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You may wonder how Progressive and AAA car insurance compare as you look for new car insurance. Progressive is available nationwide, has competitive rates, and provides a variety of auto insurance coverages, including policies that might be hard to find, such as for ATVs, snowmobiles, and boats.
AAA is best known for roadside assistance, but it also provides auto insurance through its network of car clubs. However, AAA's auto coverage isn't available everywhere, and the coverage options, rates, and even the quote process vary by club location.
When it comes to Progressive and AAA, I believe Progressive is the best choice for most people. You'll likely find lower-than-average pricing, especially if you have a DUI or other high-risk incident on your record. It also has the coverage options that most people are looking for.
However, if AAA is available in your area and you are concerned about roadside assistance options or specialty policies, AAA car insurance might have the best policy for you.
How we evaluate products
FinanceBuzz researches a number of factors in each auto insurance provider to create our reviews. These factors include cost and discounts, complaints and customer satisfaction, coverage, and ease of use. We also gather information from sources such as Insurify, J.D. Power, AM Best, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), and the Better Business Bureau to ensure we provide the most useful information to our readers.
Progressive pros and cons
- Progressive's pricing is generally lower than the national average.
- It had a lower-than-expected number of complaints with the NAIC's Complaint Index.
- Progressive has a usage-based discount that could help you save money.
- It was second-to-last for claims satisfaction in J.D. Power's 2024 survey.
- Teens or drivers with poor credit may pay more than with some competitors.
- Participating in its SnapShot program could raise your rates if you aren't a safe driver.
Learn more in our Progressive review.
AAA pros and cons
- Some AAA auto clubs offer more discounts than traditional carriers.
- It has high financial stability ratings.
- You earn perks for being an AAA member, including dining and travel discounts.
- Rates vary by individual clubs and may be more expensive than some traditional carriers.
- It has below-average claim satisfaction scores in J.D. Power's 2024 survey.
Learn more in our AAA review.
Which company is better?
| Progressive | AAA | |
| AM Best | A+ (Superior) | A+ (Superior) |
| J.D. Power claims satisfaction | 672 out of 1,000 | 692 out of 1,000 |
| BBB | A+ | A+ |
| NAIC complaints (private passenger) | 0.97 (Private Passenger) | N/A |
AAA and Progressive both earned A+ ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and AM Best, which measures an insurance company's financial stability and ability to pay claims.
However, both companies earned below-average scores in the J.D. Power 2024 Claims Satisfaction survey. AAA earned 692 out of 1,000, coming very close to the survey average score of 697 while Progressive earned 672 out of 1,000, the second-lowest score.
Based on marketwide data, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index (expressed as a score of 1.00) found that Progressive received slightly fewer complaints than expected in 2024. Progressive's score was 0.97 in 2024, rising slightly from 0.94 in 2023, but still less than expected for a company of its size.
The NAIC does not have data on AAA, so we can't compare it to Progressive or other auto insurance companies.
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Which company is cheaper?
About every six months, I compare prices against my current car insurance. I generally include Progressive and two or three other companies in that comparison. I have a clean driving record, so Progressive is usually slightly higher than my current company. However, it might be cheaper if I had speeding tickets or a DUI. It's also generally lower than the national average, sometimes by a lot.
I live in Colorado and can access AAA car insurance through my local AAA auto club. However, the local club does not offer auto insurance quotes online, so I would have to call an agent to get a price or find out about coverage options.
Other clubs in the AAA network have different policies and different rates, making it hard to compare against Progressive or other companies. You will likely need to buy an AAA membership to get the best rates and discounts from AAA car insurance. In Colorado, that's an added $65 per year for a Classic membership.
| Driver type | Progressive liability-only monthly premium | Progressive full coverage monthly premium |
| Clean driving record | $96 | $149 |
| Speeding ticket on driving record | $117 | $182 |
| At-fault accident on driving record | $115 | $198 |
| DUI on driving record | $155 | $240 |
| Teen driver | $176 | $273 |
| Senior driver (60s) | $58 | $89 |
| Senior driver (70s) | $58 | $89 |
| Data sourced from Insurify | ||
| Driver type | CSAA liability-only monthly premium | CSAA full coverage monthly premium |
| Clean driving record | $80 | $125 |
| Speeding ticket on driving record | $100 | $157 |
| At-fault accident on driving record | $110 | $172 |
| DUI on driving record | $129 | $202 |
| Teen driver | $121 | $190 |
| Senior driver (60s) | $56 | $88 |
| Senior driver (70s) | $51 | $80 |
| Data sourced from Insurify | ||
Clean driving record
Drivers with a clean record may find that Progressive is more expensive than other companies but still less than the national average. For example, Progressive averages $149 monthly for full coverage and $96 monthly for liability only. Comparatively, the national average is $193 monthly for full coverage and $102 for liability only.
Average rate:
Speeding ticket on driving record
Multiple speeding tickets can lead to higher auto insurance prices. The national average is $140 for liability-only and $264 for full coverage insurance with speeding on your record. With Progressive, drivers with multiple speeding tickets pay an average of $117 for liability-only coverage and $182 for full coverage, less per month than the national average.
