We recommend Progressive car insurance because of its high AM Best rating of A+ (superior) and because they are less likely to drop you from their policy after an accident or DUI. Additionally, Progressive insures other vehicles that might be hard to cover with other companies, including ATVs, snowmobiles, boats, and classic cars.
Progressive also uses the Name Your Price tool to differentiate itself from other insurers by allowing you to find a car insurance policy based on how much you’d like to pay.
But would the price you name save you money? Let’s take a deeper look into what Progressive offers and whether it might be worth your consideration.
How we evaluate products
While reviewing Progressive as an auto insurance provider, I compared them with other top companies, including Geico, State Farm, and Nationwide. I looked at the following to craft my review:
- Insurance offerings: While the main focus of the review is on Progressive’s car insurance, I wanted to evaluate what other type of coverage Progressive could offer compared to its competitors. Progressive came out on top as offering the most coverage for diverse vehicle types as well as many coverage options for other lifestyle needs, like pet, health, and home.
- Cost and discounts: While Geico’s coverage came out as less expensive than Progressive’s in a one-to-one comparison, Progressive does offer the most types of discount options compared to its competitors. These discounts are not helpful for California residents, but other drivers elsewhere might be able to stack these discounts for the lowest rate.
- Ratings: It was important that I took into consideration customer ratings alongside industry standard ratings. The reviews on Better Business Bureau were low, receiving an average 1.08-star rating despite having an A from BBB. This is common among car insurance companies, especially since most drivers don’t leave a review unless they have a complaint. Progressive ranked high in the most recent J.D. Power and AM Best ratings.
Progressive pros and cons
- Name Your Price Tool might help you find a policy that fits your budget
- Offers a usage-based discount on your insurance premium
- User-friendly mobile app
- Roadside assistance is an add-on expense
- Higher costs for young drivers and poor credit scores
- Some discounts require data tracking on your driving habits
Who is Progressive a good option for?
Progressive is a popular car insurance choice that offers a wide range of coverage for all types of vehicles, as well as other insurance options. If you are the type that loves to shop for all of your insurance needs in one place, with Progressive you can insure your car, home, pet, and even teeth.
Progressive is also a good choice for those wanting to take advantage of discounts. When compared to other popular car insurance companies, Progressive had more discount options. Every driver will qualify for at least one discount.
We also recommend Progressive if you have had issues getting insured after a DUI or other careless driving incidents. From our research, we found that Progressive is more likely to insure drivers with less than stellar driving records. The optional accident forgiveness add-on will cost more, but keep your rates steady if something happens.
Year founded | 1937 |
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Discounts available |
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Where you can use it |
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Availability | Coverage is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. + select coverage while driving in Mexico |
What insurance does Progressive offer?
Progressive offers a wide range of coverages that you could include in your auto insurance policy. However, some coverages might be state-specific, so make sure to confirm the availability of the specific coverage you need.
Auto insurance options
Progressive provides auto insurance policies for drivers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
While availability may vary, the company might offer the following coverages in your area:
- Liability: Liability insurance helps to cover any damage or injuries caused to another vehicle if you are in an accident in which you’re at fault. Most states legally require drivers to carry a certain level of physical injury and property damage liability insurance.
- Collision: If you get in an accident, collision insurance helps pay for damages to your vehicle. This coverage pays for damages regardless of whether you were at fault.
- Comprehensive: Comprehensive insurance will assist in paying to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged in a non-collision event outside your control. For example, if you hit a deer, your comprehensive insurance covers the repairs your car needs. Other covered events include acts of nature, vandalism, and theft.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist: Although most states require drivers to carry liability insurance, not everyone follows the rules. Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance protects you if your car is hit by someone who doesn’t have insurance or if the driver who hits you doesn’t have enough insurance to cover the cost of the damages or injuries.
- Medical payments: This form of coverage aids in paying your medical bills if you were in an accident, even if you were at fault.
- Loan or lease payoff: Helps pay for the value of your car if it was totaled in an accident while you still had payments remaining on it or it was leased.
- Rental car reimbursement: If you get in an accident and your car needs to be repaired, this coverage kicks in to help you pay for a rental car.
