How to Cancel Your Nationwide Car Insurance Policy in 5 Easy Steps

Canceling your Nationwide car insurance policy can be worth it in certain situations. Whatever your reason, switching companies is often one of the best ways to get a lower rate. If you’ve found a better rate or coverage elsewhere after comparing car insurance quotes, you’ll need to cancel your old policy to switch companies.

You can call Nationwide customer service or your local insurance agent, visit your agent’s office in person, or mail a cancellation letter to cancel your policy. We make the process easier by outlining five simple steps to cancel your Nationwide auto insurance policy, plus explain how to cancel and the alternatives you should consider first.

5 Steps to Cancel Your Nationwide Car Insurance Policy

Canceling your Nationwide car insurance policy doesn’t have to be complicated. You have three ways to cancel, including in person, over the phone, or by mailing in a cancellation request. Follow these five steps to make the cancellation process easy, starting with reviewing your current policy.

1. Review your current policy

The Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) recommends reviewing your insurance policy at least once per year to ensure it still meets your needs. You can also review it each time it renews, usually every six months.

If your Nationwide auto policy is no longer meeting your insurance needs, it may be worth switching. Check your policy or online account for the most current information you’ll need to cancel, such as your renewal date, policy number, and the status of any ongoing claims.

2. Understand what you need from your next policy

Take notes about why you’re canceling to better identify your needs for your next policy and auto insurance company. At a minimum, your new policy should meet your state coverage level requirements and lender guidelines, if you’re financing or leasing your vehicle.

You should choose an applicable policy limit for liability insurance that meets or exceeds your net worth. Doing so protects you financially if you cause an accident. You may also benefit from additional coverages like gap insurance, roadside assistance, or new car replacement coverage.

If you need other insurance products, such as life insurance or a pet insurance plan, consider a company where you can bundle your policies to take advantage of multi-policy discounts.

3. Compare quotes and purchase your new policy

It’s crucial to have a new policy in place before you cancel your existing Nationwide insurance policy. After all, driving without auto insurance is illegal in all U.S. states except New Hampshire. You can face fines, higher insurance premiums, and difficulty finding coverage — and you’ll also be financially responsible for accidents you cause as an uninsured driver.

The best way to find the right coverage and price is to compare quotes from several insurance companies. It’s even faster when you use a car insurance comparison site. You enter your personal information — like your age, date of birth, and Social Security number — into the site and receive multiple quotes at the same time for a quick comparison.

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4. Contact Nationwide customer service

After securing an appropriate policy with another insurer, you’ll need to contact Nationwide to cancel your existing policy. Nationwide policyholders can’t cancel insurance policies online or through the mobile app. Instead, you’ll need to contact your local Nationwide agent or call the company at 1 (877) 669-6877. Make sure to have your requested cancellation date, policy type, and policy number ready.

The agent may ask for other basic information, such as the reason for canceling and the details of your new car insurance policy, like your coverage levels and premium. Questions like these are for informational purposes and you typically don’t have to answer them.

Before you hang up, ask if you have to sign a cancellation form and whether you’ll get a refund. Depending on how you pay and where you are in your policy term, you may not be eligible for a full refund but might receive a partial one.

5. Confirm your cancellation and get your refund

Before you end the call or leave the office, confirm how you’ll receive proof of cancellation, how long the cancellation process will take, and how you’ll get your refund, if applicable. If you’ll receive confirmation by email, it’s a good idea to check your email before hanging up or leaving.

If you have automatic payments set up through your bank account or credit card, Nationwide will refund you through the same account. If not, you’ll likely receive a check in the mail.

To prevent Nationwide from processing further payments from your account during the approval process, cancel your automatic payments at the same time you cancel your policy. Ask your agent for assistance if you need help canceling your automatic payments.

Ways to Cancel Your Nationwide Auto Insurance Policy

Insurers usually allow you to cancel your auto insurance policy in several ways. Nationwide offers three choices: by phone, mail, or in person. Let’s walk through each below.

By phone

The easiest way to cancel is by phone — just call your local Nationwide agent to cancel. If you don’t have their phone number, use Nationwide’s agent locator tool to find them. If you don’t have a local agent, contact Nationwide directly to process the cancellation at 1 (877) 669-6877.

By mail

Another option is to send a cancellation letter by mail. Make sure the letter has your contact information, such as your full name, phone number, and mailing and email addresses. You’ll also need your Nationwide policy number and cancellation date.

You can mail your cancellation request to your agent’s office or to Nationwide directly at the following address:

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company

One Nationwide Plaza

Columbus, Ohio 43215

In person

You can also cancel your policy in person at your local agent’s office. If you do this, ask for a cancellation confirmation by email or have them print you a copy for your records. You may need this to follow up on the cancellation and your refund.

When to Cancel Your Car Insurance Policy

Life happens, and plans change, which can also factor into your insurance needs and costs. It might make sense to switch car insurance companies and cancel your current policy when:

• You get married or divorced

• Your teen gets their license, or you add a new driver to your household

• You retire, join a carpool, or get a new job that changes your commute mileage

• Your ZIP code is changing

• You buy a new vehicle

• You improve your credit

Most insurance companies allow you to cancel your car insurance policy at any time. Though most don’t charge a cancellation fee, some do.

Nationwide doesn’t charge one, and neither does Allstate, State Farm, GEICO, or Progressive. But some states have their own rules, so check to make sure. For example, The General, Liberty Mutual, and USAA may charge cancellation fees depending on where you are in your policy term and which state you live in.

What to Consider Before Canceling Your Nationwide Auto Insurance Policy

Consider the following before canceling your Nationwide insurance policy:

• Shop for a new policy first. Getting a new policy in place before you cancel your current policy ensures you have continuous coverage in case you get into an accident. Using a comparison site can make shopping faster and easier.

• Get your dates right. When changing to a new insurer, it’s crucial to get your dates right. Make sure the cancellation date of your Nationwide policy is on or after the effective date of your new policy to prevent a coverage gap, which can increase your premiums later on.

• Check for a cancellation fee. Although Nationwide doesn’t charge a cancellation fee, some insurers do. Always review your policy documents before canceling an insurance policy to avoid any surprises.

• Understand midterm cancellations. Nationwide may owe you a refund when you cancel your policy midterm. Make sure to ask about the refund process and what you can expect.

• Canceling can affect other policies. Bundling your auto and homeowners insurance but only canceling your car insurance, for example, can increase your home insurance premium if you lose your multi-policy discount.

Nationwide Car Insurance Premiums vs. the Competition

The easiest way to get the best coverage options from an insurer that fits your budget is to compare car insurance quotes. The table below may help you narrow down your choices. We compared Nationwide’s average cost of car insurance with its closest competitors, according to Compare.com data.

Nationwide $137 monthly car insurance rates are slightly higher than the industry average of $135 per month. State Farm’s premiums are the lowest, averaging $85 per month.

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Canceling Nationwide Insurance FAQs

Sources:

1. Insurance Information Institute, “How often should I review my policy?,” accessed September 16, 2024.

2. Insurance Information Institute, “10 questions to help assess your changing insurance needs,” accessed September 16, 2024.

3. Insurance Information Institute, “Nine ways to lower your auto insurance costs,” accessed September 16, 2024.