Liberty Mutual and Nationwide are two of the largest U.S. auto insurance companies by market share, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).1 Liberty Mutual offers an impressive list of optional car insurance coverages and discounts, but Nationwide has slightly cheaper average rates and a pay-as-you-drive insurance option that can save you money.
Before you decide which company is the best choice, you should check customer reviews and compare quotes, coverages, discounts, and customer satisfaction ratings.
Here’s what you need to know about coverage offerings from Liberty Mutual and Nationwide to find the cheapest car insurance for you.
Though both companies have great coverage options, Nationwide offers slightly cheaper average auto insurance rates and higher customer satisfaction than Liberty Mutual.
Nationwide has a below-average number of customer complaints filed with the NAIC, while Liberty Mutual has an above-average number of complaints for a company of its size.
The two car insurance companies have similar coverage offerings, but Liberty Mutual has a couple of add-ons Nationwide doesn’t, including better car replacement and teachers’ auto insurance. Nationwide has cheaper rates on average, but Liberty Mutual has a few extra discounts you can benefit from.
The best company for you will depend on your driver profile and coverage needs. See how Liberty Mutual and Nationwide compare below.
Liberty Mutual is the nation’s third-largest insurance company selling personal auto insurance, with a 4.95% share of the market. The company ranked 20th in overall customer satisfaction in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, receiving a below-average rating.2
With 1.99% of the personal auto insurance market share, Nationwide is the 10th-largest U.S. car insurance company. With a ranking slightly below the study average, Nationwide ranked 15th in overall customer satisfaction in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study.
Participating in the Liberty Mutual RightTrack program can earn you a 30% discount. You’ll earn a 10% discount when you enroll and can qualify for up to 20% more after you download the app on your phone and let it monitor your driving for 90 days. It’s an easy way to save money, but you might have to wait until your policy renews to benefit from the discount.
Nationwide’s SmartRide telematics program offers a discount of up to 40%. You get 10% off for enrolling and up to 30% more for downloading and activating the app. The potential discount is larger for SmartRide than RightTrack, but you’ll have to let the app monitor your driving for as long as six months.
Nationwide has slightly lower average car insurance rates for both a liability-only and full-coverage policy.
On average, drivers pay $94 per month for liability insurance and $177 for full-coverage insurance from Nationwide. Liberty Mutual policyholders pay an average of $175 per month for liability insurance and $234 for full-coverage insurance.
People with a clean driving record earn the cheapest average rates because insurers view them as low-risk drivers. Nationwide is the cheaper option for liability insurance than Liberty Mutual, though the difference is marginal.
If you have a speeding ticket or other violations on your record, you’ll pay more for coverage than someone with a clean record. Drivers with a past speeding ticket pay less for liability coverage on average with Nationwide.
Teen drivers pay the highest rates of any age group due to a lack of driving experience and higher rates of accidents. Nationwide has cheaper liability insurance rates for teen drivers than Liberty Mutual, on average.
If you have poor credit, you’ll pay more for coverage than drivers with good credit because studies have shown a link between poor credit and filing insurance claims. Nationwide auto insurance rates for a full-coverage policy for drivers with bad credit are cheaper on average than Liberty Mutual.
Senior drivers can find cheaper liability insurance on average with Nationwide. Compare rates below.
Liberty Mutual and Nationwide both offer similar standard insurance products. You can find bodily injury and property damage liability insurance, personal injury protection, uninsured/underinsured motorist, and medical payments coverage, as well as the collision and comprehensive insurance that make up a full-coverage policy.
Both companies also offer similar insurance add-ons, like accident forgiveness, gap insurance, and roadside assistance coverage. The companies have some unique offerings as well. For example, Nationwide has a total loss deductible waiver, and Liberty Mutual offers Mexico car insurance.
Optional coverages help you customize your insurance policy according to your own needs and preferences. Here’s how Liberty Mutual and Nationwide auto insurance add-on offerings compare.
Liberty Mutual has higher rates than Nationwide for most categories of drivers, but it has a larger selection of discounts that can reduce your premiums.
Liberty Mutual offers discounts for students away at school, homeowners, new-car owners, and military members that Nationwide doesn’t. But Nationwide has savings opportunities for low mileage drivers that Liberty Mutual doesn’t.
Take a closer look at the discounts you might qualify for with each insurer.
Comparing quotes from multiple auto insurance companies is the best way to find the right insurance policy at the lowest price. The following information should answer your remaining questions about Liberty Mutual and Nationwide car insurance.
State Farm is the largest competitor in the U.S. personal auto insurance industry, with 16.84% of the market share compared to Liberty Mutual’s 4.95%. USAA and Farmers, which have 5.92% and 4.55% of the market share, respectively, are Liberty Mutual’s closest competitors.
All these companies are top national insurers with quality coverage offerings.
Yes. Nationwide has an AM Best financial strength rating of A+ (Superior) and receives high ratings in J.D. Power customer satisfaction surveys. The company also received a below-average number of customer complaints filed with the NAIC for a company of its size.
Yes. Liberty Mutual has an AM Best financial strength rating of A (Excellent), which indicates an ability to pay out claims. But Liberty Mutual ranked 20th in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, indicating customers surveyed had some issues with the company’s claims handling.
Nationwide has lower average rates and higher customer satisfaction ratings, while Liberty Mutual offers better discounts. Both companies have high Insurify Quality (IQ) Scores, but Nationwide earns a 9.0 out of 5, and Liberty Mutual scores 7.7.
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