Nationwide Insurance Agent in Georgia: How to Buy and Compare

How to buy Nationwide insurance in Georgia

Nationwide, a mutual insurer based in Columbus, Ohio, sells personal insurance through independent agents and directly online and by phone. In 2020, Nationwide moved away from its exclusive agent model and began working with independent agents for personal lines. That means many independent agencies can quote Nationwide alongside other insurers.

Blake Insurance Group is an independent agency. This page does not state that we are appointed with Nationwide. If Nationwide is not among the companies available to us for your situation, we will say so and compare other options we can offer.

Nationwide products

Products and options vary by state. Based on public information from Nationwide.

Georgia rules and risks

Sources: Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire; Insurance Information Institute.

Georgia households face severe storms, tornadoes, and hurricane exposure near the coast. Georgia drivers choose between add-on and reduced-by uninsured motorist coverage.

Independent vs. captive agents

An independent agent represents several insurance companies, so one conversation can produce quotes from multiple carriers. A captive agent represents one company. Direct writers sell online and by phone. Working with an independent agent can help when you want to bundle home and auto, need help with coverage choices, or want someone to re-shop at renewal. The insurer, not the agent, makes underwriting and claims decisions.

How to choose an agent

• Confirm the agent is licensed in your state through the state insurance department.
• Ask which companies the agency represents and whether the company you want is among them.
• Ask how the agency helps with claims and renewals.
• Compare quotes with identical limits and deductibles.
• Check the bundled total, not just the discount.

What to check on any homeowners quote

• Dwelling coverage based on the cost to rebuild, not the market value, plus extended replacement cost if offered.
• Roof settlement terms, such as replacement cost versus actual cash value, and any separate wind or hail deductible.
• Water backup, service line, and ordinance or law coverage, which are often optional.
• Personal property at replacement cost and limits on jewelry, firearms, and electronics.
• Liability limits high enough to meet an umbrella insurer's requirements.

See our home insurance comparison guide for more.

Umbrella coverage

Personal umbrella insurance adds liability protection above your home and auto limits, usually in $1 million increments. Most umbrella insurers require minimum underlying limits on both policies, and many offer better pricing when home and auto are with them. If you have significant assets or a teen driver, price an umbrella as part of any home and auto comparison. See our umbrella insurance page.

How to check any insurer

Before you buy from any company, take a few minutes to check it:

• License. Confirm the insurer is licensed in your state through the state insurance department's company lookup.
• Complaints. The NAIC's Consumer Insurance Search shows complaint counts and a complaint index for each company, where 1.00 is the expected level for the company's size.
• Financial strength. Ratings from agencies such as A.M. Best describe an insurer's ability to pay claims.
• Legal name on the quote. Large groups write policies through several companies with different rates and rules. Make sure you know which one issues your policy.
• Claims process. Ask how claims are reported, whether there is a preferred repair-shop program, and how quickly adjusters respond after storms.

Questions to ask before you buy

Whatever company you are considering, a short list of questions can prevent surprises later:

1. What is the legal name of the company that will issue my policy, and is it licensed in my state?
2. Which coverages and limits does this price include, and what would it cost to raise liability limits?
3. How will my price be recalculated at renewal, and which factors can raise it?
4. Are there installment, late, or cancellation fees?
5. How do I report a claim, and will I work with a staff adjuster or an outside firm?
6. If I use a driving-data or app feature, what data is collected and how long is it kept?
7. What happens if I move to another state where the company does not sell?

Write down the answers, or ask for them in writing, so you can compare companies on the same terms.

Coverage terms to match on every quote

Limits shown are examples, not recommendations. State minimum requirements differ.

Discounts to ask about

Discount names, amounts, and availability vary by insurer and state.

Ways to lower your premium

• Compare at least three quotes with identical coverage every year or two, and whenever your premium jumps at renewal.
• Raise collision and comprehensive deductibles to an amount you could pay tomorrow without strain.
• Drop collision and comprehensive on an older car only when the car's value is low enough that you could replace it yourself.
• Ask about every discount: multi-policy, multi-vehicle, good student, defensive driving, paperless, paid-in-full, and safety equipment.
• Try a driving-data program if you drive carefully and are comfortable sharing driving data. See usage-based insurance.
• Keep continuous coverage. Even a short lapse can raise future rates.
• Report accurate mileage. Lower annual mileage can mean a lower premium.
• Bundle auto with renters or homeowners insurance where the combined price is lower.

Switching insurers without a gap

If a new quote is lower, switch carefully so you are never uninsured:

1. Confirm the final price after the insurer verifies your information.
2. Set the new policy to start on or before the date the old one ends.
3. Give the new insurer your lender or lessor information if the vehicle is financed.
4. Save your new ID cards and declarations page.
5. Cancel the old policy effective the same day, and ask about any refund of unused premium.
6. If you have an SR-22, confirm the new insurer files it before the old filing ends.

Coverage you should think twice about cutting

Some coverage cuts save very little and expose you to large losses. Be cautious about:

• Buying only the state minimum liability. Minimum limits can be exhausted by a single serious injury, leaving you personally responsible for the rest.
• Rejecting uninsured motorist coverage. It protects you when the at-fault driver has no insurance or too little. See uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
• Dropping collision on a financed car. Lenders and lessors usually require it.
• Letting the policy lapse between vehicles or during a move.

How insurers set your price

Most insurers price a policy using your driving record, years licensed, age where allowed, the vehicle, where it is garaged, annual mileage, coverage limits, deductibles, prior insurance history, and, where state law permits, a credit-based insurance score. Each insurer weighs these factors differently, which is why quotes for the same driver can differ by hundreds of dollars. Improving the factors you control, especially your record and continuous coverage, pays off over several renewals.

Payment plans and fees

How you pay can change your total cost. Many insurers charge installment fees for monthly payments, and some offer discounts for paying the full term upfront, enrolling in automatic payments, or going paperless. If paying in full is not possible, ask which payment plan has the lowest fees. Missing a payment can cancel your policy and create a lapse, which raises future rates, so set up reminders or autopay.

What to have ready for home and auto quotes

These details help produce accurate quotes.

1. Driver and vehicle details. Licenses, dates of birth, VINs, and mileage.
2. Home details. Year built, square footage, roof age, and updates.
3. Current declarations pages. For auto and home.
4. Claims history. Auto and property claims in recent years.
5. Address. Where you live in Georgia.

Nationwide insurance agent in Georgia FAQs

Related guides

• Nationwide insurance quote
• Home and auto insurance quotes
• Car insurance comparison

Your next step

Request a quote, and a licensed agent will compare options available to us using the coverage you choose.