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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Metromile offers less expensive rates than Nationwide
• Metromile offers more affordable average prices for people who are single and purchasing insurance by yourself
• Nationwide offers more discounts than Metromile

Metromile 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 hefty discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Metromile or Nationwide for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier will offer you cheaper premiums?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Nationwide has average rates that are about 12% per month more expensive than those from Metromile.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Metromile will be the less expensive option for each driver. After all, car insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, where you call home, your age, or even your driving record (among other things), so rates will change quite a bit from person to person.

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

Metromile or Nationwide: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers. Generally, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance prices. As you can see above, teens who use Metromile save more than $55 a month compared to those who use Nationwide.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your rates drop significantly by the time drivers turn 25. Nationwide offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Metromile still has the most affordable premiums at $121 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the lowest insurance rates you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically lowers their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Metromile and Nationwide? Nationwide gets the slight edge here, with average prices coming in at around $125 monthly compared to Metromile's $129. However, that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other factors, such as your driving record is or your credit score.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance rates are normally cheaper for married policyholders than they are for single drivers? That's because policies for married couples generally cover more than one car, which a lot of carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Metromile is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums about $27 per month more affordable than Nationwide, on average. It's not quite so glaring for married drivers, where drivers who use Metromile save over $10 a month.

Metromile vs. Nationwide: Average Rates by Gender

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

Surprisingly, men usually pay around $4 per month less than women with Metromile, and about $10 with Nationwide.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Metromile comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $28 a month and women save around $12 with Metromile compared to the average Nationwide policyholder.

Metromile 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.

It's no secret that car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage 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 what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Metromile generally offers cheaper rates of $99 compared to Nationwide's $112. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Metromile again has the edge, with policies about $30 per month less expensive than Nationwide, on average.

Is Metromile 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 at-fault collisions and tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable prices to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Metromile policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $33 a month if they get a ticket, while Nationwide normally raises rates around $24 per month, on average.

But Metromile has more affordable prices for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are 8% and 1% less expensive, respectively, compared to Nationwide.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Metromile drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices increase by over $55, while those who have insurance through Nationwide will see about a $55 increase.

Overall, Metromile offers the cheapest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $171 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 a collision. Nationwide drivers usually see a 46% raise in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Metromile will typically climb premiums by around 31%.

How does Credit Score Impact Metromile and Nationwide Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly car insurance rates. This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for quite a few policyholders.

Insurance carriers 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.

So, which carrier offers the lowest premiums for policyholders 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 Metromile 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 large impact on your monthly prices? Usually, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

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

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

Where you park your vehicle can play a considerable role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Generally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Metromile usually comes out as the more affordable option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while Nationwide wins in urban areas.

In urban areas, Nationwide's average rates are around $10 less than Metromile. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $38 less with Metromile compared to Nationwide. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around $31 with Metromile compared to Nationwide.

Metromile 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 car insurance discounts as you can.

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible 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 Metromile and Nationwide so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Nationwide knocks Metromile out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 18 more discounts than Metromile.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a good driver, multi-policy discounts, and paperless discounts. Nationwide also offers advance quote discounts, agency transfer discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that Metromile does not.

On the flip side, Metromile has a unique discount of its own -- a online quote discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Metromile or Nationwide Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance company is the best company for you and your specific needs?

Metromile might be best for you if....

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" insurance.
• You're buying auto insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Nationwide might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- Nationwide has the most.
• You live in an urban area.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Metromile and Nationwide. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Metromile and Nationwide. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Metromile vs. Nationwide FAQs

Is Metromile or Nationwide cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Metromile is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $150 a month compared to $170 for Nationwide. Even so, Metromile won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for every policyholder, since there are a variety of different variables that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, Metromile or Nationwide?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, Metromile offers less expensive premiums for single drivers, while Nationwide is more affordable for drivers who have already retired.

Why do Metromile and Nationwide offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when calculating the rates they charge policyholders. Things such as your driving record, age, where your home is, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Metromile and Nationwide calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Metromile 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.