Farmers Insurance vs. Nationwide

Yes, Nationwide Insurance offers roadside assistance. Nationwide actually has two options for 24/7 roadside assistance: Nationwide Roadside Assistance Basic and Nationwide Roadside Assistance Plus. The Basic plan costs $1.90 per month, and the Plus plan costs $3.50 per month. You can only buy one of these two plans, not both.

Nationwide's Roadside Assistance Basic plan covers towing up to 15 miles, jump-starting, replacing flat tires, winching, delivering emergency fuel, and locksmithing. This plan covers the first $75 for jump-starting, provides 2 complimentary gallons of gas, and lets you get your flat tire replaced with your own spare.  The plan also covers the first $100 in lock-out services if your ignition key or fob is lost, you lock your keys in your car or if your key breaks off in the ignition, door, or trunk. If you are subject to any overage, the dispatcher will tell you beforehand.

Nationwide's Roadside Assistance Plus plan includes all the services of the Basic plan, plus towing up to 100 miles or $300 and trip interruption coverage of up to $500 - $600. Trip interruption coverage reimburses you for expenses related to alternate transportation, lodging, and meals when you are stranded more than 100 miles from home.

Both Nationwide roadside assistance plans cover six roadside assistance events per year, after which you can get roadside assistance on a per-event basis at a discounted price. To purchase roadside assistance from Nationwide, call the main customer service line (877- 669-6877) to speak to an agent. If you already have Nationwide insurance coverage but not roadside assistance, you can also log in online to add roadside assistance. Regardless, coverage may not take effect on the same day.

Unlike roadside assistance coverage from companies such as Allstate, Nationwide requires that you have a Nationwide auto insurance policy before buying a roadside assistance plan. Nationwide does not, however, require you to buy any other type of add-on insurance as a prerequisite for purchasing roadside assistance coverage, unlike companies such as Geico, which also require you to have collision or comprehensive coverage.

If you already have Nationwide roadside assistance, you can request service for a covered issue by dialing Nationwide's roadside assistance phone number (800-421-3535) or using Nationwide's online app.

Yes, Farmers has glass coverage for customers with comprehensive insurance. Farmers customers can file a glass claim under their comprehensive coverage if their windshield was damaged due to something besides an accident, such as an animal, a weather event, or vandalism. If the windshield was damaged in a crash, drivers can file a claim with their collision insurance if they were at fault or with the at-fault driver's liability coverage.

Fixing a cracked or chipped windshield is important for safety reasons, since damaged windshields can obstruct a driver's vision and weaken the car's frame. If the damage is minor, you might be able to have your windshield repaired rather than replaced. Repairs are usually inexpensive, costing around $50-$150 for most cars, and they often take around 30 minutes. If the cost of repairs is less than your deductible, your insurance company won't pay for any of it.

In addition to Farmers's own rules on windshield repairs, several states have specific laws about car insurance deductibles for windshield repairs and replacement.

State Laws on Windshield Repairs

• Florida, Kentucky, and South Carolina require companies to waive the deductible for both windshield repair and replacement.

• Kentucky and South Carolina require companies to waive the deductible for all auto glass that you can see out of, not just the windshield.

• Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York require insurers to offer customers the option of a $0 glass deductible plan. This option is often referred to as full glass coverage.

If you don't live in one of these states, you will likely have to pay your comprehensive deductible in order for your windshield to be repaired or replaced. You can check with Farmers if you're unclear about your policy details or your state's laws. For more information, check out WalletHub's guides to comprehensive and windshield insurance.

Nationwide offers gap insurance, but the company does not advertise any specific information about how much this coverage usually costs. However, the national average cost of adding gap insurance to a standard car insurance policy is about $20 per year. To get a personalized quote for gap insurance from Nationwide, call Nationwide customer service at 1 (877) 669-6877.

