Between cost, coverage, and customer reviews, there’s a lot to think about when comparing Allstate vs. Nationwide. That's why we're putting the two car insurance companies head-to-head to help you decide which may be the best choice for you.
Both Allstate and Nationwide made our list of the best car insurance companies in the country. Allstate is known for extensive coverage and a network of local agents, while Nationwide has great coverage for seniors and uses modern technology. In this review, we’ll get into the details of each insurer.
When you’re ready to start comparing car insurance quotes in your area, you can use the free quote comparison tool above.
In this article:
- Allstate And Nationwide Highlights
- Allstate Vs. Nationwide: Coverage
- Allstate Vs. Nationwide: Cost And Discounts
- Allstate Vs. Nationwide: Ratings And Reviews
- Which Is Better, Allstate Or Nationwide?
- Other Recommendations For Car Insurance
Allstate And Nationwide Highlights
Both Allstate and Nationwide are national auto insurance providers founded over 80 years ago that today offer full coverage car insurance protection to customers across the United States.
| Allstate | Nationwide | |
|---|---|---|
|
Overall Rating |
4.0 |
4.0 |
|
Availability |
50 states |
47 states (not available in Alaska, Louisiana, and Massachusetts) |
|
Coverage |
4.0 |
4.5 |
|
Cost |
3.0 |
3.5 |
|
Customer Service |
3.5 |
3.5 |
|
AM Best Financial Strength Rating |
A+ |
A+ |
|
J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction Score |
876/1,000 |
876/1,000 |
|
Mobile App Google Play Rating |
2.5 |
3.9 |
Allstate Vs. Nationwide: Coverage
When you’re shopping for car insurance, it’s important to be sure that the insurer you choose has the coverage options you want for your peace of mind. The table below compares Allstate vs. Nationwide in terms of coverage options.
| Allstate | Nationwide | |
|---|---|---|
|
Bodily Injury Liability (BI) |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Property Damage Liability (PD) |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Collision |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Comprehensive |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Medical Payments (MedPay) |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Roadside Assistance |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Rental Car Reimbursement |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Accident Forgiveness |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Towing and Labor |
✓ |
|
|
Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) Insurance |
✓ |
|
|
Deductible Savings |
✓ |
|
|
Total Loss Deductible Waiver |
✓ |
|
|
Rideshare Insurance |
✓ |
|
|
Sound System Insurance |
✓ |
|
|
Mexico Tourist Car Insurance |
✓ |
As you can see, like most car insurance companies, Allstate and Nationwide provide the six standard types of auto insurance coverage:
- Liability auto insurance
- Collision insurance
- Comprehensive car insurance
- Personal injury protection (PIP)
- Medical payments (MedPay)
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM)
You can also get roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and accident forgiveness insurance with either company – which are all big pluses in an auto insurance provider. Beyond those, coverage varies between Allstate vs. Nationwide.
Standout Coverage From Allstate
Rideshare insurance: This type of coverage is for people who drive for a ridesharing service like Uber or Lyft. It covers the cost of injuries for you and your passengers after a covered accident. Plus, you get rental car reimbursement if your car is in the shop after an accident.
Sound system insurance: With this policy add-on, your aftermarket stereo system is covered in the event it is stolen or damaged in a covered accident.
Standout Coverage From Nationwide
Vanishing deductible: Nationwide’s vanishing deductible lowers the cost of your comprehensive or collision deductible by $100 for every year of safe driving (up to $500).
Total loss waiver deductible: This option ensures your collision or comprehensive deductible will be waived in the event of a total loss.
We also think it’s important to mention Nationwide’s On Your Side® Review, even though it technically isn’t a type of insurance coverage. It includes a free consultation with a Nationwide agent to make sure you fully understand your policy and benefits and feel like your current coverage satisfies your needs.
Allstate Vs. Nationwide: Cost And Discounts
In our research, we found that Nationwide is generally more affordable than Allstate. However, car insurance rates depend on many factors, including your age, vehicle make and model, and driving history, so it doesn’t hurt to get free quotes from both insurers.
When comparing Allstate vs. Nationwide, one way to estimate which may be cheaper is to consider the discounts for which you qualify. By the numbers, Allstate has more auto insurance discounts than Nationwide. Here are some ways you can save with each auto insurer:
| Discount | Allstate | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
|
Multiple Policy |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Safe Driver |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Anti-Theft |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Automatic Payments |
✓ |
✓ |
|
New Car |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Anti-Lock Brakes |
✓ |
|
|
Paperless |
✓ |
|
|
Early Signing |
✓ |
|
|
Responsible Payer |
✓ |
|
|
Pay in Full |
✓ |
|
|
Good Student |
✓ |
|
|
Defensive Driving |
✓ |
|
|
Affinity Membership |
✓ |
Between Allstate vs. Nationwide, we like Allstate’s discounts for good students and paying bills responsibly. Nationwide offers a great defensive driving discount and an affinity membership discount for drivers that are members of certain professional and alumni associations.
Drivewise® Vs. SmartRide®
Both Allstate and Nationwide have safe driver rewards programs in which a plug-in device or mobile app monitors your driving habits. Here’s a side-by-side look at Allstate’s Drivewise and Nationwide’s SmartRide programs.
| Allstate Drivewise | Nationwide SmartRide |
|---|---|
|
Up to 10% cashback for signing up |
10% discount for signing up |
|
Up to 25% off every six months for safe driving |
Up to 40% off for safe driving |
|
Allstate Rewards® points for completing safe driving challenges |
App has a 3.4-star rating on the Google Play Store |
|
App has a 3.2-star rating on the Google Play Store |
Allstate Vs. Nationwide: Quotes And Claims
You can get auto insurance quotes online or over the phone with both Allstate and Nationwide.
