Selecting a car insurance company is sometimes difficult: rates can fluctuate based on your driving record, location, and age, and companies offer an array of perks. Nationwide and Safeco are two of the most popular insurers, providing high-quality coverage across many states.
In an effort to simplify the insurance-shopping process, we pulled average insurance rates from Safeco and Nationwide. These rates cover a variety of rating factors, including credit, driving history, and age. Examine these figures and find an affordable policy today.
Want to learn more? Check out our full reviews of Nationwide and Safeco.
If you have very poor credit, Nationwide could be a better option for you. Typically, Nationwide offers cheaper premiums than Safeco for drivers with credit scores of less than 580. Drivers with exceptional credit — a score of 800 or higher — should lean toward Nationwide, which typically beats Safeco by $618 per year. View average insurance costs by credit score for Safeco and Nationwide below.
| Credit level | Nationwide avg. annual premium | Safeco avg. annual premium |
| Very Poor (300-579) | $1,593 | $5,308 |
| Fair (580-669) | $1,262 | $2,716 |
| Good (670-739) | $1,283 | $1,967 |
| Very Good (740-799) | $1,109 | $1,871 |
| Exceptional (800-850) | $1,037 | $1,655 |
If you've got an at-fault crash, speeding ticket, reckless driving violation, or DUI on your driving record, Nationwide could be a better choice than Safeco. Each insurer will handle driving offenses differently, so don't hesitate to shop around to find out which insurance company suits you.
| Citation | Nationwide avg. annual premium | Safeco avg. annual premium |
| At-fault accident (damage < $1,000) | $1,836 | $2,546 |
| At-fault accident (damage > $1,000) | $1,475 | $1,969 |
| DUI/DWI | $2,691 | $2,796 |
| Reckless driving | $2,508 | $2,853 |
| Speeding ticket | $1,469 | $2,512 |
Auto insurance companies use age to outline potential risk, assigning rates accordingly. A car insurance policy is usually most expensive for drivers younger than 25 — due to their inexperience — and relatively affordable for older drivers. Because every auto insurance company prices ages uniquely, it's a smart move to shop around.
As a general rule, teen drivers should choose Nationwide over Safeco: Nationwide offers average yearly savings of $4,141 versus Safeco.
| Age tier | Nationwide avg. annual premium | Safeco avg. annual premium |
| Teens | $3,624 | $7,765 |
| 20s | $1,582 | $2,566 |
| 30s | $1,163 | $2,566 |
| 40s | $1,151 | $2,128 |
| 50s | $1,114 | $1,745 |
| 60s | $1,028 | $1,687 |
Finances aside, Nationwide and Safeco each carry pros and cons, including their discounts, perks, customer satisfaction ratings, and financial stability. Be sure to shop around before settling on an option.
| Discount Comparison | Nationwide | Safeco |
|---|---|---|
| Good Student | ||
| Multiple Policies | ||
| Multiple Vehicles | ||
| Anti-Theft Device(s) | ||
| Anti-Lock Brake System | ||
| Air Bags | ||
| Good Driver | ||
| Defensive Driver | ||
| Student Away at School | ||
| Driver Training | ||
| Green Vehicles | ||
| Affinity Membership Alum | ||
| Advanced Purchase | ||
| Pay in Full | ||
| Home Owner | ||
| eSign or ePay | ||
| Telematics | ||
| New Vehicle | ||
| Annual Mileage | ||
| Military |
| Ratings Comparison | Nationwide | Safeco |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Strength | Superior | Excellent |
| JD Power Rankings | Above average | Below average |
| User Satisfaction | 4.3/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Other Products | Nationwide | Safeco |
|---|---|---|
| Boat Insurance | ||
| Condo Insurance | ||
| Life Insurance | ||
| Homeowners Insurance | ||
| Travel Trailer Insurance | ||
| Renters Insurance | ||
| RV Insurance | ||
| Motorcycle Insurance | ||
| Mobile Home Insurance |
| Other Features | Nationwide | Safeco |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Why customers love Safeco: Whether it’s your car, home, motorcycle, boat, identity, or more, Safeco makes it simple to protect what matters to you. Financial strength you can trust: Safeco Insurance is proud to be part of Liberty Mutual Insurance, a Fortune 100 company, rated “A” by A.M. Best Company. Liberty Mutual is rated “A” by A.M. Best Company. |
| 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. | Safeco offers roadside assistance 24/7 as a policy option, including coverage for towing, flat tire, battery service, fuel and fluids, and lockouts. |
| Additional Discounts | Nationwide offers additional savings through a Family Discount, which allows you to share discounts with members of your family. | Safeco offers additional discounts such as Advance Quote Discount, New Teen and Preferred Payment. And as a subsidiary of Liberty Mutual, Safeco offers 24/7 claims service. |
| Recent Questions | Can I get an EMT discount with Nationwide? To my knowledge, Nationwide does offer discounts to EMT but I'm not 100% if there are any specifics to the state of California. Because car insurance is regulated at the state, there could be some implications regarding California's state legislation that would prohibit employment status from being considered. What's the ADOT code for NationwideThe ADOT code for Nationwide would be listed on your policy documents. But for Nationwide, it is 0014. Is accident forgiveness a good idea for me?You might be a good contender for this policy option. Most lease contracts will require you to keep the vehicle in good condition. See More Questions | Should I stay with my car insurance company even if I'm getting a better quote from elsewhere? It's possible that your agent is simply trying to keep your business. However, he may actually be correct. See More Questions |
| Compare More | Nationwide vs. 21st Century Nationwide vs. Allstate Nationwide vs. American Family Nationwide vs. Amica Mutual Insurance Nationwide vs. Auto Club (AAA) Nationwide vs. Erie Nationwide vs. Esurance Nationwide vs. Farm Bureau Mutual Nationwide vs. Farmers Nationwide vs. Foremost Nationwide vs. GEICO Nationwide vs. Infinity Nationwide vs. Liberty Mutual Nationwide vs. Mercury Nationwide vs. MetLife Nationwide vs. North Star Mutual Nationwide vs. Progressive Nationwide vs. Root Insurance Nationwide vs. Safe Auto Nationwide vs. State Farm Nationwide vs. The General Nationwide vs. The Hartford Nationwide vs. Travelers Nationwide vs. USAA | Safeco vs. 21st Century Safeco vs. Allied Safeco vs. Allstate Safeco vs. American Family Safeco vs. Amica Mutual Insurance Safeco vs. Auto Club (AAA) Safeco vs. Erie Safeco vs. Esurance Safeco vs. Farm Bureau Mutual Safeco vs. Farmers Safeco vs. Foremost Safeco vs. GEICO Safeco vs. Infinity Safeco vs. Mercury Safeco vs. MetLife Safeco vs. North Star Mutual Safeco vs. Progressive Safeco vs. Safe Auto Safeco vs. State Farm Safeco vs. The General Safeco vs. The Hartford Safeco vs. Titan Safeco vs. Travelers Safeco vs. USAA |
| Top States | Arizona California Florida Illinois Michigan New Jersey New York Ohio Pennsylvania Texas | Arizona California Florida Illinois Michigan New Jersey New York Ohio Pennsylvania Texas |