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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Nationwide offers cheaper premiums than Allstate
• Allstate may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Nationwide
• Nationwide offers more affordable average rates for policyholders who drive a short distance to work everyday

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Allstate or Nationwide: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Allstate or Nationwide for your next policy, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Nationwide is around $29 a month less expensive than Allstate.

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

Wanting to know if Allstate or Nationwide is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Allstate vs. Nationwide: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Allstate and Nationwide compete against each other in 32 states, with Nationwide offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all but six of them. If you live in Georgia, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont, Allstate is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at the overall average prices, but Nationwide is the cheaper option in most of the others.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just where you live. Read on to find out more.

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Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. Usually, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car 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. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 15% less per month by choosing Nationwide over Allstate.

However, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Allstate policyholders decrease about $300 and Nationwide's rates reduce nearly $250 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 most affordable prices you'll ever find.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Allstate and Nationwide? Nationwide gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $125 monthly compared to Allstate's $152.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having multiple vehicles on their policy -- something quite a few auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with Nationwide premiums coming in at about 15% less than Allstate's. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Nationwide has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Allstate or Nationwide: Average Rates by Gender

Men tend to pay more for insurance than women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into a collision or get pulled over for speeding, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher rates.

Men generally pay around $10 a month more than women with Allstate, and about $10 with Nationwide.

Looking at overall affordability, Nationwide comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums 13% less for men and 15% cheaper for women.

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Allstate vs. Nationwide: 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.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

Even so, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

When it comes to state minimum limits for liability insurance, Allstate has the edge, while Nationwide offers the lowest average prices for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $4 with Allstate, while full coverage comes out to be around $60 more affordable with Nationwide.

Is Allstate or Nationwide Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Allstate for their car insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 15% after getting a speeding ticket. Nationwide policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 16%.

That being said, Nationwide has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories. With Nationwide, drivers with a clean record can save about $31 per month and drivers with a ticket can save around $34 a month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Allstate policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums rise by over 30%, while those who have insurance through Nationwide will see about a 30% increase.

At the end of the day, the cheaper prices come from Nationwide, with average rates coming in at $178 compared to Allstate's $229.

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, Nationwide will raise your prices around 46% after a DUI, while Allstate's average rates climb by more than 30%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Allstate tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $227 to Nationwide's $230.

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How does Credit Score Impact Allstate and Nationwide Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an auto insurance factor) but it might come into play for several drivers.

Insurance carriers argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, Nationwide will normally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Nationwide comes in nearly NaN cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save around 11% with Nationwide compared to average rates from Allstate.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Nationwide typically offers lower premiums than Allstate when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 12% per month less with Nationwide compared to Allstate, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around 22% per month.

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Is Allstate or Nationwide 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 sizable impact on your monthly prices? Generally, the more milage you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Nationwide offers more affordable premiums than Allstate. Nationwide's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about 14% less expensive than Allstate. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay around 14% less with Nationwide over Allstate.

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

Where you park your vehicle can have a large impact on your monthly car insurance payment. 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.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Nationwide usually comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about $23 with Nationwide compared to Allstate. People who live in suburban areas pay around $40 less with Nationwide compared to Allstate. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Nationwide's average prices are about $23 less than Allstate.

Allstate vs. Nationwide Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as possible.

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier 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 Allstate and Nationwide offer their customers so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Allstate blows Nationwide away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 18 more discounts than Nationwide.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like agency transfer discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, distant student discounts, and discounts for being a good driver. Allstate also offers discounts for ABS, alert driving, annual mileage, and more.

On the other hand, Nationwide has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like employee discounts, group discounts, intra-agency transfer discounts, and more.

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Final Thoughts: Is Allstate or Nationwide Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the best fit for you?

Nationwide might be best for you if....

• You have a clean driving record, free of accidents, tickets, or DUIs.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower rates.

Allstate might be best for you if...

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You care about discounts (Allstate offers the most).
• You're looking for the best premiums on liability only coverage.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Allstate and Nationwide and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Allstate and Nationwide. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

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Allstate vs. Nationwide FAQs

Is Allstate or Nationwide cheaper?

Nationwide is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $170 a month with Nationwide and $199 for Allstate. Even so, that doesn't mean Nationwide will be the most affordable carrier for each driver, since there are a bunch of different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, Allstate or Nationwide?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Nationwide is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit, while Allstate offers less expensive premiums for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Allstate and Nationwide offer me different rates?

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

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple 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 information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Allstate or Nationwide at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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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.