Nationwide vs. State Farm Car Insurance: Expert Recommended (2023)
Our Nationwide vs. State Farm car insurance guide will help you decide between two great companies when looking at rates based on factors such as age, driving record, and credit score. Nationwide car insurance is a better choice for drivers with bad credit. State Farm is a better choice for drivers with a DUI on their record.
Free Auto Insurance Comparison
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Leslie Kasperowicz
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
Leslie Kasperowicz holds a BA in Social Sciences from the University of Winnipeg. She spent several years as a Farmers Insurance CSR, gaining a solid understanding of insurance products including home, life, auto, and commercial and working directly with insurance customers to understand their needs. She has since used that knowledge in her more than ten years as a writer, largely in the insuranc...
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
UPDATED: Jun 17, 2022
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.
UPDATED: Jun 17, 2022
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Both Nationwide and State Farm have stable financial strength, high customer satisfaction, and low complaint ratios
- State Farm doesn’t discriminate based on gender. Males and females 35 and older and 65 and older pay the same rate
- If you have bad credit, you will pay nearly $1,000 less by choosing Nationwide rather than State Farm
- If you have a DUI on your record, you can save nearly $1,000 by choosing State Farm rather than Nationwide
We all need to take every opportunity to save money, and car insurance is no exception. It’s a flooded market, and you’ve done some research, but now you’re down to the remaining two: Nationwide vs. State Farm car insurance.
Nationwide and State Farm are two of the top 10 best car insurance companies, but how do they compare when it comes to rates, discounts, consumer satisfaction and complaints, mobile apps, and financial strength?
Keep this Nationwide vs. State Farm car insurance review, then enter your ZIP code to start comparing multiple companies in your local area. Is it easier to find affordable State Farm car insurance or affordable Nationwide car insurance? Read on to learn more.
Is Nationwide or State Farm car insurance cheaper based on age?
It’s completely fair for car insurance companies to base rates on your age. After all, the more experience driving we have, the better drivers we become. Some states will also base your car insurance rates on gender and/or marital status, though several states have outlawed this practice.
Age, Gender, and Marital Status | Nationwide Average Annual Rates | State Farm Average Annual Rates |
---|---|---|
Single 17-year-old female | $5,756 | $5,954 |
Single 17-year-old male | $7,175 | $7,324 |
Single 25-year-old female | $2,686 | $2,336 |
Single 25-year-old male | $2,889 | $2,555 |
Married 35-year-old female | $2,360 | $2,082 |
Married 35-year-old male | $2,387 | $2,082 |
Married 60-year-old female | $2,130 | $1,874 |
Married 60-year-old male | $2,215 | $1,874 |
For 25 and older, State Farm car insurance rates are an average of 13 percent cheaper than Nationwide car insurance rates.
Both Nationwide and State Farm are a good choice if you have a teen driver. Rates for teen drivers average about the same for both companies.
Interestingly, with State Farm, males and females 35 and older and 65 and older pay the same rate regardless of gender.
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
Your one-stop online insurance guide. Get free quotes now!
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Is Nationwide or State Farm car insurance cheaper based on driving record?
Speeding tickets, accidents, DUIs, and other traffic violations will increase your Nationwide and State Farm car insurance rates.
Infraction | Nationwide Average Annual Rates | State Farm Average Annual Rates |
---|---|---|
Clean record | $2,746 | $2,821 |
With one speeding violation | $3,114 | $3,186 |
With one accident | $3,397 | $3,396 |
With one DUI | $4,543 | $3,637 |
Both Nationwide and State Farm have about the same car insurance rates for drivers with a speeding ticket or accident on their record.
If you currently have a DUI on your driving record, State Farm is the best choice. Initially, you can save nearly $1,000 by going with State Farm if you have a DUI.
As for current customers, Nationwide and State Farm increase rates about the same for getting a speeding ticket or causing an accident.
However, State Farm is, again, more lenient on drivers that get a DUI. Expect your rates to increase by 65 percent while with Nationwide if you get caught driving under the influence.
Is Nationwide or State Farm car insurance cheaper based on credit score?
Just like gender and marital status, more states are outlawing car insurance rates based on credit score.
Your credit score is a strong reflection of your consistency with paying your bills, but the reason it is being outlawed is that rates quoted by insurance companies assume those with higher credit scores are better drivers.
Credit Score | Nationwide Average Annual Rates | State Farm Average Annual Rates |
---|---|---|
Good Credit (670-739) | $2,926 | $2,174 |
Fair Credit Score (580-669) | $3,255 | $2,853 |
Poor Credit Score (300-579) | $4,083 | $4,951 |
State Farm is a better choice if you currently have good or fair credit. But if you currently have bad credit, steer clear of State Farm.
Nationwide is the better choice if you have bad credit, but not for drivers with good or fair credit. If you choose Nationwide and you currently have good or fair credit, expect to pay between $500 and $800 more on your car insurance.
Also worth noting, if you choose State Farm insurance, you will pay more than double your car insurance rates if your credit score tanks while a customer with State Farm.
While with Nationwide, your car insurance rates will increase by only 40 percent if you experience financial hardship and your credit score drops.
Where you live is the biggest factor in determining your car insurance rates because of state laws. Be sure to check your state car insurance guide before judging Nationwide and State Farm car insurance rates by credit score.
Does Nationwide or State Farm have better car insurance discounts?
Each company has its selling point, and sometimes that comes down to who has the best discount that applies to your specific situation.
