Nationwide SmartRide App Review (2024)
Nationwide SmartRide is a telematics system offering customers savings of up to 40% on car insurance if they're safe drivers. Read on to learn more about how long Nationwide Smart Ride lasts, how to get cheap auto insurance with the program, and the average discount for enrollment and safe driving.
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Jeff Root
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Jeff is a well-known speaker and expert in insurance and financial planning. He has spoken at top insurance conferences around the U.S., including the InsuranceNewsNet Super Conference, the 8% Nation Insurance Wealth Conference, and the Digital Life Insurance Agent Mastermind. He has been featured and quoted in Nerdwallet, Bloomberg, Forbes, U.S. News & Money, USA Today, and other leading fina...
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UPDATED: Sep 26, 2023
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Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Sep 26, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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Nationwide SmartRide is a usage-based auto insurance program for Nationwide customers, which the company says can save policyholders up to 40% on their rates.
Usage-based insurance, offered by the best auto insurance companies, allows drivers to save money if they practice good driving habits. Typically, a telematics system monitors things like acceleration, hard braking, speeding, and distracted driving.
Keep reading to learn more about Nationwide’s Smart Ride and see if you qualify for safe driver discounts to help you save money on your Nationwide auto insurance rates.
Understanding the Nationwide SmartRide Program
Nationwide’s SmartRide program monitors your driving to determine how safe you are on the road. The company has some stipulations before you can sign up to get a good driver auto insurance discount for SmartRide. Your vehicle must have been manufactured after 1996. Additionally, you must utilize either the Nationwide SmartRide mobile app or a plug-in on your vehicle.
Once you’ve signed up for the program, you can save up to 10% on your rates while Nationwide monitors your initial driving habits. Typically, the company pays attention to:
- Hard braking
- Miles driven
- Night driving
- Fast acceleration
- Idle time
- Distracted driving
Nationwide offers its policyholders an explanation of each category every week via the SmartRide app. In addition, the company will monitor your driving habits for up to six months before determining whether you qualify for discounts on your auto insurance rates.
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Deciding Whether Nationwide SmartRide Is Right for You
You may question whether signing up for Nationwide Smart Ride or another usage-based program is worth it. However, Nationwide offers incentives to encourage policyholders to sign up for SmartRide.
By signing up for the Nationwide SmartRide program, customers can save up to 10% on auto insurance rates. Once the company assesses your driving habits, you may be eligible to save up to 40% on your monthly or annual rates. Take a look at the table below to compare Nationwide SmartRide’s savings vs. other usage-based insurance progams:
Usage-Based Auto Insurance Savings by Provider
| Insurance Company | Program Name | Device Type | Sign-up Discount | Earned Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAA | AAADrive | Mobile App | 15% | 30% |
| Allstate | Drivewise | Mobile App | 3% | 15% |
| American Family | KnowYourDrive | Mobile App or Plug-in | 5% | 20% |
| Esurance | DriveSense | Mobile App | 5% | 30% |
| Geico | DriveEasy | Mobile App | 20% | 20% |
| Liberty Mutual/SafeCo | RightTrack | Mobile App or Plug-in | 5% and up | 30% |
| MetLife | My Journey | Plug-in | 10% | 30% |
| Metromile | Metromile | Mobile App | 25% | 60% |
| Mile Auto | Mile Auto | Neither | 20% | 40% |
| Nationwide | SmartRide | Mobile App or Plug-in | 10% | 40% |
| Progressive | Snapshot | Mobile App or Plug-in | average of $25 | 20% |
| State Farm | Drive Safe & Save | Mobile App or Plug-in | 5% | 30% |
| The Hartford | TrueLane | Plug-in | 5% | 25% |
| Travelers | IntelliDrive | Mobile App | 10% | 20% |
| USAA | SafePilot | Mobile App | 5% | 20% |
Signing up for a usage-based program may help you learn more about your driving habits. Nationwide sends its policyholders a weekly update concerning their hard braking, acceleration, distracted driving, and other habits.
By learning more about your driving habits, you’ll likely focus more on being a safe driver. You could learn several areas to improve to drive safely and defensively. Additionally, while Nationwide monitors your driving habits, the company doesn’t increase its policyholders’ rates if they don’t drive well enough to earn a discount, so you won’t have to worry about a rate increase.
Other Auto Insurance Discounts to Bundle With Nationwide SmartRide
Along with a Nationwide’s SmartRide program, you may qualify for other auto insurance discounts for safe drivers. Several safe driver discounts are available with most auto insurance companies to incentivize you to drive responsibly and safely each time you get behind the wheel.
Some of the most common safe driver auto insurance discounts include:
- Defensive driver auto insurance discount
- Accident-free auto insurance discount
- Customer loyalty auto insurance discount
- Good driver auto insurance discount
- Low mileage auto insurance discount
- Safe driver auto insurance discount
- Safety features auto insurance discount
- New car auto insurance discount
- Good student auto insurance discount
In addition to the discounts listed above, you may qualify for several discounts with your auto insurance company. For example, auto insurance companies offer discounts for loyalty, paperless billing, students away at school, and much more.
