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

Quick Facts

• In general, Western National offers slightly cheaper prices than Nationwide
• Nationwide offers less expensive average premiums for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods
• Western National has more affordable prices for drivers with a DUI

Nationwide or Western National: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering 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 it down to Nationwide or Western National for your next policy, but which one will offer you less expensive premiums?

As you can see, Nationwide is around $16 more a month than Western National when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

But Western National may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. Insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like how clean your driving record is, where you live, how old you are, how good your credit score is, and a ton of other factors, so premiums could differ drastically from person to person.

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

Nationwide vs. Western National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Nationwide and Western National only compete against each other in three states, with Nationwide offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Wisconsin has the most noticable difference, where Nationwide prices are $46 cheaper than car insurance rates at Western National.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance payment than just the state you live in. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance premiums of any group out there on the road. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Western National for their insurance pay almost 20% less than those who use Nationwide.

However, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Nationwide policyholders reduce about $250 and Western National's prices lower nearly $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable rates out there.

When looking at Nationwide and Western National specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Western National gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older almost 15% more affordable than the national average for Nationwide.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly less expensive insurance prices than single drivers. That's generally because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with Western National prices coming in at around 15% less than Nationwide's. But for married couples, that advantage is much less clear - Western National has the edge when it comes to average rates , but the difference is less than $5.

Nationwide or Western National: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into a collision. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

Usually, women see prices about 7% per month less with Nationwide, and around 9% less with Western National.

Looking at overall affordability, Western National comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums $15 less for men and $17 cheaper for women.

Nationwide vs. Western National: 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 car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are many different coverages that account for a range of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

Even so, most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside liability).

When it comes to state minimum limits for liability insurance, Western National has the edge, while Nationwide offers the lowest average rates for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $50 with Western National Insurance Company, while full coverage comes out to be about $20 cheaper with Nationwide.

Is Nationwide or Western National Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

Speeding tickets and at-fault collisions will most likely raise your rates, but is Nationwide or Western National less expensive for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Western National auto insurance policies don't report seeing their premiums increase after getting a ticket, but Nationwide policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by around $25.

But Nationwide has cheaper rates for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save about 19% a month with Nationwide, and the same can be said for those with a speeding ticket, too.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Nationwide climbing by around 30%. Western National has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay 0% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, Western National offers the cheapest prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average rates coming in at $154 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 ticket or even an accident. Nationwide drivers usually see a 46% climb in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Western National will typically increase premiums by about 0%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Western National tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $154 to Nationwide's $230.

How does Credit Score Impact Nationwide and Western National Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly auto insurance prices. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a car insurance factor, but it will come into play for several policyholders.

Car insurance carriers argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time every month, which raises the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

So, which company offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Western National will usually reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Western National comes in more than 47.37 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save about 25% with Western National compared to average prices from Nationwide.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best premiums. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 14% less with Western National than Nationwide, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving about 23% per month with Nationwide.

Is Nationwide or Western National 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 pretty big impact on how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage? That's because the more milage you drive, the more likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

Western National tends to be the more affordable option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Nationwide's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 11% more expensive than Western National. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay about 9% more with Nationwide over Western National.

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

Where you park your vehicle can play a large role in how much you pay for insurance. Usually, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders due to the small number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

Western National boasts the most affordable average rates in urban and suburban areas, while Nationwide wins in rural areas.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Western National Insurance Company's average prices are around $22 less than Nationwide. People who live in suburban areas pay about $32 less with Western National compared to Nationwide. Those in rural areas can expect to save around $7 with Nationwide compared to Western National.

Nationwide vs. Western National Discounts

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

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Nationwide and Western National offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Nationwide blows Western National away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 10 more discounts than Western National.

Both carriers offer a lot of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for getting driver training, and employee discounts -- but Nationwide also offers discounts for advance quote, agency transfer, EFT, and more.

On the other hand, Western National has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like corporate discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, family discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Nationwide or Western National Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the right company for you and your specific profile and needs?

Western National might be best for you if....

• You're looking for the best rates in IA, MN, SD, and WI.
• You have above-average credit.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower rates.

Nationwide might be best for you if...

• You are considering moving to another state -- Western National Insurance Company only offers policies in four states.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.
• You live in a rural area.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Nationwide and Western National and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car 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 carriers, not just Nationwide and Western National. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Nationwide vs. Western National FAQs

Is Nationwide or Western National cheaper?

Western National is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $154 a month with Western National and $170 for Nationwide. However, that doesn't mean Western National will be the lowest company 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 Western National?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Nationwide is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Western National offers more affordable rates for policyholders with an at-fault accident on their record.

Why do Nationwide and Western National offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use many different variables when determining the premiums they charge. Factors such as gender, your driving record, where your home is, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Nationwide and Western National calculate prices using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Nationwide or Western National 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.