Auto Insurance · Head-to-head
Progressive vs Nationwide: Which auto insurance wins?
Side-by-side comparison of Progressive and Nationwide auto insurances — APR ranges, credit floors, application speed, and editorial verdict.
Progressive
Industry-leading underwriting for high-risk profiles — DUI, multiple accidents, lapsed coverage. The Snapshot telematics program rewards safe driving with 10–30% discounts after 6 months. Premiums for clean records are middling but the high-risk niche is best-in-class.
Nationwide
SmartMiles pay-per-mile policy is the most aggressive pay-as-you-drive program among the top-10 carriers — under 8,000 miles/year drivers can save 30-50% vs. flat-rate competitors. Vanishing Deductible rider knocks $100/year off your deductible for each clean-driving year (up to $500).
In plain English
Nationwide wins on both dimensions — lower APR floor (undefined% vs undefined%) AND lower credit floor (null+ vs null+ FICO). Progressive can still be the better fit when application speed or loan-amount ceilings matter more — see the verdicts below.
Side-by-side breakdown
| Feature | Progressive | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| APR range | — | — |
| Min credit score | — | — |
| Loan amount | — | — |
| Term length | — | — |
| Overall rating | 4.4/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Rates & APR score (40%) | 4.3 | 4.2 |
| Loan terms score (25%) | 4.5 | 4.4 |
| Application score (20%) | 4.4 | 4.3 |
| Support score (15%) | 4.3 | 4.4 |
APR range
Progressive
—
Nationwide
—
Min credit score
Progressive
—
Nationwide
—
Loan amount
Progressive
—
Nationwide
—
Term length
Progressive
—
Nationwide
—
Overall rating
Progressive
4.4/5
Nationwide
4.3/5
Rates & APR score (40%)
Progressive
4.3
Nationwide
4.2
Loan terms score (25%)
Progressive
4.5
Nationwide
4.4
Application score (20%)
Progressive
4.4
Nationwide
4.3
Support score (15%)
Progressive
4.3
Nationwide
4.4
Editor verdicts
Why we rate Progressive 4.4/5
Industry-leading underwriting for high-risk profiles — DUI, multiple accidents, lapsed coverage. The Snapshot telematics program rewards safe driving with 10–30% discounts after 6 months. Premiums for clean records are middling but the high-risk niche is best-in-class.
Why we rate Nationwide 4.3/5
SmartMiles pay-per-mile policy is the most aggressive pay-as-you-drive program among the top-10 carriers — under 8,000 miles/year drivers can save 30-50% vs. flat-rate competitors. Vanishing Deductible rider knocks $100/year off your deductible for each clean-driving year (up to $500).
Who should pick which?
Pick Progressive if…
- You prefer a fast, soft-pull-friendly online application.
- You want flexible loan terms and amount ranges.
Pick Nationwide if…
- You trust Nationwide's 4.3/5 editorial score.
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