Progressive Car Insurance Overview
Progressive started in the auto insurance business in 1937 when Joseph Lewis and Jack Green proposed offering basic insurance that anyone could afford.
Progressive Insurance first specialized in nonstandard auto insurance, which led it to launch the Safe Driver Plan in Ohio. This plan offered lower rates to drivers who went without accidents.
Today, Progressive is the second-largest auto insurance company in the United States, with a market share of around 15%. It’s also a leading seller of commercial auto insurance and motorcycle insurance.
Progressive has been headquartered in Mayfield Village, Ohio, since 1974.
Progressive’s AM Best Financial Strength Rating
Progressive has an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating with AM Best, which is among the top available ratings.
A high financial strength rating indicates a company should be able to pay out on future claims.
Progressive Car Insurance Availability
Progressive is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Progressive Car Insurance Rates by State
Car insurance rates by state vary significantly for several reasons. These include differences in the required minimum amount of car insurance you must have to drive legally and the likelihood of weather-related claims, among other factors.
For example, Progressive’s average rate in North Carolina is $985 a year below the state average. In Washington, it’s about $600 a year higher than the state average. Here are Progressive’s rates in most states where it’s available.
| State | Progressive’s average annual cost | State average annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| $2370 | $1,975 | |
| $2,064 | $1,913 | |
| $1,897 | $2,110 | |
| $2,031 | $2,295 | |
| $1,877 | $2,768 | |
| $2,723 | $2,591 | |
| $1,972 | $2,252 | |
| $2,306 | $2,405 | |
| $3,275 | $3,865 | |
| $1,691 | $2,003 | |
| $1,425 | $1,369 | |
| $3,103 | $1,903 | |
| $1,233 | $1,627 | |
| $1,168 | $1,559 | |
| $1,924 | $2,032 | |
| $3,122 | $2,496 | |
| $3,560 | $3,545 | |
| $1,150 | $1,361 | |
| $1,858 | $2,210 | |
| $1,835 | $1,804 | |
| $2,000 | $2,372 | |
| $1,663 | $1,917 | |
| $1,900 | $2,434 | |
| $2,198 | $2,354 | |
| $1,624 | $1,709 | |
| $3,141 | $2,496 | |
| $1,361 | $1,390 | |
| $2,272 | $2,438 | |
| $1,660 | $2,082 | |
| $1,231 | $2,612 | |
| $838 | $1,470 | |
| $1,475 | $2,190 | |
| $1,258 | $1,434 | |
| $1,999 | $2,741 | |
| $1,630 | $1,748 | |
| $2,187 | $2,353 | |
| $2,087 | $2,080 | |
| $1,811 | $2,172 | |
| $1,835 | $2,075 | |
| $1,372 | $1,843 | |
| $1,615 | $2,050 | |
| $837 | $1,158 | |
| $1,932 | $1,755 | |
| $2,151 | $1,525 | |
| $1,789 | $1,942 | |
| $1,592 | $1,655 |
How Much Is Progressive Car Insurance?
Progressive’s average rate for a good driver is $1,826 per year, based on our analysis. That’s lower than the average cost of car insurance nationwide ($2,026 a year).
Progressive Car Insurance Rates by Age
Progressive car insurance for an 18-year-old is 30% higher than the national average. But Progressive’s rates are cheaper than the average nationwide for all other ages we analyzed.
| Age | Progressive's average annual rates | National average annual car insurance rates | $ difference from national average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | $7,434 | $5,693 | $1,741 higher |
| 20 | $3,732 | $3,925 | $193 lower |
| 25 | $2,190 | $2,412 | $222 lower |
| 35 | $2,022 | $2,129 | $107 lower |
| 45 | $1,907 | $2,026 | $119 lower |
| 55 | $1,678 | $1,845 | $167 lower |
| 65 | $1,721 | $1,893 | $172 lower |
| 75 | $1,956 | $2,178 | $222 lower |
Progressive Car Insurance Rates for Adding a Teen Driver
Car insurance for a 16-year-old on a Progressive policy costs $300 a year less than the national average of $2,359 a year. That places Progressive in the middle of the pack of the companies we evaluated.
