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

Quick Facts

• In general, American Select offers slightly cheaper premiums than Nationwide
• American Select offers more affordable average rates for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record
• Nationwide offers more affordable prices for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to American Select or Nationwide for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier will offer you less expensive rates?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, American Select is about $0 per month cheaper than Nationwide.

That being said, that doesn't mean American Select will necessarily be less expensive than Nationwide for every driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like how good your credit score is, where you live, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, and a variety of other factors, so rates will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

American Select or Nationwide: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Select and Nationwide only compete against each other in three states, with American Select offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Kentucky has the most noticable difference, where American Select prices are cheaper than insurance premiums at Nationwide.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance rates than just where you live. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance premiums of any group on the road. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $70 less a month by choosing American Select over Nationwide.

However, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for American Select policyholders lower almost $150 and Nationwide's rates drop around $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest premiums you'll ever find.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between American Select and Nationwide? Nationwide gets the slight edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older nearly 10% less expensive than the national average for American Select.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance prices are usually more affordable for married policyholders than they are for single drivers? This usually boils down to married couples having multiple cars on their policy -- something a lot of auto insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, American Select is the winner for single policyholders, with premiums about $10 per month less expensive than Nationwide, on average.

American Select vs. Nationwide: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get tickets and get into collisions, they have a higher chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to pay more for car insurance than women.

On average, men see rates around 1% a month higher with American Select, and about 7% with Nationwide.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, American Select is the cheapest carrier for men. Rates with American Select are $5 less for men, while women can save around $6 with Nationwide.

American Select 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are multiple different coverages that account for a bunch of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which generally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

In this case, American Select offers the lowest average rates for state minimum liability limits, while Nationwide has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $20 with American Select Insurance Company, while full coverage comes out to be about $20 more affordable with Nationwide.

Is American Select or Nationwide Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

It's no secret secret that at-fault accidents and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- American Select or Nationwide -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

American Select policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $32 per month if they get a ticket, while Nationwide typically raises prices around $24 a month, on average.

Even so, American Select has cheaper premiums for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are 6% and 0% less expensive, respectively, compared to Nationwide.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through American Select can expect to see about an $41 -- or around 26% -- increase in their auto insurance prices. Drivers who use Nationwide for their car insurance will see a monthly bill about $53 (or 30%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance carrier.

Overall, the cheaper premiums come from American Select, with monthly prices averaging $158 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 insurance bill -- normally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. American Select drivers usually see a 55% increase in their car insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Nationwide will usually climb rates by around 46%.

How does Credit Score Impact American Select and Nationwide Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for lots of policyholders.

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

Looking specifically at American Select and Nationwide, which one has the best prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a big impact on your monthly car insurance bill? Normally, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much American Select charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Nationwide, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle annually paying about $1 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly.

American Select vs. Nationwide: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a sizable impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Generally, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers because there are a lot fewer cars on the roads in those areas.

Looking at these companies side-by-side, Nationwide typically comes out as the more affordable option for drivers in rural and urban areas, while American Select wins in suburban areas.

In urban areas, Nationwide's average prices are around $6 less than American Select Insurance Company. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $9 less with American Select compared to Nationwide. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around $5 with Nationwide compared to American Select.

American Select 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, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many 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 qualify for.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts American Select and Nationwide offer their customers so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Nationwide has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. American Select offers a grand total of 20 discounts, while Nationwide has 22.

Both carriers offer many of the same discounts -- like agency transfer discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, distant student discounts, and group discounts -- but Nationwide also offers EFT discounts, employee discounts, good driving discounts, and more that American Select does not.

On the flip side, American Select has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts, account relationship discounts, companion auto discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is American Select or Nationwide Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables auto insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which carrier is the right fit for you?

American Select might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Nationwide might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national car insurance company.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your auto insurance.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare American Select and Nationwide and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just American Select and Nationwide. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all for free.

American Select vs. Nationwide FAQs

Is American Select or Nationwide cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, American Select is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $170 per month compared to $170 for Nationwide. But American Select 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 auto insurance payment.

Who is better, American Select or Nationwide?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, American Select offers less expensive premiums for policyholders with an at-fault accident on their record, while Nationwide is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do American Select and Nationwide offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at many different variables when calculating the rates they charge drivers. Factors like where you park your vehicle, where you live, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both American Select and Nationwide calculate premiums differently, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

How do I know if American Select 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. 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 cheapest price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be American Select 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.