American Family vs. Nationwide: Best Auto Insurance for 2021

When comparing American Family vs. Nationwide auto insurance, it's best to look at pricing, discounts, and company reviews. Both companies offer comparable rates, but Nationwide car insurance rates are slightly cheaper. Both companies offer many auto insurance discounts, but Nationwide offers more and is far more well-reviewed than American Family insurance.

Can't-Miss Facts

Both auto insurance companies are on the cheaper side in terms of the main insurers, but Nationwide is slightly cheaper than American Family
Both companies offer a wide array of discounts, but Nationwide insurance offers more
Nationwide is more well-reviewed than American Family by companies such as A.M. Best and the Better Business Bureau

Are you looking for a new insurance company? Auto insurance comparison is a complicated process, and we're focusing on American Family vs. Nationwide auto insurance to make it easier.

If you'd like to learn more about American Family, we suggest reading our American Family review. Both reviews cover American Family Insurance and not American Care, which is an emergency clinic.

Type your ZIP code into our free tool above to find affordable auto insurance quotes in your area.

We can't promise you'll find quotes for Nationwide retirement rates, or Nationwide pet insurance premiums, but you'll find the best local insurance companies in your area.

Let's get back to Nationwide vs. American Family insurance and find out which company is best in 2021.

Table of Contents

American Family vs. Nationwide: Which is cheaper?

When you begin comparing insurers, you probably want to start with what is most important: pricing. Let's take a look at a table that will show the average annual premiums not just for American Family and Nationwide, but for all of the main insurers.

Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates by Company

Company	Average Annual Rates
USAA	$2,539.87
GEICO	$3,213.97
State Farm	$3,269.80
American Family	$3,544.37
Nationwide	$3,449.80
Progressive	$4,018.46
Farmers	$4,166.22
Travelers	$4,462.02
Allstate	$4,896.81
Liberty Mutual	$6,058.57

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As you can see, of the 10 insurers shown, American Family is cheaper than five of its competitors: Progressive, Farmers, Travelers, Allstate, and Liberty Mutual.

Nationwide, however, is cheaper than American Family, Progressive, Farmers, Travelers, Allstate, and Liberty Mutual. American Family and Nationwide are very close in terms of price.

Nationwide auto insurance rates are about $95 cheaper than American Family annually.

So, Nationwide wins in terms of pricing, but barely. If you'd like to learn more about Nationwide, be sure to read our Nationwide company review.

American Family vs. Nationwide: Which has better discounts?

If you get anything out of this, let it be the importance of discounts. When you are speaking to your assigned insurance representative, don't be afraid to ask about which discounts you might apply for.

If you stack up discounts, you'll watch your premiums dissipate. Let's take a look at a table that shows a vast amount of discounts offered by these big insurers.

Auto Insurance Discounts Available by Company

Discounts	21st Century Discounts Offered	AAA Discounts Offered	Allstate Discounts Offered	American Family Discounts Offered	Ameriprise Discounts Offered	Amica Discounts Offered	Country Financial Discounts Offered	Esurance Discounts Offered	Farmers Discounts Offered	Geico Discounts Offered	Liberty Mutual Discounts Offered	MetLife Discounts Offered	Nationwide Discounts Offered	Progressive Discounts Offered
Adaptive Cruise Control	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Adaptive Headlights	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Anti-lock Brakes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Anti-Theft	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Claim Free	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Continuous Coverage	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
Daytime Running Lights	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Defensive Driver	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Distant Student	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
Driver's Ed	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Driving Device/App	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Early Signing	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Electronic Stability Control	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Emergency Deployment	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
Engaged Couple	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Family Legacy	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Family Plan	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No
Farm Vehicle	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
Fast 5	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Federal Employee	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Forward Collision Warning	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
Full Payment	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Further Education	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
Garaging/Storing	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Good Credit	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Good Student	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Green Vehicle	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No
Homeowner	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Lane Departure Warning	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Life Insurance	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Low Mileage	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Loyalty	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Married	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Membership/Group	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Military	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Military Garaging	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Multiple Drivers	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Multiple Policies	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
Multiple Vehicles	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
New Address	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
New Customer/New Plan	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
New Graduate	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Newer Vehicle	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Newly Licensed	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Newlyweds	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Non-Smoker/Non-Drinker	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Occasional Operator	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Occupation	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
On Time Payments	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Online Shopper	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
Paperless Documents	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
Paperless/Auto Billing	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Passive Restraint	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Recent Retirees	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
Renter	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Roadside Assistance	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Safe Driver	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Seat Belt Use	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
Senior Driver	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes“	No	No
Stable Residence	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Students & Alumni	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Switching Provider	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Utility Vehicle	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
Vehicle Recovery	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
VIN Etching	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Volunteer	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Young Driver	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes

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Of the 67 discounts shown, American Family offers 27 and Nationwide offers 35.

What's great about these discounts is that they're for many different things. There are discounts for driving safely, paying your bills on time, having safety features in your vehicle, etc.

So again, while it's close, Nationwide wins in terms of discounts.

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American Family vs. Nationwide: Which is available in more states?

When you compare car insurance companies you're going to notice some company names pop up more frequently than others. This is because companies like American Family and Nationwide have spent years in the insurance business building a client base and expanding.

Some companies, like Allstate, are available in all 50 states. How about American Family? They operate in 17 states:

Arizona
Kansas
Ohio
Minnesota
Oregon
Idaho
Colorado
Missouri
South Dakota
Illinois
Nebraska
Utah
Indiana
Nevada
Wisconsin
Iowa
North Dakota

Do you live in one of these states and want American Family insurance coverage? If so, you're in luck.

How many states does Nationwide write in? Nationwide operates in all but four states. These are Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Massachusetts.

American Family vs. Nationwide: Which has better ratings?

When you compare insurers, one last thing to look for is the company ratings from organizations such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and A.M. Best.

A.M. Best's rating system is taken quite seriously by insurers because it can either make or break how much business they receive. What's even better is the fact they have Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings to instill confidence in regards to the companies' futures.

A.M. Best's rating scale ranges from A++ all the way down to D. Currently, American Family has a rating of A from A.M. Best. How did Nationwide do? A.M. Best gave Nationwide an even better rating of A+ (Superior).

In terms of Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating, Nationwide received a score of aa- (Superior), which is the second-highest rating after only AAA. American Family, however, only received a rating of A+ (Excellent) which is still great but a notch below Nationwide.

The BBB's model is comparable but only goes up to A+. American Family currently has a rating of A and is not accredited by the BBB.

How did Nationwide do with the BBB? Nationwide did much better than American Family in terms of the BBB. Not only are they accredited, but it also has the highest rating of A+.

In short, you have two great choices here, but Nationwide is the clear winner. Before you buy auto insurance, get started with free affordable quotes from local companies by typing your ZIP code below.

References:

https://www.bbb.org/us/wi/madison/profile/insurance-companies/american-family-insurance-0694-5002017