Who wins for your profile?
| Feature | Nationwide | Travelers | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg annual rate | ~$1,683/yr | ~$1,649/yr | ✓ Travelers |
| NAIC complaint ratiolower = fewer complaints vs. industry avg | 0.63 — excellent | 0.72 — good | ✓ Nationwide |
| Credit: excellentrate change for excellent credit | -14% | -10% | ✓ Nationwide |
| Credit: fair / poorrate change for fair credit | +28% | +26% | ✓ Travelers |
| Young drivers · 18–24surcharge vs 35–54 baseline | +15% | +16% | ✓ Nationwide |
| Drivers 55+discount vs 35–54 baseline | -8% | -8% | — |
| Homeowner discount | -8% | -10% | ✓ Travelers |
| Multi-policy discount | -6% | -6% | — |
| Lapsed coverage penaltysurcharge for coverage gap | +15% | +16% | ✓ Nationwide |
| How to buy | Online + agent | Online + agent | — |
| Telematics program | SmartRide | IntelliDrive® | — |
Nationwide vs. Travelers: which is cheaper?
Travelers is cheaper on base rate — roughly $1,649/year vs. Nationwide's $1,683/year for a standard profile (35-year-old, clean record, full coverage). That's a $34/year gap, which is modest. Nationwide closes it quickly through its excellent-credit discount (-14% vs. Travelers' -10%) and its vanishing deductible, which saves $100/year for every claim-free year up to $500.
Homeowners should flip the comparison. Travelers' home+auto bundle runs 10–15% off auto, meaning a bundling household typically pays less total with Travelers even though its base rate is higher. Nationwide is the stronger pick for renters and auto-only customers — particularly those with excellent credit or who plan to stay claim-free. Nationwide also wins on young drivers (+15% surcharge vs. Travelers' +16%) and lapsed-coverage penalties (+15% vs. +16%), though both differences are small.
About Nationwide
Nationwide is one of the top 10 auto insurers in the US, available in all 50 states primarily through independent and captive agents. Founded in 1926 in Columbus, Ohio, Nationwide is a mutual company — technically owned by policyholders rather than shareholders. Its Vanishing Deductible program reduces your deductible by $100 per claim-free year (up to $500 total), which compounds into meaningful savings for drivers who rarely file claims. SmartRide telematics can save up to 40% for the safest drivers.
Nationwide's NAIC complaint ratio of 0.63 is among the best in the industry — fewer complaints per dollar of written premium than most major carriers, including Travelers (0.72) and the industry average of 1.0. It wins this comparison on complaints, excellent-credit discount, young driver surcharge, and lapsed-coverage penalty. Best for: claim-free drivers, excellent-credit households, and renters who prioritize complaint service over bundling.
About Travelers
Founded in 1853, Travelers is one of the oldest and largest property-casualty insurers in the US, ranking top 5 for auto market share and available in all 50 states through both direct and independent agent channels. Its base rate of ~$1,649/year is below the category average for major carriers. The pricing advantage deepens for homeowners who bundle: home+auto bundling typically saves 10–15% on auto, making Travelers the total-cost winner for bundling households even against cheaper base-rate competitors.
IntelliDrive is Travelers' telematics program — it monitors driving for 90 days and can reduce rates 8–20% for safe drivers. Notably, IntelliDrive can only save you money during the monitoring period; it won't raise your rate for imperfect driving, only withhold the discount. NAIC complaint ratio of 0.72 is solid — well below the industry average of 1.0. Best for: homeowners who bundle, established drivers 35+, and independent-agent shoppers who want agent-backed service.