Nationwide Auto Insurance Review

Last Updated on October 16, 2026

By James Shaffer · Reviewed by Thomas Rockford, insurance industry executive and financial analyst, on October 5, 2026 · How we fact-check

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (“Nationwide”) is a mutual insurer headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1926, Nationwide has been insuring drivers for nearly a century from One Nationwide Plaza. One thing to know about the name on your policy: Nationwide says plainly that not all of its affiliated companies are mutual companies, so check which one is writing yours. The company sells auto insurance (plus home, renters, life, and more) and is known for flexible add-ons, strong digital tools, and popular usage-based options like SmartRide® and SmartMiles®.

Note: Despite the name, Nationwide auto insurance isn’t sold in every state. Availability and coverages can vary by location, so it’s smart to confirm eligibility and options using your ZIP code.

Nationwide Auto Insurance at a Glance

• Best for: Drivers who want lots of optional coverages, strong online/mobile account tools, and telematics or pay-per-mile options.
• Biggest strengths: Customizable coverage, SmartRide® safe-driving discounts, SmartMiles® pay-per-mile pricing for low-mileage drivers, and solid financial ratings.
• Potential drawbacks: Pricing and customer experience can vary by state and driver profile, and some specialty programs (and endorsements) may not be available everywhere.

Types of Auto Insurance Coverage Offered by Nationwide

Nationwide offers the standard car insurance coverages you’d expect from a large national insurer, plus a long list of optional add-ons. Not every coverage is available in every state, and if you have a loan or lease, your lender may require certain protections (like collision and comprehensive).

Coverage That Typically Meets State Requirements

• Bodily Injury Liability: Required in most states, bodily injury liability coverage helps pay for injuries you cause to others, including medical bills and lost wages, up to your policy limits.
• Property Damage Liability: Also required in most states, property damage liability helps pay for damage you cause to someone else’s vehicle or property (like a fence or building).
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Required in some no-fault states, personal injury protection can help cover medical costs (and sometimes lost income) for you and your passengers after an accident—regardless of fault.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist: Required in some states, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages help protect you if you’re hit by a driver with no insurance or not enough insurance to cover the damage.

Coverage for Injuries and Your Vehicle

• Medical Payments (MedPay): Medical payments coverage can help pay medical bills for you and your passengers after an accident, regardless of fault (availability varies by state).
• Collision Coverage: Optional in all states, collision coverage helps pay to repair or replace your vehicle after a crash with another vehicle or object (subject to your deductible).
• Comprehensive Coverage: Also optional, comprehensive coverage (sometimes called “other than collision”) helps cover non-crash damage like theft, vandalism, hail, falling objects, and animal-related incidents.

Optional Add-Ons and Endorsements

Depending on your state, Nationwide may offer a wide range of add-ons that can make a “basic” policy feel much more like full protection:

• Towing and Labor Coverage: Optional towing and labor coverage can help reimburse towing and certain roadside-related labor costs after a covered breakdown or claim (details vary by policy).
• Rental Car Expense: Nationwide rental car coverage (also called transportation expense or loss of use in some states) can help pay for a rental while your vehicle is being repaired after a covered claim.
• Gap Insurance (Loan/Lease Payoff): If your vehicle is totaled, gap coverage can help pay the “gap” between your payout and what you still owe on your loan or lease. Nationwide does sell it, which not every big insurer does, but its own page limits it to “select states” and to vehicles six years old or less.
• Accident Forgiveness: Nationwide accident forgiveness may help you avoid a rate increase after your first at-fault accident. It isn’t free, though: Nationwide says “you have to buy it as an addition to your regular auto insurance policy,” it “can only be used once per policy,” and it’s available in select states.
• Roadside Assistance: Nationwide roadside assistance covers towing, jump starts, lockouts and flat tire help, and Nationwide calls it 24-hour emergency roadside assistance. Watch how the limits are written: Nationwide sets them in dollars rather than tow miles, and the examples on its own page are $75 of coverage for Basic and $300 for Plus in Virginia, or $100 for Basic in North Carolina. Trip interruption runs up to 72 hours and no more than $100 a day for meals and lodging.
• Vanishing Deductible: Nationwide takes $100 off your comprehensive or collision deductible for every year of safe driving, up to $500 total. The first $100 lands 30 days after you add it, and an accident resets the credit to $100 rather than wiping it out. It’s a paid option.
• Total Loss Deductible Waiver: If your car is a total loss, this feature may waive your physical damage deductible (collision or comprehensive), depending on your policy.
• Glass/Windshield Coverage: Some policies and states allow lower (or waived) deductibles for glass repair or replacement. If you want specifics, see Nationwide windshield repair/replacement details.
• Non-Owner Car Insurance: If you don’t own a car but frequently rent or borrow vehicles, Nationwide non-owner insurance can help you maintain liability coverage.
• SR-22/FR-44 Filings: If you need to prove financial responsibility, ask the agent. Nationwide’s own guide says “it’s up to your car insurance company to file an SR-22 form for you” and warns of a one-time filing charge, but it doesn’t say which states Nationwide will file in. FR-44s are used only in Florida and Virginia, mostly after an impaired-driving conviction. Our guide to Nationwide SR-22/FR-44 coverage has more.
• New Car Replacement or Similar Options: Some insurers offer “new car replacement” or “better car replacement” style endorsements that may pay more than actual cash value after a total loss. If you’re comparing carriers, it helps to understand new car replacement coverage and ask what Nationwide offers in your state.
• Rideshare Coverage: If you drive for Uber, Lyft or a similar app, ask your agent whether Nationwide offers rideshare coverage in your state. Rideshare coverage is designed to help address insurance gaps that can happen when your app is on and you’re working, since a standard personal auto policy may not cover “for-hire” driving and app-provided coverage can vary by trip stage.

