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

Quick Facts

• In general, Germania offers less expensive rates than Nationwide
• Germania offers more affordable prices for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record
• Nationwide may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Germania Insurance

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

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering Germania or Nationwide as potential options, but between the two, which one will offer you more affordable rates?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Germania is around $28 a month cheaper than Nationwide.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Germania will be the less expensive option for every single driver. Insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like how old you are, how good your credit score is, where you live, how clean your driving record is, and a variety of other factors, so prices will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Germania or Nationwide is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each company broken down by several different rate factors.

Germania vs. Nationwide: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Germania and Nationwide only compete against each other in Texas, where Germania offers the cheaper average premiums. Undefined drivers tend to pay about undefined per month less on average compared to drivers who use undefined for their auto insurance.

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Germania save over 25% a month compared to those who use Nationwide.

But both carriers will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. Nationwide offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Germania still has the most affordable rates at $137 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the cheapest auto insurance premiums you'll ever find. 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? Germania gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older almost 15% cheaper than the national average for Nationwide.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

For single policyholders, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with Germania rates coming in at a quarter less than Nationwide's. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Germania offers the lowest average prices.

Germania or Nationwide: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men tend to pay more for auto insurance than women? That's because women are less likely to get into collisions and get tickets, which lowers the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

On average, women see rates nearly 10% per month less with Germania, and about 7% less with Nationwide when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the most affordable premiums for each gender, Germania comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $28 a month and women save around $28 with Germania compared to the average Nationwide policyholder.

Germania 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.

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

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Germania has the edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $90. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Germania again has the edge, with policies averaging about $194 per month to Nationwide's $229.

Is Germania or Nationwide Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their auto insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

Collisions and speeding tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is Germania or Nationwide more affordable for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Germania insurance policies don't report seeing their prices increase after getting a ticket, but Nationwide policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by.

That being said, Germania has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are 18% and 32% cheaper, respectively, compared to Nationwide.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Nationwide climbing by around 30%. Germania has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay nearly 25% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, the more affordable premiums come from Germania, with average prices coming in at $132 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. Germania drivers usually see a 56% increase in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Nationwide will generally climb prices by about 46%.

How does Credit Score Impact Germania and Nationwide Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it might come into play for a lot of drivers.

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

Looking specifically at Germania and Nationwide, which company 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 Germania 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 rates? Typically, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper premiums since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

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

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

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a substantial impact as well. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because of the number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Germania normally comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about $17 with Germania compared to Nationwide. People who live in suburban areas pay around $16 less with Germania compared to Nationwide. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Germania Insurance's average premiums are about $50 less than Nationwide.

Germania 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 auto insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging 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.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Germania and Nationwide so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Overall, Nationwide has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Germania offers a grand total of 18 discounts, while Nationwide has 22.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for getting driver training, and new vehicle discounts. Nationwide also offers discounts for agency transfer, EFT, employee discount, and more.

On the other hand, Germania has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like ABS discounts, academic discounts, claim free discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Germania or Nationwide Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. But, at the end of the day, which insurance company is the best one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Germania might be best for you if....

• You have a clean record.
• You're looking for the best rates on liability only coverage.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually.

Nationwide might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- undefined only offers policies to residents.
• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You're looking for discounts -- Nationwide has the most.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Germania 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 best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Germania and Nationwide. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Germania vs. Nationwide FAQs

Is Germania or Nationwide cheaper?

Germania is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $142 a month with Germania and $170 for Nationwide. However, that doesn't mean Germania will be the most affordable carrier for each policyholder, since there are multiple different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, Germania or Nationwide?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Germania is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit, while Nationwide offers more affordable rates for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Germania and Nationwide offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use quite a few different factors when calculating the prices they charge. Variables like where you live, age, gender, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Germania and Nationwide calculate premiums using different formulas, 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 a bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if Germania 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 a handful of 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 area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Germania 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.