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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Atlantic States offers slightly less expensive rates than Nationwide
• Atlantic States tends to be a much more affordable option for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles every year
• Nationwide offers more affordable premiums for drivers with a DUI

Atlantic States or 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 hefty savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Atlantic States or Nationwide as your top options, but which carrier will offer you cheaper prices?

Looking at nationwide averages, Nationwide is around $10 more a month than Atlantic States.

That being said, Atlantic States may not be the most affordable or best option for each driver out there. Insurance carriers use a ton of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on how good your credit score is or how old you are (among a multitude of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

Atlantic States vs. Nationwide: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Atlantic States and Nationwide only compete against each other in two states, with Atlantic States offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. Delaware has the most noticable difference, where Atlantic States rates are $79 less expensive than auto insurance prices at Nationwide.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance payment than just where you live. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for auto insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. 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.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Atlantic States save almost 20% per month compared to those who use Nationwide.

But both companies will drop premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Atlantic States policyholders lower over 45% and Nationwide's premiums decrease more than 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the lowest insurance rates out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally decreases their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise prices.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Atlantic States and Nationwide? In this case, Atlantic States has the slight edge, with prices about $6 a month less than Nationwide. Even so, the difference is only around 5%, so other factors (like where you live or your credit score) will likely come into play when determining which carrier has the cheapest premiums for you.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance prices tend to be cheaper for married policyholders than they are for those who are single. That's typically because married couples tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

If you're in the market for insurance, Atlantic States tends to have the most affordable average premiums regardless of marital status, with prices about $4 less expensive for married drivers and around $15 more affordable for single drivers.

Atlantic States or Nationwide: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into collisions and get tickets, they are less likely to file a claim with insurance. So, women generally pay less for auto insurance than men.

Women normally pay nearly 10% per month less than men with Atlantic States, and about 7% less with Nationwide when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Atlantic States offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women, with average premiums $9 less for men and $11 cheaper for women.

Atlantic States 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.

Insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing 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 two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

When it comes to state minimum limits for liability insurance, Atlantic States 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 $25 with Atlantic States Insurance Company, while full coverage comes out to be around $6 cheaper with Nationwide.

Is Atlantic States or Nationwide Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Atlantic States or Nationwide -- has the most affordable rates for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Atlantic States for their car insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 5% after getting a speeding ticket. Nationwide policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 16%.

But Atlantic States tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records. With Atlantic States Insurance Company, drivers with a clean record can save about $9 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $27 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Atlantic States policyholders who get in an accident can expect to see their prices rise by just under 25%, while those who have insurance through Nationwide will see about a 30% increase.

At the end of the day, the more affordable premiums come from Atlantic States, with average prices coming in at $153 compared to Nationwide's $178.

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 ticket or even a collision. For example, Atlantic States increases average rates by nearly $150 a month -- that's nearly a 55% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Atlantic States and Nationwide Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Hawaii and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for a lot of drivers.

The reasoning insurance carriers use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so typically, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper prices.

Looking at Atlantic States and Nationwide specifically, which one has the lowest rates 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 Atlantic States 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 large impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage? Normally, those who drive less will end up with less expensive prices since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Atlantic States offers cheaper premiums than Nationwide. Atlantic States's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around $19 less expensive than Nationwide. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay about $2 less with Atlantic States over Nationwide.

Atlantic States or Nationwide: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a substantial role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas since there are a lot more cars on the road where they live, which increases the chances of an accident.

Atlantic States boasts the lowest average premiums in rural and suburban areas, while Nationwide wins in urban areas.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Nationwide's average prices are around $6 less than Atlantic States Insurance Company. People who live in suburban areas pay about $16 less with Atlantic States compared to Nationwide. Those in rural areas can expect to save around $18 with Atlantic States compared to Nationwide.

Atlantic States vs. Nationwide Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Atlantic States 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.

Overall, Nationwide has advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Atlantic States offers a grand total of 19 discounts, while Nationwide has 22.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for getting driver training, discounts for being a good driver, and multi-policy discounts. Nationwide also offers discounts for agency transfer, distant student, EFT, and more.

On the other hand, Atlantic States has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like ABS discounts, family discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Atlantic States or Nationwide Best for You?

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

Atlantic States might be best for you if....

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in a collision in the last few years.
• You're looking for the best rates on liability only coverage.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Nationwide might be best for you if...

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.

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

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

Atlantic States vs. Nationwide FAQs

Is Atlantic States or Nationwide cheaper?

Atlantic States is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $160 per month with Atlantic States and $170 for Nationwide. Even so, that doesn't mean Atlantic States will be the most affordable carrier for each policyholder, since there are multiple different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Atlantic States or Nationwide?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Atlantic States and Nationwide offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use many different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Things such as your driving record, where you live, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Atlantic States and Nationwide calculate rates differently, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

How do I know if Atlantic States 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 a handful of carriers 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 area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Atlantic States 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.