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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Westfield offers less expensive rates than Nationwide
• Nationwide offers cheaper average premiums for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Westfield tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

Nationwide vs. Westfield: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Nationwide or Westfield as potential options, but between the two, which carrier will offer you less expensive prices?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Westfield has average rates that are about 11% per month cheaper than those from Nationwide.

Even so, that doesn't mean Westfield will necessarily be more affordable than Nationwide for every single driver. After all, insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your age, your driving record, your credit score, or even where you call home (among other things), so rates could change drastically from person to person.

Wanting to know if Nationwide or Westfield 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 or Westfield: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Nationwide and Westfield only compete against each other in West Virginia, where Nationwide offers the cheaper average prices. For West Virginia residents, Nationwide offers car insurance for $123 a month on average. Westfield's average rates come out to be over 20% more expensive, at $152 per month.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance payment than just your home state. Keep reading 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 on the road. Normally, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance premiums. As you can see above, teens who use Westfield save nearly $55 a month compared to those who use Nationwide. It's worth noting that Nationwide offers auto insurance in 34 different states compared to Westfield's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Nationwide policyholders decrease almost $250 and Westfield's prices drop around $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the most affordable insurance premiums you'll ever 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 Westfield? Westfield gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older more than 10% less expensive than the national average for Nationwide.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance rates are generally more expensive for those who are single than they are for married policyholders? That's because policies for married drivers typically cover several cars, which several carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Westfield is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums about $22 per month cheaper than Nationwide, on average. The advantage for married couples with Westfield is also obvious, where drivers save over 10% a month.

Nationwide vs. Westfield: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, they run a larger risk of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance companies will often charge men more than women.

With Nationwide, women normally pay more than $10 per month less than men, and around $15 less with Westfield.

Looking at overall affordability, Westfield comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $17 a month and women save about $20 with Westfield compared to the average Nationwide policyholder.

Nationwide or Westfield: 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, insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

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

In this case, Westfield offers the lowest average prices for state minimum limits for liability insurance, while Nationwide has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $50 with Westfield Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $15 more affordable with Nationwide.

Is Nationwide or Westfield Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

You'll probably end up paying more with at-fault accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest rates to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Westfield 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.

But Westfield tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record, offering rates that are $13 and $37 less expensive, respectively, compared to Nationwide.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Nationwide can expect to see about an $53 -- or around 30% -- increase in their auto insurance prices. Drivers who use Westfield for their car insurance will see a monthly bill about $40 (or 26%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their insurance carrier.

Overall, Westfield offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with monthly rates averaging $152 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. On average, Westfield will raise your prices around 52% after a DUI, while Nationwide's average rates climb by over 45%.

Nationwide has the overall lowest prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $230 monthly, but it's worth noting that Nationwide's average rates come from 34 states compared to just one for Westfield, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Nationwide and Westfield Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for quite a few drivers.

Car insurance carriers 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 prices.

Looking at Nationwide and Westfield specifically, which company has the cheapest rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Westfield. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 10% compared to Nationwide, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $15 or 10% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Westfield typically offers lower premiums than Nationwide when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $28 per month less with Westfield compared to Nationwide, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about $20 a month.

Is Nationwide or Westfield 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 considerable impact on your monthly prices? Generally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive rates since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Westfield charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Nationwide, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $1 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Westfield is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Nationwide vs. Westfield: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a pretty big impact as well. Typically, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Westfield boasts the cheapest average premiums in rural and urban areas, while Nationwide wins in suburban areas.

In urban areas, Westfield's average prices are about $152 a month compared to Nationwide's $199. People in suburban areas pay around $159 with Nationwide compared to Westfield's $160 per month. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $144 monthly with Westfield and $151 with Nationwide.

Nationwide vs. Westfield Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you qualify for.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Nationwide and Westfield so that you can see which one 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 Westfield's 17.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Nationwide also offers advance quote discounts, agency transfer discounts, EFT discounts, and more that Westfield does not.

On the flip side, Westfield has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts, account relationship discounts, companion auto discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Nationwide or Westfield Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Westfield might be best for you if....

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on your record.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

Nationwide might be best for you if...

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- Westfield Insurance is only available to West Virginia residents.
• You care about discounts (Nationwide offers the most).
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Nationwide and Westfield. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Nationwide and Westfield. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes 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. Westfield FAQs

Is Nationwide or Westfield cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Westfield is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $152 per month compared to $170 for Nationwide. However, Westfield won't necessarily be the most affordable company for every policyholder, since there are a bunch of different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Nationwide or Westfield?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, Nationwide offers less expensive premiums for drivers with a recent DUI, while Westfield is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Nationwide and Westfield offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at many different factors when determining the prices they charge drivers. Things such as where your home is, gender, age, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Nationwide and Westfield calculate rates using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Nationwide or Westfield at all!

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.