How to Cancel Nationwide Insurance in 2026 (Auto, Home & Life Policies)

Updated 2026-02-26 · 7 min read

Before Canceling: Critical Steps

1. Get new insurance first. Never cancel before your replacement policy is active. A coverage gap — even one day — can increase future premiums by 20-50%
2. Check for bundled policies. If you have auto + home with Nationwide, canceling one may remove your multi-policy discount on the other
3. Note your renewal date. Canceling mid-policy means a prorated refund. Canceling at renewal is cleaner
4. Review any claims. Open claims must be resolved before or independently of cancellation

Method 1: Call Nationwide Directly

1. Call 1-877-669-6877 (Mon-Fri 8am-11pm ET, Sat 9am-6pm ET)
2. Say "I want to cancel my policy" when prompted
3. Have your policy number, new insurer name, and new policy number ready
4. Tell them your desired cancellation date (match it to your new policy start date)
5. They will attempt to retain you — expect a "loyalty discount" offer
6. Stay firm: "I appreciate the offer, but I've already secured new coverage. Please process the cancellation."
7. Request email confirmation of the cancellation

Method 2: Through Your Agent

If you purchased through a Nationwide exclusive or independent agent:

1. Contact your agent by phone or email
2. They may ask you to sign a cancellation request form
3. Your agent might offer to re-shop your rate across multiple carriers — worth considering if you haven't compared recently
4. Independent agents can often find you a better deal without you doing the legwork

Method 3: Written Request

For a paper trail, send a cancellation letter:

Mail to: Nationwide Insurance, One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, OH 43215

Canceling Specific Nationwide Products

• Auto insurance: Call 1-877-669-6877. Prorated refund for prepaid premiums
• Homeowners insurance: Same number. Notify your mortgage company — they need to update the escrow
• Renters insurance: Can be canceled separately from other policies
• Life insurance: Call 1-800-848-6331. Whole life policies may have cash surrender value
• Pet insurance: Administered separately — call the pet insurance division
• SmartRide (usage-based): You can remove the SmartRide device without canceling your policy

Your Refund

• Auto/Home: Prorated refund for unused premium, typically within 10-14 business days
• Paid in full: Larger refund since you prepaid 6-12 months of coverage
• Monthly payments: Any remaining balance is credited or waived
• No cancellation fee: Nationwide doesn't charge early cancellation fees on most policies

Retention Tactics to Expect

• "We can match that rate" — Ask them to put it in writing. Sometimes the "matched rate" is only for one term
• "You'll lose your loyalty discount" — Loyalty discounts rarely offset rate increases. Compare the actual numbers
• "Your claims history follows you" — True, but your new insurer already knows this from CLUE reports
• "Let me transfer you to our retention team" — You're not obligated to speak to them. "No thank you, please process the cancellation"