Acuity vs. Nationwide: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Nationwide offers significantly less expensive premiums than Acuity
• Nationwide offers more affordable rates for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Nationwide tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit

Acuity vs. Nationwide: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed it down to Acuity or Nationwide, but which carrier will offer you more affordable prices?

Looking at nationwide averages, Nationwide is quite a bit cheaper than Acuity, with premiums averaging $170 per month compared to $313 with Acuity.

That being said, Nationwide may not be the most affordable or best option for every single driver out there. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your age, your driving record, or even your credit score (among other things), so rates could change drastically from person to person.

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

Acuity or Nationwide: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Acuity and Nationwide only compete against each other in two states, with Nationwide offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Colorado has the most noticable difference, where Nationwide rates are over 70% cheaper than auto insurance prices at Acuity.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just your home state. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for auto insurance than any group out there on the road. Normally, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $500 less a month by choosing Nationwide over Acuity.

But both carriers will drop rates by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Acuity policyholders lower over 75% and Nationwide's prices reduce more than 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance rates you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically reduces their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Acuity and Nationwide? Nationwide gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $58 more affordable than the national average for Acuity.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance prices are usually cheaper for married couples than they are for single policyholders? That's generally because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Nationwide is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums about $202 per month more affordable than Acuity, on average. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Nationwide offers the lowest average prices.

Acuity vs. Nationwide: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men normally pay more for car insurance than women? 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.

Women typically pay nearly $20 a month less than men with Acuity, while with Nationwide, the difference is closer to $12 per month.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Nationwide comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 46% less for men and 46% cheaper for women.

Acuity 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.

Insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

Even so, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Nationwide generally offers significantly less expensive prices of $112 compared to Acuity's $172. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Nationwide again has the edge, with policies around $250 a month more affordable than Acuity, on average.

Is Acuity or Nationwide Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance companies offering great premiums for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

Tickets and collisions will most likely raise your rates, but is Acuity or Nationwide less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Acuity policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $94 per month if they get a ticket, while Nationwide normally raises premiums about $24 a month, on average.

But Nationwide has cheaper rates for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are $104 and $174 more affordable, respectively, compared to Acuity Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Acuity can expect to see around an $115 -- or about 33% -- increase in their insurance premiums. Drivers who use Nationwide for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill around $53 (or 30%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their car insurance company.

Overall, Nationwide offers the lowest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $178 compared to Acuity Insurance's $344.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even a collision. For example, Acuity increases average prices by just under $150 per month -- that's over a 35% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Acuity and Nationwide Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly insurance premiums. This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect several drivers out there.

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

So, which carrier offers the best prices for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Acuity or Nationwide Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. Typically, the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure, Nationwide tends to be the cheaper option. Nationwide average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in nearly $150 less expensive than Acuity. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay over $150 less with Nationwide over Acuity.

Acuity 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 big impact as well. Generally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers due to the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Nationwide tends to offer the lowest prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable rates from both carriers, but Nationwide comes out on top with average prices about $151 monthly. Nationwide also has more affordable average rates for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 47% and 49% a month respective difference when compared to Acuity policyholders in similar areas.

Acuity vs. Nationwide Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where car insurance discounts comes into play.

The challenging part is finding all of the discounts you qualify for, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Acuity and Nationwide 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 knocks Acuity out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 22 different discounts to Acuity's 22.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and group discounts. Nationwide also offers advance quote discounts, agency transfer discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that Acuity does not.

On the flip side, Acuity has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for graduating college, continuous insurance discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Acuity or Nationwide Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. But, at the end of the day, is Acuity or Nationwide the best fit for you?

Nationwide might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself.
• You have above-average credit.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.

Acuity might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Acuity and Nationwide and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Acuity and Nationwide. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Acuity vs. Nationwide FAQs

Is Acuity or Nationwide cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Nationwide is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $170 per month compared to $313 for Acuity. That being said, Nationwide won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for each driver, since there are many different factors that come into play when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, Acuity or Nationwide?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

Why do Acuity and Nationwide offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at quite a few different variables when calculating the rates they charge drivers. Things such as your driving record, where you park your vehicle, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Acuity and Nationwide use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if Acuity or Nationwide is right for me?

The only way to find the auto 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, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Acuity 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.