Nationwide commercial auto insurance

Our take

For business owners with several company vehicles, Nationwide is a good choice. It offers a range of coverage options and optional add-ons like new vehicle replacement cost and roadside assistance.

Plus, fleet owners can take advantage of the company’s telematics program. Through this program, a device tracks vehicle use and driver habits, and business owners can qualify for a 10% discount.

As is common with commercial auto insurance, online quotes aren’t available, and policy details are only available through an agent.

Understanding commercial auto insurance

Commercial auto insurance covers claims involving company-owned vehicles, including cars, trucks and vans. Depending on the policy, it pays for injuries and damages to people and property, including your employees, passengers and business-owned vehicles. A personal insurance policy, on the other hand, won’t cover claims that happen while the vehicle is operating for business purposes. 

A basic policy includes bodily injury liability and property damage liability, which pay for damage you or your drivers cause to others during an accident. Each state has different required liability limits, and your policy should have at least the limits required by state law. Consider higher limits for better protection.

“Many business owners also choose to add collision and comprehensive coverage, which pay for your own losses if a company car is damaged in a covered loss or gets stolen,” says Belen Tokarski, president and COO of Mylo, an independent insurance broker.

Nationwide commercial auto insurance coverage

There are five areas that most Nationwide commercial auto insurance policies cover:

• Liability: This pays for injuries to others as well as damage to other cars or property when your driver is at fault for the accident.
• Collision: This pays to repair or replace your vehicle if it strikes another object, overturns, rolls or is in a collision with another vehicle where your driver is at fault for the accident.
• Comprehensive: This pays to repair or replace the vehicle if it is damaged by something other than collision, such as vandalism, fire or storm damage. 
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM): This helps pay for damage and injuries associated with an accident that wasn’t your fault when the other party doesn’t have any or enough insurance to cover the loss. 
• Medical payments: This protects your driver and passengers and helps pay for injuries they incur in an at-fault accident.

In addition to these basic coverages, Nationwide also offers a big selection of endorsements – or add-ons – for more customized protection. You can add roadside assistance, new car replacement coverage, hired auto physical damage with loss of use coverage, loan/lease gap coverage, rental reimbursement and others.

Types of commercial vehicles Nationwide insures

Nationwide covers a wide range of vehicles, including:

• Business autos: This category includes all cars, light trucks, SUVs and vans. 
• Trucks: This includes a variety of trucks, including dump trucks, construction vehicles, and tractor-trailers.
• Trailers: This category includes pickup truck utility trailers, dump body trailers and tractor-trailers. 

Nationwide commercial auto insurance benefits

Nationwide says it offers many services that business customers may find beneficial, including:

• Multiple commercial auto insurance endorsements
• Fleet telematics discount program
• Safety resources and loss control education

How Nationwide stacks up against other commercial auto insurance companies

Nationwide controls about 1.2% of the commercial auto market, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the standard-setting and regulatory support organization overseen by the country’s top insurance regulators. Its closest competitors are Federated, which also has about 1.2 % market share, and Kemper, with a 1.1% share.

A major criterion for judging insurance companies is the NAIC’s complaint index.

The NAIC’s complaint index is based on the number of complaints filed against the company with state insurance regulators compared to that company’s market share. A score of 1.0 means it received a number of complaints proportionate to its market share, while a score higher than 1.0 means it received a higher-than-expected number of complaints for its market share. 

In 2024, Nationwide’s NAIC complaint index for commercial auto insurance was 1.27, which means it has slightly more complaints than expected for its size. To compare, most of the largest commercial auto insurance companies also receive more complaints than expected.

Another consideration when selecting an insurer is its financial stability. After all, you want your insurance company to be on a strong financial footing should you even need to file a claim. 

AM Best, a ratings agency that measures financial strength, gives Nationwide an A, indicating that the company is in an excellent position to meet its financial obligations. 

How does Nationwide commercial auto insurance pricing compare with the competition?

Nationwide doesn’t publish its commercial auto insurance rates online. Some businesses can get a quote online, but Nationwide doesn't offer online quotes in every industry or location. For example, we were unable to secure quotes online for a Massachusetts-based cleaning business.

The cost of commercial car insurance coverage depends on several factors, such as location, coverage options, vehicle, driving history and the business you're in.

According to Insureon, a small-business insurance agency, the average cost of commercial auto insurance is about $147 per month or $1,764 per year.

To see how Nationwide’s commercial auto insurance prices compare to its competitors, you’ll need to get a personalized rate quote. Comparing rates from multiple insurance companies can also help you find the most affordable commercial auto insurance policy for your situation and coverage needs.

Tips to save on Nationwide commercial auto insurance 

Small businesses that enroll in Nationwide’s Vantage 360 Fleet program can save up to 10% on their commercial auto insurance premium.

The free program uses a mobile app or in-vehicle telematics device to track driver behaviors and trips. When employees drive safely, they earn points, which can be redeemed for gift cards. Business owners can track driver locations, trip history, mileage and driver safety through a web portal.

While Nationwide doesn’t advertise any other commercial auto insurance discounts, you might be able to save money by bundling your policies, paying your annual premium in full or having no recent insurance claims.

Another good way to save is to hire drivers with good driving records to ensure you get the best rates. 

How to buy Nationwide commercial vehicle insurance

To purchase a commercial car insurance policy from Nationwide, you can call the company at (866) 238-3357 or contact an agent near you.

Before you talk to an agent, you’ll want to have all pertinent information available to ensure that the quote is accurate. You’ll need the year, make, model and VIN for all vehicles. You’ll also need employee driver's license numbers so Nationwide can properly rate the drivers. 

Also, consider what coverage you want. You can choose a liability-only policy to meet state minimum requirements; however, this will not protect the vehicle if you are at fault for an accident. Talk to a company representative about deductible options to help you save money while getting the protection you want. 

Once the representative has all the information, they’ll provide you with a quote for approval. From there, you just need to pay the initial premium to start the policy. 

Bottom line: Why go with Nationwide for commercial auto insurance?

Nationwide is a great insurer to consider if you want to customize your commercial auto insurance policy with endorsements, like new car replacement coverage or gap insurance. We also like that Nationwide offers a library of online safety resources, which can help you train employees and avoid claims.

To get a quote or purchase a policy, you’ll need to call the company or contact an agent. You can manage your policy online, including paying bills and accessing certificates of insurance.

What our expert says

Q: Should businesses consider more than just liability coverage?

Belen Tokarski President and COO of independent insurance broker Mylo.

"Many business owners also choose to add collision and comprehensive coverage, which pay for your own losses if a company car is damaged in a covered loss or gets stolen."