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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Nationwide offers significantly less expensive premiums than Motorists
• Nationwide offers more discounts than Motorists Insurance Group
• Nationwide offers more affordable average rates for policyholders who drive fewer than 12,000 miles annually

Motorists 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 might have narrowed your search down to Motorists or Nationwide as potential options, but which one will offer you cheaper prices?

As you can see, Motorists is quite a bit more expensive than Nationwide, with rates averaging $251 per month compared to just $170 with Nationwide when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Nationwide will be the more affordable option for every single driver. Car insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among a whole range of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Motorists or Nationwide is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Motorists or Nationwide: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Motorists and Nationwide only compete against each other in three states, with Nationwide offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Pennsylvania has the most noticable difference, where Nationwide rates are over 70% cheaper than insurance prices at Motorists.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

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

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance premiums. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Nationwide for their auto insurance pay $35 less than those who use Motorists.

That being said, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average prices for Motorists policyholders lower nearly $200 and Nationwide's premiums decrease about $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll normally enjoy the lowest car insurance rates out there. 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 carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Nationwide gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older almost 45% more affordable than the national average for Motorists.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance premiums are typically more expensive for those who are single than they are for married drivers? That's because policies for married policyholders usually cover several cars, which quite a few companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Nationwide is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices around $73 a month less expensive than Motorists, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - Nationwide has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Motorists vs. Nationwide: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to car insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

Men generally pay about 5% more per month than women with Motorists, and around 7% with Nationwide.

Looking at overall affordability, Nationwide comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average rates $81 less for men and $81 cheaper for women.

Motorists 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 auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are many different coverages that account for lots of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

However, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) 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 limits, Nationwide typically offers slightly more affordable prices of $112 compared to Motorists's $123. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Nationwide again has the edge, with policies about $150 a month cheaper than Motorists, on average.

Is Motorists 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 accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Motorists policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $18 per month if they get a ticket, while Nationwide normally raises prices around $24 a month, on average.

Even so, Nationwide has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are 26% and 20% more affordable, respectively, compared to Motorists Insurance Group.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Motorists drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums increase by just under 20%, while those who have insurance through Nationwide will see about a 30% increase.

Overall, Nationwide offers the cheapest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $178 compared to Motorists Insurance Group's $206.

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 -- typically a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. Motorists drivers usually see a 62% climb in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Nationwide will usually raise prices by around 46%.

How does Credit Score Impact Motorists and Nationwide Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for lots of policyholders.

The reasoning insurance carriers use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper premiums, while those with poor credit will generally be forced to pay more.

Looking at Motorists and Nationwide specifically, which carrier has the best rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

How much you drive can have a large impact on your monthly prices. That's because the more miles you drive, the more likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

Nationwide tends to be the cheaper option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles each year, as well as those who average twice that figure. Nationwide's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over 30% less expensive than Motorists. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay just under 35% less with Nationwide over Motorists.

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

Where your home is can have a sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas because there are a lot fewer cars on the road in those areas, which reduces the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Nationwide generally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Nationwide's average premiums are about 30% less than Motorists Insurance Group. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 26% less with Nationwide compared to Motorists. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 40% with Nationwide compared to Motorists.

Motorists 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 challenging part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Motorists 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.

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

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a homeowner, and passive restraint discounts -- but Nationwide also offers agency transfer discounts, distant student discounts, driver training discounts, and more that Motorists does not.

On the flip side, Motorists has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts, empty nester discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Motorists or Nationwide Best for You?

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

Nationwide might be best for you if....

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You have a short commute.

Motorists might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Motorists 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 Motorists and Nationwide. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Motorists vs. Nationwide FAQs

Is Motorists or Nationwide cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Nationwide is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $170 per month compared to $251 for Motorists. That being said, Nationwide won't necessarily be the lowest company for everyone, since there are a range of different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Motorists or Nationwide?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile.

Why do Motorists and Nationwide offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at many different factors when calculating the premiums they charge policyholders. Things like age, gender, where you park your vehicle, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Motorists and Nationwide calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car 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, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Motorists 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.