Nationwide vs. State Farm: Best Auto Insurance for 2024

Nationwide and State Farm are excellent auto insurance companies that offer rates under $300/mo on average. However, Nationwide vs. State Farm auto insurance rates are based on age, driving record, and credit score. You can secure cheap Nationwide vs. State Farm auto insurance quotes by shopping around and asking about discounts.

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Rachel Bodine

Feature Writer

Rachel Bodine graduated from college with a BA in English. She has since worked as a Feature Writer in the insurance industry and gained a deep knowledge of state and countrywide insurance laws and rates. Her research and writing focus on helping readers understand their insurance coverage and how to find savings. Her expert advice on insurance has been featured on sites like PhotoEnforced, AllWo...

Feature Writer

Tim Bain

Licensed Insurance Agent

Tim Bain is a licensed insurance agent with 23 years of experience helping people protect their families and businesses with the best insurance coverage to meet their needs.  His insurance expertise has been featured in several publications, including Investopedia and eFinancial. He also does digital marking and analysis for KPS/3, a communications and marking firm located in Nevada. 

Licensed Insurance Agent

UPDATED: Mar 24, 2024

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Can't-Miss Facts

  • State Farm is number one in the auto insurance industry
  • Nationwide has a cheaper national average rate
  • Various factors can lower your State Farm auto insurance rates
  • Both companies have superior financial ratings under AM Best

You’re almost ready to buy an auto insurance policy, but there’s one step left. Before you decide between Nationwide and State Farm, you should compare auto insurance from both companies.

Don’t worry – we’ll show how to compare various factors, discounts, and third-party ratings.

Read on to learn more about how Nationwide vs. State Farm auto insurance stack up. Use our free online comparison tool to compare the best companies near you.

Nationwide vs. State Farm Auto Insurance: Which company is cheapest?

On average, State Farm car insurance is cheaper than Nationwide. However, your rates vary.

But why? Auto insurance companies, including Nationwide and State Farm, determine auto insurance rates through different factors. Each factor affects your car insurance.

To get an idea of how much you could pay for auto insurance, we’ve collected sample rates from Nationwide and State Farm to show you a side-by-side comparison.

If you want a more comprehensive view of Nationwide and State Farm, visit our Nationwide auto insurance review or State Farm auto insurance review.

Nationwide vs. State Farm: Which company is cheapest by the state?

One of the main factors when determining car insurance is location. Each state carries different risks.

Some states are more densely populated than others, so auto insurance providers prepare for risks by issuing premiums based on statistics.

Let’s look at how Nationwide and State Farm auto insurance is calculated based on each state.

Nationwide vs. State Farm Auto Insurance Rates by States
StateNationwide Average Monthly Auto Insurance RatesState Farm Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates
AlaskaN/A$186
Alabama$222$400
Arkansas$322$232
Arizona$291$396
California$388$350
Colorado$312$273
Connecticut$306$248
District of Columbia$404$340
Delaware$361$372
Florida$362$283
Georgia$540$282
Hawaii$213$87
Iowa$228$185
Idaho$253$156
Illinois$226$195
IndianaN/A$201
Kansas$206$227
Kentucky$459$280
LouisianaN/A$382
MaineN/A$183
Maryland$243$330
MassachusettsN/A$113
Michigan$527$1,047
Minnesota$244$172
Missouri$189$224
Mississippi$230$248
Montana$290$201
North Carolina$237$257
North Dakota$213$213
Nebraska$217$203
New Hampshire$208$182
New JerseyN/A$627
New Mexico$293$195
Nevada$290$483
New York$334$374
Ohio$275$209
OklahomaN/A$235
Oregon$265$228
Pennsylvania$233$229
Rhode Island$367$201
South Carolina$302$256
South Dakota$228$192
Tennessee$285$220
Texas$322$240
Utah$249$387
Virginia$173$189
Vermont$177$365
Washington$177$208
West VirginiaN/A$177
Wisconsin$435$199
Wyoming$266$192
*National Average$288$272

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Overall, State Farm car insurance is cheaper across the United States. There are some states where Nationwide is more affordable, but there are more states with less expensive rates under State Farm.

