Progressive was founded in 1937 on the basis of providing basic insurance that people could actually afford. Throughout its history, the company has led the industry through a number of milestones, including being the first company to allow customers to buy a policy online. As of 2019, Progressive had written $31,025,772 in personal auto insurance premiums, making it the third-largest car insurance provider in the country.
We compared Progressive to other brands in the field using the SimpleScore method, which looks at customer satisfaction, available discounts, additional coverage, online tools and accessibility. Keep reading to see the results.
Progressive offers comprehensive coverage and enticing discount programs that can help you save big
Pros of Progressive car insurance
- Multiple ways to save
- Wide variety of coverages
- Available nationwide
Cons of Progressive car insurance
- Not the best customer service
- Rates can be expensive
Out two cents: Great coverages and great discounts can be hard to find from the same insurance company, but with Progressive, you can have the best of both worlds.
Progressive auto insurance full review explained
Progressive auto insurance at a glance
| SimpleScore | 4.2/5 |
| In business | 1937 |
| States served | 50 |
| Best for | Drivers who want customizable coverage |
| Not for | Drivers who want the best customer service |
| Standout features | Snapshot program Deductible savings bank Highly-rated mobile app |
| Available bundles | Home, renters, condo and auto — any two or more policies can be bundled |
What we like about Progressive auto insurance
Progressive is one of the top-rated car insurance companies, and for good reason. Here are some of Progressive’s most impressive features.
Add-on coverages
The first thing we noticed about Progressive is the number of add-on coverages they offer. Most insurance companies only offer a few basics, like roadside assistance, but Progressive goes above and beyond. With Progressive, you can customize your policy with unique endorsements like gap insurance, custom parts and equipment coverage, rideshare coverage and a deductible savings bank. That means you only have to pay for the coverage you really need.
Discounts
Another thing we like about Progressive is the discount options they offer. Progressive is probably best known for its Snapshot program, which rewards safe drivers with a discount on their premium (an average of $145). In addition, Progressive customers can lower their premium if they are a good student, have continuous insurance coverage, are a homeowner, get a quote online, pay their premium in full and much more.
Online tools
If you’ve ever seen a Progressive commercial (which you probably have), you’ve heard about their infamous Name Your Price® Tool. With this tool, customers can input how much they want to pay for insurance, and they’ll receive a list of coverage options that fall within their budget. Progressive offers other valuable online tools, like the Progressive Answers section, which has more information about common FAQs. Progressive also has a highly-rated mobile app, where you can get an ID card, file a claim and request roadside assistance.
Things to consider
Like all insurance companies, Progressive has a few limitations. Before you buy a policy, it’s important to consider the potential downsides.
Average customer service
When it comes to customer service, Progressive isn’t anything special. The company has average customer service ratings at best, so we don’t recommend this company to anyone looking for great service. Although the company has 38,000 agents and some online support options, some customers have complained about the quality of service. According to BBB, there have been over 1,000 customer complaints closed in last year alone.
Expensive premiums
Progressive isn’t in the business of selling cheap insurance premiums. If you’re a teen driver, have a poor credit score or have a history of accidents, Progressive won’t be your most affordable option. With that being said, Progressive does offer a huge variety of discounts that will surely lower your premium. If budget is a big factor in your search, consider looking elsewhere.
[ Read: 9 Things You Didn’t Know About Car Insurance (But Should) ]
Progressive auto insurance vs. the competition
State Farm
SimpleScore: 4.4/5
State Farm and Progressive are very similar auto insurance companies in a few ways. Both companies offer a safe driver savings program — Snapshot from Progressive, and Drive Safe and Save from State Farm. Both companies offer roughly the same number of discounts, and have great online tools.
However, there are a few areas where State Farm stands out against Progressive. For one, State Farm typically sells cheaper policies than Progressive. State Farm also gets better customer service ratings. On the other hand, Progressive is the clear winner when it comes to coverage. State Farm only offers a handful of add-on converges while Progressive offers many more.
Read our full State Farm review.
Allstate
SimpleScore: 4.2/5
Allstate is a very popular choice for auto insurance. It’s not necessarily better than Progressive overall, but it’s a better choice for teens. With Allstate, new drivers can use the teenSMART® training program to get feedback on their driving skills, and reduce their risk of an accident. They can also get a discount on their insurance with the Drivewise program. Progressive does offer a young driver discount, but the policies are much more expensive.
Like Progressive, Allstate offers a wide variety of discounts and good coverage options. When it comes to customer service, both companies fall in the same spot — not the worst, but not the best.
