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

Quick Facts

• In general, Nationwide offers less expensive rates than Patriot
• Nationwide tends to be a much cheaper option for couples purchasing car insurance together
• Patriot has more affordable premiums for policyholders who don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on their record

Nationwide vs. Patriot: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering substantial discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might be considering Nationwide or Patriot for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier will offer you cheaper rates?

Looking at nationwide averages, Patriot has average rates that are about 11% per month more expensive than those from Nationwide.

That being said, Nationwide may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your driving record, your age, or even your credit score (among other things), so prices could change drastically from person to person.

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

Nationwide or Patriot: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Nationwide and Patriot only compete against each other in two states, with Nationwide offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. Vermont has the most noticable difference, where Nationwide premiums are over 50% less expensive than insurance rates at Patriot.

But there's more to calculating car insurance premiums than just where you call home. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers. Typically, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Nationwide for their auto insurance pay nearly $50 less than those who use Patriot. It's worth noting that Nationwide offers car insurance in 34 different states compared to Patriot's three, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Nationwide policyholders drop almost $250 and Patriot's prices decrease around $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Nationwide and Patriot specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Nationwide gets the slight edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $125 monthly compared to Patriot's $128. However, that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other factors, such as your credit score or your driving record.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly more affordable car insurance rates than single policyholders. That's because policies for married couples normally cover more than one car, which quite a few companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, the two carriers are comparable for those who are single, with premiums only differing around $22 a month, on average. But for married policyholders, the advantage is clear - Nationwide has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Nationwide vs. Patriot: Average Rates by Gender

Women usually to pay less for insurance than men. This is because men are more likely to get into accidents and get tickets, which increases the chances of an insurance claim.

With Nationwide, women generally pay more than $10 per month less than men, and nearly $20 with Patriot.

When it comes to the most affordable premiums for each gender, Nationwide comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $24 a month and women save about $18 with Nationwide compared to the average Patriot policyholder.

Nationwide or Patriot: 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.

Car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are several different coverages that account for a variety 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.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability).

In this case, Patriot offers the lowest average rates for state minimum limits for 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 Patriot Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $75 cheaper with Nationwide.

Is Nationwide or Patriot Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance companies offering great prices for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and at-fault collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest premiums to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Nationwide policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $24 per month if they get a ticket, while Patriot usually raises prices about $23 a month, on average.

But Patriot tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save around $41 per month and drivers with a ticket can save about $42 a month with Patriot Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Nationwide increasing by just under $55. Patriot has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay nearly $20 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, Patriot offers the most affordable rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly prices averaging $103 compared to Nationwide's $178.

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 -- normally a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. Patriot drivers usually see a 82% climb in their car insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Nationwide will typically raise prices by around 46%.

Nationwide has the overall lowest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $230 a month, but it's worth noting that Nationwide's average rates come from 34 states compared to just three for Patriot, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Nationwide and Patriot Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (for example, Michigan and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for many policyholders.

Insurance companies 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.

Looking at Nationwide and Patriot specifically, which one has the most affordable prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Nationwide. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 15% compared to Patriot, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $18 or 11% less expensive every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Nationwide typically offers lower rates than Patriot when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $8 per month less with Nationwide compared to Patriot, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about $32 per month.

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

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Generally, the more miles you put on your car each year, 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 Patriot charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Nationwide, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $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.

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

Where you park your vehicle can have a large impact on your monthly insurance payment. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because there are a lot fewer cars on the road in those areas, which reduces the chances of an accident.

Nationwide usually comes out as the cheaper option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while Patriot wins in urban areas.

In urban areas, Patriot Insurance's average premiums are about $6 less than Nationwide. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $39 less with Nationwide compared to Patriot. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about $32 with Nationwide compared to Patriot.

Nationwide vs. Patriot Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you can take advantage of.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Nationwide and Patriot offer their customers so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Nationwide knocks Patriot out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 22 different discounts to Patriot's 11.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Nationwide also offers agency transfer discounts, anti-theft discounts, driver training discounts, and more that Patriot does not.

On the flip side, Patriot has a couple unique discounts of its own -- full coverage discounts, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, paid in full discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Nationwide or Patriot Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the variables car insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Nationwide might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You live in a rural area.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your auto insurance.

Patriot might be best for you if...

• You have a clean driving record, free of accidents, tickets, or DUIs.
• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Nationwide and Patriot and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Nationwide and Patriot. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Nationwide vs. Patriot FAQs

Is Nationwide or Patriot cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Nationwide is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $170 a month compared to $191 for Patriot. That being said, Nationwide won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each policyholder, since there are a range of different factors that are considered when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Nationwide or Patriot?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, Patriot offers more affordable rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record, while Nationwide is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Nationwide and Patriot offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at several different variables when determining the prices they charge policyholders. Factors such as age, gender, your driving record, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Nationwide and Patriot use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier 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 make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Nationwide or Patriot 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.