Nationwide vs. State Farm: Which company is cheapest by vehicle?

The make and model year of your vehicle can determine the cost of your car insurance policy.

Let’s examine how Nationwide and State Farm determine rates based on vehicles.

Nationwide vs. State Farm Auto Insurance Rates by Vehicle
VehiclesNationwide Average Monthly Auto Insurance RatesState Farm Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates
2015 Ford F-150: Lariat SuperCab with 2WD 6.5 foot bed and 2.7L V6$298$267
2015 Honda Civic Sedan: LX with 2.0L 4cyl and CVT$296$252
2015 Toyota RAV4: XLE$293$269
2018 Ford F-150: Lariat SuperCab with 2WD 6.5 foot bed and 2.7L V6$281$291
2018 Honda Civic Sedan: LX with 2.0L 4cyl and CVT$280$266
2018 Toyota RAV4: XLE$277$285

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Look at how the auto insurance cost varies for each vehicle. Nationwide Insurance provides cheaper rates for new cars, but State Farm insurance charges less for older vehicles.

Nationwide vs. State Farm: Which company is cheapest by age?

Car insurance companies also factor your age into your policy. Age is a correlation to a driver’s experience. Therefore, younger drivers are usually less experienced.

But how does Nationwide and State Farm calculate auto insurance based on age? Let’s review.

Nationwide vs. State Farm Auto Insurance Rates by Age
Driver's AgeNationwide Average Monthly Auto Insurance RatesState Farm Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates
60-Year-Old Driver$181$156
35-Year-Old Driver$198$173
25-Year-Old Driver$232$204
17-Year-Old Driver$539$553

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State Farm insurance is more affordable than Nationwide for drivers who are 25 years and older. However, drivers between 17 and 24 years old can save money if their parents have Nationwide insurance.

Nationwide vs. State Farm: Which company is cheapest by driving record?

Your driving record is a significant factor when determining auto insurance.

The question is: How do Nationwide and State Farm issue rates based on a motorist’s driving history? Let’s look at the sample rates now.

Nationwide vs. State Farm Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record
Driving Record SummaryNationwide Average Monthly Auto Insurance RatesState Farm Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates
Clean Driving Record$229$235
With 1 Speeding Violation$259$266
With 1 Accident$283$283
With 1 DUI$379$303

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Nationwide car insurance has cheaper rates for speeding violations, but State Farm car insurance provides less expensive rates for DUI-convicted drivers.

Both companies charge the same amount for accidents on your driving record, which varies by state.

Nationwide vs. State Farm: Which company is cheapest by credit score?

Did you know car insurance companies issue cheaper rates to people with good or exceptional credit?

According to Experian, auto insurance companies charge cheaper rates to consumers with a good credit history because they’re less likely to file a claim.

Meanwhile, customers with fair or poor credit correlate to higher risks of filing claims. Those prices vary for each company.

Let’s look at how these costs are calculated at Nationwide and State Farm.

Nationwide vs. State Farm Auto Insurance Rates by Credit Scores
Credit Score SummaryNationwide Average Monthly Auto Insurance RatesState Farm Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates
Good Credit (670-739)$244$181
Fair Credit Score (580-669)$271$238
Poor Credit Score (300-579)$340$413

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State Farm is cheaper than Nationwide on all credit levels. If you happen to have a fair or poor credit score, State Farm is a cost-efficient option.

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Nationwide vs. State Farm: Which company has more coverage options?

You’ve seen how much you can pay for auto insurance, but what exactly do you pay for when getting a policy?

The most prominent auto insurance companies have several coverage options you can add to your policy. Let’s compare Nationwide and State Farm’s coverage options.

Nationwide vs. State Farm Auto Insurance Coverage Options
Nationwide Auto Insurance CoveragesState Farm Auto Insurance Coverages
Bodily Injury LiabilityCollision Coverage
Property Damage LiabilityComprehensive Coverage
Medical Payments coverageLiability Coverage
Collision coverageCar Rental and Travel Expenses Coverage
Comprehensive coverageUninsured &Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist CoverageMedical Payments Coverage
Personal Injury ProtectionEmergency Roadside Assistance
GAP CoverageRideshare Driver Coverage
Rental Car Expense
Roadside Assistance
Accident Forgiveness
Vanishing Deductible
Total Loss Deductible Waiver
Towing and Labor Coverage

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State Farm may be cheaper, but Nationwide provides more coverage options. This may explain why Nationwide auto insurance rates are more expensive overall.

