Does Nationwide Offer Non-Owner Car Insurance?
You can buy non-owner car insurance from Nationwide, and it will likely cost you less than a standard insurance policy.
Written by Thidas Senanayaka
Reviewed by Shannon Martin
Nationwide does offer non-owner car insurance for existing customers. If you do not own a car and tend to rent or borrow cars, non-owner car insurance is a good idea, and Nationwide can give you a policy at a competitive price, especially when compared to traditional
car insurance
policies. Read the rest of this guide to find out the basics about non-owner car insurance, and show it compares to traditional coverage, among other things!
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversShould you get non-owner car insurance from Nationwide?
Non-owner car insurance
coverage may be an option for you if you’re a Nationwide customer and:- You regularly rent cars or use car-sharing services such as Zipcar, Car2go, or GIG Car Share.
- You drive vehicles regularly that belong to other people.
- You need to reinstate your license after a suspension or revocation and you need proof ofliability insuranceto do so.
- You want to show you have continuous auto coverage to benefit from discounts from future insurance policies.
- You’re planning to dispose of your vehicle soon and purchase another soon afterward
Keep in mind, when it comes to Nationwide, you have to be a customer of Nationwide if you want to benefit from non-owner car insurance.
Not sure what non-owner coverage is? Here’s a quick refresher. Non-owner car insurance is an affordable alternative that’s a good choice for drivers who don’t own a car but need to have insurance anyway for one reason or another. The reason it’s cheaper than traditional policies
There can be a lot of reasons why someone might want to get non-owner car insurance. Imagine, for example, that you’re driving a rental. Chances are you paid a pretty penny for
rental car insurance
and would have to do so every time you rent a car. Pkus, if that coverage isn’t comprehensive enough, you may end up liable for some steep costs that you’ll have to pay out of pocket, especially if you’re involved in an at-fault accident. Medical bills caused by car accidents average about $60,000 while the cost of a vehicle on the road today is about $48,000, on average. If the coverage you’re relying on is only minimum liability, you’ll be responsible for whatever isn’t covered—since you’re not the one insured.
Non-owner insurance fills this gap, so it’s a good way to protect yourself if this happens. Non-owner car insurance is liability only, so it will pay for the other driver’s injuries and property damage after an at-fault accident. It won’t cover any damage to the car you were driving but that’s what the original owner’s coverage is there for.
For a rental car situation, this means you could save money by waiving the additional liability insurance from the rental car company. If you have a credit card with travel benefits, it may automatically cover the collision damage waiver (CDW) for your rental car as well—its worth checkin out!
It’s also a great way to avoid a coverage lapse if you’re between vehicles. If you’re looking to get a vehicle in the future, showing continuous coverage, even without a car to insure, can help you get a
continuous insurance discount
from whatever provider you go with. Average cost of a Nationwide non-owner auto insurance policy vs. traditional coverage
The average cost of a non-owner car insurance policy from Nationwide is $675 per year. Compared to that, the cost of a standard minimum coverage plan for vehicle insurance is $1,866, though this will be more expensive annually for full coverage with both
collision
and comprehensive
insurance. Depending on your age, record, and type of coverage, the rates may differ. For example, a 23-year old man may pay about $2,235 annually while older drivers can expect to pay closer to $1,600 a year.
As you can tell, Nationwide’s non-owner car insurance is a lot less costly than even minimum coverage plans at Nationwide, which are already about $450 higher than the national rate. Other things can also affect your rates though. We’ve already gone over age, but a big factor is a driving record—at Nationwide, a single speeding violation can grow your premium by $400. Where you live will play a factor as well.
What does non-owner car insurance cover?
Basic non-owner car insurance policies will cover the minimum coverage amounts outlined by your state, along with some optional add-ons. This includes
bodily injury liability
and property damage liability
. Depending on your state’s requirement, coverage for accidents caused by uninsured or underinsured
drivers, medical payments
, and/or personal injury protection (PIP)
may be mandatory or optional coverages for your policy. However, non-owner auto insurance will NOT cover damage to the vehicle itself. This actually makes sense, since if you’re driving a friend’s car, their policy will cover damage to the vehicle in question as long as they have comprehensive and collision coverage.
MORE: Cheap car insurance for low-mileage drivers
What other insurance companies offer non-owner policies?
A lot of car insurance companies have non-owner policies—you can expect most major insurers to offer them. Nationwide will have policies on the more expensive side, but the following providers also give you options:
"Without a doubt, usingJerrywas a seamless process! The staff were attentive to my every question. My new Nationwide policy premium saves me $200 a month. Let them save you money too!” —Kenny P.
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FAQ
Can I insure a car not in my name with Nationwide?
The answer depends—like a lot of things. You need to have an insurable interest to insure a vehicle—meaning you need a level of ownership. If you want a standard car insurance policy, then no, you cannot insure a car that isn’t in your name. If you rent or borrow cars and want to protect your potential liability, yes, you can have a non-owner insurance policy.