Nationwide gap insurance covers any negative equity you owe on your vehicle. Negative equity is when you owe more on your loan than your car is worth, which happens because cars depreciate so quickly. In the event of a total loss, Nationwide gap insurance covers the “gap” between what your car is worth and what you owe on the loan. “Gap” stands for “guaranteed auto protection” or “guaranteed asset protection,” and this coverage is a worthwhile investment for drivers who lease, have a large car loan, average more than 15,000 miles per year in a newer vehicle, and more.

Nationwide's gap coverage will pay for the total loss of your vehicle if the car is stolen, but otherwise, gap insurance can only be used in the event of a covered accident. And in that situation, gap insurance only covers damage to your car and does not pay for bodily injuries or the other driver's property damage. Similarly, if your car is a total loss because the engine fails or transmission blows, your Nationwide gap coverage will not apply.

Drivers should also keep in mind that they will have to pay their deductible before gap coverage kicks in to pay the rest of the bill. That means you'll probably still have to contribute something financially to get your car replaced.

Finally, if you lease a car, be sure to check your leasing agreement before purchasing gap insurance. It's often already included in the contract. You can also check with your car dealership's financing department to see if gap coverage is available, but insurance from a dealership is usually more expensive than Nationwide's gap coverage.

Yes, Farmers Insurance bought MetLife's home and auto insurance business. The purchase was agreed to in December 2020 and finalized in April 2021, but current MetLife customers will see no changes to their policies and will only receive new paperwork with Farmers branding.

This acquisition included all aspects of the MetLife home and auto business, and Farmers assumed 2.4 million existing MetLife insurance policies. If you already have a MetLife policy, know that the people who handled the servicing and underwriting of MetLife's policies will continue to do so under Farmers. If you do not yet have a policy, you will need to purchase a policy through Farmers, as no new home or auto policies will be written by MetLife.  

Customers who have life or health insurance through MetLife will not see any changes to their policy or paperwork since only the home and auto insurance business was sold. Anyone looking to purchase life or health insurance from MetLife is still able to do so.  

To cancel a Nationwide insurance policy, contact your agent or call 877-669-6877 if you do not have an agent. The earliest a Nationwide insurance cancellation would go into effect is midnight the day the request is made. Customers also have the option to cancel at a future date. Nationwide Insurance does not charge a cancellation fee.

Nationwide Insurance Cancellation Process:

1. Call 877-669-6877 or contact your agent.
2. Provide your account number, policy number or agent number, along with your name, date of birth, address, and desired date of cancellation.
3. Wait for an email confirming your policy's cancellation. You should receive it shortly after your conversation with the agent.
4. Receive a refund for the prorated portion of your policy that will not be used.

As Nationwide prorates its insurance premiums, it refunds any prepaid days of coverage that would go unused after cancellation. If you paid by credit card, you will receive your refund within 3-5 business days. If you paid by checking/ACH, the refund can take 7-10 business days.

Remember, you don't have to cancel your policy if you are replacing a vehicle or moving to a different state. Nationwide can update your vehicle information or change the coverage types and limits on your policy. You may also be able to adjust your Nationwide Insurance policy if the vehicle is used less for a specified period. Where applicable, you can update your information by calling an agent or visiting your account page.

Yes, Nationwide does offer free towing for customers who have the company's roadside assistance coverage. Nationwide roadside assistance is provided by Agero, generally costs $1.90 per month and includes towing services up to 15 miles for subscribers of the basic plan. Nationwide customers can request roadside assistance online, or they can call 1-800-421-3535.

Nationwide Roadside Assistance Covers:

• Towing services up to 15 miles for subscribers of the basic plan
• Flat tire changes
• Jump starts
• Winching
• Lockout services up to $100
• Gas delivery

While Nationwide's roadside assistance covers towing and other services, it doesn't cover the cost of repair parts, replacement keys, or major fixes due to things like engine failure or structural damage.

To cancel Farmers insurance, the policyholder must contact their agent directly or call customer service at 1-888-327-6335. The cancellation can be arranged for a future date or set to take effect immediately. You will need your name, policy number, and the date you want your policy to end.