| Company | Increase per year for adding a 16-year-old driver |
|---|---|
| $893 | |
| $1,606 | |
| $1,900 | |
| $1,982 | |
| Progressive | $2,062 |
| $2,466 | |
| $2,622 | |
| $2,643 | |
| $2,728 |
Related: Car insurance for teens
Progressive Car Insurance Rates by Driving Record
A look at Progressive’s average rates based on driving record shows it comes in lower than the national averages.
| Driving record profile | Progressive’s average annual cost | National annual average |
|---|---|---|
| Good driver | $1,826 | $2,026 |
| $2,350 | $2,533 | |
| Driver who caused an accident with injury | $2,770 | $3,009 |
| $2,307 | $3,363 | |
| $3,284 | $3,889 |
Progressive Car Insurance Rates for Good Drivers
Progressive car insurance costs are decent for good drivers. The national average rate for good drivers is $2,026 per year. Progressive’s pricing is $200 a year below that, but it’s still nearly $400 a year more than Nationwide’s rates.
| Company | National average annual cost for good drivers |
|---|---|
| $1,364 | |
| $1,436 | |
| $1,521 | |
| $1,597 | |
| $1,642 | |
| Progressive | $1,826 |
| $2,025 | |
| $2,896 | |
| $3,093 |
Progressive Car Insurance Rates for Drivers With a Speeding Ticket
Progressive has okay auto insurance prices for drivers who have a speeding ticket. Many competitors have cheaper rates, but Progressive is still below the national average of $2,533 per year.
If you have a traffic ticket on your record, it’s wise to comparison shop for car insurance quotes because of the wide range of rates among insurers.
| Company | National average annual cost for drivers with a speeding ticket |
|---|---|
| $1,661 | |
| $1,878 | |
| $1,899 | |
| $2,062 | |
| $2,150 | |
| $2,270 | |
| Progressive | $2,350 |
| $3,312 | |
| $3,951 |
Related: Does a Speeding Ticket affect your insurance
Progressive Car Insurance Rates for Drivers Who Caused an Accident With an Injury
Progressive’s auto insurance costs for drivers who caused an accident with an injury are higher than many competitors we evaluated. Still, its rates are less than the national average of $3,009 per year.
| Company | National average annual cost for drivers causing an accident with injury |
|---|---|
| $1,958 | |
| $2,224 | |
| $2,293 | |
| $2,337 | |
| $2,428 | |
| $2,748 | |
| Progressive | $2,770 |
| $4,412 | |
| $4,545 |
Related: How much does insurance increase after an accident
Progressive Car Insurance Rates for Drivers With a DUI
Progressive’s rates for drivers with a DUI on their records is the cheapest among the companies we evaluated. The national average car insurance cost for drivers with a DUI is $3,363 a year, based on our analysis of large insurers. Progressive’s rates are over $1,000 a year cheaper than the average.
| Company | National average annual cost for drivers with a DUI conviction |
|---|---|
| Progressive | $2,307 |
| $2,604 | |
| $2,610 | |
| $2,665 | |
| $2,716 | |
| $3,083 | |
| $3,723 | |
| $4,272 | |
| $4,315 |
Related: DUI auto insurance
Progressive Car Insurance Rates by Credit Score
Progressive’s rates for drivers with poor credit are decent, coming in 16% lower than the national average of $3,889 a year. Drivers with poor credit who have Progressive pay an average of 72% more than drivers with good credit.
To find the best car insurance for drivers with bad credit, try shopping around. Some companies like Geico and Nationwide generally have cheaper rates than Progressive.
| Credit Score | Progressive’s average annual cost | % difference from Progressive’s good credit average annual rate |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | $1,474 | 23% cheaper |
| Good | $1,914 | n/a |
| Fair | $2,379 | 24% higher |
| Below fair | $2,733 | 43% higher |
| Poor | $3,284 | 72% higher |
Related: Car insurance for bad credit
Why You Might Choose Progressive Car Insurance
Progressive is on our list of the best car insurance companies. It’s a good choice if you don’t have a spotless driving record. Some advantages of Progressive include:
- Decent rates if you have a spotty driving record. Progressives’s rates for drivers with a DUI are 31% cheaper than the national average. It offers SR-22 filings and nonowner insurance, which those with a DUI sometimes need. It also offers decent rates for those who have a speeding ticket on their records or who caused an accident.
- Low level of complaints. Progressive’s car insurance complaint levels have been below the industry standard for the last three years. This suggests good customer service.