- Rideshare coverage: Progressive requires this coverage if you use your vehicle for a rideshare service. It would help protect you when the insurance provided by the rideshare company you drive for might not cover you.
- Custom parts and equipment value insurance: This optional coverage protects custom equipment or parts you added to your car and helps pay for replacements if they were damaged in an accident.
- Roadside assistance: Roadside assistance could come in handy if your car gets a flat tire, runs out of gas, breaks down, or if you lock your keys in the car, for example. This coverage will pay for towing, battery jump-starts, fuel delivery, and more.
Additional insurance products
Progressive offers several types of insurance in four main categories:
- Vehicle: Progressive offers insurance policies for vehicles from your car, truck, or motorcycle to snowmobiles, golf carts, and even Segways and E-bikes.
- Property: Progressive provides homeowners insurance, condo insurance, and renters insurance policies.
- Personal: Progressive partners with other insurance carriers to offer life, health, pet, dental, travel, and vision insurance.
- Business: Progressive is the number one commercial auto insurer in the U.S. It also partners with other companies to offer other business-related insurance coverages, including business owners, general liability, professional liability, and workers’ compensation policies.
The company also partners with several companies and financial institutions to offer financial services such as online banking, personal loans, and a car-shopping service.
How much does Progressive cost?
Progressive offers several discounts that may help you bring down your insurance premium. The insurer also offers a useful tool that lets you choose the amount of money you’d like to pay for insurance to quickly see the level of coverage you’d get for that amount.
When I requested a quote through Progressive for coverage of my 2020 Toyota Prius and 2015 Toyota Sienna in California, my quote came out to $250.16 per month for six months — this is $50.41 more per month than the current plan I have with Geico. Plus, Geico offers $45-per-day car rental coverage, and Progressive offers $40 per day. Switching would cost me $604.92 more per year.
It is worth comparing because you might save more money with Progressive in your area. California tends to have higher-than-average car insurance costs.
How to find discounts
The company claims that drivers can save up to $800 on a new policy, as well as over $700 by bundling auto and home insurance. Progressive states that almost all its customers qualify for at least one discount.
There are many factors that affect car insurance rates, but Progressive offers several discounts that might save as much as 10% on your insurance premiums. Those insurance discounts include:
Discount type | How to get it | Savings | Availability |
Safe driver discount | Progressive SnapShot allows you to download a mobile app or use a plug-in device that tracks your trips and how you drive. | Average of $94 savings for signing up; average of $231 savings each year | Not available in CA or from all agents |
Teen driver discount | Be a teen and consistently insured with the company for at least 12 months before qualifying for this discount. | Not stated | Not available in CA |
Good student discount | Be a full-time student who maintains a B grade or better. | Average of 10% off | Not available in CA or HI |
Distant student discount | Be a full-time student, 22 years of age or younger, and live more than 100 miles from your home without your vehicle. | Average discount varies | Not available in CA |
Multi-car discount | Have more than one vehicle insured with Progressive. | Average of 12% off | Not available in all states |
Homeowner discount | Be a homeowner, even if your home isn’t insured with Progressive. | Not stated | Not available in all states |
Online discounts | Request an auto insurance quote online, sign their insurance documents online, or opt-in for the paperless option. | Average of 7% to 9% off | Not available in CA or NY |
More ways to maximize savings
You might save money on car insurance through Progressive by bundling it with other insurance products it offers. For example, you could bundle your car insurance with a boat, RV, or motorcycle insurance policy. You could also bundle auto insurance with your homeowners' or renters' insurance.
You can also save money by paying your policy in full upfront. While they say this discount isn’t available in California, where I live, I was offered a savings of $16 if I paid six months in full.
Progressive also offers tools to help policyholders save on insurance premiums, such as its Name Your Price Tool. You provide Progressive with how much you want to pay for your insurance, and then the insurer shows you the best coverage options within your budget.
Progressive also offers other programs that might help you save more money, including:
- Deductible savings bank: If you carry comprehensive or collision insurance, Progressive will shrink your deductible by $50 for each policy period that you don’t have an accident or violation.
- Good driving habits: According to Progressive, drivers with no tickets or accidents within three years might save as much as 31% on their auto insurance premium with the company.
- Small accident forgiveness: Progressive commits not to increase your insurance rates if you are in an accident where the damage is less than $500.
