The average American driver pays $2,308 annually for full coverage car insurance, yet many are leaving thousands of dollars in savings on the table each year. Progressive Auto Insurance, the nation’s second-largest auto insurer with over 6% market share, has revolutionized how drivers find affordable coverage with transparent pricing, extensive discounts, and innovative add-on options that competitors simply don’t offer.
If you’re overpaying for car insurance, you’re not alone. But the good news? With the right approach and carrier, drivers routinely save 30-50% on their premiums. This comprehensive guide reveals exactly how Progressive Auto Insurance stacks up, who it’s best for, and whether it deserves a spot in your insurance comparison.
Why Insurance Costs Are Skyrocketing (And How to Fight Back)
Car insurance premiums have climbed dramatically in recent years, driven by several factors completely outside your control. Inflation has pushed repair costs upward, with modern vehicles requiring expensive parts and specialized repairs. Distracted driving and severe weather events have increased claim frequency, while advanced vehicle technology means even minor accidents now carry substantial repair bills.
Progressive Auto Insurance recognizes these realities and has built tools specifically designed to help drivers lower their costs without sacrificing protection. By understanding what drives your rates and leveraging Progressive’s unique offerings, you can reclaim control over your insurance expenses.
Progressive Auto Insurance: Company Overview & Financial Strength
Founded in 1937, Progressive pioneered the insurance industry with several “firsts”: the first auto insurer to offer comparison rates (1993), the first to launch a website (1995), and the first to allow online policy purchases (1997). Today, the company continues to lead in innovation and transparency.
Financial Strength & Ratings:
- AM Best Rating: A+ (Superior)
- Standard & Poor’s: AA
- Moody’s Investors Service: Aa
These ratings indicate Progressive has a superior ability to pay claims and strong financial security. When choosing an insurer, financial stability matters, you need confidence that your claims will be paid.
Progressive Auto Insurance Rates: What You’ll Actually Pay in 2025
Average Cost Breakdown
Progressive’s rates range from $62 to $186 monthly for minimum coverage and $118 to $377 for full coverage. For most drivers, here’s what to expect:
| Driver Profile | Minimum Coverage | Full Coverage |
| Adult Driver (Good Record) | $67/month | $125/month |
| Young Driver (25 and under) | $186/month | $377/month |
| Senior Driver (65+) | $88/month | $163/month |
| Driver with DUI | $85/month | $165/month |
| Driver with Speeding Ticket | $87/month | $171/month |
| Newer Vehicles | $67/month | $127/month |
| Older Vehicles | $62/month | $118/month |
National Context: Progressive’s annual average rate for full coverage car insurance is $1,960, which is under the national average of $2,399 by about 18 percent.
How Progressive Compares to Competitors
| Company | Full Coverage (Annual) | Minimum Coverage (Annual) |
| Progressive | $2,162 | $649 |
| State Farm | $2,142 | $485 |
| GEICO | $1,983 | $489 |
| Allstate | $2,927 | $750 |
| Nationwide | $2,700 | $958 |
| Travelers | $1,714 | $541 |
| National Average | $2,308 | $627 |
Progressive’s pricing is competitive, particularly for drivers with blemished records. Young drivers average $377 per month, about 25% higher than the national average, but for drivers with DUIs, Progressive ranks as the fourth most affordable option nationwide.
What Coverage Does Progressive Auto Insurance Offer?
Progressive structures auto insurance into three categories, each with options you can customize to fit your needs and budget.
1. Liability Coverage (Required in Most States)
Liability coverage, required in most states, pays for injuries or property damages to others that you cause while driving. It also covers your legal fees and the other party’s medical bills and lost income if they’re injured.
Progressive allows you to choose your liability limits based on your assets and risk tolerance. Higher limits provide better protection but increase your premium.
2. Coverage for Your Vehicle & Injuries
This category protects you, your passengers, and your vehicle:
Comprehensive Coverage: Repairs or replaces your car if it’s damaged by theft, vandalism, hitting an animal, fire, or an act of nature. This covers most non-collision incidents.
Collision Coverage: Pays for damages to your vehicle if you hit another object, such as a car, tree, or mailbox, no matter who’s at fault.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Protects you if hit by a driver with insufficient or no insurance. Medical payments coverage pays for your medical care and/or funeral costs if you’re injured or killed in an accident, no matter who’s at fault.
