Nationwide vs. Travelers: Which Is the Best? (2024)

Nationwide is the better insurer, with cheaper average rates for all types of drivers.

Elizabeth Rivelli
Elizabeth Rivelli
  • 5+ years writing insurance and personal finance topics

  • Auto, home, health, and life insurance expertise

Elizabeth has extensive insurance industry experience, having written for Insureon, Rate Retriever, and Insurify. She’s also finance and insurance editor for Car and Driver.

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Chris Schafer
Edited byChris Schafer
Chris Schafer
Chris SchaferSenior Editor
  • 15+ years in content creation

  • 7+ years in business and financial services content

Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

Updated October 29, 2024

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Nationwide and Travelers are two of the biggest car insurance companies in the U.S. Both companies sell car insurance and other insurance products in most states and offer a great selection of endorsements and a variety of discounts. But Nationwide has more affordable auto insurance rates, especially for full coverage.

If you’re comparing Nationwide and Travelers, it’s important to look at factors like average rates, customer service, financial strength, discounts, coverages available, claim handling, and more. These two companies each have pros and cons, so it’s a good idea to review both insurers closely to determine which one best fits your needs.

Quick Facts
  • Nationwide is the cheaper insurer for teen drivers.

  • Both companies offer a telematics-based safe driver rewards program.

  • Travelers offers a few more discounts than Nationwide does.

Nationwide vs. Travelers: The verdict

Nationwide and Travelers each have similar Insurify Quality (IQ) Scores. Both companies offer a variety of endorsements, including accident forgiveness, gap insurance, rental car coverage, and others. Both insurers offer excellent discounts, but Travelers offers a slightly bigger selection, including a discount for hybrids/EVs, which is hard to find with other companies.

In terms of cost, Nationwide is the clear winner. Nationwide’s average liability-only premium is $84 per month, whereas Travelers’ average liability-only premium is $89 per month. But Travelers has more discounts than Nationwide, which could help you reduce your rate.

Below, you can see how Nationwide vs. Travelers compare on a few important factors.

Factor
Nationwide
Travelers
Insurify Quality (IQ) Score8.79.0
J.D. Power customer satisfaction score806 out of 1,000806 out of 1,000
Average quote: liability only$84$89
Number of available discounts1016
Number of states where it operates4848
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
  • Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.

    We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.

    • Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
    • Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 28,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
    • Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
    • Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
    • Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.

Nationwide

Nationwide is the 10th-largest car insurance company in the U.S., with just under 2% of the total market share, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).[1]

Compare personalized, real-time quotes
User Reviews
3.3
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
8.7/10
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$84/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$185/mo

In business since 1925, Nationwide is one of the largest insurers, and sells car, homeowners, life insurance, umbrella insurance, and more. In addition to liability, collision and comprehensive, Nationwide provides optional coverages such as towing and labor, rental car, and gap. The company also offers accident forgiveness, and a vanishing deductible that lowers your deductible for each year you drive safely. Nationwide has an A+ rating from A.M. Best for financial stability, and an only slightly higher-than-expected number of customer complaints in the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer Complaints Index.

Pros
  • Numerous discount and savings opportunities

  • SmartRide (for safe drivers) and SmartMiles (for low-mileage drivers)

Cons
  • Not available in every state

  • Some discounts and programs not available in all states

Read more driver reviews of Nationwide
Ashley - October 29, 2024
Verified

Great company

Nationwide is a great company. I regret messing up with them!

Keirh - October 28, 2024
Verified

Unsatisfactory Service

I cancelled my insurance. Their rates are too high, they don't treat you properly, and they haven't refunded my money yet.

Earl - October 28, 2024
Verified

I was upset that I received a non-renewal letter over two issues that were resolved a year prior. My local representative resolved the issue quickly.

I was upset that I received a non-renewal letter over two issues that were resolved a year prior. My local representative resolved the issue quickly.

Travelers

Travelers Insurance is a slightly bigger insurer than Nationwide. It’s the eighth-largest company, with just over 2% of the total market share for private passenger auto insurance.[1]

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User Reviews
3.4
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
9.0/10
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$89/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$194/mo

Travelers has been in business for more than 165 years. Today, the company sells auto insurance, homeowners, renters, flood, pet, and other types of insurance. In addition to liability and full-coverage car insurance, Travelers offers gap insurance, rental car reimbursement, roadside assistance, rideshare insurance, new car replacement coverage, and more. Policyholders can save with a number of discounts, including for bundling multiple policies, safe driving, paying in full, student discounts, and more. Travelers has fewer complaints than expected with the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer Complaints Index. A.M. Best gives the company an A++ for financial strength.

Pros
  • Accident forgiveness available

  • Robust coverage selections and discount offerings

Cons
  • Rideshare coverage only available in Colorado and Illinois

  • High number of negative customer reviews with the Better Business Bureau

Read more driver reviews of Travelers
Vicki - October 27, 2024
Verified

Good but Costly

I had a great experience with Travelers and would still be with them, but I got a better rate with another company.

Nancy - October 23, 2024
Verified

Not Great by Any Means

Be careful when you submit a claim! They actually owe me $1,000 from five years ago and I still haven't received it.

Birdie - October 21, 2024
Verified

Expensive

I've never needed any claims for over 40 years, have no tickets, and an excellent credit score, yet my rates increased by 50%.

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Nationwide SmartRide vs. Travelers IntelliDrive

Nationwide and Travelers both offer a telematics-based safe driver rewards program. These programs are similar: A mobile app tracks your driving habits, like brake force, speed, and distractions, and rewards you with a lower rate if you drive safely.

