2023 Nationwide Review

Based on our Nationwide review, the provider can serve as a one-stop shop for your insurance needs but when it comes to customer service, it’s a mixed bag. Nationwide ranked below average for overall customer satisfaction in J.D Power studies, yet still managed to receive favorable ratings by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for its home and auto insurance products.

Read about the various other offerings Nationwide has, including discounts and insurance types.

Nationwide auto insurance review summary: Nationwide offers the essential auto insurance coverages needed by most drivers. However, it should be noted that Nationwide underperformed in several regions for overall customer satisfaction among major carriers according to a recent J.D. Power study. Still, it received a relatively low number of complaints for a company its size so Nationwide may be a better insurance carrier in some regions more than others. Nationwide home insurance review summary: Any basic coverage you need for your home can be found at Nationwide. Those seeking insurance from Nationwide will be happy to hear that the company has relatively few homeowner insurance complaints, although it did rank below average in a J.D. Power study. That said, similar to its auto insurance product, the company has an exceptional complaint index score so it could be that Nationwide’s subpar performance is highly locational.

Nationwide Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Diverse product range	Certain insurance products unavailable in some states
Excellent financial stability[1]	Relatively low rating for overall customer satisfaction
Online and mobile access
Has over 11,000 independent agents[2]

About Nationwide

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, commonly known as Nationwide, was founded in 1926 as Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Company.^[3] Over the past 90 years, Nationwide has expanded its services to include a wide range of insurance and financial products, becoming one of the largest insurance and financial services companies in the world. Today, Nationwide is well-known for its diverse product offerings, including commercial coverage, life insurance, retirement savings and asset management.

Availability

Nationwide has fairly wide availability across the country. However, availability will vary by coverage. For instance, car insurance is not available in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana or Massachusetts.^[4] Home insurance is unavailable in Alaska, Hawaii, New Mexico, Louisiana, Florida, New Jersey and Massachusetts.^[5][6]

Coverage

Nationwide provides a comprehensive range of insurance options, catering to a wide array of needs for those seeking insurance coverage. We have compiled a detailed list of the insurance products offered by Nationwide.

Auto insurance	Personal umbrella insurance
Classic car insurance	Travel insurance
Boat insurance	Pet insurance
Snowmobile insurance	Identity theft insurance
ATV insurance	Dental insurance
Motorcycle insurance	Flood insurance
RV insurance	Term insurance
Personal watercraft insurance	Universal insurance
Scooter insurance	Whole insurance
Golf cart insurance	Long-term insurance
Homeowners insurance	Condo insurance
Renters insurance	Commercial auto insurance
Commercial property insurance	Business owners policy
General liability insurance	Workers compensation insurance
Business income insurance	Commercial crime insurance
Employment practice liability insurance	Cyber liability insurance
Errors and omissions insurance	Equipment breakdown insurance
Commercial umbrella insurance	Inland marine insurance
Builder’s risk insurance	Surety bond

Consumer Experience

Line of Business	J.D. Power Score (Out of 1,000)[7][8]	NAIC Complaint Index[9]	NAIC Share of Complaints in U.S. Market[9]
General	N/A	1.22	0.11%
Auto	806*	0.64	0.29%
Home	812	0.23	0.08%

^{*Score is the average of the 7 regions profiled}

Customer Service

Nationwide members can use the company's Learning Center to get answers to their insurance questions. Along with insurance educational resources, Nationwide also offers informative pages on investments, cyber resources and emergency planning.

In a recent J.D. Power study that measures overall customer satisfaction among major insurance carriers, Nationwide did not fare well, either in auto or home insurance, getting below-average scores in respective areas. However, it is worth noting that Nationwide’s homeowners insurance complaints via the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) were low for a company with its market share.

Features

In addition to insurance products, consumers can also buy personal finance products from Nationwide such as personal retirement plans, annuities, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. In fact, the NAIC reports no complaints for Nationwide’s individual annuities.^[9]

Nationwide policyholders can conveniently access their insurance portal through the Nationwide mobile app, available for both iOS and Android users. This app allows you to easily track claim statuses, view payment histories and call for roadside assistance. Customer reviews for Nationwide's mobile apps on both platforms have been positive.^[10][11]

Platform	Number of Reviews	Star Rating
App Store	38.1K	4.7/5
Google Play	13.5K	4.5/5

Nationwide also offers usage-based insurance (UBI) programs. SmartRide rewards safe driving habits with discounts, tracking behaviors like hard braking and nighttime driving through a mobile app or plug-in device. Nationwide SmartMiles, on the other hand, is a pay-per-mile insurance program ideal for low-mileage drivers, where premiums are based on the actual miles driven. Both programs are part of Nationwide's efforts to provide more personalized and cost-effective auto insurance options based on individual driving patterns. It should be noted that Nationwide was marked the lowest in a J.D. Power study for their UBI program.^[7]