3. Progressive’s Standout Add-On Coverages
Progressive places second for coverage options, offering features like mechanical breakdown insurance and a disappearing deductible program.
Pet Injury Coverage: If you have collision coverage and your pet is injured in an auto accident, Progressive covers your vet bills up to a specified limit. Unique to Progressive, this coverage is automatically included with collision coverage at no extra cost, up to $1,000 in vet bills.
Rideshare Insurance: If you drive for a rideshare service, this insurance helps close the coverage gap that exists when you’re logged into the app but haven’t yet accepted a trip request. This fills a critical gap that rideshare companies’ policies don’t cover.
Loan/Lease Payoff (Gap Insurance): If your vehicle is declared a total loss, loan/lease payoff insurance covers the difference between the settlement amount and the amount you owe your lender, up to 25% of your car’s cash value.
Deductible Savings Bank: For every claim-free policy period (six months), this feature subtracts $50 from your collision and comprehensive deductible. Over three years, claim-free drivers can reduce their deductible to $0.
Accident Forgiveness: Progressive offers three types of accident forgiveness in most states. Small accident forgiveness (up to $500) and large accident forgiveness (over $500) are available for free if you’re eligible, and Progressive accident forgiveness can cover one additional claim if you add it to your policy.
Custom Parts & Equipment Coverage: If you’ve invested in custom wheels, stereo systems, or paint jobs, this coverage protects those modifications up to $5,000 (up to $30,000 available).
Roadside Assistance: This pays for covered roadside repairs, assistance, or towing services, available 24/7.
READ ALSO: USAA Auto Insurance Review: Complete Guide for Military Families
How to Save on Progressive Auto Insurance: 14+ Discounts to Leverage
Progressive offers more ways to save than nearly any competitor. Many drivers qualify for multiple overlapping discounts that significantly reduce their premiums.
Loyalty-Based Discounts
Multi-Policy Bundle: Bundling home and auto insurance could save you more than $1,000, according to Progressive. The company also offers an average discount of 5% when you buy any two types of coverage.
Multi-Car Discount: Customers who insure two or more vehicles save an average of 12%.
Continuous Insurance Discount: If you’ve had insurance continuously (even with a different insurer), you can earn a discount. The discount value will depend on the length of time you’ve continuously been insured without any cancellations or gaps.
Teen Driver Discount: Progressive offers a discount for teens 18 and under once you’ve been a customer for a year.
Driver-Based Discounts
Snapshot Program: Progressive’s usage-based insurance tracks your driving habits through a mobile app or plug-in device. Progressive claims Snapshot saves safe drivers an average of $145 annually, though keep in mind that aggressive or risky driving could result in rate increases.
Good Student Discount: Add a student with a B grade point average or better to your policy and get a discount.
Distant Student Discount: Earn a discount if a student on your policy is in college full-time, 22 or younger, and lives more than 100 miles from your home.
Homeowner Discount: Even if your home isn’t insured through Progressive’s network, you’ll get an average 10% discount just for owning one.
Discounts for How You Shop & Pay
Online Quote Discount: Get an average 4% discount for starting your quote online, even if you finish it over the phone.
Sign Online Discount: Just for signing your documents online, you can get an average 8.5% discount.
Paperless Discount: Discounts for going paperless add to your online savings.
Pay in Full Discount: Get a discount if you pay your six-month premium at once.
Automatic Payment Discount: If you’d rather pay monthly, you can still get a discount by setting up automatic payment.
Pro Tip: Combine multiple discounts. A driver getting an online quote, signing online, paperless, and automatic payment discounts could save 25-30% before loyalty discounts are applied.
Progressive Auto Insurance: Customer Experience & Satisfaction
Overall Ratings
Customer satisfaction with Progressive presents a mixed picture. The company excels in certain areas while falling short in others.
Progressive ranks seventh for full coverage affordability and eighth for minimum liability coverage, and Progressive earns fifth place nationwide for overall customer satisfaction, standing out due to strong agent service and positive customer reviews on forums.