Read our full Allstate review.
Geico
SimpleScore: 4/5
In terms of price, you can’t beat Geico. The company offers significantly cheaper premiums than Progressive, particularly to drivers who are considered high-risk. Like Progressive, Geico also offers a number of discounts that can help drivers lower their premium even further. When it comes to coverage, Progressive has many more options.
Unfortunately, if customer service is your main priority, you won’t find what you’re looking for with Geico or Progressive. Both companies have below average ratings for customer service. However, you might get lucky and find a great agent. Progressive and Geico also offer online support options.
Read our full Geico review.
Progressive’s auto insurance rates
When you’re shopping for auto insurance, price is probably one of your biggest considerations. Car insurance is a legal requirement in nearly every state making it an unavoidable expense. If you choose to insure your vehicle Progressive, don’t expect to pay the cheapest rate.
Progressive’s car insurance typically costs more than some of its competitors, but that doesn’t mean you should rule it out. In fact, the average customer saves over $750 when they switch to progressive. On Progressive’s website, you can also see the average savings for each discount the company offers.
Progressive’s auto insurance coverage
- Basic coverage (collision, comprehensive, medical payments, liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist)
- Roadside assistance
- Gap coverage
- Rental car reimbursement
- Custom parts and equipment
- Rideshare
- Deductible savings bank
[ Read: Non-Owner Car Insurance: What Is It And Who Needs It? ]
Progressive’s auto insurance discounts
- Multi-policy
- Multi-car
- Continuous coverage
- Snapshot program
- Teen driver
- Good student
- Distant student
- Homeowner
- Online quote
- Sign online
- Paperless billing
- Pay in full
- Automatic payments
How to submit an auto insurance claim with Progressive
Progressive offers small accident forgiveness to all new customers. Any small claim that is $500 or less won’t raise your rate. If you’ve been a Progressive customer for at least five years, and have been accident-free for three consecutive years, you qualify for large accident forgiveness. In the event that you do have to file a claim, here are the steps you’ll need to take:
- Report the claim via your agent, the online claims center or the Progressive mobile app.
- Submit photos, videos and a description of the loss.
- Wait for your claim to get approved and receive your payout.
Progressive online and mobile app
Progressive is one of the industry leaders when it comes to ease of use. The company offers great online and mobile tools for its customers. You can manage your claim, pay your bill, get ID cards and file a claim using the mobile app or the online portal. You can also contact customer service using the online chat feature, which many insurance companies don’t offer. Not only can you get a quote online, but you can also compare insurance rates in your area.
Progressive home, auto and life
Progressive offers a number of insurance policies, including home, renters, life, commercial business, wedding and event, pet, dental, health and electronic device insurance. Progressive offers a traditional property and auto insurance bundle. With Progressive, you can bundle any two or more insurance policies to save money.
[ Read: The Best Home and Auto Insurance Bundles 2020 ]
Progressive in the news
- USA Today reported that in April 2020, Progressive announced it would return up to $2 billion in premiums to policyholders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, people are driving less and the risk of traffic accidents has decreased significantly.
- In May 2020, S&P Global reported that Progressive was consistently earning a higher percentage of the market share each year, and its profitability was increasing despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
- In March 2020, Progressive completed its acquisition of ASI, which expanded the company’s property insurance offerings.
Too long, didn’t read?
Progressive is a solid auto insurance provider on many fronts. The company offers great coverage options, a long list of discounts and top-rated online tools. Assuming below-average customer service isn’t a dealbreaker, we recommend a policy from Progressive.
Keep reading
- The Best Car Insurance Companies of 2020
- Non-Owner Car Insurance: What It Is And Who Needs It
- Best Cheap Car Insurance Companies for 2020
Methodology
The SimpleScore is our proprietary scoring metric to compare products and services at The Simple Dollar in a transparent, evidence-based way. Our editorial team identifies five quantifiable aspects to compare for every brand, determines the rating criteria for each aspect score, then averages the five aspect scores to produce a single SimpleScore. For auto insurance carriers, we compared customer satisfaction, available discounts, additional coverage, online tools and accessibility. Our ratings are meant to be a directional tool to help you in the process of choosing an auto insurance provider. Be sure to continue your research and shop around for the best auto insurance provider that fits your specific needs.
We welcome your feedback on this article and would love to hear about your experience with the auto insurance providers we recommend. Contact us at inquiries@thesimpledollar.com with comments or questions.
