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

Quick Facts

• In general, Nationwide offers significantly more affordable prices than Esurance
• Esurance offers more discounts than Nationwide
• Nationwide has less expensive rates for policyholders who may not have much of a commute

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

Are you considering a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering hefty discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Esurance or Nationwide as potential options, but which carrier will save you the most?

As you can see, Esurance has average rates that are about 45% per month more expensive than those from Nationwide when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

That being said, Nationwide may not be the most affordable or best option for every single driver out there. Car insurance companies use a variety of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how clean your driving record is or where you live (among a multitude of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

Esurance or Nationwide: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Esurance and Nationwide compete against each other in eight states, with Nationwide offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. California has the most noticable difference, where Esurance premiums are over 40% less expensive than auto insurance prices at Nationwide.

But there's more to calculating 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 prices of any other group of drivers. It's usually because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Nationwide save nearly $350 a month compared to those who use Esurance.

Even so, with both carriers, you'll see your rates drop significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Esurance policyholders reduce more than 65% and Nationwide's prices decrease over 60% 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 lowest premiums you'll ever find.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? Nationwide gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $107 more affordable than the national average for Esurance.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance premiums than married policyholders. This usually boils down to married couples having more than one car on their policy -- something several car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Nationwide is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $160 per month less expensive than Esurance, on average. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Nationwide offers the cheapest average rates.

Esurance vs. Nationwide: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women normally pay less for auto insurance than men? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into an accident, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

Men typically pay more than $20 a month more than women with Esurance, while with Nationwide, the difference is closer to $12 per month.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, Nationwide offers the most affordable average premiums for both men and women. On average, women save about $124 a month and men save about $133 with Nationwide compared to the average Esurance policyholder.

Esurance 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. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Nationwide generally offers significantly more affordable rates of $112 compared to Esurance's $201. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Nationwide again has the edge, with policies around $150 per month cheaper than Esurance, on average.

Is Esurance 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 tickets and accidents lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Esurance or Nationwide -- has the cheapest prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Esurance policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $45 a month if they get a ticket, while Nationwide usually raises prices about $24 per month, on average.

But Nationwide tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save around $117 a month and drivers with a ticket can save about $138 per month with Nationwide.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Esurance can expect to see around an $122 -- or about 34% -- increase in their insurance premiums. Drivers who use Nationwide for their car insurance will see a monthly bill around $53 (or 30%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance company.

Overall, drivers who use Nationwide end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $178 compared to Esurance's $364.

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. On average, Nationwide will climb your premiums about 46% after a DUI, while Esurance's average rates increase by just under 20%.

How does Credit Score Impact Esurance and Nationwide Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (for example, Massachusetts and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect quite a few drivers out there.

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

Looking at Esurance and Nationwide specifically, which one has the best 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 Esurance 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 carriers will charge for coverage. Typically, the more miles you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure, Nationwide tends to be the less expensive option. Esurance average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around $128 more expensive than Nationwide. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay about $128 more with Esurance over Nationwide.

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

Where you park your vehicle can have a sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. Generally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

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

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest prices from both companies, but Nationwide comes out on top with average rates around $151 a month. Nationwide also has cheaper average premiums for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $197 and $129 a month respective difference when compared to Esurance policyholders in similar areas.

Esurance 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 difficult to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you're eligible for.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Esurance 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.

Overall, Esurance comes out ahead with 24 discounts to Nationwide's 22.

Both carriers offer lots of the same discounts -- like agency transfer discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and discounts for being a homeowner -- but Esurance also offers ABS discounts, DRL discounts, education discounts, and more that Nationwide does not.

On the flip side, Nationwide has a couple unique discounts of its own -- distant student discounts, discounts for getting driver training, EFT discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Esurance or Nationwide Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the variables car insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Esurance or Nationwide the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Nationwide might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" auto insurance.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your insurance.

Esurance might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- Esurance has the most.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Esurance 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from several carriers, not just Esurance and Nationwide. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Esurance vs. Nationwide FAQs

Is Esurance or Nationwide cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Nationwide is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $170 per month compared to $299 for Esurance. However, Nationwide won't necessarily be the lowest company for everyone, since there are a variety of different factors that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, Esurance or Nationwide?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for each driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Esurance and Nationwide offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at many different variables when determining the rates they charge drivers. Things like gender, age, your driving record, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Esurance and Nationwide calculate premiums using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Esurance 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.