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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Secura offers cheaper prices than Nationwide
• Nationwide may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than SECURA Insurance
• Secura has less expensive premiums in IL, MI, and WI

Nationwide or Secura: 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 Secura, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Nationwide has average rates that are around 14% a month more expensive than those from Secura.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Secura will be the cheaper option for each driver. Auto insurance carriers use a ton of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how good your credit score is (among several other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Nationwide or Secura 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 vs. Secura: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Nationwide and Secura only compete against each other in two states, with Secura offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Wisconsin has the most noticable difference, where Secura premiums are $33 more affordable than insurance rates at Nationwide.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just the state you live in. 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. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance premiums. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Secura for their insurance pay almost 20% less than those who use Nationwide. It's worth noting that Nationwide offers car insurance in 34 different states compared to Secura's three, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, with both companies, you'll see your rates drop significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Nationwide policyholders lower over 60% and Secura's rates decrease more than 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the cheapest auto insurance prices you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally reduces their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise rates.

When looking at Nationwide and Secura specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Secura gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $14 cheaper than the national average for Nationwide.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance premiums than married couples. That's normally because married drivers tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with Secura premiums coming in at about 15% less than Nationwide's. The advantage for married policyholders with Secura is also obvious, where drivers save around $15 per month.

Nationwide or Secura: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get tickets and get into accidents, they are less likely to file a claim with insurance. So, insurance companies will tend to charge women less than men.

With Nationwide, women usually pay about $10 a month less than men, but with Secura, the difference is closer to $3 per month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Secura offers the most affordable average prices for both men and women, with average premiums 16% less for men and 12% cheaper for women.

Nationwide vs. Secura: 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 pretty complicated. There are a variety of different coverages that account for many different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which generally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Secura has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $69. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Secura again has the edge, with policies averaging around $222 a month to Nationwide's $229.

Is Nationwide or Secura 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 accidents and speeding tickets lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- Nationwide or Secura -- has the lowest premiums for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Nationwide for their insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 16% after getting a speeding ticket. Secura policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 29%.

However, Secura tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record, offering prices that are $38 and $27 less expensive, respectively, compared to Nationwide.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Nationwide drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates rise by just under $55, while those who have insurance through Secura will see about a $40 increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Secura end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $129 compared to Nationwide's $178.

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. Secura drivers usually see a 64% raise in their auto insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Nationwide will normally increase rates by around 46%.

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 three for Secura, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Nationwide and Secura Rates?

Did you know many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so usually, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with more affordable rates.

So, which company offers the best premiums for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Secura will typically reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Secura comes in nearly NaN less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save about 13% with Secura compared to average rates from Nationwide.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Secura typically offers lower prices than Nationwide when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 17% per month less with Secura compared to Nationwide, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about 17% a month.

Is Nationwide or Secura 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 substantial impact on how much insurance carriers will charge for coverage? Typically, the more milage you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Secura tends to be the cheaper option. Secura average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in more than $25 more affordable than Nationwide. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay nearly $25 less with Secura over Nationwide.

Nationwide or Secura: 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 insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a big impact as well. Generally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers since there are a lot more vehicles on the road where they live, which increases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Secura normally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $139 monthly with Secura and $151 with Nationwide. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $137 with Secura compared to Nationwide's $159 a month. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Secura's average premiums are around $161 while Nationwide offers rates about $199.

Nationwide vs. Secura 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 car insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Nationwide and Secura 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 comes out ahead with 22 discounts to Secura's 19.

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and multi-policy discounts -- but Nationwide also offers discounts for agency transfer, driver training, EFT, and more.

On the other hand, Secura has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like hybrid vehicle discounts, low income discounts, multi-car discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Nationwide or Secura 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. But, when it comes down to it, is Nationwide or Secura the right carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Secura might be best for you if....

• You want to save money on your insurance after a collision.
• You live in an suburban area.
• You have a short commute.

Nationwide might be best for you if...

• You are considering moving to another state -- SECURA Insurance is only available in three states.
• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You care about discounts (Nationwide offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Nationwide and Secura and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car 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 a handful of carriers, not just Nationwide and Secura. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Nationwide vs. Secura FAQs

Is Nationwide or Secura cheaper?

Secura is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $146 a month with Secura and $170 for Nationwide. But that doesn't mean Secura will be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are lots of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Nationwide or Secura?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile. For example, Secura is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit, while Nationwide offers cheaper prices for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Nationwide and Secura offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use lots of different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Factors like age, where you call home, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Nationwide and Secura calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Nationwide or Secura 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.