Nationwide vs. Travelers Car Insurance (2023)

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. Travelers car insurance.

Nationwide and Travelers 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?

Before jumping into this Nationwide vs. Travelers car insurance review, enter your ZIP code to start comparing multiple companies in your local area.

Is Nationwide or Travelers 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.

For 25 and older, Travelers car insurance rates are an average of 9 percent cheaper than Nationwide car insurance rates.

Nationwide car insurance is a better choice if you have a young driver. Travelers teen car insurance rates are 70 percent higher than Nationwide.

Is Nationwide or Travelers car insurance cheaper based on driving record?

Speeding tickets, accidents, DUIs, and other traffic violations will increase your Nationwide and Travelers car insurance rates.

Nationwide is the better option if you have a poor driving record. Travelers’ car insurance rates are around $1000 more per year than Nationwide when it comes to having different infractions on your driving record.

As for current customers, Nationwide and Travelers increase rates about the same for getting a speeding ticket, causing an accident, or getting a DUI. Nationwide is a little more forgiving (13 percent increase) when it comes to speeding tickets.

Is Nationwide or Travelers 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.

Nationwide is a better choice if you currently have any type of credit.

However, once you are with Nationwide, your car insurance rates will increase by 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 Travelers car insurance rates by credit score.

Does Nationwide or Travelers have better car insurance discounts?

Each company has their selling point, and sometimes that comes down to who has the best discount that applies to your specific situation.

When reviewing discounts offered by either company, Nationwide has 24 car insurance discounts, and Travelers has only 17 discounts.

Nationwide offers heftier discounts compared to Travelers.

Travelers’ best car insurance discounts range from 15 to 30 percent for having continuous coverage, making payments on time, being claim-free, or being a safe driver.

You can also save 30 percent by participating in Travelers’ usage-based car insurance program.

Nationwide’s best car insurance discounts range from 25 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.

What types of auto insurance coverages are offered by Nationwide and Travelers?

Since both Nationwide and Travelers 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 listed 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 Travelers 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 Travelers insurance 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 Travelers’ IntelliDrive usage-based car insurance apps to learn more.

How does Nationwide and Travelers 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.

Both Nationwide and Travelers are highly competitive based on ratings from consumer and government agencies. Nationwide earns an A+ for financial stability.

Now that you’ve finished this Nationwide vs. Travelers car insurance review, use our FREE comparison tool to compare car insurance companies in your area.