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

Quick Facts

• In general, Wawanesa offers significantly more affordable rates than Nationwide
• Nationwide may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Wawanesa Insurance
• Wawanesa offers more affordable prices for policyholders who have a clean driving record, free of collisions, tickets, or DUIs

Nationwide or Wawanesa: 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 large savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Nationwide or Wawanesa as your top options, but which company will save you the most?

As you can see, Nationwide has average rates that are around 40% a month more expensive than those from Wawanesa when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

That being said, Wawanesa may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like how good your credit score is, where you live, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, and a variety of other factors, so rates will vary quite a bit from person to person.

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

Nationwide vs. Wawanesa: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Nationwide and Wawanesa only compete against each other in California, where Wawanesa offers the cheaper average rates. Wawanesa drivers tend to pay about $115 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Nationwide for their auto insurance.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance bill than just where you call home. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for insurance than 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 premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Wawanesa for their auto insurance pay over 55% less than those who use Nationwide. It's worth noting that Nationwide offers car insurance in 34 different states compared to Wawanesa's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

But with both companies, you'll see your premiums decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Nationwide policyholders reduce more than 60% and Wawanesa's prices lower over 40% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Wawanesa gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $87 per month compared to Nationwide's $125.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly cheaper auto insurance rates than single drivers. This usually boils down to married drivers having multiple vehicles on their policy -- something several car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with Wawanesa prices coming in at around 40% less than Nationwide's. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Wawanesa offers the most affordable average premiums.

Nationwide or Wawanesa: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for insurance than men? That's because women are less likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, which lowers the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Usually, women see rates about 7% a month less with Nationwide; women and men end up paying same monthly prices with Wawanesa.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Wawanesa comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $60 per month and men save around $72 with Wawanesa compared to the average Nationwide policyholder.

Nationwide vs. Wawanesa: 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.

For most people, car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are many different coverages that account for a bunch of 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 end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury 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 a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Wawanesa has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $64. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Wawanesa again has the edge, with policies averaging about $144 a month to Nationwide's $229.

Is Nationwide or Wawanesa Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance carriers offering great prices 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 speeding tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Nationwide or Wawanesa -- has the most affordable rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Nationwide for their auto insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up around 16% after getting a speeding ticket. Wawanesa policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 30%.

Even so, Wawanesa tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records, offering prices that are 41% and 30% less expensive, respectively, compared to Nationwide.

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% -- rise in their auto insurance rates. Drivers who use Wawanesa for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $39 (or 35%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their auto insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Wawanesa end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $113 compared to Nationwide's $178.

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 speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, Nationwide increases average premiums by more than $100 per month -- that's more than a 45% increase.

Wawanesa has the overall lowest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $125 a month, but it's worth noting that Nationwide's average rates come from 34 states compared to just one for Wawanesa, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Nationwide and Wawanesa Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it might come into play for many drivers.

Insurance companies 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, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper premiums.

So, which company offers the cheapest prices for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have excellent credit, Nationwide will normally reward you. Improving your "good" credit score to an "excellent" one will usually save Nationwide customers about $20. On the other hand, because Wawanesa 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 can cost you with Nationwide. For drivers with less-than-stellar credit, at Nationwide, you may pay around $35 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. Because Wawanesa doesn't have data available for credit scores, they might have better rates for drivers with bad credit over Nationwide.

Is Nationwide or Wawanesa 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 auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Typically, those who drive less will end up with less expensive prices since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

Wawanesa tends to be the more affordable option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Nationwide average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $72 more expensive than Wawanesa. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay around $60 more with Nationwide over Wawanesa.

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

Where your home is can have a sizable impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Generally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas since there are a lot fewer cars on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Wawanesa usually comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Wawanesa Insurance's average rates are about $85 less than Nationwide. People who live in suburban areas pay around $54 less with Wawanesa compared to Nationwide. Those in rural areas can expect to save about $56 with Wawanesa compared to Nationwide.

Nationwide vs. Wawanesa Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be difficult to find all 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 Wawanesa so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Nationwide blows Wawanesa away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 20 more discounts than Wawanesa.

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

On the other hand, Wawanesa has a proprietary discount of their own -- a mature driver discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Nationwide or Wawanesa Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the right carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Wawanesa might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You live in a rural area.

Nationwide might be best for you if...

• Your credit is below-average.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Nationwide and Wawanesa. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about 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 Wawanesa. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Nationwide vs. Wawanesa FAQs

Is Nationwide or Wawanesa cheaper?

Wawanesa is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $104 per month with Wawanesa and $170 for Nationwide. However, that doesn't mean Wawanesa will be the most affordable carrier for each driver, since there are several different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Nationwide or Wawanesa?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile. For example, Nationwide is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Wawanesa offers less expensive premiums for policyholders with an at-fault accident on their record.

Why do Nationwide and Wawanesa offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use quite a few different variables when determining the prices they charge. Things such as age, where you call home, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Nationwide and Wawanesa calculate premiums using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company 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 quotes from dozens of your local top insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Nationwide or Wawanesa 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.