• Cancel by phone by calling your agent or 1-888-327-6335.
• Cancel by mail by writing a letter that includes your name, policy number, and the date you want your policy to end. Sign, date, and mail your letter to: Farmers Customer Service / 6301 Owensmouth Avenue / Woodland Hills, CA 91367.
• Cancel in person by visiting your local Farmers agent.

If you've already paid your premium for the policy period in full, Farmers will refund the unused portion. Farmers does not impose a cancellation fee or penalty for early termination.

It's important to remember that you don't need to cancel your policy just because you're going through some life changes. For example, you should have Farmers update your mailing address or vehicle information if you're moving or buying a new car.

If you're canceling your current policy in order to switch to another company, be sure to activate your new policy before canceling the old one. This prevents a lapse in coverage, which would lead to higher premiums in the future.

Yes, Nationwide offers accident forgiveness as an optional policy add-on. Nationwide accident forgiveness keeps premiums from increasing after the first at-fault accident per policy every three years.

In addition to accident forgiveness, Nationwide offers minor moving violation forgiveness. This option prevents one minor citation every three years from increasing your premium. Since the charge has to be minor, something like a speeding ticket qualifies, but a DUI or reckless driving charge does not. This benefit can also be used just once per policy, not once per driver.

Minor moving violation forgiveness is a separate add-on, meaning that you can purchase one, both or neither forgiveness program. If you are interested in violation or accident forgiveness from Nationwide, ask about your specific eligibility and the additional cost when getting a Nationwide quote. Nationwide's forgiveness programs are not available everywhere, due to state regulations.

Nationwide determines that a vehicle is a total loss when it cannot be safely repaired or the cost of repairs exceeds the car's actual cash value (ACV), which is what the vehicle was worth prior to being damaged. Nationwide may also total a car if the cost of repairs exceeds a certain percentage of the ACV, depending on state law.

How Nationwide Adjusters Calculate Actual Cash Value

After a vehicle is damaged and the policyholder files a property damage claim, an insurance adjuster will try to determine the car's actual cash value. To do this, they will consider several factors, including:

• Make and model
• Year
• Mileage
• Depreciation
• Accident history
• Mechanical problems
• Wear and tear
• Cosmetic problems
• Local demand for similar vehicles
• Sale price of comparable vehicles

Once the adjuster knows the ACV, they will compare it to the estimated cost of repairing the vehicle.

How Nationwide Determines Total Loss

In 28 states and the District of Columbia, there is an established total loss threshold (TLT), which means that if the cost of repairs is more than a certain percentage of the car's actual cash value, Nationwide must total it. For example, Alabama has a TLT of 75%.

In the remaining 22 states, Nationwide and other insurers will use the standard total loss formula to decide whether or not to total a vehicle.  

Finally, it may be impossible to safely repair the vehicle in order to make it roadworthy again. In this case, Nationwide will declare the car a total loss regardless of the actual cash value.

The main Nationwide NAIC number is 23779. Nationwide's NAIC number is the five-digit code given by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which assigns numbers to authorized insurance providers in order to track customer complaints and ethics violations across state lines.

With Nationwide's NAIC number, anyone can learn more about the company's financial data, the kinds of complaints that have been filed by customers, and any enforcement actions taken against the company. Customers will need Nationwide's NAIC number to report fraud or file an insurance claim, as well.

Although the main Nationwide NAIC number is 23779, the NAIC has assigned a separate code for each of Nationwide's affiliate companies, which are listed below. You can find the number that applies to your particular policy on your Nationwide insurance card. 

Nationwide NAIC Numbers

Nationwide's NAIC number is not the same thing as the three-digit code assigned by each state's department of motor vehicles. These numbers, issued by state insurance commissioners, are given to the companies that have been authorized to sell insurance policies in a particular state. However, they are not standardized across state lines, like NAIC numbers are.