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

Quick Facts

• In general, Nationwide offers significantly less expensive rates than Alliance United
• Nationwide offers more affordable average prices for policyholders who live in suburban areas
• Nationwide may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Alliance United

Alliance United or Nationwide: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering huge savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Alliance United or Nationwide, but between the two, which company has cheaper premiums for auto insurance?

As you can see, Alliance United has average rates that are around 24% a month more expensive than those from Nationwide when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

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

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Alliance United and Nationwide by many different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Alliance United vs. Nationwide: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Alliance United and Nationwide only compete against each other in California, where Nationwide offers the cheaper average premiums. Nationwide drivers tend to pay about $6 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Alliance United for their auto insurance.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance cost than just where you call home. Continue reading to see how other variables 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 teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Nationwide save over 10% a month compared to those who use Alliance United.

That being said, both companies will decrease rates by the time you turn 25. Nationwide offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Alliance United's average prices reduce more than 45% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll normally enjoy the most affordable car insurance rates out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for insurance.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Alliance United and Nationwide? Nationwide gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $125 per month compared to Alliance United's $194.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance premiums are generally cheaper for married drivers than they are for single policyholders? This usually boils down to married policyholders having several vehicles on their policy -- something many insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Nationwide prices coming in at a quarter less than Alliance United's. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - Nationwide has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Alliance United or Nationwide: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, they have a decreased chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, insurance carriers will often charge women less than men.

Men and women get the same monthly rates with Alliance United, but with Nationwide, the difference is closer to 7% per month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Nationwide comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $49 a month and women save around $61 with Nationwide compared to the average Alliance United policyholder.

Alliance United vs. 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.

It's no secret that car insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to liability coverage).

When it comes to state minimum liability limits, Alliance United has the edge, while Nationwide offers the lowest average prices for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $10 with Alliance United, while full coverage comes out to be about $100 less expensive with Nationwide.

Is Alliance United or Nationwide Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

You'll probably end up paying more with collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest premiums to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Alliance United for their auto insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up around 25% after getting a speeding ticket. Nationwide policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 16%.

Even so, Nationwide tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket -- their rates are around 10% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 19% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Alliance United policyholders who get in an accident can expect to see their rates climb by over 50%, while those who have insurance through Nationwide will see around a 30% increase.

At the end of the day, the cheaper prices come from Nationwide, with average premiums coming in at $178 compared to Alliance United's $289.

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 car insurance bill -- typically a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. On average, Alliance United will raise your rates about 52% after a DUI, while Nationwide's average prices rise by more than 45%.

How does Credit Score Impact Alliance United and Nationwide Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly auto insurance premiums. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a car insurance factor, but it might come into play for lots of drivers.

Car insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which raises the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

Looking specifically at Alliance United and Nationwide, which one has the most affordable prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Typically, if you have stellar credit, you can expect to be rewarded. Jumping from a "good" credit score to an "excellent" one will usually save Nationwide customers around $20. On the other hand, Alliance United doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means they most likely don't use credit to calculate your rates.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit, it can cost you with Nationwide. As you can see, Nationwide customers with poor credit scores pay about $35 per month more than those with fair scores (and even more compared to drivers with good or excellent scores). On the other hand, Alliance United doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means drivers with bad credit may find better rates with Alliance United over Nationwide.

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

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on how much insurance carriers will charge for coverage. That's because the more milage you put on your vehicle, the more likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

Nationwide tends to be the less expensive option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Alliance United's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in nearly $45 more expensive than Nationwide. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay more than $65 more with Alliance United over Nationwide.

Alliance United or Nationwide: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can have a substantial impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas due to the number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Nationwide generally comes out as the lowest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $55 with Nationwide compared to Alliance United. People who live in suburban areas pay about $80 less with Nationwide compared to Alliance United. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Nationwide's average prices are around $31 less than Alliance United.

Alliance United vs. Nationwide Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many car insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Alliance United 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 knocks Alliance United out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 22 different discounts to Alliance United's 22.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver and discounts for being a good driver. Nationwide also offers discounts for advance quote, agency transfer, anti-theft, and more.

On the other hand, Alliance United has a proprietary discount of their own -- a renewal discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Alliance United or Nationwide Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which company is the best fit for you?

Nationwide might be best for you if....

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on your record.
• Your credit is less-than-stellar.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's auto insurance policy.

Alliance United might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the best rates on liability only coverage.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Alliance United and Nationwide and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Alliance United and Nationwide. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Alliance United vs. Nationwide FAQs

Is Alliance United or Nationwide cheaper?

Nationwide is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $170 a month with Nationwide and $225 for Alliance United. However, that doesn't mean Nationwide will be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are several different factors that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Alliance United or Nationwide?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Alliance United and Nationwide offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use quite a few different variables when determining the rates they charge. Factors like your driving record, age, gender, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Alliance United and Nationwide calculate prices using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

How do I know if Alliance United 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 a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Alliance United or Nationwide at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.