What Makes Nationwide’s Auto Insurance Stand Out?

Nationwide’s biggest differentiators are its usage-based insurance programs and its long list of practical add-ons for drivers who want more than “basic” coverage.

SmartRide® Usage-Based Insurance

Nationwide’s telematics program, SmartRide®, can reward safe driving habits with meaningful discounts. Nationwide advertises an instant 10% discount when you enroll and the potential to save up to 40% based on your driving behavior at renewal. You can take part through the app, a plug-in device or an eligible connected car. The rules differ in a few states: the program criteria aren’t the same in California or North Carolina, the discount can go down at renewal in Virginia and Washington, and in Michigan and Washington the driving-behavior part only shows up at renewal. If you’re wondering whether the program is worth it (and what data is tracked), see our breakdown of Nationwide SmartRide savings.

SmartMiles® Pay-Per-Mile Pricing

If you drive less than average—because you work from home, carpool, or have a second vehicle—SmartMiles® may be a better fit than traditional pricing. SmartMiles generally uses a base rate + a per-mile rate, so your monthly bill changes with how much you drive. It’s a form of telematics-based pricing, so make sure you’re comfortable with mileage tracking. If you’re comparing programs, start with this guide on whether usage-based car insurance is right for you.

Important: Nationwide names the gaps. SmartMiles isn’t available in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, New York or Oklahoma. Mileage is tracked by a device or an eligible connected car, and the program carries its own safe-driving discount of up to 10% after the first renewal.

How Much Are Nationwide’s Auto Insurance Rates?

Nationwide’s rates can be competitive, but your price depends heavily on your state, ZIP code, driving record, credit-based insurance score (where allowed), vehicle, mileage, deductibles, and coverage limits. The most accurate way to price Nationwide is to run a quote and compare it with at least two other insurers using the same coverages and deductibles.

What’s changed since older “average rate” articles: Car insurance prices have climbed significantly across the industry, driven by higher repair costs, parts prices, medical costs, and claim severity. That’s why older rate estimates (even from just a few years ago) often look low today.

Recent third-party studies show different “average” Nationwide premiums depending on methodology and driver profile. For example:

• For scale, Bankrate’s True Cost of Auto Insurance study put the national average for full coverage at $2,638 a year in its February 2025 release, up 12% from $2,349. That is an industry average, not a Nationwide figure.
• NerdWallet’s Nationwide review puts full coverage at $2,663 a year, or $222 a month, and minimum coverage at $80 a month, on an October 2026 analysis of a 35-year-old driver with a clean record and good credit.

Use these as ballpark context, not a guarantee. They come from rate studies, each priced on its own sample driver, so don’t average them against each other. No official source publishes an average premium by company, and Nationwide publishes no rates of its own. Your quote could be much lower or higher depending on where you live and your rating factors.

Nationwide’s Auto Insurance Discounts

Nationwide offers a variety of ways to save, and discount availability can vary by state and policy. For a full list and eligibility details, see Nationwide car insurance discounts.