Additionally, Nationwide members have access to Nationwide's smart home program featuring the Notion home monitoring system, providing early detection against water damage, break-ins and other risks. Customers can receive a 10% discount on property insurance premiums, with average savings of $10 off for renters, $30 for condos and $50 for home insurance annually.^[12] This program is currently available in 36 states and the District of Columbia.^[13]

Pricing

Car insurance costs for Nationwide customers are influenced by a variety of factors, with the driver's age, driving history and location being primary determinants. Younger drivers typically face higher premiums due to their lack of experience and higher risk of accidents. The driver's history, including past accidents, traffic violations and claims, significantly impacts insurance rates, as a history of incidents usually leads to higher premiums. Your credit score and gender can also be factors in most states.

Home insurance pricing varies just as much as auto coverage, with things like the age of your home, marital status, claims history, whether there’s a swimming pool or trampoline, etc.

Claims

Nationwide offers its members the flexibility to file claims either through the claims portal on the Nationwide website or via the mobile app. Customers can also file claims by calling 1-800-421-3535.

Nationwide Car Insurance

A Nationwide auto insurance policy ensures compliance with your state's mandated coverage requirements. Additionally, you have the option to select extra coverages for more comprehensive protection of your vehicle.

What’s Covered

Nationwide's auto insurance policies provide all the necessary types of coverage to meet your state's minimum insurance requirements, along with additional options to enhance your coverage.

• Liability coverage
• Collision coverage
• Comprehensive coverage
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
• Medical payments coverage/personal injury protection (PIP)
• Roadside assistance
• Rental car reimbursement

What Isn’t Covered

Nationwide doesn’t publicly post exclusions so these may vary by policy and region. That said, commonly excluded losses include intentional damage caused by the policyholder or regular wear and tear of the vehicle. Mechanical failures and breakdowns are also generally not covered unless you have mechanical breakdown insurance. Personal belongings inside the car are usually not covered under a standard auto policy but may be covered by your home or renters policy.

Additionally, using your vehicle for commercial purposes, such as ridesharing or deliveries, might not be covered under a standard policy unless you have commercial auto insurance. Damage resulting from racing or other high-speed activities is also usually excluded.

Nationwide Home Insurance

Homeowners insurance through Nationwide can provide all your coverage needs, including protection for your home, personal belongings and other structures.

What’s Covered

While specific policies can vary, here's a general overview of what is commonly covered:

• Dwelling coverage
• Other structures coverage
• Personal property coverage
• Loss of use coverage
• Liability coverage
• Medical payments coverage

Many home insurance policies also offer optional coverages or endorsements that can be added for an additional premium. These can include protection for high-value items like jewelry and coverage for identity theft.

What Isn’t Covered

Nationwide home insurance, similar to other standard home insurance policies, typically excludes damages resulting from floods or earthquakes; these perils usually require separate policies. Normal wear and tear or maintenance issues are also not covered, meaning homeowners are responsible for regular upkeep and repairs.

In addition, intentional damage caused by the homeowner is not covered. High-value items like expensive fine art may have limited coverage and might require additional riders or endorsements for full protection. Damage from pests, such as termites or rodents, is usually excluded as well. In some cases, certain dog breeds or exotic pets might not be covered under the liability portion of the policy. It's also common for policies to exclude coverage for acts of war or nuclear hazards.

Additional Policies Nationwide Offers

We've compiled a list of other insurance coverage types offered by Nationwide, beyond their home and auto insurance policies.

Motorcycle

Nationwide's motorcycle insurance offers protection for various types of motorcycles, covering bodily injury, property damage and custom parts. Policyholders can list up to 12 bikes on a single policy with up to $50,000 in coverage per bike.^[14]

RV

This insurance caters to motorhomes, travel trailers and campers, providing collision, comprehensive and liability coverage. Nationwide's RV policy also offers optional roadside assistance, vacation liability and safety glass replacement.

ATV

Nationwide's all-terrain vehicle (ATV) insurance safeguards against damages and injuries related to three-wheelers, four-wheelers and quad bikes. Coverage can include liability, collision and others.

