Nationwide Vs. Geico

Key Points:

• Geico stands out for its industry reputation and variety of discounts.
• Nationwide offers a wide range of insurance coverage options and accident forgiveness.
• Geico outperforms Nationwide in J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction ratings.

Nationwide and Geico are well known in the auto industry, but when it comes down to it, which car insurance company is a better choice for you? In this review, we compare Nationwide and Geico based on coverage, pricing, and more. Both providers made it into our rankings for the nation’s 12 best car insurance companies In the end, though, you only need one to insure you and your vehicle.

When you’re ready to start comparing car insurance quotes in your area, follow the link above.

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Nationwide And Geico Overview

When we reviewed Nationwide and Geico individually, we found Nationwide car insurance to be the best choice on the market for seniors and Geico to be the best choice overall. Let’s see if those rankings hold true as we compare Nationwide vs. Geico.

The table below summarizes our review scores for each insurer. Compare the two at a glance:

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Nationwide Vs. Geico: Coverage

Both Nationwide and Geico provide standard coverage including liability auto insurance, collision insurance, and more. You can also get roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement with either auto insurance company.

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Standout Coverage From Nationwide

Below are some unique coverage options from Nationwide: 

• Accident forgiveness: This type of coverage protects your car insurance rates from skyrocketing after your first at-fault accident.
• Vanishing deductible: This reduces your deductible by $100, up to a maximum of $500, for every year spent driving safely.
• Total loss deductible: When your car is deemed a total loss due to a covered accident, you won’t have to pay a comprehensive or collision deductible.

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Standout Coverage From Geico

Below is a unique coverage option from Geico: 

• Mechanical breakdown insurance: This type of coverage protects you from paying the cost of car repairs out-of-pocket after a mechanical breakdown.

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Nationwide Vs. Geico: Cost And Discounts

In our research, we discovered that Geico car insurance has more affordable average rates than Nationwide. But anytime you compare insurance providers, you should see if you’re eligible for any discounts that can affect your premium and net you cheaper rates overall. The following table compares Nationwide and Geico car insurance discounts.

Geico has more discounts available than Nationwide to help drivers get lower auto insurance rates overall. Here are a few discounts we like from each company:

• Nationwide defensive driving discount: If you complete a pre-approved defensive driving course, you could save money on your car insurance rates.
• Geico military discounts: If you’re an active-duty or retired military member, you could save money on car insurance from Geico. Additionally, If you’re in the military and deployed, you could qualify for a discount.
• Geico vehicle safety discounts: Cars with anti-theft devices, anti-lock brakes, seatbelts, or daytime running lights qualify for various discounts.

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nationwides-smartride^®-vs-geicos-driveeasy">Nationwide’s SmartRide^® Vs Geico’s DriveEasy

When comparing Nationwide vs. Geico, you should take a look at the safe driving telematics programs offered by each provider. By driving safely while logged into the mobile app or using a plug-in device, you can save on your car insurance premium.

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Nationwide Vs. Geico: Ratings And Reviews

When rated by industry experts, Nationwide and Geico both perform well across multiple categories.

The BBB rates auto insurance companies based on business practices and transparency, while AM Best scores based on a company’s ability to pay out claims.

To give you some more clarity, we used J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study℠ to compare Nationwide and Geico by region for customer satisfaction. Use the chart below to see how each provider performed in your area based on a 1,000-point scale.

Geico won in almost every region in the U.S. for overall customer satisfaction, which is an important consideration when trying to choose between Nationwide vs Geico.

Nationwide Insurance Reviews

As a large auto insurance provider, Nationwide has a mix of positive and negative customer reviews online. We analyzed reviews on BBB and found common themes among them. Positive reviews mention Nationwide’s strong customer service and quick claims process. Unhappy Nationwide customers complain about random rate hikes.

Geico Insurance Reviews

Like Nationwide, Geico also has its fair share of positive and negative reviews from customers. Satisfied Geico customers mention Geico’s professionalism and efficiency, while negative reviews cite coverage issues during the claims process. 

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Nationwide Vs. Geico: Our Take

We’ve rated both Nationwide and Geico highly for coverage, cost, and customer satisfaction. While Nationwide has more coverage options, Geico pulls ahead in reputation and selection of discounts. All in all, we think Geico is the better overall provider when choosing between Nationwide vs. Geico.

Keep in mind that your own car insurance rates depend on a number of different factors, like your driving record, credit score, whether you choose a minimum coverage policy or full coverage, and more. It’s worth getting quotes from both companies and comparing coverage to see which one offers lower rates for your driver profile. 

Use the tool below to start comparing car insurance quotes.

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Top Auto Insurance Companies

It’s always smart to compare quotes from multiple providers to be sure you’re choosing the company with the cheapest car insurance for you. Nationwide and Geico are strong options, but you should also consider getting auto insurance quotes from USAA and Progressive.

USAA: Best For Military Members

Our research found that USAA car insurance is the best choice for military members, veterans, and their immediate family members. If you qualify, you can customize your car insurance policy to have standard coverage and add-ons like roadside assistance and accident forgiveness.

USAA offers competitive discounts, like up to 15 percent off if you park your car on a military base and safe driving savings through the SafePilot^® app. Learn more about the provider in our complete USAA auto insurance review.

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Progressive: Best For Usage-Based Insurance

After doing our homework, we think Progressive is the best provider for usage-based insurance. The Snapshot^® program monitors safe driving habits (through a mobile app or plug-in device) to see if you qualify for discounts and never works against you to raise car insurance rates. This is an important distinction, as some usage-based insurance products can lead to higher premiums. 

We also like Progressive’s approach to accident forgiveness. In most states, drivers automatically receive small accident forgiveness. This means premiums stay the same if the accident claim is less than or equal to $500. Large accident forgiveness (for claims greater than $500) is available to policyholders who stay with Progressive for at least five years and go accident-free during that time. Learn more in our full Progressive auto insurance review.

Read more: Geico vs. Progressive

To collect and compare quotes from providers available in your state, use the tool below:

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Nationwide Vs. Geico: FAQ

Below are some frequently asked questions about Nationwide vs. Geico:

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How We Rate Insurers

Our review process aims to deliver consistent and unbiased assessments of car insurance providers. While there are multiple qualities that make a car insurance company successful, our review team focuses on those we believe are the most important for consumers:

• Cost: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.
• Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.
• Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
• Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer easy-to-use claims apps.

*Data accurate at time of publication.

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