Nationwide vs Plymouth Rock: which is better for car insurance in 2026?
Across our six scoring categories, Nationwide comes out ahead in 1, Plymouth Rock in 3, with 2 too close to call. On our weighted overall score the two finish within 0.3 of a point — a genuine draw. The right answer here depends less on which company is "better" and more on which one prices your specific profile lower, and that is not knowable without running both quotes. Nationwide is the stronger pick for drivers who want good claims handling without an agent-only model; Plymouth Rock for northeast drivers who want a strong app and low complaint volume.
Nationwide vs Plymouth Rock, side by side
Sources: average premiums from NerdWallet's August 2026 rate analysis (Quadrant Information Services), for a 35-year-old driver with a clean record and good credit in a 2023 Toyota Camry LE at 12,000 miles a year, 100/300/50 limits with $1,000 deductibles — national average $2,356. Claims satisfaction from the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study (segment average 700). Complaint record from NerdWallet's analysis of NAIC complaint data, 2022–2024. Financial strength from AM Best. Discounts and app data from each carrier's published pages and the Apple App Store / Google Play, retrieved August 2026. Updated August 2026.
Category by category
Price
Plymouth Rock aheadPlymouth Rock averages $2,156/yr for full coverage against Nationwide's $2,671/yr — about $515 a year, or 42.9 dollars a month, in Plymouth Rock's favor for this profile.
$2,671 a year for full coverage, 13% above the national average. Nationwide is not a discount carrier.
$2,156 a year for full coverage, 8% below the national average — mid-pack, and not the reason to pick it.
Claims satisfaction
Too close to callNeither pulls ahead on claims satisfaction: Nationwide posts 729/1,000 and Plymouth Rock Not rated, a difference too small to choose on.
729 out of 1,000, fourth in the J.D. Power 2025 study and 29 points above the segment average.
Not in the J.D. Power claims study, which covers only the largest insurers.
Complaint record
Plymouth Rock aheadPlymouth Rock takes complaint record on Far fewer than expected against Nationwide's Fewer than expected.
Fewer complaints than expected for its size.
Far fewer complaints than expected for its size — the strongest complaint band we assign, shared with only a handful of carriers here.
Financial strength
Nationwide aheadNationwide takes financial strength on A against Plymouth Rock's A-.
AM Best A (Excellent).
AM Best A- (Excellent), with the outlook revised to positive in March 2026 — the only carrier in this review currently trending upward.
Discounts
Too close to callNeither pulls ahead on discounts: Nationwide posts 10 published and Plymouth Rock 10 published, a difference too small to choose on.
Ten published discounts, with bundling stated at an average of $1,032 saved on home and auto together.
Around ten published discounts, plus two distinct programs: YUBI for telematics and a separate Road Rewards points scheme.
Digital experience
Plymouth Rock aheadPlymouth Rock takes digital experience on 4.86 iOS / 4.7 Android against Nationwide's 4.69 iOS / 4.5 Android.
4.69 on the App Store and 4.5 on Google Play. Nationwide also won J.D. Power's usage-based insurance segment for the third year running in 2026.
4.86 on the App Store and 4.7 on Google Play — the highest combined app ratings of any carrier in this review, by a clear margin.
So which one?
Pick Nationwide if…
- You are among drivers who want good claims handling without an agent-only model.
- Financial strength is a priority; Nationwide holds A from AM Best.
- Availability fits: 45 states and D.C. — not available in Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana or Massachusetts.
Pick Plymouth Rock if…
- You are among northeast drivers who want a strong app and low complaint volume.
- Price is your first filter — Plymouth Rock averages $2,156/yr for full coverage on our benchmark profile.
- You want the lower complaint record — Plymouth Rock sits at Far fewer than expected.
- You would rather handle everything in an app than on a phone call.
Nationwide vs Plymouth Rock, answered
The questions people ask before switching between these two.
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