If you sign up for Nationwide SmartRide, you’ll get an automatic 10% discount. This discount maxes out at 40% for people who continue to demonstrate safe driving habits. Most drivers earn their safe driving discount within 80 days of using the app, and premiums can’t increase.

With Travelers’ IntelliDrive program, you can save up to 30% when you drive safely. But unlike Nationwide SmartRide, your premium can increase if you demonstrate unsafe driving behaviors.

Nationwide vs. Travelers: Which is the cheapest?

Nationwide and Travelers have affordable rates for a variety of driver profiles. The average cost of car insurance from Nationwide is $84 per month for minimum coverage and $185 per month for full coverage. Travelers’ average rates are slightly higher, at $89 per month for minimum coverage and $194 per month for full coverage.

Keep in mind that the cheapest car insurance company for you depends on numerous personal and policy-related factors, including your ZIP code, age, credit score, vehicle type, coverage limits, and more.

Nationwide: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record

For drivers with a clean record and no traffic violations, Nationwide has the cheapest car insurance rates.

Driver Type
Nationwide
Travelers
Clean driving record$84$89
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Nationwide: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket

Nationwide has the cheapest car insurance premiums for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Driver Type
Nationwide
Travelers
Drivers with a speeding ticket$100$107
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Travelers: Cheapest for teen drivers

Young drivers usually pay the highest rates for car insurance, but Travelers offers much lower rates for teens and high school students than Nationwide.

Driver Type
Nationwide
Travelers
18-year-old$297$166
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Travelers: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit

Insurers consider drivers with bad credit as high-risk and subsequently charge them higher rates. However, Travelers offers cheaper car insurance policies for people with poor credit.

Driver Type
Nationwide
Travelers
Drivers with bad credit$194$107
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Travelers: Cheapest for senior drivers

Travelers has cheaper average car insurance rates for senior drivers than Nationwide.

Driver Type
Nationwide
Travelers
Senior drivers$126$66
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Compare coverages: Nationwide vs. Travelers

Nationwide and Travelers both offer basic insurance coverages, including liability insurance, personal injury protection, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, medical expenses coverage, collision coverage, and comprehensive coverage.

Additionally, each company offers a good selection of endorsements for more protection. Below, you can see some of the add-on coverages each insurer offers.

Coverage
Nationwide
Travelers
Gap insuranceYesYes
Accident forgivenessYesYes
Rental car reimbursement YesYes
Roadside assistanceYesYes
Total loss deductible waiverYesNo
New car replacement NoYes

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Compare discounts: Nationwide vs. Travelers

Nationwide and Travelers both offer a good selection of discounts, but Travelers offers more discounts than Nationwide. Travelers also offers savings for insuring a hybrid or electric vehicle, a discount many insurers don’t offer. Because Travelers has higher average premiums than Nationwide, taking advantage of these discounts can make Travelers’ rates more competitive.

Discount
Nationwide
Travelers
Clean driving recordYesYes
Defensive driving courseYesYes
Multi-policyYesYes
Multi-carYesYes
Low mileageNoNo
Telematics (safe driving app)YesYes
Anti-theft deviceYesNo
New carNoYes
Military/affiliationNoYes
Good studentYesYes
LoyaltyNoNo
Auto payYesYes
Student away at schoolNoYes
HomeownerNoYes
Alternative fuelNoYes

Nationwide vs. Travelers FAQs

Nationwide and Travelers are both good car insurance companies, but the best one for you depends on your situation. If you’re still undecided, the following information might help you figure out which one is a better choice for you.

  • Which insurer is better than Nationwide?

    There isn’t a specific car insurance company that’s better than Nationwide in all categories. For example, Travelers has better discounts than Nationwide, but Nationwide is better for low rates. To find the best insurer for you, it’s important to compare multiple insurance companies to find your ideal option.

  • Is Travelers a good insurance company?

    Yes. Travelers is a good insurance company overall. It offers a great selection of endorsements and discounts, and its average rates are cheaper than the U.S. national average. But if you’re looking for the cheapest possible car insurance rates, Travelers might not be the best choice for your specific needs.

  • What is the difference between coverage options from Nationwide and Travelers?

    Nationwide and Travelers both offer a wide range of coverage options. Nationwide offers six endorsements, and Travelers offers seven.

    One of the big differences is that Travelers offers new-car replacement coverage, while Nationwide doesn’t. Similarly, Nationwide has a total loss deductible waiver and a disappearing deductible, two options that Travelers doesn’t offer.

  • Which company offers cheaper insurance, on average?

    On average, Nationwide has cheaper rates than Travelers, especially for full coverage. Nationwide’s average premium is $84 per month for minimum coverage and $185 per month for full coverage. Travelers’ average costs are $89 per month for minimum coverage and $194 per month for full coverage.

    You’ll need to get quotes from both companies to see which one is the cheapest for your situation.

Methodology

Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.

Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).

Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:

  • Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
  • Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
  • No additional coverage
Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:
  • Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
  • Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible

Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.

Sources

  1. NAIC. "PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE INDUSTRY 2022 TOP 25 GROUPS AND COMPANIES BY COUNTRYWIDE PREMIUM."
Elizabeth Rivelli
Elizabeth Rivelli

Elizabeth Rivelli is a freelance writer covering insurance and personal finance. She has extensive knowledge of various insurance lines, including property and casualty, health, and life insurance. Her byline has been featured in dozens of publications, including Investopedia, Forbes, Bankrate, NextAdvisor, and Insurance.com

Chris Schafer
Edited byChris SchaferSenior Editor
Chris Schafer
Chris SchaferSenior Editor
  • 15+ years in content creation

  • 7+ years in business and financial services content

Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

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