21st Century vs. Nationwide: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, 21st Century offers cheaper prices than Nationwide
• 21st Century has more affordable premiums for couples purchasing auto insurance together
• Nationwide offers cheaper average prices for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit

21st Century vs. Nationwide: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering substantial discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to 21st Century or Nationwide, but which one has less expensive premiums for car insurance?

As you can see, Nationwide has average rates that are about 14% per month more expensive than those from 21st Century when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean 21st Century will be the more affordable option for every single driver. Insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how good your credit score is, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, where you live, and all sorts of other factors, so prices will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if 21st Century or Nationwide is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

21st Century or Nationwide: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

21st Century and Nationwide only compete against each other in one states, with 21st Century offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. California has the most noticable difference, where 21st Century rates are less expensive than car insurance premiums at Nationwide.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just where you live. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use 21st Century save nearly $150 a month compared to those who use Nationwide.

Even so, both carriers will decrease rates by the time drivers turn 25. Nationwide offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, 21st Century still has the most affordable premiums at $144 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the cheapest car insurance prices you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between 21st Century and Nationwide? 21st Century gets the slight edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $122 monthly compared to Nationwide's $125. That being said, that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other variables, such as where you live or your driving record.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance prices than married policyholders. This usually boils down to married drivers having multiple cars on their policy -- something many insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, 21st Century is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates about $43 per month more affordable than Nationwide, on average. But for married couples, that advantage is much less clear - 21st Century has the edge when it comes to average premiums , but the difference is less than $5.

21st Century vs. Nationwide: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for car insurance than men? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher rates.

Men and women end up paying the same monthly prices with 21st Century, and around 7% with Nationwide.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, 21st Century comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $30 a month and women save about $18 with 21st Century compared to the average Nationwide policyholder.

21st Century or Nationwide: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

Auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy.

But the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, 21st Century generally offers significantly less expensive rates of $79 compared to Nationwide's $112. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, 21st Century again has the edge, with policies around $15 per month cheaper than Nationwide, on average.

Is 21st Century or Nationwide Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest prices to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

21st Century policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $24 a month if they get a ticket, while Nationwide normally raises prices about $24 per month, on average.

That being said, 21st Century is usually the more affordable option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record -- their rates are around 26% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 21% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

21st Century drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates increase by over 45%, while those who have insurance through Nationwide will see around a 30% increase.

Overall, 21st Century offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly prices averaging $173 compared to Nationwide's $178.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly auto insurance bill -- normally a lot more than a collision or ticket. 21st Century drivers usually see a 54% climb in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Nationwide will generally raise premiums by about 46%.

How does Credit Score Impact 21st Century and Nationwide Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly insurance rates. This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for a lot of policyholders.

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper prices, while those with poor credit will typically be forced to pay more.

So, which company offers the best premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have fantastic credit, Nationwide will generally reward you. Improving your "good" credit score to an "excellent" one will normally save Nationwide customers around $20. Because 21st Century, doesn't have data available for credit scores, they most likely don't use credit to calculate your prices.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Having bad credit can cost you with Nationwide. As you can see, Nationwide customers with poor credit scores pay about $35 a month more than those with fair scores (and even more compared to drivers with good or excellent scores). Because 21st Century doesn't have data available for credit scores, they could have better premiums for drivers with bad credit over Nationwide.

Is 21st Century or Nationwide Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly rates. Typically, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable prices since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

21st Century tends to be the cheaper option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure. Nationwide's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 18% more expensive than 21st Century. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay about 11% more with Nationwide over 21st Century.

21st Century vs. Nationwide: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a sizable impact as well. Usually, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, 21st Century generally comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable premiums from both companies, but 21st Century comes out on top with average rates around $141 a month. 21st Century also has less expensive average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $48 and $14 per month respective difference when compared to Nationwide drivers in similar areas.

21st Century vs. Nationwide Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you can take advantage of.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts 21st Century and Nationwide offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Nationwide blows 21st Century away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 22 different discounts to 21st Century's 13.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Nationwide also offers agency transfer discounts, distant student discounts, driver training discounts, and more that 21st Century does not.

On the flip side, 21st Century has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts, deluxe discounts, paid in full discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is 21st Century or Nationwide Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the right carrier for you and your specific needs?

21st Century might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• You live in a rural area.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

Nationwide might be best for you if...

• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your prices.
• Your credit score is high.
• You're looking for discounts -- Nationwide has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between 21st Century and Nationwide and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on car insurance -- comparing quotes from several carriers, not just 21st Century and Nationwide. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all for free.

21st Century vs. Nationwide FAQs

Is 21st Century or Nationwide cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, 21st Century is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $146 a month compared to $170 for Nationwide. But 21st Century won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are many different factors that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, 21st Century or Nationwide?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, 21st Century offers less expensive premiums for drivers with a recent DUI, while Nationwide is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do 21st Century and Nationwide offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at quite a few different variables when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Things like where you call home, where you park your car, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both 21st Century and Nationwide use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

How do I know if 21st Century or Nationwide is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be 21st Century or Nationwide at all!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.