Boat

Covering a range of watercraft, Nationwide's boat insurance includes collision, property damage and bodily injury coverage. The types of boats that can be insured include fishing boats, sailboats, pontoon boats and ski surf boats with values of up to $350,000.^[15]

Commercial

Tailored to various industries, Nationwide's commercial insurance covers property damage, liability and employee-related risks. Specific coverages include:

• Commercial property insurance
• Business owners policy (BOP)
• General liability insurance
• Workers compensation insurance
• Business income insurance
• Commercial crime insurance
• Employment practice liability insurance
• Cyber liability insurance
• Errors and omissions insurance
• Equipment breakdown insurance
• Commercial umbrella insurance
• Inland marine insurance
• Builder’s risk insurance
• Surety bond

Commercial Auto

Designed for business-use vehicles, this insurance can cover liability, collision and comprehensive damages. The cost of business auto insurance is affected by several factors, including the vehicle's make, model and year, its original cost, gross weight (particularly for trucks) and the driving records of all drivers. Nationwide will also consider the vehicle's usage purpose (e.g., commuting, client visits or deliveries), claims history, chosen coverage options (including limits and deductibles) and the total number of commercial vehicles insured.

Renters

This policy covers personal property, liability and additional living expenses for renters. It offers protection against theft, fire and other perils, including medical payments in case visitors are injured on the rented property. Coverage can cost as little as $20 a month with Nationwide, depending on the chosen coverage, deductible and factors like your rental's location, the condition, age and size of the building and the value of your possessions.^[16]

Condo

Nationwide's condo insurance covers personal property, interior structures and liability, complementing the condo association's master policy. It's crucial for protecting the owner's home and possessions against various risks. Basic condo insurance typically includes:

• Contents coverage
• Loss of use
• Building additions & alterations
• Personal liability
• Condo loss assessments
• Medical payments to others
• Credit card coverage

Life

Offering financial security for beneficiaries, Nationwide's life insurance includes term, whole, universal and variable options. Nationwide also offers long-term care coverage for those who can no longer live on their own.

Health

Standard healthcare policies are not offered by Nationwide. However, you can get dental insurance. The Classic and Select Plus dental plans offer maximum calendar year benefits of $1,500 or $2,000, covering you and qualified family members.^[17] These plans include coverage for certain preventative, basic and major services, along with multiple premium payment options and guaranteed acceptance.

The Advantage Plus dental plan is tailored for those seeking primarily diagnostic and preventative services. It covers 80% of the costs for cleanings and oral exams, with a maximum benefit of $300 per calendar year.^[17]

Other

Nationwide also provides specialized policies like pet, travel, classic car, golf cart and scooter coverage. While a homeowners plan won’t cover damage from naturally occurring floods, Nationwide does offer separate flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). These coverages cater to unique needs, allowing for a customized insurance portfolio.

Nationwide Discounts

Nationwide offers a variety of discounts to its members. For more information, please refer to the tables provided below. Keep in mind that some discounts may not be available in all regions.

Auto Insurance Discounts

Discount Type	Description
Multi-policy discount	Savings for bundling car insurance with other policies like homeowners and get up to 20% off your policy[18]
Good student discount	Discounts for young drivers ages 16 to 24 maintaining a B average[19]
Safe driver discount	Reduced rates for drivers with a clean driving record for at least five years[20]
Anti-theft device discount	Discounts for vehicles equipped with factory-installed anti-theft devices or with devices installed after vehicle purchase.[21]
Defensive driving course discount	Around a 5% discount for drivers who complete an approved defensive driving course plus an additional 10% discount for those who also have a safe driver discount[22]
SmartRide discount	Up to a 40% discount based on using a device that monitors driving habits and rewards safe driving plus an additional 10% participation discount[23]
SmartMiles discount	A pay-per-mile insurance option that also applies a 10% discount when you renew your policy if you show good driving behaviors[24]

Home Insurance Discounts

Discount Type	Description
Multi-policy discount	Savings for bundling home insurance with other policies like auto and get up to 20% off your property[18]
Home renovation credit	Discounts for making certain renovations or improvements to your home, especially those that enhance safety or security
Protective device discount	Reduced rates for homes equipped with safety devices like smoke detectors, burglar alarms or other security systems
Claims-free discount	Savings for homeowners who have not filed a claim for a certain period
Home purchase discount	Discounts offered to individuals who purchased a home within the last 12 months[25]
Roof rating discount	Savings based on the material and condition of your home's roof
Gated community discount	Reduced rates for homes located in a gated community with additional security
Prior insurance discount	Earn a discount based on how many consecutive years you stayed with your last insurance carrier
Smart home discount	Join Nationwide’s smart home program and get up to a 10% discount on your property insurance if you order a smart home monitoring system[13]

How Does Nationwide Compare to Other Car Insurance Companies?

Nationwide vs Allied	Nationwide vs American Family
Nationwide vs Auto Owners	Nationwide vs Dairyland
Nationwide vs Encompass	Nationwide vs Farmers
Nationwide vs Liberty Mutual	Nationwide vs Safeco
Nationwide vs Travelers