Back-to-Back Wins - Nationwide Again Tops J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction among Usage-Based Insurers

This article was originally written by Lyndsey Klevin and published on Nationwide.com.

Columbus, OH, June 13, 2025 —

• For two straight years the J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study ranks Nationwide as the highest in customer satisfaction among usage-based insurersⁱ.  

• J.D. Power’s study also found Nationwide as #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Auto Insurers in Texas 

About the J.D. Power award: The J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, measures customer satisfaction with auto insurance in 11 geographic regions. The category addressing usage-based insurance (UBI) along with diagnostics that influence UBI participants’ experience with their insurer’s usage-based auto products, ranks Nationwide as the highest-ranking auto insurer for usage-based insurance. The study also found Nationwide is #1 in Customer Satisfaction among auto insurers in Texas.  

What we’re saying: "As a protection company, customers look to us for innovative solutions to keep them safe," said Mark Berven, President and Chief Operating Officer, Nationwide Property & Casualty. "In addition to money-saving discounts, the technology powering usage-based insurance provides insights to improve driving behaviors, reduce distractions and make our roadways safer for everyone." 

For more than a decade: Nationwide launched their usage-based insurance product SmartRide® in 2012 and its pay-per-mile program SmartMiles® in 2019.  The products gained broader customer awareness during the pandemic as more people became open to auto insurance that is priced based on how safely or how much someone drives.   

Interested in test driving a telematics program  Nationwide has introduced the new Focused Driving Rewards® (FDR) programⁱⁱ, a first-of-its-kind initiative that offers reward for all drivers, customers and non-customers alike, for reducing phone use behind the wheel.  

Key program details include:  

• App-Based Participation: The program is managed through the Nationwide app, with participants earning points redeemable for gift cards when they avoid distractions over time.  

• Rewards Pilot Success: Preliminary results from an FDR pilot program suggests that about half of approximately 1,000 driver participants saw their distraction levels decrease—and for those who improved, distractions dropped by an average of 48%ⁱⁱⁱ.  

• No Strings Attached: FDR is open to everyone, not just Nationwide customers, and offers younger drivers up to $60 in gift cards every six months for those that keep their focus on the roads while driving.  

• Simplicity & Focus: The program only considers phone handling events (like tapping, hand-held calls, or phone motion), making it an easy way to try out a telematics experience and be rewarded for improved focus.  

What sets Nationwide apart: Using usage-based insurance to provide new ways to solve customers’ future needs, including helping drivers better understand and manage their risk through personalized insights and behavior-based feedback.  

Where usage-based insurance is headed: The programs will keep evolving to build the next generation of usage-based insurance offerings. This will provide continuous engagement and open possibilities for integrating further into current rating capabilities. New rating features are beginning to emerge that are not event-based features like the number of hard brakes we’ve seen in the past.    

Go Deeper: Learn more about usage-based insurance from Nationwide. 

ⁱ Nationwide received the highest score in the Usage Based Insurance (UBI) segment of the J.D. Power 2024-2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Satisfaction Studies of customers’ satisfaction with their auto insurance provider. Visit jdpower.com/awards for more details.

ⁱⁱ Focused Driving Rewards is not currently available in AK, CA, FL, HI, LA, MA, NY or OK.  Drivers 29 years and younger can earn up to $60 every 6 months. Drivers 30 years and older can earn $2.50 every 2 weeks, up to $30 every 6 months. Focused Driving Rewards is not insurance and does not require the purchase of a policy or a quote. Participation is optional and subject to terms and conditions. Nationwide may terminate the program at any time. Results pulled from drivers in the program though February 2025.

ⁱⁱⁱ Results pulled from drivers in the program through February 2025.