First American Property & Casualty vs. Nationwide: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, First American Property & Casualty offers slightly cheaper premiums than Nationwide
• First American Property & Casualty tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Nationwide offers more discounts than First American Property & Casualty

First American Property & Casualty vs. 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 big discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

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

As you can see, First American Property & Casualty is about $3 per month more affordable than Nationwide when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean First American Property & Casualty will be the less expensive option for every single driver. Insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like how clean your driving record is, where you live, how old you are, how good your credit score is, and all sorts of other factors, so prices could differ drastically from person to person.

Wanting to know if First American Property & Casualty or Nationwide is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

First American Property & Casualty or Nationwide: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance payment than just where you live. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. It's normally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance rates. As you can see above, teens who use First American Property & Casualty save more than $20 a month compared to those who use Nationwide.

But both carriers will reduce prices by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for First American Property & Casualty policyholders decrease over 55% and Nationwide's premiums 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 most affordable car insurance rates you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for auto insurance.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? First American Property & Casualty gets the slight edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $121 monthly compared to Nationwide's $125. Even so, that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other variables, such as your credit score or where you live.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance rates are typically more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married drivers? That's normally because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, First American Property & Casualty is the winner for those who are single, with prices about $8 per month cheaper than Nationwide, on average.

First American Property & Casualty vs. Nationwide: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but insurance is usually more expensive for men than for women. This is because men are more likely to get into accidents and get tickets, which increases the chances of an insurance claim.

Women and men get the same monthly rates with First American Property & Casualty, while with Nationwide, the difference is closer to 7% a month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, First American Property & Casualty is the lowest company for men. Rates with First American Property & Casualty are $9 less for men, while women can save around $3 with Nationwide.

First American Property & Casualty 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.

For most people, car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

But the 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 an accident) and full coverage (which typically refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability).

In this case, First American Property & Casualty offers the cheapest average prices 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 $40 with First American Property & Casualty, while full coverage comes out to be about $35 more affordable with Nationwide.

Is First American Property & Casualty or Nationwide Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

First American Property & Casualty policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $26 per month if they get a ticket, while Nationwide generally raises rates around $24 a month, on average.

Even so, First American Property & Casualty has less expensive premiums for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are $6 and $4 cheaper, respectively, compared to Nationwide.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through First American Property & Casualty can expect to see about an $26 -- or around 18% -- increase in their auto insurance rates. Drivers who use Nationwide for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $53 (or 30%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their auto insurance carrier.

Overall, the less expensive premiums come from First American Property & Casualty, with monthly prices averaging $145 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 speeding ticket or even an accident. On average, First American Property & Casualty will raise your rates around 54% after a DUI, while Nationwide's average premiums climb by over 45%.

How does Credit Score Impact First American Property & Casualty and Nationwide Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (for example, Hawaii and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for quite a few policyholders.

Insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking at First American Property & Casualty and Nationwide specifically, which company has the cheapest prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Usually, if you have stellar credit, you can expect to be rewarded. Improving your "good" credit score to an "excellent" one will typically save Nationwide customers about $20. First American Property & Casualty, on the other hand, doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means they most likely don't use credit to calculate your premiums.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Having bad credit can cost you with Nationwide. As you can see, Nationwide customers with poor credit scores pay around 15% per month more than those with fair scores (and even more compared to drivers with good or excellent scores). On the other hand, because First American Property & Casualty doesn't have data available for credit scores, they could have better rates for drivers with bad credit over Nationwide.

Is First American Property & Casualty 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 how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage? Normally, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

Looking specifically at First American Property & Casualty and Nationwide, First American Property & Casualty is the cheaper option for people who work from home, while First American Property & Casualty has better premiums for those with short commutes. First American Property & Casualty's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $29 more affordable than Nationwide. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay around $21 less with Nationwide over First American Property & Casualty.

First American Property & Casualty vs. Nationwide: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a large impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Usually, 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.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, First American Property & Casualty boasts the cheapest average rates in rural and urban areas, while Nationwide wins in suburban areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 7% with First American Property & Casualty compared to Nationwide. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 15% less with Nationwide compared to First American Property & Casualty. In urban areas, First American Property & Casualty's average premiums are about 14% less than Nationwide.

First American Property & Casualty vs. Nationwide Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you qualify for.

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both First American Property & Casualty and Nationwide so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Nationwide blows First American Property & Casualty away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 12 more discounts than First American Property & Casualty.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like distant student discounts, discounts for being a good student, and group discounts. Nationwide also offers advance quote discounts, agency transfer discounts, defensive driver discounts, and more that First American Property & Casualty does not.

On the flip side, First American Property & Casualty has a couple unique discounts of its own -- mature driver discounts, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and renewal discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is First American Property & Casualty or Nationwide Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is First American Property & Casualty or Nationwide the best fit for you?

First American Property & Casualty might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles each year.

Nationwide might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You already have a great credit score.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare First American Property & Casualty and Nationwide. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 several companies, not just First American Property & Casualty and Nationwide. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

First American Property & Casualty vs. Nationwide FAQs

Is First American Property & Casualty or Nationwide cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, First American Property & Casualty is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $167 a month compared to $170 for Nationwide. However, First American Property & Casualty won't necessarily be the lowest company for every driver, since there are several different variables that are considered when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, First American Property & Casualty or Nationwide?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, First American Property & Casualty offers more affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record, while Nationwide is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do First American Property & Casualty and Nationwide offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at several different factors when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Things such as your driving record, where you live, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both First American Property & Casualty and Nationwide calculate premiums using different variables, 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 lots of different companies.

How do I know if First American Property & Casualty 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 carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be First American Property & Casualty 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.