Nationwide Vs. State Farm
Nationwide and State Farm are both reputable insurance providers, but State Farm coverage carries higher ratings and offers more affordable coverage.
Find out if you’re paying too much for auto insurance here.
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Key Points:
- Both Nationwide and State Farm offer usage-based programs that reward safe driving by lowering your rates.
- Nationwide has non-standard coverage options that may save you additional money, like vanishing deductibles.
- While State Farm is slightly more affordable, both providers have fairly comparable rates overall, so the discounts you qualify for may become your deciding factor.
Nationwide and State Farm are two of the most popular auto insurance companies in the industry. Each has a wide selection of coverage options and unique discounts, so deciding which company is better is ultimately up to the driver.
In this article, we look at Nationwide vs. State Farm to help you find the car insurance coverage that’s right for you. We’ll also discuss our other picks for best car insurance companies in the industry.
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Nationwide Vs. State Farm Highlights
Nationwide and State Farm both made our list for the best car insurance, and now we’re pitting the providers head to head. For drivers under the age of 25, State Farm auto insurance takes the win with great discounts and a safe driving program. But other drivers may find better coverage with Nationwide car insurance.
Here’s a quick overview of each insurer before we get into the details:
| Nationwide | State Farm | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 4.4 | 4.7 |
| Availability | 47 states | 50 states |
| Coverage | 4.5 | 4.6 |
| Cost | 4.1 | 4.3 |
| Customer Service | 4.3 | 4.5 |
| AM Best Financial Strength Rating | A | A++ |
| 2023 J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction Score | 875/1,000 | 891/1,000 |
| Mobile App Google Play Rating | 4.4 | 4.7 |
| Mobile App App Store Rating | 4.7 | 4.8 |
*Although State Farm advertises nationwide availability, the company is no longer taking on new customers in Massachusetts or Rhode Island.
Nationwide Vs. State Farm: Coverage Comparison
You can find standard coverage options at Nationwide and State Farm, as well as roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement. The table below shows a complete Nationwide vs. State Farm insurance product comparison:
| Nationwide | State Farm | |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily Injury Liability (BI) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Property Damage Liability (PD) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Collision | ✓ | ✓ |
| Comprehensive | ✓ | ✓ |
| Personal Injury Protection (PIP) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Medical Payments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Roadside Assistance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rental Car Reimbursement | ✓ | ✓ |
| Accident Forgiveness | ✓ | |
| Gap Insurance | ✓ | |
| Vanishing Deductible | ✓ | |
| Towing and Labor | ✓ | |
| Total Loss Deductible Waiver | ✓ | |
| Rideshare Insurance | ✓ |
While Nationwide has more policy add-ons beyond the standard offerings, you may not want or need these extra choices. Learn more about the non-standard coverage options mentioned in the chart above:
- Accident forgiveness insurance: This type of coverage from Nationwide can help you avoid an increase in car insurance rates after your first at-fault accident.
- Vanishing deductible: Nationwide’s vanishing deductible program decreases your car insurance deductible by $100 for every year of accident-free driving (up to $500).
- Total loss deductible waiver: If you purchase this type of coverage with a Nationwide auto insurance policy, you won’t have to pay the comprehensive or collision deductible if your car is declared a total loss after an accident.
- Rideshare insurance: Uber and Lyft drivers will find the coverage they need with State Farm. This insurance covers your passengers’ medical bills after an accident, as well as rental cars.
Nationwide Vs. State Farm: Cost And Discounts
Full coverage insurance costs are similar between Nationwide and State Farm. State Farm offers cheaper liability insurance on average and drivers with a speeding ticket pay higher rates with Nationwide.
The full coverage and liability insurance quotes below are based on a 30-year-old driver with good credit, a clean driving record, and a 2020 Honda CRV. We also show how coverage options, age, and driving history can impact rates for each company. See average rates for both providers below:
| Nationwide
Annual Rate | State Farm
Annual Rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Full coverage insurance | $1,674 | $1,680 |
| Liability coverage | $770 | $684 |
| Full coverage for drivers age 16 | $6,541 | $6,289 |
| Full coverage for drivers with one ticket | $2,149 | $1,889 |
We found that State Farm generally has more affordable liability car insurance than Nationwide, but the two providers have comparable pricing overall. The discounts you qualify for can help determine which provider offers the best rates for you.
Here’s a look at Nationwide vs. State Farm when it comes to discounts:
| Nationwide | State Farm | |
|---|---|---|
| Safe Driver | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vehicle Safety | ✓ | |
| Anti-Theft Devices | ✓ | ✓ |
| Defensive Driving | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multiple Policy | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multiple Vehicle | ✓ | ✓ |
| Good Student | ✓ | ✓ |
| Driver Training | ✓ | |
| Accident-Free | ✓ | ✓ |
| Student Away At School | ✓ | |
| Passive Restraints | ✓ | |
| Automatic Payments | ✓ | |
| New Car |
When comparing Nationwide and State Farm, we’re glad to see that both companies offer discounts for multi-policy discounts for bundling. This means if you can get reduced auto insurance rates for combining renters insurance, homeowners insurance, and life insurance. The company also offers insurance discounts for being a good driver and a good student.
Nationwide’s automatic payment discount helps policyholders save on car insurance, and State Farm has great student discounts for drivers that maintain good grades and those who leave vehicles at home while away at school.
