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Solvable conducts independent research and data analysis. Our content is not influenced in any way by other companies, including the ones we write about and/or have a financial relationship with. Above all else, we strive to make the best data-driven recommendations for our readers. Read more about our process.
What to Know
Nationwide is a good match if you drive less than 10,000 miles a year or are willing to let your insurer measure how you drive. It's a weaker match if you commute long distances every day. Nationwide isn't an option if you live in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts or Oklahoma.
Nationwide
Best for Low-Mileage Drivers- Discounts
- 10
- Online Quotes
- Online Policy Purchase
Why We Like Nationwide
Nationwide is our pick for low-mileage drivers because it offers two usage-based programs: SmartMiles, which prices you per mile, and SmartRide, a discount tied to how you drive. The company's add-ons include a vanishing deductible, accident forgiveness and a total loss deductible waiver. You can also get a quote, buy a policy and file a claim online.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Offers accident forgiveness
- Offers gap insurance
- 10 discounts to choose from
Cons
- Not sold in 5 states
Solvable's Take on Nationwide Car Insurance
Nationwide can be a good choice if you don't drive many miles. That includes remote workers, retirees and households with a second car that leaves the driveway mainly for a grocery store run. For them, SmartMiles changes how the bill is built.
A pay-per-mile policy prices you on the miles you drive, so a car that sits all week costs less to insure than one that commutes three to five days. SmartRide works differently. It's a discount based on how you drive, so it rewards careful habits even if your mileage is average.
Both programs come with a trade-off that reviews tend to skip. To price you on miles or behavior, Nationwide has to measure your miles or your behavior. If you'd rather your insurer not see when, how far or how you drive, the two features that earn Nationwide a spot on our list of the best car insurance companies don't apply to you. Without them, Nationwide is a broad-coverage insurer you'd compare on price like any other.
Being comfortable with tracking doesn't guarantee savings either. Nationwide says SmartRide savings vary by state and policy, and the calculated driving-behavior discount could be zero. A driver who brakes hard in stop-and-go traffic or drives a lot may score poorly. This could result in no discount, even if they're enrolled.
SmartMiles has the opposite problem for heavy drivers. Pay-per-mile pricing that favors the remote worker also works against the person driving 45 minutes each way to an office. Run your actual annual mileage through both versions of the quote and you'll see where that point falls for you.
If you're trying to tell which side of that line you're on, this table matches common situations to the Nationwide feature that applies and the catch that comes with it.
| Your situation | Nationwide feature that applies | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| You drive few miles | SmartMiles (pay-per-mile) | Savings shrink as your mileage rises |
| Careful driver, fine with tracking | SmartRide (driving-behavior discount) | Depends on measured driving and could be zero, per Nationwide |
| You want a cushion for a first accident | Accident Forgiveness, Vanishing Deductible | Availability and terms vary by policy and state |
| Financing or leasing a newer car | Gap Insurance | Only useful while you owe more than the car is worth |
| You live in AK, HI, LA, MA or OK | None | Nationwide isn't sold in your state |
Other reviews sometimes call Nationwide's coverage "basic." Its own list doesn't support that label. Besides the standard coverages, it offers gap insurance, accident forgiveness, a vanishing deductible, a total loss deductible waiver, roadside assistance, towing and labor, rental car expense and medical payments coverage. It also offers a multi-policy discount if you bundle it with a homeowners or renters insurance policy.
Those add-ons also matter if you're thinking of leaving. If a cheaper quote from another carrier doesn't include accident forgiveness or a vanishing deductible, the price gap partly reflects protection you'd give up. Check for those lines before deciding if the cheaper quote is better.
If your Nationwide renewal just went up, or you're holding a new quote, start by getting two versions: one with SmartMiles or SmartRide and one without. Then quote one or two other carriers with the same liability limits and deductibles before deciding.
Nationwide Car Insurance Discounts
Which discounts you qualify for, and how much they're worth, depends on your state and policy, so confirm which apply when you get a quote. If you don't drive much, ask about the two usage-based programs first.
- SmartRide (usage-based)
- Multi-policy
- SmartMiles (usage-based, pay-per-mile)
- Accident Forgiveness
- Good student
- Defensive driving course
- Anti-theft
- Safe driver
- Automatic payments
- Paperless billing
Nationwide Car Insurance Coverage
Liability Coverage
Pays for injuries and property damage you cause to other people in a crash. It's the part of a Nationwide auto insurance policy that most states require you to carry.
Collision Coverage
Pays to repair or replace your own car after a crash, minus your deductible. For example, a $3,000 repair with a $500 deductible means you pay $500 and collision coverage pays $2,500.
Comprehensive Coverage
Pays for damage to your car from causes other than a collision, such as theft, hail or a falling tree, minus your deductible.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
This pays for your injuries and, in some states, damage to your car when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough to cover what they owe you.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Pays medical costs for you and your passengers no matter who caused the crash, and in some states lost wages too. Some states require it.
Gap Insurance
Pays the difference between your car's value and what you still owe on your loan or lease if the car is totaled. For example, if you owe $18,000 and the car is valued at $15,000, gap insurance covers the $3,000 shortfall, with your policy terms determining how any deductible applies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nationwide auto insurance good?
Nationwide auto insurance works well for low-mileage drivers and people comfortable with usage-based programs like SmartRide and SmartMiles. Its coverage list is broad, with add-ons like accident forgiveness, gap insurance and a vanishing deductible. The catch is availability: it isn't sold in five states, and whether it's a good deal for you depends on your own quote.
What's the difference between SmartRide and SmartMiles?
Both are usage-based programs, but they work differently. SmartMiles is pay-per-mile, so your premium tracks how much you actually drive, which suits someone whose car mostly sits in the driveway. SmartRide instead scores how you drive, and the discount it produces varies by state and policy. Nationwide acknowledges that the discount can be zero, depending on your driving data.
