Nationwide vs. West Bend Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, West Bend Mutual offers significantly more affordable premiums than Nationwide
• Nationwide may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than West Bend Mutual Insurance
• West Bend Mutual has cheaper prices for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision

Nationwide or West Bend Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to 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 it down to Nationwide or West Bend Mutual, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Nationwide has average rates that are around 23% a month more expensive than those from West Bend Mutual.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean West Bend Mutual will be the less expensive option for each driver. Auto insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among a lot of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Nationwide or West Bend Mutual is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Nationwide vs. West Bend Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Nationwide and West Bend Mutual only compete against each other in two states, with Nationwide offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Minnesota, Nationwide is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at the overall average rates. West Bend Mutual is the less expensive option in Wisconsin.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance payment than just your home state. Read on 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 out there on the road. That's normally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance prices. As you can see above, teens who use West Bend Mutual save over 15% per month compared to those who use Nationwide. It's worth noting that Nationwide offers car insurance in 34 different states compared to West Bend Mutual's three, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both companies will lower prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Nationwide policyholders drop more than 60% and West Bend Mutual's prices reduce over 65% 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 lowest rates you'll ever see.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? West Bend Mutual gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older more than 25% more affordable than the national average for Nationwide.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly less expensive auto insurance prices than single drivers. That's usually because married drivers tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with West Bend Mutual prices coming in at a quarter less than Nationwide's. The advantage for married couples with West Bend Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save over 30% a month.

Nationwide or West Bend Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but insurance is generally more expensive for men than for women. That's because men are more likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, which increases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Women normally pay about $10 per month less than men with Nationwide, and more than $15 with West Bend Mutual.

Looking at overall affordability, West Bend Mutual offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $37 a month and women save around $41 with West Bend Mutual compared to the average Nationwide policyholder.

Nationwide vs. West Bend Mutual: 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.

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

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, West Bend Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $77. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, West Bend Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging about $186 per month to Nationwide's $229.

Is Nationwide or West Bend Mutual 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with speeding tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable rates to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Nationwide for their auto insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up around 16% after getting a speeding ticket. West Bend Mutual policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 23%.

Even so, West Bend Mutual is usually the cheaper option for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket, offering prices that are $41 and $40 less expensive, respectively, compared to Nationwide.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Nationwide drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums increase by just under $55, while those who have insurance through West Bend Mutual will see around a $80 increase.

At the end of the day, West Bend Mutual offers the lowest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with average rates coming in at $163 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 a collision. For example, Nationwide increases average premiums by more than $100 a month -- that's more than a 45% increase.

West Bend Mutual has the overall most affordable prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $169 a month, but it's worth noting that Nationwide's average rates come from 34 states compared to just three for West Bend Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Nationwide and West Bend Mutual Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an auto insurance factor, but it might come into play for quite a few policyholders.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper premiums, while those with poor credit will typically be forced to pay more.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, West Bend Mutual will generally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, West Bend Mutual comes in over 27.07 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save about 25% with West Bend Mutual compared to average premiums from Nationwide.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

West Bend Mutual typically offers lower rates than Nationwide when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 26% per month less with West Bend Mutual compared to Nationwide, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about 16% per month.

Is Nationwide or West Bend Mutual 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 big impact on your monthly insurance bill? That's because the more milage you put on your car each year, the more likely you are to be in an accident 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 West Bend Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Nationwide, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $1 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, West Bend Mutual is the more affordable carrier.

Nationwide or West Bend Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can have a substantial impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Typically, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

West Bend Mutual tends to offer the most affordable premiums for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $113 monthly with West Bend Mutual compared to Nationwide's $151. People in suburban areas pay around $122 with West Bend Mutual compared to Nationwide's $159 a month. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, West Bend Mutual's average prices are about $158 a month compared to Nationwide's $199.

Nationwide vs. West Bend Mutual 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 with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging 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.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Nationwide and West Bend Mutual so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Nationwide blows West Bend Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 22 different discounts to West Bend Mutual's 16.

Both companies offer several of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and discounts for being a good student -- but Nationwide also offers discounts for advance quote, agency transfer, driver training, and more.

On the other hand, West Bend Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like ABS discounts, advanced safety feature discounts, excess vehicle discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Nationwide or West Bend Mutual Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the right one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

West Bend Mutual might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the car insurance policy.
• You're looking for the best premiums on liability only coverage.
• You live in a rural area.

Nationwide might be best for you if...

• You are considering moving to another state -- West Bend Mutual Insurance is only available in three states.
• You're looking for discounts -- Nationwide has the most.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Nationwide and West Bend Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just Nationwide and West Bend Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Nationwide vs. West Bend Mutual FAQs

Is Nationwide or West Bend Mutual cheaper?

West Bend Mutual is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $131 per month with West Bend Mutual and $170 for Nationwide. However, that doesn't mean West Bend Mutual will be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are a variety of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Nationwide or West Bend Mutual?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Nationwide and West Bend Mutual offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use many different variables when determining the prices they charge. Things like gender, where your home is, your driving record, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Nationwide and West Bend Mutual calculate premiums differently, 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 West Bend Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Nationwide or West Bend Mutual 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.