Progressive Car Insurance Drawbacks
Progressive won’t be the perfect fit for everyone. Drawbacks of Progressive include:
- Competitive rates but not the cheapest. While Progressive has competitive rates, it likely isn’t the cheapest company unless you’re a driver with a DUI. If you’re looking for the lowest possible price you’ll likely want to shop around elsewhere.
- Snapshot usage-based insurance may raise your rates. If you’re using Progressive’s Snapshot UBI program, which monitors driving habits, your rates could go up if your driving score is poor.
Auto Insurance Complaints Against Progressive
Progressive has a low level of auto insurance complaints. Its most common auto insurance complaints relate to claim delays, unsatisfactory claim settlement offers, adjusters’ handling of claims and denials of claims.
Progressive Car Insurance Complaints Trend
Progressive’s car insurance complaint level is below the industry average and has declined slightly over the past three years.
Progressive’s Grade from Collision Repair Professionals: C
In a survey of collision repair professionals by CRASH Network, Progressive earned a C grade.
The opinions of collision repair professionals are valuable because they see how insurers compare in the claims process. They have an insiders view of the use of lower-quality repair parts, whether insurance companies encourage the use of repair procedures recommended by car makers, and whether insurers have fast and satisfactory claims processes for customers.
Progressive Car Insurance Collision Repair Grade Trend
Over the past four years, Progressive has consistently received a C grade from collision repair experts. This indicates that its claims process is only average and could be improved.
| Year | Progressive's Collision Repair Grade |
|---|---|
| 2021 | C |
| 2022 | C |
| 2023 | C |
| 2024 | C |
Progressive Auto Insurance Coverage and Add-Ons
Progressive provides the standard types of car insurance, such as liability insurance that most states require, but it stands out for its range of extra coverage types.
Add-On Coverage Progressive Does Not Offer
Progressive does not offer these types of add-on coverage or programs:
- New car replacement. Progressive doesn’t offer new car replacement coverage, an add-on that pays to replace your vehicle with the same make and model if it’s totaled and typically is two model years old or less.
- Pay-per-mile insurance. Progressive doesn’t offer pay-per-mile car insurance. Though Progressive’s Snapshot tracks mileage, it’s not strictly a pay-per-mile insurance option. A pay-per-mile policy determines your rates based partly on how many miles you drive but doesn’t track driving habits such as speeding.
How Does Snapshot by Progressive Work?
Participating in the Snapshot program will earn you an immediate discount (except in Hawaii and New York). Depending on the quality of your driving, you could earn another discount when your policy renews.
You can choose to have your driving tracked either through a mobile app or a plug-in device. Snapshot by Progressive will track driving behaviors such as:
- Sudden changes in speed.
- Rapid acceleration.
- Hard braking.
- Time of day you drive.
- The amount you drive .
- How you use your mobile phone while driving.
You’ll get emails that show your progress during the Snapshot program. Your car insurance costs will be adjusted at your first policy renewal after you sign up for the program. If you practice safe driving habits, you should see lower rates. But if you have had poor driving habits like speeding or using your phone while driving, you could see your rates increase.
How Much Can Drivers Save With Progressive Snapshot?
Progressive Snapshot drivers save an average of $231 a year, according to the company’s website. Your savings will depend on your results from the Snapshot program.
Your rates could increase with high-risk driving. For example, if you speed, use your phone while driving or frequently drive between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m. on the weekends, you could see your costs go up.
Progressive’s Auto Insurance Discounts
Progressive offers many car insurance discounts, especially for drivers who practice safe driving habits. If you have a teen driver, look for Progressive’s discounts for teen drivers, good students and students away at school.
Here are Progressive auto insurance discounts you may qualify for.
Progressive Auto Insurance Payments, Claims and Cancellation
Progressive makes it simple to pay for car insurance, make a claim or cancel your policy—though not all functionality is available online.
Progressive Car Insurance Digital Experience
We evaluated mobile app ratings and website functionality of top car insurance companies and found Progressive’s digital experience to be good. It earned 4.0 stars (out of 5) in our analysis
Progressive’s app earned one of the highest scores among those we evaluated. It lets you manage your insurance policies from your mobile device. Some mobile app features include:
- Access insurance cards and other documents
- Access policy information
- Explore other Progressive products
- Make payments
- Report a claim
- Request roadside assistance
Progressive’s website also has helpful features, such as a search function and the ability to get a quote, pay your bill and make a claim.
