Paul Sanchez
USAA and Nationwide are two of the most popular insurance companies, but their policies differ. USAA was founded in the 1920s by military members for military members and their families. Membership is restricted to those who are or have a qualified family member who is a veteran or active-duty military. USAA offers homeowners insurance in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. and has high customer satisfaction, with USAA members reporting high levels of satisfaction with the company's value, customer service, claims handling, and overall satisfaction. Nationwide, on the other hand, is a Fortune 100 company with a full range of insurance and financial services. It offers more discount options than USAA but has received average reviews from third-party reviewers.
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Customer satisfaction
USAA and Nationwide are two of the most popular insurance companies, but how do they compare in terms of customer satisfaction?
USAA is a company founded by military members for military members and their families. Membership is required for USAA, so enrollment is more restrictive than some other insurance companies. However, USAA receives stellar ratings from customers and third-party rating agencies alike. It topped the list as the best auto insurance carrier with an overall score of 4.6, winning in every category except Online Experience. USAA also topped every category in The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey, indicating a strong focus on the customer. USAA's customers report high levels of satisfaction with the company's value, customer service, claims handling, and overall satisfaction. USAA is also the only company in the US News rating that includes identity theft coverage and a dwelling/personal property replacement option in its policies. USAA also offers a wide range of discounts to its policyholders, including Automatic Payments, Defensive Driving Course, and Discount for Driving Research (telematics) discounts.
On the other hand, Nationwide earned middling reviews from customers in most categories. Out of the 15 companies for which data was gathered, Nationwide auto insurance placed 9th overall with a score of 4.3. Nationwide comes in eighth place in market share for homeowners insurance, while also offering a wide selection of coverages available for bundling. Nationwide customers can easily combine auto insurance with homeowners, renters, and life insurance policies. Nationwide also offers a few discounts that USAA doesn’t, including SmartRide, Passive Occupant Restraint, and Paperless Documents discounts. While Nationwide makes it easier for policyholders to file claims, USAA beats Nationwide in terms of customer reviews.
In conclusion, USAA consistently earns high customer satisfaction scores, while Nationwide has received middling reviews from customers. USAA offers excellent coverage and many discounts, while Nationwide provides affordable rates and a wide range of coverage options.
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Discounts
USAA and Nationwide offer a variety of discounts to their customers to help lower the cost of homeowners insurance. While both companies offer similar standard discounts, there are some key differences in the specifics of their discount programmes.
USAA Discounts
USAA offers several ways for its members to save on homeowners insurance. One of the most notable discounts is the Military Installation Discount, which provides savings for members who live on a military base or in certain communities. USAA also offers a Claims-Free Discount for members who remain claim-free for five years, as well as a
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Eligibility
USAA is an insurance company founded by military members for military members and their families. To become a USAA member, you or a qualified family member must be a veteran or active-duty military. USAA offers a wide range of discounts to its policyholders, including automatic payments, defensive driving course, and discount for driving research (telematics) discounts. USAA also offers rental car insurance for all of its credit cards, covering theft, damage, administrative fees, and more. Cardholders are covered up to the actual cash value of most rented cars. USAA also offers roadside assistance, which costs $12-$20 per year and includes free towing to the nearest repair facility.
Nationwide is a Fortune 100 company with a full range of insurance and financial services across the country, including car, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, pet, farm, life, and commercial insurance. Nationwide offers more discount options than USAA for qualifying customers. Nationwide also offers a few discounts that USAA doesn’t, including SmartRide, Passive Occupant Restraint, and Paperless Documents discounts. Nationwide offers two levels of roadside assistance: Basic and Plus. Their roadside assistance costs about $22-$42 per year.
Both USAA and Nationwide offer home insurance options that provide sufficient coverage for most homeowners. USAA is the third most popular option for homeowners insurance in the US, while Nationwide is eighth. USAA's average homeowners insurance rate is around $127 per month, while Nationwide's is slightly cheaper at $103 per month. However, USAA offers more discounts than Nationwide and has better customer reviews.
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Standard coverage
U.S.AA. and Nationwide both offer standard coverage options for homeowners insurance, but the specific details of what is included in their standard policies may differ. It's important to carefully review the terms and conditions of any insurance policy before purchasing it to ensure that you understand what is and is not covered.
When comparing homeowners insurance policies, it's important to look beyond just the standard coverage offerings. Other factors to consider include the deductibles, coverage limits, and endorsements or add-ons that are available. Additionally, the financial strength and customer service reputation of the insurance company can also be important factors in making a decision.
Both U.S.AA. and Nationwide have strong financial ratings from independent agencies, indicating that they have the financial stability to pay out claims. However, it's worth noting that U.S.AA. insurance is only available to current and former military members and their families. Nationwide, on the other hand, offers coverage to the general public.
In terms of customer service, both companies have their strengths. U.S.AA. is known for its exceptional customer satisfaction and has consistently received high ratings in surveys and reviews. Nationwide also has a positive reputation for customer service and offers a variety of resources and tools to help customers understand and manage their policies.
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Additional coverage
USAA and Nationwide are two of the most popular insurance companies, but their discounts and policies differ. USAA homeowners insurance is available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. However, to become a USAA member, you or a qualified family member must be a veteran or active-duty military. USAA's restricted eligibility is its main drawback. It’s not open to the general public, only to the military community.
USAA offers homeowners insurance with all the standard features, and some additional coverages. These include:
- Replacement cost coverage: USAA reimburses the cost to replace stolen or damaged belongings with new items, rather than their depreciated value.
- Identity theft coverage: USAA covers up to $5,000 to pay expenses to restore your identity.
- Home-sharing coverage: This pays for damage that occurs when you rent out a room or your entire home on sites such as Airbnb.
- Military uniform coverage: Deductible-free insurance for your uniform.
- War damage coverage: USAA covers up to $10,000 worth of belongings destroyed in a war.
- Earthquake insurance: This is an add-on to your homeowners insurance policy.
- Sewage and sump pump damage: This add-on will cover any damage and overflow from a sump pump.
Nationwide offers a wide range of insurance products and services across the country, including homeowners insurance. It is a popular option for homeowners insurance due to its solid product offerings and relatively affordable rates. The company earned roughly average reviews from various third-party reviewers and consumers. Nationwide offers more discount options than USAA for qualifying customers. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that it will be cheaper for everyone, as every company generates quotes differently.
Nationwide also offers the following additional services:
- Nationwide Roadside Assistance Basic and Nationwide Roadside Assistance Plus
- Rental car insurance: USAA offers rental car insurance for all of its credit cards, covering theft, damage, administrative fees, and more.
- Nationwide offers gap insurance, a specialty type of coverage that pays the difference between your car's actual cash value and your loan or lease balance if the vehicle is stolen or totalled.
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Frequently asked questions
USAA insurance is only available to military members, veterans, and their families, whereas Nationwide is available to the general public. USAA offers replacement cost coverage and identity theft coverage as standard, whereas these are often add-ons at other companies. Nationwide offers more discount options than USAA, but USAA has a larger market share and more resources.
USAA topped The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey, while Nationwide placed 10th. USAA also received a higher rating from J.D. Power and fewer complaints than average to state regulators. USAA received 4.9 out of 5 stars from U.S. News, while Nationwide received 4 stars from The Zebra.
USAA's premiums are generally in the middle of the pack, with policies costing an average of $193.44 per month, well below the national average of $231.39. Nationwide's premiums are also below the national average, with a minimum-coverage policy costing $1,866 per year compared to USAA's $807 per year for the same policy.
