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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Nationwide offers significantly more affordable prices than Safety
• Nationwide has cheaper rates for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record
• Safety offers more affordable premiums for residents in Massachusetts and New Hampshire

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. 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 Nationwide or Safety as your top options, but which one will offer you less expensive prices?

Looking at nationwide averages, Safety is about $47 more per month than Nationwide.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean Nationwide will be the more affordable option for each driver. After all, insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your age, your credit score, or even your driving record (among other things). So, at the end of the day, rates from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Nationwide or Safety 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.

Nationwide or Safety: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Nationwide and Safety only compete against each other in one states, with Nationwide offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. New Hampshire has the most noticable difference, where Nationwide prices are over 10% cheaper than car insurance premiums at Safety.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance payment than just the state you live in. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for insurance than any group on the road. It'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 teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Nationwide save more than $40 a month compared to those who use Safety. It's worth noting that Nationwide offers auto insurance in 34 different states compared to Safety's two, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, both carriers will decrease rates by the time drivers turn 25. Safety offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Nationwide still has the most affordable prices at $148 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the lowest insurance rates you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

When looking at Nationwide and Safety specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Nationwide gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older nearly 25% more affordable than the national average for Safety.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

When it comes to relationship status, Nationwide is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums around $40 per month less expensive than Safety, on average. The advantage for married couples with Nationwide is also obvious, where drivers save over $55 a month.

Nationwide vs. Safety: Average Rates by Gender

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

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

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Nationwide offers the cheapest average prices for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $47 a month and women save about $48 with Nationwide compared to the average Safety policyholder.

Nationwide or Safety: 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.

Insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Nationwide generally offers slightly cheaper rates of $112 compared to Safety's $122. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Nationwide again has the edge, with policies around $85 per month more affordable than Safety, on average.

Is Nationwide or Safety Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

It's no secret secret that collisions and tickets lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- Nationwide or Safety -- has the lowest rates for 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 Safety usually raises prices about $61 per month, on average.

That being said, Nationwide has less expensive premiums for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around $4 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $41 per month with Nationwide.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Nationwide drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates rise by just under $55, while those who have insurance through Safety will see around a $95 increase.

Overall, drivers who use Nationwide end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $178 compared to Safety Insurance's $226.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. On average, Safety will climb your rates about 60% after a DUI, while Nationwide's average prices increase by over 45%.

Nationwide has the overall cheapest 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 two for Safety, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Nationwide and Safety Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect a lot of policyholders out there.

Insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper rates.

Looking specifically at Nationwide and Safety, which company has the most affordable premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Nationwide for an "excellent" credit score. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save 6% compared to Safety, while those with "good" scores can expect to see better savings from Safety -- around $2 or 1% more affordable than Nationwide each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Nationwide typically offers lower prices than Safety when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $9 a month less with Nationwide compared to Safety, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $46 a month.

Is Nationwide or Safety 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 rates? Generally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure, Nationwide offers less expensive prices than Safety. Nationwide's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $46 more affordable than Safety. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay around $48 less with Nationwide over Safety.

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

Where you call home can play a sizable role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads in those areas.

Looking at these companies side-by-side, Nationwide boasts the most affordable average rates in urban and suburban areas, while Safety wins in rural areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 2% with Safety compared to Nationwide. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 28% less with Nationwide compared to Safety. In urban areas, Nationwide's average prices are about 29% less than Safety Insurance.

Nationwide vs. Safety Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? 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 difficult to find all the ones you can take advantage of or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Nationwide and Safety so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Nationwide has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Safety offers a grand total of 18 discounts, while Nationwide has 22.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for getting driver training, employee discounts, and group discounts. Nationwide also offers agency transfer discounts, defensive driver discounts, EFT discounts, and more that Safety does not.

On the flip side, Safety has a couple unique discounts of its own -- annual mileage discounts, book transfer policy discounts, e-signature discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Nationwide or Safety Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, at the end of the day, which insurance company is the best carrier for you and your specific needs?

Nationwide might be best for you if....

• Your driving record contains an at-fault accident.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your auto insurance.

Safety might be best for you if...

• You like the personalized touch of a small, regional carrier.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Nationwide and Safety. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about 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 a handful of companies, not just Nationwide and Safety. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Nationwide vs. Safety FAQs

Is Nationwide or Safety cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Nationwide is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $170 per month compared to $217 for Safety. However, Nationwide won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each driver, since there are a range of different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Nationwide or Safety?

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

Why do Nationwide and Safety offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when determining the prices they charge drivers. Things such as age, where you live, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Nationwide and Safety calculate rates differently, so each one will most likely offer different prices. 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 Safety is right for me?

The only way to find the auto 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Nationwide or Safety 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.