Common discounts and savings opportunities may include:

• Multi-Policy (Bundling): Nationwide says customers “save an average of $1,032” when they bundle home and auto, which makes this the biggest single discount it puts a number on. If you’re comparing providers, start here: best companies to bundle home and auto insurance.
• SmartRide®: Telematics discounts based on safe driving habits (often includes an enrollment discount, with additional savings possible over time).
• SmartMiles® (Low Mileage): If you drive very little, you may save with pay-per-mile pricing or other low-mileage discounts. Learn more: discounts for driving very little.
• Claims-Free / Accident-Free: Many insurers reward drivers who go years without filing claims. Here’s how the claims-free discount typically works.
• Good Student: Younger drivers who maintain strong grades may qualify. Details: good student discount.
• Defensive Driving Course: Completing an approved course may lower premiums, especially for older drivers in some states. Details: defensive driving discounts explained.
• Anti-Theft / Security Devices: Certain vehicle anti-theft features may earn a discount. Details: anti-theft device discounts.
• Safe Driver History: A long stretch of clean driving can translate to better rates. Details: good driver discounts.
• Automatic Payments: Some drivers can save by setting up autopay. More info: automatic payment options.
• Paperless Billing: Going digital may qualify you for a small discount in some cases. Details: paperless billing discounts.

Pros and Cons of Nationwide Auto Insurance

Nationwide Reviews and Third-Party Ratings

Nationwide tends to receive a mix of feedback—often because pricing, claims handling, and agent support can differ by state, claim type, and the specific affiliate underwriting the policy. A good way to evaluate Nationwide is to look at several types of signals (not just star ratings on one site):

• Customer satisfaction studies: J.D. Power publishes annual satisfaction studies that break results into regions and segments. In the 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, published June 9, 2026, Nationwide ranked highest in the usage-based insurance segment with 711 points. It had also won Texas in the 2025 study, but in 2026 that region went to the Automobile Club of Southern California.
• Digital experience: Nationwide ranked highest in the service segment of J.D. Power’s 2025 digital experience study with 730 points. In the 2026 edition it came second with 723, behind Amica and ahead of GEICO.
• Financial strength: A.M. Best affirmed a Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent), outlook stable, for Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and the members of its property and casualty group on November 7, 2025. That is the rating standing behind a car policy. Nationwide’s own ratings page shows A+ for its life companies, which is a different set of entities.
• Complaints and licensing: To review complaint ratios and licensing information, use the NAIC’s Consumer Insurance Search, which covers complaints, licenses and financial health.
• BBB profile: The Better Business Bureau rates Nationwide A+, and the company has been BBB accredited since September 1, 1955. Its profile showed 111 complaints in the last three years when we checked on October 5, 2026. Here is the listing. BBB letter grades and customer reviews measure different things, so it’s worth reading the details.

FAQs on Nationwide Auto Insurance

Nationwide Contact Information

If you’re an existing policyholder, the fastest path is usually the Nationwide mobile app or your online account. Every number below is one Nationwide publishes on its own phone directory, checked October 5, 2026. If you find a different Nationwide number on a directory or review site, use the one on your ID card instead.

Final Word on Nationwide’s Auto Insurance

Nationwide is a strong contender for drivers who want flexible coverage add-ons, strong digital servicing, and telematics options that can reward safe driving or low mileage. That said, pricing and customer experience can be very state-specific, so it’s worth comparing quotes—and making sure you’re comparing the same limits, deductibles, and coverages. My advice is to settle the telematics question first. If you drive well under the average, ask for a SmartMiles quote next to the standard one, because that comparison usually tells you more than anything else on this page.

To learn more about Nationwide or request a quote, contact Nationwide today.

Sources

Checked October 5, 2026

• Nationwide — About Us
• Nationwide — Phone Numbers and Hours
• Nationwide — Auto Discounts
• Nationwide — SmartRide
• Nationwide — SmartMiles
• Nationwide — Gap Insurance
• Nationwide — Roadside Assistance
• Nationwide — Accident Forgiveness
• Nationwide — Vanishing Deductible
• Nationwide — What an SR-22 Is
• AM Best — Nationwide Property and Casualty Rating Affirmation, November 7, 2025
• J.D. Power — 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, June 9, 2026
• J.D. Power — 2025 U.S. Insurance Digital Experience Study, May 14, 2025
• J.D. Power — 2026 Edition, May 13, 2026
• NAIC — Consumer Insurance Search
• BBB — Nationwide Profile
• NerdWallet — Nationwide Auto Insurance Review, October 2026
• Bankrate — National Average Cost of Car Insurance in the United States Reaches 2638 Up 12 from 2024, February 10, 2025