More Insurance Types From Progressive
Progressive homeowners insurance or renters insurance is available on its site, although your policy might come from a different insurer than Progressive’s insurance agency.
Progressive provides a variety of coverage types for small business insurance, including a business owners policy, professional liability, workers compensation, commercial auto insurance and general liability insurance.
Progressive also sells:
- ATV and snowmobile insurance
- Boat and Sea-Doo insurance
- Classic car insurance
- Dental insurance
- Golf cart insurance
- Health insurance
- Identity theft
- Life insurance
- Pet insurance
- Phone and electric device insurance
- RV insurance
- Segway insurance
- Vision insurance
You can also find financial services through Progressive, such as personal loans and car shopping services,
Methodology
To identify the best car insurance companies we evaluated each company based on its average rates for a variety of drivers, the coverage options offered, complaints against the company and collision repair grades from auto body professionals.
Auto insurance rates (50% of score): We used data from Quadrant Information Services to find average rates from each company for good drivers, drivers who have caused an accident, drivers with a speeding ticket, drivers with a DUI, drivers with poor credit, drivers caught without insurance, adding a teen driver, senior drivers and young drivers.
Unless otherwise noted, rates are based on a 40-year-old female driver with a Toyota RAV4 and coverage of:
- $100,000 for injuries to one person, $300,000 for injuries per accident and $100,000 of property damage (known as 100/300/100).
- Uninsured motorist coverage of 100/300.
- Collision and comprehensive insurance with a $500 deductible.
Car insurance coverage options (25% of score): Any auto insurance company can provide the basics of liability insurance, collision and comprehensive coverage and other standard offerings. But it’s also important to have access to additional coverage types that can provide greater protection or cost savings. In this category we gave points to companies that offer accident forgiveness, new car replacement, vanishing deductibles, usage-based or pay-per-mile insurance and SR-22s.
Complaints (20% of score): We used complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Each state’s department of insurance is in charge of logging and monitoring complaints against companies operating in their states. Most auto insurance complaints center on claims, including unsatisfactory settlements, delays, and denials. The industry complaint average is 1.00, so companies with a ratio below 1.00 have lower levels of complaints.
Collision repair (5% of score): We incorporated grades of insurance companies from collision repair professionals. We used data provided by CRASH Network, a weekly newsletter covering the collision repair and auto insurance market segments. CRASH Network’s Insurer Report Card used grades from more than 1,100 collision repair professionals to gauge auto insurers on the quality of their collision claims service.
Read more: How Forbes Advisor rates car insurance companies
Progressive Auto Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
Is Progressive cheaper than other car insurance companies?
We found Progressive to be the cheapest company for drivers with a DUI compared to other top companies we analyzed. Progressive has competitive prices for other driving profiles but is not the cheapest. For instance, Nationwide is the cheapest for drivers with a clean record, based on our analysis.
When trying to find the best car insurance company to suit your needs, spend a few minutes comparing rates to see which insurer offers the cheapest prices for your specific driving profile.
Is Progressive a reliable company?
Yes, Progressive has been shown to be a reliable company. It has been around for over 85 years and has an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best. That shows Progressive is dependable enough to pay out on future claims.
Progressive also has a low level of complaints, which indicates that it has good customer service skills to keep issues from escalating into complaints.
Can my rates go up if I use Progressive Snapshot?
Yes, your rates can go up if you use Progressive Snapshot. If you have risky driving behaviors like speeding, driving late at night and using your phone while driving, your car insurance costs will likely increase when your policy renews.
How can I keep my car insurance rates down using Snapshot?
You can keep your car insurance rates down by practicing very safe driving habits while using Snapshot from Progressive.
For example, if you avoid speeding, rapid acceleration, hard braking and do not use your phone while driving, you should see your rates go down when your policy renews. You can also help lower your rates by avoiding driving between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m. on the weekends.
Is Progressive Snapshot only available to Progressive customers?
Snapshot is only available to Progressive customers.
If you’re not a Progressive customer but are interested in a usage-based insurance program similar to Snapshot, check with your insurer. Many car insurance companies offer UBI programs.
