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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Houston General offers slightly more affordable premiums than Nationwide
• Houston General offers more affordable rates for residents of urban areas
• Nationwide tends to be a much less expensive option for residents of rural areas

Houston General vs. 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 huge discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Houston General or Nationwide as potential options, but between the two, which carrier has cheaper premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Houston General is about $10 per month more affordable than Nationwide.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Houston General will be the less expensive option for each driver. Insurance carriers use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among a lot of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

Houston General or Nationwide: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Houston General and Nationwide only compete against each other in Texas, where Nationwide offers the cheaper average rates. For Texas residents, Nationwide offers car insurance for $156 a month on average. Houston General's average premiums come out to be more expensive, at $160 monthly.

But there's more to calculating insurance prices than just where you live. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Houston General save nearly $70 a month compared to those who use Nationwide.

That being said, both companies will reduce rates by the time you turn 25. Nationwide offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Houston General's average premiums drop almost 45% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Houston General and Nationwide specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Houston General gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $17 cheaper than the national average for Nationwide.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance prices than married couples. That's because policies for married policyholders typically cover multiple cars, which lots of carriers will offer you a discount for.

If you're in the market for insurance, Houston General tends to have the lowest average rates regardless of if you're married or single, with prices nearly 10% less expensive for single policyholders and around 1% more affordable for married drivers.

Houston General vs. Nationwide: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which means they'll usually end up paying more for car insurance than women.

Usually, women see premiums about 7% per month less with Houston General, and around 7% less with Nationwide when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at overall affordability, Houston General offers the cheapest average prices for both men and women, with average rates $10 less for men and $10 cheaper for women.

Houston General 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.

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

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (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 -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability coverage).

In this case, Houston General offers the lowest average premiums for state minimum liability insurance, while Nationwide has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $30 with Houston General Insurance Exchange, while full coverage comes out to be about $7 cheaper with Nationwide.

Is Houston General or Nationwide Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car 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.

At-fault accidents and tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is Houston General or Nationwide more affordable for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Houston General policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $37 a month if they get a ticket, while Nationwide generally raises premiums around $24 per month, on average.

However, Houston General has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save about $14 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $1 per month with Houston General Insurance Exchange.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Houston General policyholders who get in an accident can expect to see their prices climb by over $100, while those who have insurance through Nationwide will see about a $55 increase.

Overall, drivers who use Nationwide end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $178 compared to Houston General Insurance Exchange's $233.

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 auto insurance bill -- usually a lot more than a collision or ticket. On average, Nationwide will climb your prices around 46% after a DUI, while Houston General's average rates increase by just under 25%.

How does Credit Score Impact Houston General and Nationwide Rates?

Did you know that many insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect a lot of drivers out there.

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper prices, while those with poor credit will typically be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the most affordable rates for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Houston General or Nationwide Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on your monthly prices. That's because the fewer miles you put on your vehicle, the less likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

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

Houston General vs. 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a big impact as well. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because there are a lot fewer cars on the roads in those areas.

Houston General tends to offer the most affordable option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while Nationwide wins in rural areas.

In urban areas, Houston General Insurance Exchange's average premiums are around 17% less than Nationwide. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about 6% less with Houston General compared to Nationwide. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around 8% with Nationwide compared to Houston General.

Houston General vs. Nationwide Discounts

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

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

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Houston General and Nationwide so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

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

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and discounts for being a good student. Nationwide also offers agency transfer discounts, defensive driver discounts, driver training discounts, and more that Houston General does not.

On the flip side, Houston General has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts and excess vehicle discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Houston General or Nationwide Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance prices. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the right fit for you?

Houston General might be best for you if....

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your auto insurance.

Nationwide might be best for you if...

• You are considering moving to another state -- undefined only offers policies in.
• You're looking for discounts -- Nationwide has the most.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Houston General and Nationwide. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your 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 a handful of carriers, not just Houston General 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 auto insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Houston General vs. Nationwide FAQs

Is Houston General or Nationwide cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Houston General is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $160 a month compared to $170 for Nationwide. That being said, Houston General won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each driver, since there are several different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Houston General or Nationwide?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Nationwide offers cheaper prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record, while Houston General is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Houston General and Nationwide offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at quite a few different factors when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Variables like your driving record, where your home is, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Houston General and Nationwide calculate premiums differently, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier 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 free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Houston General 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.