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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Nationwide offers significantly less expensive rates than Pure
• Nationwide offers more affordable average premiums for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Pure offers more affordable prices for residents in California

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed your search down to Nationwide or Pure, but which one has cheaper premiums for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Pure has average rates that are about 50% per month more expensive than those from Nationwide.

But Nationwide may not be the most affordable or best option for every single driver out there. Car insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how good your credit score is or where you live (among a lot of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

Nationwide or Pure: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Nationwide and Pure only compete against each other in California, where Nationwide offers the cheaper average rates. For California residents, Nationwide offers auto insurance for $219 monthly on average. Pure's average premiums come out to be over 50% more expensive, at $331 a month.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance bill than just the state you live in. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. Generally, 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.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance prices. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $350 less a month by choosing Nationwide over Pure. It's worth noting that Nationwide offers insurance in 34 different states compared to Pure's one, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both carriers will reduce premiums by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Nationwide policyholders drop more than 60% and Pure's rates lower over 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the lowest auto insurance premiums out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for car insurance.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Nationwide and Pure? Nationwide gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older more than 45% less expensive than the national average for Pure.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance rates than married couples. That's because policies for married policyholders normally cover multiple cars, which lots of companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Nationwide is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums around $190 per month more affordable than Pure, on average. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Nationwide offers the cheapest average rates.

Nationwide vs. Pure: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, they raise the chances of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance carriers will tend to charge men more than women.

Typically, women see prices about 7% a month less with Nationwide; everyone gets the same monthly premiums regardless of gender with Pure.

Looking at overall affordability, Nationwide comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average prices 47% less for men and 50% cheaper for women.

Nationwide or Pure: 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 pretty complicated. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Nationwide typically offers cheaper premiums of $112 compared to Pure's $134. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Nationwide again has the edge, with policies around $300 per month less expensive than Pure, on average.

Is Nationwide or Pure Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from 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.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Nationwide policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $24 a month if they get a ticket, while Pure normally raises rates about $80 per month, on average.

That being said, Nationwide has cheaper prices for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are $77 and $133 more affordable, respectively, compared to PURE Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Nationwide can expect to see around an $53 -- or about 30% -- increase in their auto insurance premiums. Drivers who use Pure for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $150 (or 43%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their auto insurance company.

Overall, drivers who use Nationwide end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $178 compared to PURE Insurance's $352.

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 an accident. On average, Pure will raise your premiums about 59% after a DUI, while Nationwide's average rates rise by over 45%.

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

How does Credit Score Impact Nationwide and Pure Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for quite a few drivers.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so generally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive prices.

Looking specifically at Nationwide and Pure, which carrier has the most affordable rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

You'll often be rewarded if you have fantastic credit. Improving your "good" credit score to an "excellent" one will usually save Nationwide customers around 15%. On the other hand, because Pure doesn't have data available for credit scores, they most likely don't use credit to calculate your premiums.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Having bad credit typically means you'll also see higher prices with Nationwide. For drivers with less-than-stellar credit, at Nationwide, you may pay about 15% a month more if you have "poor" credit compared to those with "fair" scores. It's an even larger difference when compared to drivers with "good" or "excellent" scores. On the other hand, because Pure doesn't have data available for credit scores, they could have better rates for drivers with bad credit over Nationwide.

Is Nationwide or Pure 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 sizable impact on your monthly premiums? That's because the fewer miles you put on your vehicle, the less likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles each year, as well as those who average twice that figure, Nationwide offers more affordable prices than Pure. Nationwide's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 38% cheaper than Pure. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay about 56% less with Nationwide over Pure.

Nationwide vs. Pure: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a large impact as well. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because there are a lot more cars on the roads in those areas.

Nationwide boasts the cheapest average rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Nationwide offers prices around $199 monthly compared to Pure's $371. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $159 per month for Nationwide and $313 for Pure. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest rates from both companies, with average monthly premiums coming in at $151 and $308 for Nationwide and Pure respectively.

Nationwide vs. Pure 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.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Nationwide and Pure so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Nationwide blows Pure away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 12 more discounts than Pure.

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, and discounts for being a good student -- but Nationwide also offers advance quote discounts, agency transfer discounts, defensive driver discounts, and more that Pure does not.

On the flip side, Pure has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts, mature driver discounts, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Nationwide or Pure Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors car insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Nationwide or Pure the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Nationwide might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Pure might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the best rates in CA.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Nationwide and Pure and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Nationwide and Pure. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make 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.

Nationwide vs. Pure FAQs

Is Nationwide or Pure cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Nationwide is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $170 a month compared to $331 for Pure. But Nationwide won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are a bunch of different variables that come into play when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, Nationwide or Pure?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Nationwide and Pure offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at several different factors when calculating the premiums they charge policyholders. Variables 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 Pure calculate prices using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 car insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Nationwide or Pure 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.