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

Quick Facts

• In general, Nationwide offers significantly cheaper prices than National General
• National General offers less expensive average premiums for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Nationwide offers more affordable rates for policyholders who have a clean driving record, free of accidents, tickets, or DUIs

National General 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 hefty discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to National General or Nationwide, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, National General is quite a bit more expensive than Nationwide, with premiums averaging $249 per month compared to just $170 with Nationwide.

But Nationwide may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. Auto insurance companies use a variety 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.

So, if you want to find out which of National General or Nationwide is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each carrier broken down by lots of different rate factors.

National General or Nationwide: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

National General and Nationwide only compete against each other in Texas, where Nationwide offers the cheaper average premiums. For Texas residents, Nationwide offers car insurance for $156 per month on average. National General's average prices come out to be over 50% more expensive, at $249 a month.

But there's more to auto insurance than just where you live. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance carriers determine your rates. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for car insurance than any group out there on the road. It's generally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $200 less a month by choosing Nationwide over National General.

Even so, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for National General policyholders lower nearly $400 and Nationwide's premiums decrease about $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest rates you'll ever find.

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Nationwide gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $125 monthly compared to National General's $179.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance rates than married drivers. This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple cars on their policy -- something quite a few car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Nationwide is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices about $97 per month more affordable than National General, on average. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Nationwide offers the most affordable average premiums.

National General vs. Nationwide: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get tickets and get into accidents. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

Usually, women see rates around 6% a month less with National General, while with Nationwide, the difference is closer to 7% per month.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Nationwide comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices $81 less for men and $77 cheaper for women.

National 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.

For most people, insurance can be pretty complicated. There are several different coverages that account for a bunch of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

However, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) 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 significantly cheaper rates of $112 compared to National General's $151. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Nationwide again has the edge, with policies about $100 a month more affordable than National General, on average.

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

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car 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 collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

National General policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $20 per month if they get a ticket, while Nationwide usually raises premiums around $24 a month, on average.

That being said, Nationwide has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 22% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 18% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through National General can expect to see about an $311 -- or around 66% -- increase in their insurance prices. Drivers who use Nationwide for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $53 (or 30%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their car insurance carrier.

Overall, Nationwide offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly prices averaging $178 compared to National General Insurance's $472.

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% increase in their insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while National General will generally raise rates by around 12%.

How does Credit Score Impact National General and Nationwide Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for a lot of drivers.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that policyholders 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 normally be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Nationwide and National General, which carrier has the cheapest 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 National General or Nationwide Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a large impact on how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the more miles you drive, the more 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 National General charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Nationwide, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car annually paying about $1 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, Nationwide is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you live can have a big impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. Typically, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

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

Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $151 per month with Nationwide compared to National General's $244. People in suburban areas pay a monthly premium of about $159 with Nationwide compared to $241 with National General. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Nationwide's average prices are around $199 while National General offers premiums about $262.

National General vs. Nationwide Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem hard to find all the of the ones you're eligible for.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts National General and Nationwide offer their customers so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Nationwide blows National General away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 14 more discounts than National General.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Nationwide also offers agency transfer discounts, distant student discounts, EFT discounts, and more that National General does not.

On the flip side, National General has a couple unique discounts of its own -- low mileage discounts and vehicle brand discounts.

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

You've seen the role certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, at the end of the day, which company is the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Nationwide might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

National General might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between National 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 auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just National General and Nationwide. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

National General vs. Nationwide FAQs

Is National General or Nationwide cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Nationwide is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $170 per month compared to $249 for National General. But Nationwide won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are multiple different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, National General or Nationwide?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, National General offers cheaper rates for drivers with a recent DUI, while Nationwide is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do National General and Nationwide offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at several different factors when calculating the premiums they charge policyholders. Variables such as gender, where you call home, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both National General and Nationwide calculate rates using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

How do I know if National General 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 carriers 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 information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be National 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.