Read more: Roadside Assistance

Nationwide vs. State Farm Auto Insurance: Which company has more discounts?

When some of your factors generate higher auto insurance costs, discounts can slash prices a great deal. Let’s see which company has more opportunities to save money.

Comparing Nationwide and State Farm Auto Insurance Discounts
Nationwide Discount NameNationwide Discount ValuesState Farm Discount NameState Farm Discount Values
Accident ForgivenessVariesAccident-Free Discount15%
Accident-Free DiscountVariesAnti-lock Brake Discount20%
Affinity group discountVariesAnti-Theft Device Discount15%
Anti-Theft Device Discount5%Claims Free Renewal DiscountVaries
Defensive Driver Discount10%Daytime Running Lights DiscountVaries
Driving Habits DiscountVariesDefensive Driver Discount5%
Family Discount25%Driving Habits Discount30%
Farm Bureau Discount10%Driving training discountVaries
Good Driver Discount10%Good Credit Discount80%
Good Student Discount15%Good Driver Discount25%
Multiple Policy Discount25%Good Student Discount25%
Multiple Vehicle Discount20%Home Owner DiscountVaries
Organization Discount10%Low Mileage Discount10%
Paperless documents discountVariesLoyalty DiscountVaries
Preferred payment discountVariesMature driver discountVaries
SmartRide discount10%Military DiscountVaries
Multiple Policy Discount17%
Multiple Vehicle Discount20%
New Car Discount40%
Passive Restraint Discount40%
Senior Adult DiscountVaries
Student Away at School DiscountVaries
teenSMART Discount15%
Travelink DiscountVaries

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Part of State Farm’s low prices is due to the discounts it offers to customers. Also, you can see why Nationwide’s teen auto insurance is cheaper than State Farm’s.

No matter which company you go with, don’t forget to take advantage of any discounts available.

Read more: Farm Bureau Auto Insurance Review

Nationwide vs. State Farm: How can other insurance products get you more discounts?

If you’re thinking about comparing Nationwide vs. State Farm home insurance, it may be a good idea to bundle your car and home insurance together.

Bundling home insurance with auto insurance can save you about 12% or more.

What if you don’t own a home? You can still save by bundling renters insurance. Nationwide and State Farm have homeowners and renters insurance. However, Nationwide does not carry mobile home insurance.

Nationwide vs. State Farm Auto Insurance: Which company has better ratings?

Let’s dig a bit deeper before you buy a policy with either company. If you’ve searched recently, you probably saw a few star ratings or grades.

We’ve done some research and compiled those ratings for you.

Comparing Financial Strength and Credit Ratings of Nationwide and State Farm
AgenciesNationwide RatingsState Farm Ratings
AM BestA+ (Excellent)A++ (Superior)
Better Business Bureau (BBB)AA+
Moody'sA1 (Good)Aa1 (Excellent)
S&PA+ (Good)AA (Excellent)
NAIC Complaint Index1.450.98
J.D. Power - Power Circle RatingsAbout AverageBetter Than Most
Consumer Reports8889
Apple App Store (iOS)2 stars3 stars
Google Play Store (Android)3 stars4 stars

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Financial strength and credit ratings are behind some of the pros and cons of auto insurance companies. State Farm has better ratings overall, but Nationwide’s ratings are still considered excellent.

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Nationwide vs. State Farm Auto Insurance: What’s the bottom line?

State Farm provides cheaper car insurance and more discounts, but Nationwide has more coverage options. Therefore, Nationwide is best for multiple coverages, and State Farm is best for auto insurance costs.

Now that you know more about Nationwide vs. State Farm auto insurance, enter your ZIP code in the free online quote tool below to compare multiple companies.

Free Auto Insurance Comparison

Enter your ZIP code below to compare auto insurance rates.

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