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

Quick Facts

• In general, Nationwide offers more affordable premiums than Safeway
• Nationwide has less expensive rates for policyholders who live in urban areas
• Safeway has cheaper premiums in AL, AZ, GA, LA, and MS

Nationwide or Safeway: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Nationwide or Safeway, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Nationwide is around $24 a month less expensive than Safeway.

But that doesn't mean Nationwide will necessarily be more affordable than Safeway for each driver. Auto insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among many other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

Nationwide vs. Safeway: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Nationwide and Safeway compete against each other in four states, with Safeway offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Mississippi, Nationwide is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at the overall average rates. Safeway is the less expensive option in Alabama, Arizona, and Georgia.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just the state you live in. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance prices of any group out there on the road. That's normally because teen 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 rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Nationwide save 15% per month compared to those who use Safeway.

Even so, both companies will reduce premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Nationwide policyholders decrease over 60% and Safeway's prices lower more than 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the cheapest auto insurance premiums you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for car insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Nationwide and Safeway? Nationwide gets the slight edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older almost 10% cheaper than the national average for Safeway.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance rates are typically more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples? That's generally because married policyholders tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Nationwide premiums coming in at about 15% less than Safeway's. But for married drivers, that advantage is much less clear - Nationwide offers the most affordable average prices , but the difference is only $10.

Nationwide or Safeway: Average Rates by Gender

Men typically pay more for auto insurance than women. That's because women are less likely to get tickets and get into accidents, which lowers the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Usually, men see premiums around $10 a month higher with Nationwide, and about $18 more with Safeway.

Looking at overall affordability, Nationwide offers the lowest average rates for both men and women. On average, women save about $21 per month and men save around $27 with Nationwide compared to the average Safeway policyholder.

Nationwide vs. Safeway: 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 insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

That being said, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Nationwide has the edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $112. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Nationwide again has the edge, with policies averaging about $229 a month to Safeway's $258.

Is Nationwide or Safeway Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their car insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and at-fault collisions lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- Nationwide or Safeway -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Nationwide for their auto insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 16% after getting a speeding ticket. Safeway policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 4%.

However, Nationwide tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record, offering premiums that are 23% and 12% less expensive, respectively, compared to Safeway Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Nationwide can expect to see around an $53 -- or about 30% -- rise in their car insurance prices. Drivers who use Safeway for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill around $60 (or 27%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance company.

At the end of the day, Nationwide offers the most affordable rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average premiums coming in at $178 compared to Safeway Insurance's $223.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, Nationwide increases average prices by more than $100 per month -- that's more than a 45% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Safeway tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $220 to Nationwide's $230.

How does Credit Score Impact Nationwide and Safeway Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining prices? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it might come into play for a lot of drivers.

Insurance companies argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time every month, which decreases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

Looking specifically at Safeway and Nationwide, which one has the best premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Nationwide will usually reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Nationwide comes in over 31.44 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save around 21% with Nationwide compared to average rates from Safeway.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have a below average credit score, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best premiums. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 8% less with Nationwide than Safeway, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around 10% a month with Safeway.

Is Nationwide or Safeway 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 prices? That's because the more milage you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Safeway charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Nationwide, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car each year paying about $1 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, Nationwide is the less expensive carrier.

Nationwide or Safeway: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a considerable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Usually, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers since there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads where they live.

Nationwide tends to offer the cheapest option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while Safeway wins in rural areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around 3% with Safeway compared to Nationwide. People who live in suburban areas pay about 21% less with Nationwide compared to Safeway. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Nationwide's average rates are around 15% less than Safeway Insurance.

Nationwide vs. Safeway Discounts

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

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Nationwide and Safeway 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 Safeway out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 22 different discounts to Safeway's 11.

Both carriers offer a lot of the same discounts -- like agency transfer discounts, discounts for being a good student, and discounts for being a homeowner -- but Nationwide also offers discounts for advance quote, anti-theft, distant student, and more.

On the other hand, Safeway has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like full coverage discounts, military discounts, multi-car discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Nationwide or Safeway Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables auto insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which carrier is the right carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Nationwide might be best for you if....

• You value the experience that comes with a large national car insurance company.
• You care about discounts (Nationwide offers the most).
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower rates.

Safeway might be best for you if...

• You like the personalized touch of a small, regional carrier.
• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You live in a rural area.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Nationwide and Safeway. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto 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 multiple carriers, not just Nationwide and Safeway. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Nationwide vs. Safeway FAQs

Is Nationwide or Safeway cheaper?

Nationwide is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $170 per month with Nationwide and $194 for Safeway. But that doesn't mean Nationwide will be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are many different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Nationwide or Safeway?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile. For example, Nationwide is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit, while Safeway offers cheaper rates for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Nationwide and Safeway offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use many different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Factors such as where you call home, gender, age, where you park your car, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Nationwide and Safeway calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier 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, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Nationwide or Safeway at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.