Discounts | Nationwide Discounts (Percentage) | State Farm Discounts (Percentage) |
---|---|---|
Anti-lock Brakes | 5 | 5 |
Anti-Theft | 25 | 15 |
Claim Free | 10 | 15 |
Daytime Running Lights | 5 | N/A |
Defensive Driver | 5 | 5 |
Distant Student | 10 | N/A |
Driver's Ed | N/A | 15 |
Driving Device/App | 40 | 50 |
Early Signing | 8 | N/A |
Family Plan | 25 | N/A |
Further Education | 15 | N/A |
Good Student | 10 | 25 |
Homeowner | 5 | 3 |
Low Mileage | N/A | 30 |
Loyalty | 5 | N/A |
Membership/Group | 7 | N/A |
Multiple Policies | 10 | 17 |
Multiple Vehicles | 20 | 20 |
Newer Vehicle | N/A | 40 |
Occupation | 15 | N/A |
Paperless Documents | 5 | N/A |
Paperless/Auto Billing | 30 | 2 |
Passive Restraint | 20 | 40 |
Safe Driver | 35 | 15 |
Students & Alumni | 7 | N/A |
Vehicle Recovery | 25 | 5 |
When reviewing discounts offered by either company, Nationwide has 23 car insurance discounts, and State Farm has only 16 discounts.
State Farm’s best car insurance discounts range from 25 to 50 percent for having multiple vehicles on your policy, being a good student, having low mileage, driving a newer vehicle, and having airbags.
You can also save 50 percent by participating in State Farm’s usage-based car insurance program.
Nationwide’s best car insurance discounts range from 20 to 40 percent for having anti-theft and vehicle recovery systems in your car, having a family plan, being a safe driver, and using paperless billing and auto-pay.
You can also save 40 percent by participating in Nationwide’s usage-based car insurance program.
With the exception of the discount for using their driving app or driving device, Nationwide offers heftier discounts compared to State Farm.
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
Your one-stop online insurance guide. Get free quotes now!
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What types of auto insurance coverages are offered by Nationwide and State Farm?
Since both Nationwide and State Farm are two of the companies that hold the majority of the market share, they will offer many different types of coverages, and that includes the basic six list below:
- Liability auto insurance coverage – bodily injury and property damage
- Comprehensive auto insurance coverage
- Collision auto insurance coverage
- Uninsured/Underinsured auto insurance coverage
- Medical Payments (MedPay) auto insurance coverage – particularly important in states that require no-fault auto insurance
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) auto insurance coverage
Other optional coverages may include rental reimbursement, roadside assistance, guaranteed auto protection (GAP), mechanical breakdown, and recreational vehicles such as ATVs or boats. Be sure to check out Nationwide pet insurance and Nationwide retirement when reviewing coverage options.
Does Nationwide or State Farm have better car insurance mobile apps?
Most of the top 10 car insurance companies have mobile apps to access policy information and/or make payments and a separate mobile app that tracks your driving habits (usage-based car insurance).
If you notice your rate has gone up when it’s time to renew your six-month policy, it could be because your credit score dropped. Use your Nationwide insurance login or State Farm login to temporarily change your coverage levels and deductibles to lower your rate while you start improving your credit score.
If you don’t notice a change in your credit score, and your rates still go up, it may be a good time to get quotes from other insurance providers.
Read our reviews of Nationwide’s SmartRide and State Farm’s Drive Safe & Save usage-based car insurance apps to learn more.
How does Nationwide and State Farm car insurance compare in financial strength and customer satisfaction?
Reviewing ratings from three different agencies will provide you with a good picture of how a car insurance company works with its consumers, handles complaints, and their overall financial strength.
A.M. Best scores companies based on their ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations such as balancing premiums collected and claims paid. The highest score A.M. Best awards is Superior A++.
Consumer Reports collects annual data from its subscribers regarding customer satisfaction of the claims process, step by step. In their 2017 survey, 27 insurance companies were rated, and scores ranged between 86 to 96.
And the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) calculates a complaint ratio based on total number of customers against total number of complaints. In 2017, the national average complaint ratio was 1. The lower the ratio, the better.
So, should you buy Nationwide car insurance or buy State Farm car insurance? Check out the table below.
Rating Agency | Nationwide | State Farm |
---|---|---|
AM Best Rating | A+ | A++ |
Consumer Reports | 88 | 89 |
NAIC Company Complaint Ratio | 0.28 | 0.44 |
NAIC Total Complaints | 25 | 1482 |
Both Nationwide and State Farm are highly competitive based on ratings from financial, consumer, and government agencies. State Farm car insurance quotes and Nationwide car insurance quotes are similar.
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
Your one-stop online insurance guide. Get free quotes now!
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Nationwide vs. State Farm Car Insurance: What’s the bottom line?
State Farm consistently performs well on industry surveys by J.D. Power and has an A+ rating from the BBB and an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best. State Farm complaints are also substantially below the industry average.
Nationwide is well known for its auto insurance policies NextAdvisor named it one of the best car insurance companies because of its customizable policy, discount potential, college-aged driver pricing, and positive customer ratings. However, Nationwide ranked last among large insurers in the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study℠ , which determines customer satisfaction with each stage of the shopping experience. The insurer is known for its affordable rates and high scores in J.D. Power customer satisfaction surveys
Please consult a licensed insurer or producer regarding any insurance product.
Now that you’ve finished this Nationwide vs. State Farm company review, use our FREE comparison tool to compare car insurance companies in your area.
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
Your one-stop online insurance guide. Get free quotes now!
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Leslie Kasperowicz
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
Leslie Kasperowicz holds a BA in Social Sciences from the University of Winnipeg. She spent several years as a Farmers Insurance CSR, gaining a solid understanding of insurance products including home, life, auto, and commercial and working directly with insurance customers to understand their needs. She has since used that knowledge in her more than ten years as a writer, largely in the insuranc...
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.