In the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Insurance Shopping StudySM, Allstate earned 858 points out of a possible 1,000 for customer satisfaction, and Nationwide earned 862 points. The study surveyed drivers shopping for car insurance and measured price, distribution channel, and policy offerings. These numbers tell us that customers were slightly more satisfied with Allstate’s shopping experience.
The J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction StudySM gave both Allstate and Nationwide a score of 876 points out of a possible 1,000. Overall, customers equally pleased with these insurers' claims experiences.
To get free quotes from Allstate and Nationwide, enter your zip code in the tool below.
Allstate Vs. Nationwide: Ratings And Reviews
Allstate and Nationwide both have excellent insurance industry reputations, with high ratings from AM Best and the BBB. AM Best measures financial strength, which tells us how capable an auto insurance company is of paying out on claims, while the BBB reviews business practices and transparency.
| Allstate | Nationwide | |
|---|---|---|
| AM Best Financial Strength Rating | A+ | A+ |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ |
To further compare Allstate vs. Nationwide, we can look at the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Auto Insurance Satisfaction StudySM, which breaks down customer satisfaction by region. Check out the table below for your location to see how customers rated each insurance company. All ratings are based on a 1,000-point scale.
| Region | Allstate | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
|
819 |
797 |
|
|
Central: Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota |
832 |
815 |
|
851 |
Not Applicable |
|
|
Mid-Atlantic: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia |
812 |
835 |
|
New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont |
807 |
Not Applicable |
|
833 |
825 |
|
|
North Central: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin |
830 |
828 |
|
Northwest: Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming |
810 |
Not Applicable |
|
Southeast: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee |
846 |
825 |
|
Southwest: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah |
830 |
786 |
|
832 |
820 |
It’s clear according to the study that Allstate has a higher level of customer satisfaction in more regions of the U.S. Below, we take a closer look at what some BBB reviewers have to say when it comes to Allstate vs. Nationwide.
Allstate Reviews
“We have always had a good experience with Allstate. Only had to file one claim in the past 10 years or so, but it was fixed and paid for. Staff have been friendly and no complaints.”
- Marissa G.
“Allstate was very unprofessional. My insurance policy was canceled without my knowledge, and I was not sent [mail or] emailed or called about the change, yet they accepted my car insurance payment.”
- Shenikwa R.
Nationwide Reviews
“I have had Nationwide auto insurance for over 15 years, and I have never had a problem. When my car was hit by a drunk driver, Nationwide paid for the repairs, and then they, in turn, went after the other insurance company for reimbursement. Within a matter of a week, I had my own car back, fixed like new.”
- Kimberly A.
“I had Nationwide when I got into [an] accident. I called them and made them aware of the situation and was told they would get back with me. I waited and waited at least one week before I gave them a follow-up call. During that time, I drove a wrecked [vehicle] 20 miles to work. Horrible service.”
- David C.
Which Is Better, Allstate Or Nationwide?
Allstate and Nationwide both offer high-quality car insurance coverage and boast strong customer satisfaction ratings. While Allstate has slightly higher customer ratings, Nationwide wins out when it comes to coverage and the claims process. The cheapest provider for you depends on your driving history and for which discounts you qualify.
|
Coverage |
Nationwide |
|
Cost And Discounts |
Tie |
|
Quotes And Claims Processes |
Nationwide |
|
Ratings And Customer Reviews |
Allstate |
|
Overall |
Nationwide |
In addition to the car insurance company you choose, factors like your age, credit score, and discounts can affect quotes, so we recommend getting quotes from multiple companies. Use our tool below to compare free car insurance rates in your area.
Other Recommendations For Car Insurance
After comparing Allstate vs. Nationwide, take a look at a few more top auto insurance providers. Geico and State Farm both performed highly in our industry review, earning 4.5 stars each. We named Geico the best overall in the nation and State Farm the best for students.
Geico: Best Overall
Geico auto insurance has a reputation for being very affordable and providing a wide range of choices for drivers. The insurer has earned impressive ratings from experts like AM Best and the BBB, with scores of A++ and A+, respectively.
With Geico, you can get standard auto insurance coverage and more – like roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and mechanical breakdown insurance, which is similar to an extended car warranty. Geico also has a number of discounts for military members, good students, safe drivers, and other groups.
Read more in our full Geico auto insurance review.
State Farm: Best For Students
With State Farm auto insurance, you know you have coverage you can trust. Similar to Geico, the insurer received an A++ rating from AM Best and an A+ from the BBB. As the largest car insurance company in the nation, State Farm offers standard car insurance coverage and add-ons like rental car reimbursement and travel expense coverage. Plus, State Farm has great mobile apps that can help you save money:
- Drive Safe & Save™: This usage-based savings program monitors safe driving habits that could qualify you for discounts.
- Steer Clear®: An educational safe driving app for young drivers, Steer Clear logs safe driving progress and qualifies drivers under age 25 for car insurance discounts.
Read more in our full State Farm insurance review.
Methodology
In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of auto insurance providers to formulate rankings of the best insurers. Companies receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.
- Industry Standing: Insurers with strong financial ratings and customer-first business practices receive the highest scores in this category.
- Availability: We consider availability by state as well as exclusions for specific groups of drivers.
- Coverage: This rating is based on types of insurance available, maximum coverage limits, and add-on policies.
- Cost and Discounts: Our research team reviews sample quotes for a variety of drivers in every state. Companies with lower prices and many car insurance discount opportunities receive the best scores.
- Customer Service: We comb through customer reviews and consumer feedback studies from experts like J.D. Power.
- Technology: Auto insurers with mobile apps, advanced online services and telematics are more likely to meet consumer needs.
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