Nationwide or Erie: Which Company is Best for You?
Selecting a car insurance company can be complicated: rates can vary by location, vehicle, and driving record, and every company provides a different set of discounts. Nationwide and Erie are among the US' most popular insurance companies, providing competitively priced policies across large portions of the US.
To simplify the insurance-shopping process, we've gathered average rates from Erie and Nationwide. The below cover a number of rating factors, including credit rating, driving record, and age. Check out the below rates and find the right policy for you.
Find out more: Check out our reviews of Nationwide and Erie.
Nationwide vs. Erie: insurance rate comparison
Nationwide vs. Erie: rates by credit level
If you have extremely bad credit, Nationwide could be the way to go. On average, Nationwide offers better premiums than Erie for drivers with credit scores of less than 580. Drivers with excellent credit — a score of 800 or higher — should lean toward Check out typical insurance rates by credit tier for Erie and Nationwide below.
COMPARING AUTO INSURANCE RATES BY CREDIT SCORE: ERIE VS. NATIONWIDE
| Credit level | Nationwide avg. annual premium | Erie avg. annual premium |
| Very Poor (300-579) | $1,593 | $2,402 |
| Fair (580-669) | $1,262 | $1,040 |
| Good (670-739) | $1,283 | $894 |
| Very Good (740-799) | $1,109 | $743 |
| Exceptional (800-850) | $1,037 | $726 |
Nationwide vs. Erie: rates for high-risk drivers
If you've got an at-fault accident, speeding ticket, reckless driving citation, or DUI in your recent history, Erie could be a better choice than Nationwide. Every auto insurance company prices policies differently after a violation, so don't be afraid to shop around to find out which insurer suits you.
HIGH-RISK INSURANCE RATE COMPARISON: ERIE VS. NATIONWIDE
| Violation | Nationwide avg. annual premium | Erie avg. annual premium |
| At-fault accident (damage < $1,000) | $1,836 | $893 |
| At-fault accident (damage > $1,000) | $1,475 | $772 |
| DUI/DWI | $2,691 | $1,163 |
| Reckless driving | $2,508 | $760 |
| Speeding ticket | $1,469 | $747 |
Nationwide vs. Erie: rates by age
Insurance companies use age to outline potential risk, pricing premiums accordingly. Car insurance is typically most expensive for young drivers — due to their increased odds of being involved in an accident — and most affordable for drivers aged 25 or older. Because every car insurance company prices ages differently, it's smart to shop around and find the perfect policy for you.
As a general rule, teen drivers should choose Erie over Nationwide: the former's average annual rates are $1,386 less than the latter's..
RATES BY AGE: ERIE VS. NATIONWIDE
| Age bracket | Nationwide avg. annual premium | Erie avg. annual premium |
| Teens | $3,624 | $2,238 |
| 20s | $1,582 | $1,108 |
| 30s | $1,163 | $1,108 |
| 40s | $1,151 | $755 |
| 50s | $1,114 | $692 |
| 60s | $1,028 | $676 |
Setting aside cost, Nationwide and Erie each carry pros and cons, including their discounts, perks, customer satisfaction ratings, and financial stability. Be sure to get quotes and compare rates before purchasing a policy.
| Discount Comparison | Nationwide | Erie |
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| Good Student |
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| Multiple Vehicles |
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| Student Away at School |
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| Driver Training |
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| Ratings Comparison | Nationwide | Erie |
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| Financial Strength | Superior | Superior |
| JD Power Rankings | Average | Excellent |
| User Satisfaction | 4.3/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Other Products | Nationwide | Erie |
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| Other Features | Nationwide | Erie |
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| About | Auto Insurance from Nationwide gives you peace of mind when you're on the road. Save money without sacrificing coverage by participating in one of our usage-based discount programs, and save even more with multi-policy discounts. With our On Your Side Claims® Service, you'll get a written guarantee on repairs and a choice of qualified car repair shops you can trust. | Erie Insurance provides customers with the flexibility to customize their car insurance by offering over 30 extra policy features, along with the highest levels of customer service. |
| Roadside Assistance | Nationwide's Roadside Assistance is available in select states. Two levels of emergency Roadside Assistance coverage—Basic and Plus—are available. Nationwide Roadside Assistance Basic applies to everyone on your policy, in any car you might occupy with coverage that includes towing up to 15 miles, ditch extraction service, emergency fuel, battery jump-start, locksmith services up to $100 and tire changes. Nationwide Roadside Assistance Plus includes all the previously listed services in addition to a tow up to 100 miles and trip interruption coverage that may reimburse your expenses up to $500 for alternate transportation, lodging and meals if you find yourself broken down 100 or more miles from home. | Erie provides 24-hour roadside assistance for an additional fee on your policy that covers reasonable auto towing and required labor cost at the site of your vehicle breakdown. |
| Additional Discounts | Nationwide offers additional savings through a Family Discount, which allows you to share discounts with members of your family. | Erie offers an additional discount called "Reduced Usage" that provides a lower rate on your policy if your vehicle is unused for 90 consecutive days during the policy period. |
| Recent Questions | ||
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