If you’re happy with your auto insurance company, you can speak with a representative to learn more about your options for auto insurance discounts. If not, you can find and compare quotes from several companies to learn more about your options.
Enrolling in Nationwide SmartRide
You must enroll in the program to get an auto insurance discount with Nationwide Smart Ride. Enrolling is simple and easy if you’re a current Nationwide auto insurance customer. You can enroll via the mobile app, over the phone, or in person at a Nationwide facility.
If you don’t have Nationwide as your auto insurance provider, you must get a quote online or speak with a company representative to learn more and switch auto insurance to Nationwide.
Once you enroll, you’ll use the Nationwide SmartRide app to monitor your driving habits, and the app will also notify you once a week about your goals and driving habits. Additionally, you can utilize the Nationwide mobile app or the SmartRide app to speak with a Nationwide representative if you have any questions.
So, how long does Nationwide Smart Ride last? On the company website, Nationwide says the company may monitor your driving for anywhere from one month to six months. During that time, you must have the app on your mobile device to monitor your driving habits. If you delete the Nationwide SmartRide app, you’ll have to start over with the process.
Once the company determines your eligibility, you can delete the Nationwide SmartRide app and either enjoy the savings or continue paying the same premium you were already paying for auto insurance.
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If you’re considering the Nationwide Smart Ride program, find and compare quotes from other companies to better determine which offers the cheap auto insurance you need.
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More About How Nationwide SmartRide Can Save You Money
SmartRide is Nationwide’s option for usage-based or telematics auto insurance. With SmartRide, the company monitors your hard braking, accelerations, night driving, and more to determine whether you qualify for Nationwide’s safe driver discount. Learn more by reading our Nationwide auto insurance review.
You can save up to 40% on rates if the company determines you’re a safe driver, though the Nationwide SmartRide average discount varies by auto insurance policyholder. Even if you don’t qualify for a discount, Nationwide won’t increase your auto insurance rates due to your driving habits.
To enroll in Nationwide Smart Ride, you must download the mobile app and allow the company to track your driving patterns and progress. Remember to find and compare quotes for auto insurance from several companies in your area before you choose a company.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nationwide SmartRide?
Nationwide SmartRide monitors your driving habits, including acceleration, hard braking, speeding, and distracted driving, using a telematics system to offer car insurance discounts for safe drivers.
Does SmartRide track your location?
The Nationwide SmartRide app has GPS capabilities to track things like your speed and braking patterns. However, Nationwide SmartRide doesn’t track your location.
How do I activate my Nationwide SmartRide?
You can enable your Nationwide SmartRide review period on the SmartRide app or by speaking with a Nationwide representative.
What is a SmartRide device?
The Nationwide SmartRide plug-in device monitors your driving patterns if you don’t want to use the program’s smartphone app.
What happens if you unplug Nationwide SmartRide?
If you unplug the device, you’ll have to start over with your review period. To avoid this, you can utilize the Nationwide SmartRide app instead of the plug-in device.
What is the difference between SmartMiles and SmartRide?
Nationwide SmartMiles is a pay-per-mile auto insurance program which offers a monthly base rate plus a per-mile expense for paying your premiums. On the other hand, Nationwide Smart Ride’s data determines your discount amount, rather than premium amount.
Does Nationwide SmartRide track your speed?
Nationwide SmartRide tracks various driving behaviors, including your speed, time of day you drive, and acceleration.
What is the idle time for Nationwide SmartRide?
The Nationwide SmartRide mobile app can detect how much time your engine spends idling during a trip. Generally, idling indicates a driver is in traffic, putting them at higher risk of a car accident. The program starts to track after idling for 2.5 minutes on the app and 3.5 minutes with the SmartRide plug-in device.
Is SmartRide worth it?
Signing up for Nationwide SmartRide can be worthwhile as it provides potential savings of up to 40% on your auto insurance rates. It also helps you become more aware of your driving habits and encourages safe driving practices.
Can I get other auto insurance discounts with Nationwide?
Yes, in addition to the SmartRide discount, Nationwide offers other safe driver discounts. These may include discounts for accident-free driving, defensive driving courses, and low mileage, among others.
How do I enroll in Nationwide’s SmartRide?
If you’re a current Nationwide auto insurance customer, you can enroll in SmartRide through the mobile app, over the phone, or in person at a Nationwide facility. If you’re not already a Nationwide customer, you’ll need to get a quote online or speak with a representative to switch to Nationwide.
How long does Nationwide SmartRide take?
Nationwide may monitor your driving habits for a period of one to six months. During this time, you’ll need to have the Nationwide SmartRide app installed on your mobile device. Once your eligibility is determined, you can delete the app and enjoy the savings or continue paying the same premium.
Free Auto Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Jeff Root
Licensed Insurance Agent
Jeff is a well-known speaker and expert in insurance and financial planning. He has spoken at top insurance conferences around the U.S., including the InsuranceNewsNet Super Conference, the 8% Nation Insurance Wealth Conference, and the Digital Life Insurance Agent Mastermind. He has been featured and quoted in Nerdwallet, Bloomberg, Forbes, U.S. News & Money, USA Today, and other leading fina...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.