- Large accident forgiveness: Progressive also offers forgiveness of large accidents to its loyal customers. If you have been insured with the company for five years or more and haven’t had accidents or violations in the last three years, your car insurance premiums won’t change after a large accident.
If you are shopping for the best car insurance companies, you could consider Progressive for its numerous discounts and multiple policy options that you could bundle with your auto insurance.
How does Progressive’s quote process work?
Learning how to get car insurance from Progressive begins with their quote process. The company offers several ways to receive a quote. You could call, apply online, or work with one of over 40,000 independent agents and insurance brokers that partner with Progressive.
Online quotes take less than 15 minutes to process, and the company offers discounts to those who apply for a quote online.
Once you enter your name and address, the system automatically pulls up your information from your title and registration documents. It can also pull your current insurance policy from a different company to ensure you are comparing apples to apples.
You’ll also be asked if you want to enroll in Snapshot. If you do, select whether you want to use the mobile app or a plug-in device. The system then gives you your 6-month insurance premium plan.
Tip
How does Progressive’s Name Your Price work? You can enter in your monthly budget, and it will automatically change your deductibles and coverage to best hit your goal. However, this might leave you under-covered if you set your budget too low.
Progressive provides you with three quotes at different levels. They are:
- Basic: This is the cheapest option. It provides the minimum liability coverage required in your state of residence. It also includes comprehensive and collision coverage at a $2,000 deductible and a basic level of uninsured motorist coverage. Underinsured motorist coverage is not included.
- Choice: The mid-level option includes higher liability and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. It also comes with $750 deductibles on comprehensive and collision coverages.
- Recommended: The top-level option comes with higher liability, uninsured and underinsured coverages, and $500 deductibles on comprehensive and collision coverages. It also includes medical payment coverage and rental car reimbursement if you need to rent a car while your vehicle is being repaired.
Progressive insurance add-ons
Your quote will not include roadside assistance or rental car coverage. You can add those on and the additional costs vary by your car’s model and year. For example, roadside assistance was only an additional $2 per six months with a 2020 Toyota Prius. Rental car coverage varies between $30-per-day coverage to $60-per-day coverage — $900 to $1,800 maximum coverage.
FAQs
Is Progressive good at paying insurance claims?
According to the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Insurance Digital Experience Study, Progressive ranked highest in the service segment, surpassing American Family and Nationwide.
Progressive states that it tries to resolve claims quickly. However, car accidents that involve multiple cars and drivers and result in extensive injuries may require lengthy investigations, which can delay claim payouts. Insurers are usually required to complete their accident investigations within 30 days.
Who is cheaper, Geico or Progressive?
Many drivers compare Geico vs. Progressive, and while Geico tends to be cheaper (they offered me a lower rate than Progressive did), it depends on your age, driving history, and location. Drivers utilizing Progressive’s usage-based insurance program might be able to get their rate down lower than with Geico’s DriveEasy program since it can use a telematics plug-in rather than relying on an app running in the background.
Does Progressive raise insurance rates after an accident?
Typically, if you get in an accident that’s your fault, Progressive may increase your rates. However, Progressive won’t increase your rates if the damages are under $500, thanks to their small accident forgiveness policy.
Loyal Progressive customers who’ve been with the company for five or more years and haven’t had any accidents in the past three years may receive large accident forgiveness. This means that their rates might not increase even if they get in a larger accident.
Will Progressive cover you if you have a DUI?
Many car insurance companies will drop you if you have a DUI, but Progressive is one of the few that will most likely keep you on. You will see an increase in your rate until the DUI is off your record, and you can expect accident coverage if you experience an accident while drunk.
Bottom line
If you need to insure your car and a couple of recreational vehicles like a boat, motorcycle, RV, or golf cart, Progressive may be a good option for you. The company offers insurance coverage for many different vehicles, and if you bundle several policies together, you could qualify for discounts on your policies.
Progressive offers potential customers discounts and tools that might help them figure out their coverage costs. The Name Your Price tool might come in handy if you are on a tight budget because it gives you control over setting an insurance rate that fits your budget.
However, if you live in an area that doesn’t allow a lot of discounts, such as California, it might be worth shopping for other quotes.