2023 Nationwide SmartRide Review

Your Nationwide rate could have gone up for many reasons, such as a recent claim or a new driver being added to the policy. Other factors that could cause Nationwide to raise your rate include getting into an accident, being convicted of a moving violation, and adding coverage to your policy. Nationwide may also raise your premiums for reasons that are beyond your control, such as recent natural disasters, increasing repair and healthcare costs, and crime trends.

Top Reasons Why Nationwide Raises Rates 

• Recent claims
• New driver or car added to a policy
• Moving violations
• At-fault accidents
• Increased coverage
• Lower deductible
• Recent switch to an expensive car
• Relocation to a high-risk zip code
• Decline in creditworthiness

How to Lower Your Nationwide Insurance

If you're struggling to afford your Nationwide premium, there are a few steps that you can take to lower your rate. You can start by looking for Nationwide discounts that you can qualify for, such as the anti-theft or safe driver discount. You can also make changes to your policy, including raising your deductible and reducing your coverage.

Another option is to switch insurance companies. Each insurer calculates rates differently, so you may be able to get the same amount of coverage elsewhere at a lower price. As a general rule, you should get quotes from at least three different companies every 6-12 months to make sure that you're still getting the best deal. 

Yes, Nationwide uses telematics through SmartRide, its usage-based program, and SmartMiles, its mileage-based program. SmartMiles only measures a driver's mileage in order to calculate a daily rate for their policy, while SmartRide tracks several habits and rewards good drivers with a discount of up to 40%.

What Nationwide Telematics Tracks

• Miles driven
• Braking
• Acceleration
• Idle time
• The time of day that you drive

In order to use SmartRide, drivers need to put the plug-in device into their vehicle's OBD port or download the SmartRide mobile app. Once the app is activated, it will automatically log trips when it detects driving activity After four to six months of logging trips, the discount will be applied for the life of your policy. If you practice bad driving habits while using SmartRide, Nationwide will not raise your base premium. But you probably won't get much of a discount, if any. SmartRide is currently available in 41 states.

SmartMiles, on the other hand, works a bit differently. Instead of offering a discount, Nationwide uses the program to calculate a driver's payment based on their daily mileage. Customers are charged a small base premium, and then a fee for each mile that they drive, up to 250 miles per day. As a result, SmartMiles is a good choice for policyholders who don't drive often.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to usage-based insurance.

No, Nationwide does not offer a specific low mileage discount. Nationwide premiums do take mileage into account, however, as rates are an average of 25% lower for customers who drive 7,500 miles annually than for customers who drive 15,000 miles annually, according to WalletHub data. Low mileage drivers usually save on their Nationwide premium because less time on the road means a smaller chance of filing a claim.

It's also worth noting that Nationwide has a pay-per-mile insurance program called SmartMiles, which can help low mileage drivers save money. SmartMiles charges drivers a monthly base rate, plus a small fee for each mile driven. Each policyholder's base rate will be determined based on risk factors like their age, location, driving record, and vehicle.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to Nationwide discounts.

Yes, Nationwide offers pay-per-mile insurance. The Nationwide pay-per-mile insurance program is called SmartMiles, and it charges customers a base amount plus a small fee per mile driven, making it a good choice for low-mileage drivers. For instance, Nationwide provides an example rate of $35 per month plus $0.07 per mile.

SmartMiles has a mileage cap of 250 miles per day, which means that drivers won't be charged for any miles beyond this limit. As a result, long road trips will only cost up to a certain maximum amount. In addition, SmartMiles customers can earn up to 10% safe driving behavior discount after the first policy renewal.

SmartMiles Tracking and Availability

SmartMiles is available in 40 states and the District of Columbia. SmartMiles tracks mileage, which is compatible with most cars from 1996 or later.

Keep in mind that SmartMiles is different from SmartRide. SmartRide is a usage-based insurance program from Nationwide that discounts premiums on a traditional policy based on driving habits such as miles driven, braking, acceleration, idle time, and the time of day that you drive.

You can get the Nationwide safe driver discount by staying accident-free and violation-free for five years. Nationwide does not specify an exact safe driver discount amount, as it varies between states.

If you don't qualify for the Nationwide safe driver discount, there are still ways for you to save on your premium. For example, Nationwide offers a multi-car discount  for drivers who insure more than one vehicle in their household.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to Nationwide discounts.

Nationwide offers a good driver discount, but the amount varies by state. In order to receive a Nationwide good driver discount, drivers must be accident-free and violation-free for five years, and this can even include time that you've been insured by another company.

After you get into an accident or get a ticket, you will have to wait five years in order to qualify for the discount again. Additionally, accidents that are forgiven by Nationwide accident forgiveness still count against your good driver discount, even though your base premium will not go up.

If you don't qualify for Nationwide's good driver discount, there are still ways to save on your premium. For example, Nationwide offers a multi-policy discount for drivers who want to insure more than one vehicle on their policy. You can also lower your rate by altering your coverage or increasing your deductible.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to Nationwide discounts.

Nationwide is cheap for safe drivers and even offers discounts specifically for those types of drivers, like discounts for being accident-free for at least 5 years. Nationwide is not one of the cheapest car insurance companies overall, though, and young drivers may find cheaper rates elsewhere.  

Average Rates for Nationwide Car Insurance vs. Top Competitors 

Note: Premiums are representative of a safe drivers in CA; individual premiums will vary.

Nationwide may not be one of the cheapest car insurance companies for most drivers, but it does offer a variety of discounts, like discounts for going paperless or for having low yearly mileage. Plus, Nationwide rewards customer loyalty with discounts for insuring more than one car and bundling multiple policies, such as home and auto. 

Your final premium is based on a variety of factors, though, such as your driving record, insurance history, and more. Every insurance company determines their rates differently, so the best way to find a good deal is to compare quotes from multiple insurers and take advantage of every discount.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's review of Nationwide and see Nationwide's full profile.

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.

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.

Yes, Nationwide offers a defensive driving course discount for drivers aged 55 and older who have successfully completed an approved driver's education course. By voluntarily taking an approved defensive driving course, Nationwide car insurance customers in eligible states can get a discount of up to 5%. Once the discount expires, drivers can renew it by taking another course.

Defensive driving courses improve your driving skills by teaching you how to handle difficult situations on the road. For example, common traffic school topics include DUI/DWI laws, the consequences of different moving violations, and how to share the road. Specific details vary between states and classes, but online defensive driving courses typically cost up to $40 and take 4-12 hours to complete. 

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to Nationwide discounts.

No, Nationwide does not have a dash cam discount, since no major car insurance company in the United States offers dash cam discounts as of March 2021. The closest thing Nationwide has to a dash cam discount is SmartRide, which monitors policyholders' driving habits and adjusts their premiums accordingly.

SmartRide from Nationwide is a type of usage-based insurance. The program tracks miles driven, braking, acceleration, and the time of day that you drive and can save policyholders up to 40%.

Even though Nationwide does not offer a dash cam discount, purchasing a dash cam could still be worth it in the long run. For instance, dashboard cameras can help prove fault in a car accident, prevent insurance fraud, and provide evidence in traffic court.