At-fault accident on driving record
People concerned about how to get cheaper car insurance after a car accident should consider Progressive. Progressive's full coverage car insurance costs an average of $198 monthly, well below the national average of $273. Similarly, liability-only coverage after an accident costs an average of $128 with Progressive. The national average is $145.
DUI on driving record
Compared to the national average of $311 a month for full coverage or $165 a month for liability only, you may save some money with Progressive if you have a DUI on your record. However, you'll still pay more for coverage than someone with a clean record. Progressive charges an average of $240 monthly for full coverage and $155 monthly for liability after a DUI conviction.
Teen driver
Since they're less experienced, teen drivers (or their parents) typically pay more for their insurance than older drivers. The national average is $195 for liability-only coverage and $366 for full coverage. Progressive typically costs less, averaging $176 and $273, respectively, for teen insurance. However, you should still compare pricing with other insurance companies for the best deal.
Senior driver
Drivers in their 60s typically pay the least for car insurance because of their experience behind the wheel. With Progressive, drivers in their 60s pay on average $58 for liability-only and $89 for full coverage. The national average is $80 for liability only and $150 for full coverage.
Discounts
When it comes to discounts, AAA generally offers more deals than Progressive. While Progressive has multiple discounts, it doesn't have some commonly available ones like discounts for safety features or anti-theft devices on your vehicle.
AAA has many discounts, including for safety features, as well as some unusual ones. For example, in California, you may get a discount for belonging to a qualifying car club. The available discounts from AAA vary based on location, so if you're interested in comparing AAA against other carriers, it's worth contacting your local agent to help you figure out how to save money on car insurance.
| Discount | Does Progressive have it? | Does AAA have it? |
| Loyalty | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-policy/bundling | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple vehicle | Yes | Yes |
| Airbag | No | Yes |
| Anti-lock brakes | No | Yes |
| Anti-theft | No | Yes |
| Safe driver | Yes | Yes |
| Good student | Yes | Yes |
| Away-from-home student | Yes | Yes |
| New car | No | Yes |
| Pay in full | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic payments | Yes | Yes |
| GAP insurance | No | No |
| Senior | No | No |
| Military | No | No |
| Defensive driving course | No | Yes |
AAADrive vs. SnapShot
Many car insurance companies offer telematics programs to help you save more for safe driving. AAADrive requires drivers to download an app, turn on location settings, and log their trips in the AAA mobile app. The program will assign them a driving score based on the data. You may see up to 25% savings at policy renewal based on your score.
On the other hand, Progressive offers the SnapShot program, which requires users to install a plug-in device in their vehicle or, in some states, use a mobile app that runs in the background to track their driving. Safe drivers might see their insurance premiums decrease, but your rates might go up if you frequently drive late at night, brake or accelerate quickly, or drive more than the average person.
Coverage
AAA and Progressive offer the typical coverage options like liability, comprehensive, collision, and medical payments. Progressive generally has more coverage options like providing rideshare insurance for Uber or Lyft drivers and accident forgiveness.
| Coverage | Does Progressive have it? | Does AAA have it? |
| Liability | Yes | Yes |
| Collision | Yes | Yes |
| Comprehensive | Yes | Yes |
| Medical Payments coverage (MedPay) | Yes | Yes |
| Personal Injury Protection (PIP) | Yes | Yes (in some states) |
| Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage | Yes | Yes |
| Roadside assistance | Yes | Yes (through AAA membership) |
| Rental car reimbursement | Yes | Yes |
| Rideshare insurance | Yes | No |
| Accident Forgiveness | Yes | Yes (in some areas) |
| Loan/Lease payoff | Yes | Yes |
FAQs
How do I contact Progressive?
You can contact Progressive through the Progressive.com chat feature, log in to your account, or call customer service at 1-800-671-4405. You can also ask for help through email using the form on Progressive's website or the Progressive app.
How do I contact AAA?
You can contact AAA through the AAA website or call customer service at 1-888-883-8417 for a quote. If you need to file an insurance claim, call 1-800-67-CLAIM (1-800-672-5246).
Is Progressive cheaper through an agent?
In general, Progressive insurance is not cheaper through an agent. According to Progressive, pricing from agents or brokers typically includes commissions for selling the policy. If you buy directly from Progressive online or over the phone, you'll pay for staffing customer service, sales centers, and marketing, so it's probably a wash. You can request a quote online and compare it to your agent's if you want the best price.
Bottom line
Progressive is likely the best option for most people. It's available nationwide, beats the national average on pricing, and has a large selection of policies and discounts. However, it has fewer discounts than some competitors, including AAA.
As you search for the best car insurance, it's worth including Progressive and AAA (if available in your area) when comparison shopping. Get quotes from at least three companies and pay attention to policy options and coverage limits. Read customer reviews to help you determine how a company handles customer service complaints so you can avoid signing up with a company that ignores problems.
Average rate:
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