However, Progressive places below-average scores in J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction studies. Specifically:
- J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction: 672/1,000 (Below average; industry average: 697)
- J.D. Power Digital Service Experience: 715/1,000 (Above average; tied for 3rd place)
- J.D. Power Overall Customer Satisfaction: 621/1,000 (Below average in all regions)
What Real Customers Say
The Good: Customers consistently praise Progressive’s easy-to-use mobile app and website, competitive rates for safe drivers, and straightforward policy management. Many note that getting a quote is fast and transparent.
The Challenges: The most common complaint centers on rate increases at renewal. Customers report that while initial rates are attractive, Progressive increases premiums significantly at policy renewal, even for drivers with clean records. Additionally, some customers report delays in claims processing and difficulty reaching customer service representatives.
Claims Experience: While some customers describe accommodating and patient claims representatives, others report unresponsive adjusters, lengthy delays, and disputed fault determinations. This inconsistency likely reflects variation in local service quality.
Financial Strength: Despite customer satisfaction concerns, Progressive maintains strong financial ratings. Progressive ranks 5th for full coverage affordability among all companies, and the company’s A+ AM Best rating ensures strong claims payment capability.
Progressive Auto Insurance: The Claims Process
You can file claims 24/7, online, by phone, or by calling your dedicated agent, if you have one. The quickest way to make a claim is through Progressive’s mobile app. Use the app’s Photo Estimate feature to submit photos or videos of the vehicle and damage to get an estimate right away.
What Information You’ll Need
Progressive suggests gathering the following information before filing your claim: Location, date, and time of accident; Name, address, phone number, and insurance policy number for everyone involved; Weather conditions; Photo(s) of the damaged vehicle(s); Copies of police and/or accident reports, if applicable.
How Claims Are Handled
Depending on your claim, you may work with an estimator, a claims representative, or both. The claims rep determines who is at fault based on state laws and the circumstances of the accident. You can choose to simply receive payment for the damages or to have them repaired; if the latter, the claims rep will explain how it works and manage the process.
You can use any repair shop you want, but if you choose one in Progressive’s nationwide network, your repairs are guaranteed for as long as you own or lease your vehicle.
Typical Timeline: Property damage claims usually resolve in one to two weeks, while claims involving bodily injury may take several months.
Who Is Progressive Auto Insurance Best For?
Progressive is Your Best Choice If:
- You have a good or excellent driving record: Progressive’s rates reward safe drivers and improve further with accident forgiveness programs.
- You need rideshare or specialized coverage: Progressive’s add-on options exceed most competitors, particularly for non-traditional drivers.
- You’re willing to engage digitally: Progressive’s online and mobile tools are best-in-class, making policy management seamless.
- You have a DUI or accident on your record: Progressive is a good option for drivers with a DUI due to its high affordability rank (fourth overall).
- You want to bundle multiple policies: Progressive’s bundling discounts are among the industry’s most generous.
Progressive Might Not Be Your Best Choice If:
- Customer service is your top priority: Some reports of slow claims handling and rate increases after initial quotes indicate inconsistent customer experience.
- You’re a young driver (under 25): Young drivers and military members should consider other companies first.
- You prefer working with local agents: Progressive’s strength is digital; agent service is secondary.
- You need the absolute lowest rates: While competitive, Progressive isn’t always the cheapest, compare with GEICO, State Farm, and Travelers.
- You’re military or a veteran: Military members should choose USAA, which outpaces Progressive in affordability, customer experience, and coverage options.
Getting Your Progressive Auto Insurance Quote: Step-by-Step
The Online Quote Process
You can get a quote from Progressive online, by chat, by phone, or by talking to Flo, The Progressive Girl, on Facebook Messenger.
What Progressive Needs:
To provide an accurate quote, Progressive asks for your car’s make, mode,l and year; whether you own or lease; what the car is primarily used for; and how many miles you drive annually. They’ll also want your name, address, age, marital status, education statu,s and employment status. As to your driving experience, they’ll ask when you got your driver’s license and its status; whether you had any accidents, violations, or claims in the past five years; and if you’ve had auto insurance continuously for the past three years.
The Name Your Price Tool
Progressive’s Name Your Price Tool can help you customize the types and amounts of coverage you want. Just tell Progressive how much you want to pay, and the tool shows you the best coverage options to fit your budget. Don’t like the options being offered? You can get more details about each type of coverage and adjust your levels of coverage until you’re satisfied. You’ll also be shown the recommended levels of coverage for each category, a nice feature that helps keep you from skimping on key coverage in an attempt to save money.
