Allied Insurance operates many agencies across the United States, but it no longer administers auto insurance policies directly. For this reason, many drivers wonder if it’s still an operating insurance company. Fortunately, Allied Insurance still serves customers across the U.S., and its policies are underwritten by Nationwide.
In this review, we cover everything you need to know about getting a Nationwide policy through Allied Insurance. We’ll also recommend two of the best car insurance companies to compare quotes from.
Allied Auto Insurance Overview
Allied was founded in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1929. It offered auto insurance solutions through a network of local agents until it merged with Nationwide in 1998. Now, the company operates under its parent company, Nationwide.
Nationwide was founded in 1926 and is currently one of the biggest car insurance companies in the U.S. It also sells homeowners insurance, renters insurance, life insurance, and a number of specialty coverage plans. Nationwide has a positive industry reputation, currently holding an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and an A financial strength rating from AM Best.
Can You Buy Allied Auto Insurance Coverage?
Allied Insurance still operates agencies throughout the U.S., but it does not administer its own auto insurance coverage. While the name on the building may say “Allied,” the agency is effectively the same as Nationwide. There is no Allied auto insurance coverage, but you can buy a Nationwide policy through an Allied broker.
Is Allied Insurance The Same As Nationwide?
Allied Insurance is effectively the same as Nationwide. The two used to be separate companies but merged in 1998 and now both operate as Nationwide.
The amount of liability insurance you need will depend on where you live. Through Nationwide, you can purchase the following standard types of auto insurance:
- Bodily injury liability: Covers other parties’ medical bills after an accident that you are found at fault for.
- Property damage liability: Covers repairs to other parties’ vehicles and additional property after an accident that you are found at fault for.
- Collision insurance: Covers damages to your own vehicle after an accident, no matter who is found at fault.
- Comprehensive coverage car insurance: Covers damages to your own vehicle after a non-collision incident such as a weather event, vandalism, theft, or animal related accidents.
- Medical payments (MedPay): Covers medical bills for yourself and your passengers after an accident, no matter who is found at fault.
- Personal injury protection (PIP): Covers medical bills and other injury-related losses such as lost wages and death benefits for yourself and your passengers after an accident, no matter who is found at fault.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist protection: Covers your vehicle in the event that you get into an accident with a driver who does not have insurance or who does not have enough coverage to pay your damages.
In addition to these standard options, you can get a number of specialty insurance products and add-ons through Nationwide, including:
- Roadside assistance
- Rental car reimbursement
- Gap insurance
- Accident forgiveness insurance
- Vanishing deductible
- Total loss deductible waiver
Allied Auto Insurance Costs And Discounts
Drivers can purchase a Nationwide insurance policy through an Allied broker. Our cost research shows that drivers typically pay around $1,674 annually for full-coverage plans through Nationwide. While this is below the national average, your own car insurance costs will depend on various factors including:
- Age: Older drivers pay less for car insurance because these drivers are considered lower risk than young drivers.
- Gender: Male drivers tend to pay more for car insurance than their female counterparts.
- Marital status: Married drivers often receive targeted discounts and are eligible for policy bundling.
- Location: It can be more expensive to insure a vehicle for drivers who live in the city than those who live in rural areas.
- Vehicle: Sports cars, SUVs, and some trucks can be more expensive to insure than sedans.
Allied Auto Insurance Discounts
If the best coverage for you is also the most affordable, Nationwide offers a wide range of discounts for different drivers. Nationwide discounts available through Allied Insurance Group include:
- Multi-policy: Bundle your home insurance and auto insurance with Nationwide and save.
- Usage-based policy: Sign up for SmartRide®, Nationwide’s usage-based program, and receive a discount.
- Low mileage: Get a flexible monthly rate based on how many miles you drive if you sign up for the SmartMiles program.
- No accidents: Receive a discount for maintaining an accident-free driving record.
- Good student: Get a discount if you maintain a B grade average and are between the ages of 16 and 24.
- Defensive driving: Complete a defensive driving course and receive a discount.
- Anti-theft: Provides a discount if your vehicle has anti-theft devices installed.
- Safe driver: Prove your safe driving habits for five years and receive a discount.
- Easy Pay sign-up: Set up automatic payments from your bank account and get a discount.
Allied Insurance: Our Take
Allied Insurance offers car insurance coverage from Nationwide, a much more well-known name in the insurance industry. Nationwide is a reputable coverage provider with a wide network of locally based insurance agents, but some drivers may find better coverage options and lower rates with other providers.
To get the most out of your insurance shopping experience, we recommend comparing any insurance quotes you receive from Allied with quotes for similar policies from Geico or Progressive.
Top Recommendations For Car Insurance
Geico and Progressive are well-known companies, each with unique benefits for select drivers:
Geico: Best For Basic Coverage
Geico is one of the most well-known and highly regarded insurers in the industry. It holds an A+ rating from the BBB and an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best. It is available in every state in the U.S. and boasts high levels of customer satisfaction nationwide.
Geico’s many discount opportunities make it a cheaper option for most drivers. Customers can save by taking advantage of discounts like:
- Good student discount
- Good driver discount
- Defensive driver discount
- Safety features discount
- Multiple policy discount
- Multiple vehicle discount
- Military discount
- Federal employee discount
Learn more about the insurer by reading our full Geico auto insurance review.
Progressive: Best For Usage-Based Insurance
Progressive is also among the top home and auto insurance providers in the U.S. It has an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best and is a good choice for high-risk drivers. Based on our research, Progressive offers some of the best rates to drivers with an accident or DUI on their driving records.
Money-saving features from Progressive like the deductible savings bank, Snapshot® mobile app, and the Name Your Price® tool make it a good option for most drivers. Progressive’s many discounts include:
- Multiple policy discount
- Multiple vehicle discount
- Continuous insurance discount
- Teen driver discount
- Student discount
- Homeowner discount
- Paperless billing discount
- Pay-in-full discount
- Automatic payment discount
You can read more about this insurer in our comprehensive Progressive auto insurance review.
Allied Auto Insurance: FAQ
Below, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Allied Insurance and Nationwide coverage:
How We Rated Allied Auto Insurance
Our review team extensively researches auto insurance providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:
- Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
- Availability: Insurance companies that offer wider availability to consumers in terms of state availability and few eligibility requirements are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.
- Pricing: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.
- Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer a smooth experience.
- Technology: Providers with an online quote tool, easy-to-use claims app and a usage-based insurance app score best in this category.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
Alice J. Roden started working for Trending Insurance News at the end of 2021. Alice grew up in Salt Lake City, UT. A writer with a vast insurance industry background Alice has help with several of the biggest insurance companies. Before joining Trending Insurance News, Alice briefly worked as a freelance journalist for several radio stations. She covers home, renters and other property insurance stories.