Nationwide and Travelers are two of the biggest car insurance companies in the U.S. Both companies sell car insurance and other insurance products in most states and offer a great selection of endorsements and a variety of discounts. But Nationwide has more affordable auto insurance rates, especially for full coverage.

If you’re comparing Nationwide and Travelers, it’s important to look at factors like average rates, customer service, financial strength, discounts, coverages available, claim handling, and more. These two companies each have pros and cons, so it’s a good idea to review both insurers closely to determine which one best fits your needs.

Nationwide vs. Travelers: The verdict

Nationwide and Travelers each have similar Insurify Quality (IQ) Scores. Both companies offer a variety of endorsements, including accident forgiveness, gap insurance, rental car coverage, and others. Both insurers offer excellent discounts, but Travelers offers a slightly bigger selection, including a discount for hybrids/EVs, which is hard to find with other companies.

In terms of cost, Nationwide is the clear winner. Nationwide’s average liability-only premium is $84 per month, whereas Travelers’ average liability-only premium is $98 per month. But Travelers has more discounts than Nationwide, which could help you reduce your rate.

Below, you can see how Nationwide vs. Travelers compare on a few important factors.

Nationwide

Nationwide is the 10th-largest car insurance company in the U.S., with just under 2% of the total market share, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).1

Travelers

Travelers Insurance is a slightly bigger insurer than Nationwide. It’s the eighth-largest company, with just over 2% of the total market share for private passenger auto insurance.1

Nationwide SmartRide vs. Travelers IntelliDrive

Nationwide and Travelers both offer a telematics-based safe driver rewards program. These programs are similar: A mobile app tracks your driving habits, like brake force, speed, and distractions, and rewards you with a lower rate if you drive safely.

If you sign up for Nationwide SmartRide, you’ll get an automatic 10% discount. This discount maxes out at 40% for people who continue to demonstrate safe driving habits. Most drivers earn their safe driving discount within 80 days of using the app, and premiums can’t increase.

With Travelers’ IntelliDrive program, you can save up to 30% when you drive safely. But unlike Nationwide SmartRide, your premium can increase if you demonstrate unsafe driving behaviors.

Nationwide vs. Travelers: Which is the cheapest?

Nationwide and Travelers have affordable rates for a variety of driver profiles. The average cost of car insurance from Nationwide is $84 per month for minimum coverage and $177 per month for full coverage. Travelers’ average rates are slightly higher, at $98 per month for minimum coverage and $185 per month for full coverage.

Keep in mind that the cheapest car insurance company for you depends on numerous personal and policy-related factors, including your ZIP code, age, credit score, vehicle type, coverage limits, and more.

Nationwide: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record

For drivers with a clean record and no traffic violations, Nationwide has the cheapest car insurance rates.

Nationwide: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket

Nationwide has the cheapest car insurance premiums for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Travelers: Cheapest for teen drivers

Young drivers usually pay the highest rates for car insurance, but Travelers offers much lower rates for teens and high school students than Nationwide.

Travelers: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit

Insurers consider drivers with bad credit as high-risk and subsequently charge them higher rates. However, Travelers offers cheaper car insurance policies for people with poor credit.

Travelers: Cheapest for senior drivers

Travelers has cheaper average car insurance rates for senior drivers than Nationwide.

Compare coverages: Nationwide vs. Travelers

Nationwide and Travelers both offer basic insurance coverages, including liability insurance, personal injury protection, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, medical expenses coverage, collision coverage, and comprehensive coverage.

Additionally, each company offers a good selection of endorsements for more protection. Below, you can see some of the add-on coverages each insurer offers.

Compare discounts: Nationwide vs. Travelers

Nationwide and Travelers both offer a good selection of discounts, but Travelers offers more discounts than Nationwide. Travelers also offers savings for insuring a hybrid or electric vehicle, a discount many insurers don’t offer. Because Travelers has higher average premiums than Nationwide, taking advantage of these discounts can make Travelers’ rates more competitive.

Nationwide vs. Travelers FAQs

Nationwide and Travelers are both good car insurance companies, but the best one for you depends on your situation. If you’re still undecided, the following information might help you figure out which one is a better choice for you.

  • Which insurer is better than Nationwide?

    There isn’t a specific car insurance company that’s better than Nationwide in all categories. For example, Travelers has better discounts than Nationwide, but Nationwide is better for low rates. To find the best insurer for you, it’s important to compare multiple insurance companies to find your ideal option.

  • Is Travelers a good insurance company?

    Yes. Travelers is a good insurance company overall. It offers a great selection of endorsements and discounts, and its average rates are cheaper than the U.S. national average. But if you’re looking for the cheapest possible car insurance rates, Travelers might not be the best choice for your specific needs.

  • What is the difference between coverage options from Nationwide and Travelers?

    Nationwide and Travelers both offer a wide range of coverage options. Nationwide offers six endorsements, and Travelers offers seven.

    One of the big differences is that Travelers offers new-car replacement coverage, while Nationwide doesn’t. Similarly, Nationwide has a total loss deductible waiver and a disappearing deductible, two options that Travelers doesn’t offer.

  • Which company offers cheaper insurance, on average?

    On average, Nationwide has cheaper rates than Travelers, especially for full coverage. Nationwide’s average premium is $84 per month for minimum coverage and $177 per month for full coverage. Travelers’ average costs are $98 per month for minimum coverage and $185 per month for full coverage.

    You’ll need to get quotes from both companies to see which one is the cheapest for your situation.

Elizabeth Rivelli
Elizabeth Rivelli

Elizabeth Rivelli is a freelance writer covering insurance and personal finance. She has extensive knowledge of various insurance lines, including property and casualty, health, and life insurance. Her byline has been featured in dozens of publications, including Investopedia, Forbes, Bankrate, NextAdvisor, and Insurance.com. 

Elizabeth has been a contributor at Insurify since October 2022.