Nationwide SmartRide® Vs. State Farm Drive Safe & Save™
Both State Farm and Nationwide offer usage-based driving programs that can help reduce your premiums. The details of each program differ slightly:
| Nationwide
SmartRide | State Farm
Drive Safe & Save | |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Through the Nationwide mobile app or plug-in device | Through the Drive Safe & Save mobile app or connected car |
| Discount | 10 percent off for signing up and
up to 40 percent off for safe driving | A discount for signing up
(amount may depend on driver) and up to 30 percent off for safe driving |
| Ratings | 4.4 stars on Google Play,
4.7 on the App Store | 4.7 stars on Google Play,
4.8 on the App Store |
Nationwide also has a pay-per-mile program called SmartMiles® , which saves you money if you don’t drive often. With SmartMiles, you only pay a base rate of $60, plus $0.07 per mile you drive monthly.
And in addition to Drive Safe & Save, another State Farm offering is the Steer Clear® program for drivers under 25 years old. The educational training app improves driving skills and reinforces safe driving habits by rewarding young drivers with discounts.
Nationwide Vs. State Farm: Ratings And Reviews
You can learn a lot from an auto insurance company’s industry reputation. Both Nationwide and State Farm come highly recommended from professionals like AM Best and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). AM Best assesses financial strength, or a company’s ability to pay out on claims, and the BBB reviews business practices and transparency, among other factors.
| Nationwide | State Farm | |
|---|---|---|
| AM Best Financial Strength Rating | A | A++ |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A |
For customer service ratings, let’s take a look at J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance StudySM, which measures satisfaction by region. The study focused on customer satisfaction with interactions, policy offerings, price, billing process and policy information, and claims. All ratings were based on a 1,000-point scale.
| Region | Nationwide | State Farm |
|---|---|---|
| California | 794 | 826 |
| Central | 792 | 833 |
| Florida | - | 833 |
| Mid-Atlantic | 820 | 843 |
| New England | - | 829 |
| New York | 800 | 826 |
| North Central | 821 | 837 |
| Northwest | - | 821 |
| Southeast | 834 | 847 |
| Southwest | 783 | 835 |
| Texas | - | 838 |
As you can see, State Farm bested Nationwide in every region in the United States, although some regions were close.
Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are a helpful resource when comparing providers to find your idea car insurance policy. We’ve read and summarized the positive and negative customer reviews on the BBB pages for both providers.
The positive reviews for Nationwide cite efficient, professional customer service, while negative reviews mention a slow claims process.
State Farm’s happy customers mention longtime loyalty due to positive and professional staff interactions, and negative reviews mention price increases.
Nationwide Vs. State Farm: Our Take
Nationwide and State Farm are both well-regarded insurers with strong industry reputations and stable financial ratings. While Nationwide offers a wider selection of coverages, State Farm typically offers lower rates and boasts better customer reviews.
| Category | Nationwide vs. State Farm |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Nationwide |
| Cost And Discounts | State Farm |
| Quotes And Claims Processes | State Farm |
| Ratings And Customer Reviews | State Farm |
| Overall | State Farm |
Ultimately, we think State Farm is the better choice for most drivers, but you may prefer Nationwide based on your needs and qualifying discounts. We recommend getting quotes from both Nationwide and State Farm so that you can compare your own coverage and rates.
Beyond the car insurance company that you choose, factors like your age, vehicle make and model, and driving history can affect the quotes you receive, so what’s right for someone else may not be right for you.
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Other Recommended Car Insurance Companies
When you’re shopping for car insurance, it’s smart to get quotes from multiple providers. After you’ve compared Nationwide and State Farm, take a look at Geico and Progressive, two auto insurance providers that performed highly in our industry review.
Geico: Best For Basic coverage
After doing our homework, we gave Geico our Best for Basic Coverage award due to the company’s affordable and flexible liability coverage. The company scored a 4.5 out of a possible 5.0, with high scores in the reliability and coverage availability categories.
Geico has strong reviews from experts like AM Best and the BBB. Standard coverage is available in addition to roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and mechanical breakdown insurance. Plus, Geico has usage-based car insurance through the DriveEasy® mobile app in some states.
To learn more, read our full Geico review.
Progressive: Best For Usage-Based Insurance
Those who drive a little less than average can find affordable coverage with Progressive. In fact, we named the provider Best for Usage-Based Insurance coverage.
Progressive has high marks from AM Best. In addition to standard coverage, you can get things like towing and labor, custom parts and equipment value, and more. We also like Progressive’s tech like the Name Your Price® tool, which allows you to start your search for free quotes with your budget.
To learn more, read our full Progressive insurance review.
To compare these two car insurance companies, check out our review of Geico vs Progressive.
Nationwide Vs. State Farm: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about the differences between Nationwide and State Farm.
Which is cheaper: State Farm or Nationwide?
While both State Farm and Nationwide have similar rates, our team found State Farm to be slightly more affordable. Both providers offer discounts for safe driving and more.
Which insurance company has the highest customer satisfaction?
Between State Farm and Nationwide, State Farm has higher customer satisfaction. We gave State Farm a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, for his customer service, which is higher than many other industry providers’ ratings.
Is Nationwide the same as State Farm?
No, Nationwide is not the same as State Farm. While they offer similar services within the same industry, they are not affiliated with one another.
How We Rate Auto Insurers
Our review team extensively researches auto insurance providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:
- 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.
- Availability: Insurance companies that offer wider availability to consumers in terms of state availability and few eligibility requirements are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- 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.
- Pricing: 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.
- 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 a smooth experience.
- Technology: Providers with an online quote tool, easy-to-use claims app and a usage-based insurance app score best in this category.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
