3 Easy Ways to Cancel a Nationwide Insurance Policy

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Written by Ray Prince Edited by Nick Versaw

Updated June 15th, 2023

There are many reasons why you might not be satisfied with your Nationwide auto insurance coverage. Your annual premiums may have become too expensive or a major discount is no longer available. Maybe a competing insurer is offering coverage too good to pass up. Whatever the reason, canceling Nationwide auto insurance is a pretty easy process.

This guide will cover all your questions on canceling Nationwide auto insurance, including reasons why you might want to cancel, how to cancel, how to write a cancellation letter, and what to do next.

If you’re not sure Nationwide is giving you the best deal, there’s an easy way to compare rates, terms, and exclusions for multiple auto insurance companies. Enter your ZIP code below to check:

What is Nationwide Insurance?

In business for nearly 100 years, Columbus-based Nationwide is one of the largest insurance companies in the world. It offers its customers a variety of insurance products, including home, auto, commercial, and life insurance.

Nationwide also offers financial products such as mutual funds and retirement plans. Today, Nationwide also enjoys A+ financial ratings from A.M. Best, Moody’s, and Standard & Poors, a testament to its financial strength and ability to issue payouts for insurance claims.

Why Should I Cancel My Nationwide Car Insurance Policy?

Nationwide customers may decide to cancel their policies for many reasons.

Maybe you’re moving to a new address or you found lower auto insurance rates. You may be in the market for a new vehicle or qualify for a better discount with GEICO or Liberty Mutual or another insurance company.

If pricing is a concern, reaching the point of cancellation is also an excellent time to explore new discounts with Nationwide. For example, would you benefit from enrolling in Nationwide’s defensive driving courses? Are you yet to enroll in auto-pay or paperless billing? Are you a homeowner interested in a multi-policy discount?

If you are open to staying with Nationwide in exchange for a lower premium, try calling a Nationwide agent to explore your options.

What Are Nationwide’s Auto Insurance Cancellation Policy Terms?

Nationwide auto insurance policies can be canceled at any time.

There is no cancellation or early termination fee. If you have already paid your premium, Nationwide will reimburse you for the unused prorated amount to the credit card or payment method on file.

To cancel, you will also need proof of a new policy beforehand to avoid a gap in coverage, which we’ll touch on more in a later section. 

How Do I Cancel My Nationwide Auto Insurance Policy?

There are three ways to cancel your Nationwide auto insurance policy. The process could take as little as a few minutes.

1. Call 877-669-6877 to speak to a service representative.

2. Call or cancel at a local Nationwide insurance agency office in person. To find an office, visit Nationwide’s website and click on your state and city to pull up a list of locations. Nationwide’s mobile app also contains this information.

3. Mail an insurance cancellation letter to the following address:

Nationwide Headquarters
One Nationwide Plaza
Columbus, OH, 43215

When canceling, you will be asked to provide basic information like your name, policy number, email, phone number, and effective date of cancellation.

Your Nationwide insurance agent might also try to dissuade you from canceling by offering to review your coverage options. For example, they might suggest increasing your deductible, lowering your liability limits, or excluding optional coverages like uninsured/underinsured motorist, MedPay, and rental car reimbursement.

In this case, you may choose to work with your agent to exclude coverages and arrive at a desired insurance premium amount, or proceed with the cancellation process.

Once you cancel, expect a full refund of any unused premiums to your bank account or payment method on file within 14 business days.

Can I Cancel My Nationwide Auto Insurance at Any Time?

Yes, you can cancel your Nationwide auto insurance at any time. If you paid your premium in advance, you would receive a partial refund for the unused portion. There is no cancellation fee.

To avoid coverage lapses, sign on to a new insurance policy before canceling your existing one. 

Example of an Auto Insurance Policy Cancellation Letter

Are you struggling to find the right words for a cancellation letter?

Here is a sample auto insurance cancellation letter you can use. All you need to do is customize the template with your policy number, new insurance company name, and new policy number.

How Do I Get a New Policy?

Getting a new policy is a straightforward process.

The first step is to gather your old policy and really understand what you have. What is your premium? What discounts are already applied to your policy? What inclusions and exclusions does your old policy contain?

Once you understand your old policy’s terms, compare it to your new policy to make sure you have the coverage you expect. See if your new auto insurance policy carries the same or similar discounts with comparable savings percentages.

Be sure to purchase a new policy before canceling an old policy. The key is to create an overlap, not a gap, in car insurance coverage. Any lapse in coverage could prompt Nationwide to notify your state’s DMV, potentially resulting in a license/registration suspension, fines, and reinstatement fees.

Can I Pause My Nationwide Policy?

Unfortunately, even if you are no longer driving or your vehicle is undergoing repairs, you cannot freeze or sign up for temporary car insurance with Nationwide. All states require that you have an active auto insurance policy to drive legally.

However, there are excellent alternatives to pausing Nationwide auto insurance. One option is to lower your coverage by dropping full coverage, switching to liability-only insurance. You could also switch to a usage-based insurance policy. 

Discover Alternatives to Nationwide Auto Insurance

Now that you have been fully briefed on all aspects of canceling Nationwide auto insurance policies, we’ve made it easy to find out if there are better car insurance companies offering lower premiums, greater discount eligibility, or anything you consider essential in a policy. We’ll help you make the best decision today.

Ray Prince Insurance Writer

Ray Prince is an auto insurance writer for Compare.com based in Miami. He specializes in writing long-form content and product descriptions for the automotive and auto insurance industries. His work appears on sites such as Freeway Insurance, Auto Guide, Turn5, Mercedes Benz U.S.A., and Pelican Parts, with past and current roles as a digital operations manager at Pandora Media and iHeartMedia.