How much does Nationwide car insurance cost?

You can lower your Nationwide car insurance costs by taking advantage of Nationwide discounts, opting for a higher deductible, and reducing your coverage, among other things. Nationwide considers a variety of factors when calculating your premium, though some – like your age and location – are out of your control. Fortunately, you can take steps to influence other factors in order to lower your rate.... read full answer

How to Lower the Cost of Car Insurance from Nationwide

Use Nationwide’s auto insurance discounts

Nationwide offers a wide variety of discounts that can help you lower your overall car insurance bill. For example, drivers can get a discount of $646 on average if they bundle their home and auto policies. Or you can save up to 10% on your premium if you lower your mileage with SmartMiles.

Raise your car insurance deductible

Opting for a higher deductible on any of your insurance policies from Nationwide can lower your premium. But if you decide to go this route, it’s important that you choose a deductible amount that you can still afford if you suddenly need to file a claim. Otherwise, you might not be able to use the coverage that you have.

Reduce your car insurance coverage

Most states require a certain amount of bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage. But there are other coverage options (like comprehensive, collision, personal injury protection, and uninsured motorist) that you may not have to purchase, depending on your state.

Less coverage usually means lower premiums, but it could also lead to higher costs in the long run, so it’s important to approach coverage decisions with caution.

Improve your driving record

Practicing safe driving habits and avoiding moving violations can help you qualify for lower Nationwide insurance rates long-term. You may also be able to attend traffic school in order to remove a violation or points from your record, depending on your state. Nationwide even offers a up to 40% discount to drivers who take an approved defensive driving course.

Build and improve your credit

Because your credit history is correlated with your likelihood of filing an insurance claim, Nationwide uses your credit data to calculate your premium in states where it is legal. As a result, having good credit makes you less of an insurance risk, which will reduce your rates over time.

Drive less

Whether you can shorten your commute to work, use more public transportation, or even ride a bicycle more, driving fewer miles each year could lower your Nationwide premium.

Drive an insurance-friendly car

Expensive cars, sports cars, and cars with high rates of theft are considered to be riskier to insure than cheaper, more practical vehicles. Before you buy a new car, get a new quote from Nationwide to see how it will affect your rate. If the cost is out of your budget, then you should probably choose a different car.

Sign up for SmartRide

SmartRide, the Nationwide telematics program [specific state available], rewards you for good driving with a discounted premium. Specifically, SmartRide tracks miles driven, braking, acceleration, and the time of day that you drive. By using SmartRide, drivers can save up to 40% on their rate.

Finally, if you’re still struggling to afford your Nationwide policy, you should consider switching insurers. Even if you’re not actively looking for a new policy, it’s generally a good idea to compare quotes from three different companies every 6-12 months. To learn more, check out WalletHub’s guide to switching car insurance companies.

Nationwide insurance rates go up by an average of 56% after an accident. Drivers who have Nationwide accident forgiveness will not see their car insurance rates go up at all after their first accident in 5 years, however. Even if the accident can’t be forgiven, it will only affect your insurance rate for ... read full answer3-5 years, depending on your state.

The exact amount that premiums go up after an accident depends on a few factors, including who was at fault, how much damage was caused, and the policyholder’s driving and claims history. In general, at-fault accidents or severe accidents that lead to expensive insurance claims increase rates more than minor or not-at-fault wrecks. Repeat offenders also see relatively large rate hikes.

To learn more, check out WalletHub’s complete review of Nationwide car insurance, as well as our guide to accident forgiveness.

Nationwide car insurance premiums go up by an average of 74% after a speeding ticket, according to WalletHub’s analysis. The exact amount that a driver’s rate will go up after a ticket depends on a few factors, including their state, how fast they were going, and their previous driving history.

For example, a speeding ticket will cause your Nationwide rate to go up by 74% in California, compared to only 4% in Michigan. And if you’ve received other tickets within the past few years, you’ll face higher penalties than first-time offenders because Nationwide may consider you a high-risk driver.

The good news is that a speeding ticket will only affect your Nationwide insurance for 3-5 years, depending on your state. In the meantime, there are steps that you can take to lower your rate. For example, you may be able to take a defensive driving class to remove the ticket from your record. You can also lower your coverage or check Nationwide’s discounts to see what you can qualify for.