance is the most fundamental type of insurance coverage available. When you cause an accident, Nationwide’s auto liability insurance protects you from having to pay the damages you are legally required to pay. These may include lost wages, medical bills, and costs of fixing the other person’s belongings or car.
#2. Uninsured and Underinsured Drivers Coverage
This kind of auto insurance coverage will assist you in covering the higher expenses of repairs when an uninsured or underinsured driver causes an accident. When the at-fault driver lacks auto insurance, an uninsured motorist clause may assist in paying for some accident-related expenses, such as medical bills and repairs. Conversely, an underinsured motorist policy serves the same purpose in situations where the at-fault driver’s insurance is insufficient to cover these similar costs.
#3. Collision Protection
Regardless of who is at fault—you or someone else—this insurance pays for the expense of auto repairs. This policy covers damage from striking a stationary object or another automobile, your car overturning, or another vehicle striking your car. Remember that, in most cases, your premiums and deductible payments for collision coverage policies are inversely correlated; the higher your premiums, the smaller your deductible will be, and vice versa.
#4. All-Encompassing Coverage
Any damage to your car that is not caused by a collision will be covered by the comprehensive coverage provided by Nationwide Auto Insurance. This covers harm from theft, vandalism, falling objects, animal-related accidents, disruptions in the community, and meteorological phenomena like hail and tornadoes.
Pros and Cons of Nationwide Auto Insurance
Pros of Nationwide Auto Insurance:
#1. A Long History of Devoted Customers
Nationwide boasts a rich legacy of devoted patrons, dating back to its establishment in 1926. The company’s Vanishing Deductible program, which encourages safe driving practices, and its On Your Side Review program, which provides policyholders with a free yearly insurance review with a Nationwide agent, are two examples of how committed it is to its clients. Customers of Nationwide Auto Insurance keep renewing their policies with the company for a variety of reasons, including specific deductible options, minor accident forgiveness clauses, and replacement car keys.
Nationwide is ranked among the top 14 in several regions for customer satisfaction in 2022; Nationwide received 850 out of 1,000 points in the Southeast, much higher than the regional average of 849 points and the nationwide average of 834 points. Power placed Nationwide third among major auto insurers in 2023 for offering a positive experience when searching for auto insurance.
#2. Exemplary Client Service
Good customer service starts with how simple it is for a customer to get in touch with the business, and Nationwide Auto Insurance offers several ways for them to do so. These consist of resources such as a Nationwide helpline, internet portals, and an app for filing vehicle claims nationwide. The Better Business Bureau has given Nationwide an A+ rating, which indicates their excellent customer service and appropriate handling of concerns.
#3. There are Several Discounts Offered
Customers of Nationwide Auto Insurance can choose from a variety of auto insurance discounts. One is the multiple-policy discount offered to customers who use the firm for both their auto and home insurance. The anti-theft discount is an additional benefit that policyholders receive for installing anti-theft systems in their cars. In addition, the corporation offers discounts for safe driving, accident-free driving, and unique initiatives like SmartRide and SmartMiles.
Cons of Nationwide Auto Insurance
#1. Not the Cheapest Rates for Minimum Coverage
Nationwide’s rates aren’t the lowest, but they also aren’t the highest. You will pay approximately the national average for a full coverage policy from Nationwide. On the other hand, a minimal coverage policy is marginally less than the national average. The lesson is that you can obtain lower rates than Nationwide, depending on your state and circumstances. For additional details, see our list of the top affordable auto insurance.
#2. Not Offered in all 50 states
It’s interesting to note that despite going by Nationwide, the corporation does not provide auto insurance in all 50 states. Nationwide is not an option for citizens of Louisiana, Massachusetts, Alaska, Hawaii, or Louisiana. In addition, there aren’t many options available in some of the other 46 states that are covered.
About Nationwide Auto Insurance
For certain drivers, especially those looking for options, Nationwide might be a decent option. Telematics and usage-based insurance packages are also provided by the company, along with a wide range of optional coverages and add-ons. This allows drivers to customise their coverage in several ways to meet their unique needs.
Does Nationwide Grant Pardons for Accidents?
Yes, accident forgiveness insurance is offered by Nationwide as a supplemental benefit. Nationwide doesn’t raise auto insurance premiums following your first at-fault collision if you qualify for accident forgiveness. Although there is a fee to add accident forgiveness to your insurance, and the firm does not offer it in all states, if you are concerned about future rate rises following an accident, you could find the increased expense worthwhile.
Does Nationwide Provide Replacement Cars?
In some states, you can add Nationwide’s new car replacement coverage to your policy. If your car is under three years old, this coverage replaces a total vehicle of the same make and model.
Is There a Diminishing Deductible at Nationwide?
Yes, Vanishing Deductible, a decreasing deductible option, is offered by Nationwide. For each year of safe driving, the optional Vanishing Deductible program reduces your collision and comprehensive deductible by $100. There is a $500 maximum deductible.
With this option, your $500 deductible would become $0 if you were to attain five years of coverage without filing a claim. If you end up in an accident and have a Vanishing Deductible, your deductible reward will reset to $100 instead of going back to the initial deductible.
Does Nationwide offer Gap Insurance?
Yes, gap insurance and loan/lease are provided by Nationwide. If your car is totalled, gap insurance fills the difference between the actual cash value (ACV) and the amount you still owe. Consider this optional coverage if you purchase a new automobile and have a sizable auto loan.
Does Nationwide Provide Insurance Based on Usage?
Yes, Nationwide offers an insurance program called SmartRide that is based on usage and, according to the firm, can result in a 40% discount.
Your phone’s SmartRide software tracks your progress and monitors your driving habits. SmartRide monitors your miles driven, braking patterns, sudden acceleration, and nighttime driving for four to six months. At the time of your subsequent policy renewal, Nationwide adds a reduction that, as the company notes, may be zero, but the optional program cannot raise your premiums.
What Is the Cost of Nationwide Auto Insurance?
According to our cost estimates for full coverage plans, 35-year-old drivers with excellent credit and no past traffic violations usually pay $1,433 annually, or $119 monthly, on average, for Nationwide auto insurance. This is less than the $2,008 annual national average.
Cost of Nationwide Insurance
Various factors determine the costs of your auto insurance, so the quotes you get from Nationwide can differ from these estimates. Getting a free, customised quote is the simplest method to determine how much you must spend each month.
Estimates of Nationwide Insurance Quotes by Age
Your age is one aspect that has a big impact on the cost of auto insurance. Younger drivers and policyholders typically pay higher premiums for auto insurance because they lack a safe driving history. According to our cost analysis, Nationwide often has prices far lower than the overall national average for all groups.
Does Nationwide Run Your Credit?
The reason Nationwide is so costly is that insurance firms’ overall costs are rising along with agent commissions. The average Nationwide auto insurance policy costs $890 annually, more than the $671 annual average for a policy with minimal coverage nationwide.
Why is My Nationwide Car Insurance so High?
The reason Nationwide is so costly is that insurance firms’ overall costs are rising along with agent commissions. The average Nationwide auto insurance policy costs $890 annually, more than the $671 annual average for a policy with minimal coverage nationwide.
Conclusion
For most drivers, Nationwide can be a good auto insurance provider. The insurance company offers several special alternatives for add-on coverage, such as accident forgiveness and gap insurance, in addition to other savings options and usage-based programs. Furthermore, the business is financially strong enough to honour consumer claims, as evidenced by AM Best’s A+ financial strength rating.
References