Competitive Comparison
Progressive doesn’t just give you a quote, they make it easy to compare car insurance rates by showing you price estimates from other companies, too. This transparency allows you to see exactly where Progressive stands without having to get separate quotes.
Progressive Auto Insurance vs. Major Competitors
Progressive vs. GEICO
Progressive is worse than GEICO, mainly due to affordability, even considering its superior customer experience and coverage add-on selection. GEICO’s rates average $1,983 annually for full coverage versus Progressive’s $2,162.
Progressive vs. State Farm
State Farm and Progressive are comparable on price ($2,142 vs. $2,162 annually). However, while the less expensive option, State Farm, falls behind in agent service reputation and is outperformed in add-on coverage selections.
Progressive vs. USAA
For military members and veterans, USAA is superior. For military members, USAA outpaces Progressive in all categories of affordability, customer experience, and coverage options.
Progressive vs. Allstate
Progressive significantly outpaces Allstate. Allstate’s customer experience is the worst among national insurers, and it’s affordability is lackluster, making Progressive the better option.
Do Insurance Quotes Affect Your Credit?
Many drivers hesitate to shop around due to credit concerns. Here’s what you need to know:
Rate-shopping for quotes won’t hurt your credit scores, because an auto insurance quote is considered a soft inquiry. You can safely request multiple quotes without impacting your credit.
However, if you have bad credit, you could pay more for auto insurance. Most insurance companies use a credit-based insurance score to calculate your premiums, which is different from your regular credit score.
Important Note: The use of these scores is illegal in California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts. In Michigan, the use of credit scores to determine rates is prohibited.
Additional Insurance Products From Progressive
Beyond auto insurance, Progressive offers or partners to provide coverage for nearly every insurance need:
Direct from Progressive: Motorcycle, RV, boat, umbrella, renters, and commercial auto insurance.
Through Partners: Health, life, pet, flood, travel, identity theft, and wedding/event insurance.
This breadth of offerings makes Progressive attractive for bundling, which can generate substantial savings.
FAQ: Common Progressive Auto Insurance Questions
How do I file a claim with Progressive?
You can file claims 24/7, online, by phone or by calling your dedicated agent. The quickest way is through Progressive’s mobile app using the Photo Estimate feature.
Does Progressive raise rates for accidents?
Progressive offers accident forgiveness, but Progressive raises rates over time, just like other insurance companies. Rates may increase due to inflation, regional risk changes, and personal factors beyond driving record alone.
Can I get a discount without taking the Snapshot program?
Yes. Snapshot is optional. However, Progressive claims Snapshot saves safe drivers an average of $145 annually, making it worthwhile if you drive safely.
Is Progressive good for bad drivers?
Progressive is one of the better options for drivers with accidents or violations. However, young drivers specifically pay approximately 25% higher premiums than average.
What if I need gap insurance?
Loan/lease payoff insurance covers the difference between the settlement amount and the amount you owe your lender, up to 25% of your car’s cash value. Note that this covers only up to 25% of value, not the full loan balance in all cases.
How does the Deductible Savings Bank work?
For every claim-free policy period (six months), this feature subtracts $50 from your collision and comprehensive deductible. After six years without claims, your deductible can reach $0.
The Bottom Line: Is Progressive Auto Insurance Right for You?
Progressive Auto Insurance succeeds by combining transparency, digital excellence, and genuine innovation in coverage options. Progressive stands out for its comprehensive coverage options and industry-leading digital experience. It’s ideal for drivers who prioritize convenience, customization, and tech-friendly management.
For drivers with good records seeking maximum coverage flexibility at competitive rates, Progressive delivers exceptional value. The company’s accident forgiveness programs, rideshare coverage, pet injury protection, and disappearing deductible option exceed what most competitors offer.
However, customers prioritizing personalized service and the absolute lowest rates may find better options with GEICO, State Farm, or Travelers. Additionally, military members should explore USAA before committing to Progressive.
Your Next Step: Rates change constantly and vary dramatically based on individual profiles. The only way to know if Progressive can save you money is to get a no-obligation quote. Progressive’s comparison tool shows you competitor rates alongside their quote, eliminating the need to shop separately.
In another related article, GEICO Auto Insurance Review 2025: Is It Really Worth the Savings?
