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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Nationwide offers significantly more affordable premiums than Dairyland
• Nationwide has cheaper prices for policyholders who don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on their record
• Nationwide offers more affordable premiums for single people who will be the only person on the auto insurance policy

Dairyland or Nationwide: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering considerable savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Dairyland or Nationwide as your top options, but between the two, which carrier will offer you less expensive prices?

Looking at nationwide averages, Dairyland is quite a bit more expensive than Nationwide, with rates averaging $256 a month compared to just $170 with Nationwide.

Even so, Nationwide may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Car insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on how good your credit score is or how clean your driving record is (among a variety of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

Dairyland vs. Nationwide: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Dairyland and Nationwide compete against each other in eight states, with Nationwide offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. South Carolina has the most noticable difference, where Nationwide rates are $185 less expensive than insurance prices at Dairyland.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto 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 typically pay a lot more for car insurance than any group on the road. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 25% less per month by choosing Nationwide over Dairyland.

However, with both companies, you'll see your premiums drop significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Dairyland policyholders decrease over 55% and Nationwide's prices lower more than 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the cheapest auto insurance premiums you'll ever see. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for car insurance.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Nationwide gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $78 cheaper than the national average for Dairyland.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance prices tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married drivers. That's because policies for married couples usually cover several vehicles, which several carriers will give you a discount for.

For single drivers, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Nationwide prices coming in at a third less than Dairyland's. The advantage for married policyholders with Nationwide is also obvious, where drivers save over 35% a month.

Dairyland or Nationwide: Average Rates by Gender

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

With Dairyland, women normally pay around $10 per month less than men, and about $12 less with Nationwide.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Nationwide offers the most affordable average premiums for both men and women, with average rates $85 less for men and $87 cheaper for women.

Dairyland 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 auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different terms and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

But most 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 usually refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Nationwide has the edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $112. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Nationwide again has the edge, with policies averaging around $229 a month to Dairyland's $370.

Is Dairyland or Nationwide Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance companies 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 accidents and speeding tickets lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- Dairyland or Nationwide -- has the lowest premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Dairyland for their car insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 15% after getting a speeding ticket. Nationwide policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 16%.

That being said, Nationwide is generally the less expensive option for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket, offering rates that are $100 and $116 more affordable, respectively, compared to Dairyland.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

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

At the end of the day, drivers who use Nationwide end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $178 compared to Dairyland's $297.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. For example, Nationwide increases average rates by more than $100 per month -- that's more than a 45% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Dairyland and Nationwide Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly auto insurance prices. This isn't true for everyone (for example, Massachusetts and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect lots of policyholders out there.

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

Looking at Dairyland and Nationwide specifically, which company has the cheapest 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 Dairyland or Nationwide Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a big impact on how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage. Normally, the more milage you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Dairyland charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Nationwide, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles each year paying around $1 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, for drivers in both categories, Nationwide is the cheaper company.

Dairyland 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 insurance. Typically, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Nationwide boasts the lowest average premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Nationwide's average prices are about $199 while Dairyland offers rates around $314. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly rate of about $159 with Nationwide compared to $251 with Dairyland. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $151 per month with Nationwide and $203 with Dairyland.

Dairyland vs. Nationwide Discounts

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

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Dairyland and Nationwide so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Nationwide knocks Dairyland out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 22 different discounts to Dairyland's 22.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and passive restraint discounts -- but Nationwide also offers discounts for distant student, driver training, EFT, and more.

On the other hand, Dairyland has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like multi-car discounts, paid in full discounts, and prior insurance discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Dairyland or Nationwide Best for You?

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

Nationwide might be best for you if....

• Your driving record contains an at-fault accident.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

Dairyland might be best for you if...

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

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Dairyland and Nationwide and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto 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 multiple carriers, not just Dairyland and Nationwide. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Dairyland vs. Nationwide FAQs

Is Dairyland 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 $256 for Dairyland. Even so, that doesn't mean Nationwide will be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are several different factors that are considered when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, Dairyland or Nationwide?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Dairyland and Nationwide offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use many different variables when determining the rates they charge. Things such as gender, your driving record, where your home is, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Dairyland and Nationwide calculate prices differently, 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 lots of different carriers.

How do I know if Dairyland 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 several 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 ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Dairyland 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.