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Published: July 25, 2018Last updated: December 10, 2022

Progressive Auto Insurance Review

Move your auto insurance forward with Progressive.

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While many of you have heard of Progressive auto insurance through its famous commercials featuring the quirky, upbeat cashier Flo, you may not know precisely what auto insurance it has to offer. This review will walk you through all the types of auto coverages you can find at Progressive. It will tell you the average cost of a policy, what discounts it offers, and the pros and cons of Progressive insurance so you can decide for yourself if this is the right insurance for you.

Key Takeaways

Who It’s Best For

  • Individuals needing more than one type of insurance
  • Drivers who take their pets on car rides
  • Motorists with stellar driving records

Who It’s Not Best For

  • Individuals adding teen drivers to their policies
  • Customers who value customer service above all else

Pros and Cons of Progressive Auto Insurance

Pros

Pros

  • Discounts and savings program: Progressive offers an array of discounts and programs that make insurance costs lower.

  • Availability: Progressive auto insurance is available in every state, which is not the case for all car insurance companies.

  • Rideshare: Progressive offers rideshare coverage.

Cons

Cons

  • Customer service: Many customers have complained about Progressive’s service, citing difficulty filing claims and poor response times.

  • Renewal rates: Progressive increases its policy rates every six months.

Progressive Auto Insurance Coverage and Insurance Products

  • Bodily injury liability: Almost every state requires liability coverage. If you are in an accident, bodily injury liability pays for the medical bills of other injured individuals outside of your car.
  • Property damage liability: Property damage coverage pays for damage to the other individual’s vehicle or property if you are liable in an auto accident.
  • Comprehensive: Comprehensive insurance offers more coverage than basic liability. If your car suffers damage due to incidents like inclement weather, fire, or vandalism, comprehensive insurance will pay for it.1 Comprehensive insurance also covers the theft of a vehicle.
  • Collision: If your car suffers damage in a collision with a tree, another object, or a moving car, collision insurance will help cover your vehicle’s repairs. Progressive also has a Pet Injury Protection plan that falls under collision coverage. If you have a pet that is injured in an auto accident, Progressive will pay up to $1,000 of your vet bill.
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: If you are in an accident with someone who has no insurance or little insurance, you’ll need to ensure you still have coverage. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage covers you and your passengers’ injuries, as well as damage to your property,  if a driver with no or insufficient insurance hits you. This coverage also applies to hit-and-runs.
  • Medical payments coverage and personal injury protection: In case of an accident you caused that results in injuries or death, medical payments coverage will pay for you and your passengers’ medical or funeral expenses. It also applies if a car hits you while you’re walking or cycling, or if you are hurt as a passenger in another vehicle.

    Some states offer personal injury protection instead of medical payments coverage. Personal injury protection (PIP) covers your lost wages and childcare costs in addition to your medical expenses, regardless of fault. At-fault states offer medical payments coverage, while no-fault states offer PIP.
  • Roadside assistance: Progressive’s roadside assistance will pay for services such as towing, lock-out service, fuel delivery, and flat tire changes.
  • Rideshare: If you drive for Uber or Lyft, the rideshare service may not offer you complete coverage. Progressive rideshare insurance covers any gaps your company may not cover, such as protection when you’re stopped and waiting for a trip request or driving to pick up a customer.2
  • Rental car reimbursement: Progressive’s rental car reimbursement will pay up to $60 per day for a rental in the event your car is in the repair shop due to any covered claim.
  • Loan/lease payoff: If your car is totaled or stolen, loan/lease payoff, also known as gap insurance, will cover the difference between the balance you still owe and the car’s actual cash value.
  • Custom parts and equipment value: After-market accessories in your car, like custom wheels, a stereo, or a navigation system, also need coverage. Custom parts and equipment coverage insures your car items for up to $5,000.

REMEMBER:

To qualify for loan/lease payoff, you need to have comprehensive and collision coverage.

What Will My Auto Insurance Rate Be?

Many factors determine what you will pay for auto insurance, like your age, zip code, driving history, car type, and the type of coverage you need. The average annual premium with Progressive costs around $1,508, which is below the national average of $1,771.

Discounts

Progressive’s discounts include:

Discount type Qualifications Maximum discount
Snapshot safe driver Also known as usage-based insurance, you pay based on how much and how safely you drive.

To save money with Snapshot, download the app, limit hard braking, avoid using handheld devices, and try not to

drive from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. (peak hours for accidents).

$146
Multipolicy You need to have 2 or more types of policies with Progressive. 5%

Varies by state

Continuous coverage To qualify, you must have no gaps in your car insurance coverage. Varies by state
Multicar Save by adding more than one vehicle to your policy. 4%

Varies by state

Driving history and habits If you have a clean driving record and good driving habits (no tickets, violations, or accidents in the past 3 years), you’ll qualify for significant savings on your premium. 30%
Automatic payment You need to set up automatic payments from a checking account, debit card, or credit card to qualify. Varies by state

CA: Not available

Paid in full To qualify, pay your policy in full upfront. Varies by state

CA: Not available

Good student Policyholders with drivers enrolled in high school or college full-time that hold a B grade average or higher can save on insurance. 10%

AZ, ND, OR, and WA: Discount is lower, but varies

CA or HI: Not available

Teen driver Progressive offers a discount that will lower the cost of insuring your teen on your policy. Varies by state

CA: Not available

 

Distant student Save if you are an individual with a driver age 22 or younger on your policy who attends school more than 100 miles away and will not be driving any of the cars on the policy. Varies by state

CA: Not available

Homeowner If you are a homeowner, you qualify for a discount even if your home is not insured through Progressive. 10%

CA: Not available

Online quote Get an online quote or have a licensed Progressive agent help you finish your online quote over the phone to qualify. 7%

CA or NY: Not available

Paperless discount You must agree to receive and sign documents online. Varies by state

CA: Not available

E-signature Sign your documents online for savings. 9%

AK and HI: Discount is lower, but varies

CA: Not available

SAVINGS TIP:

Use the online Name Your Price Tool for an easier way to see what savings, discounts, and coverage you qualify for. Just enter your information online, and you will receive a quote showing you how much you can save.

Availability

Progressive is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. In addition, Progressive partners with over 38,000 independent agents across the country, so you should have no problem finding an agent to connect with near your hometown.

Progressive Customer Service

Progressive’s customer service operates via chat through its website (https://www.progressive.com/contact-us/), or by phone at 888-671-4405.

Mobile Apps and Online Features

As one of the first auto insurance companies to offer online services for its customers, Progressive makes it easy to manage your account. Here are some of the actions you can take on Progressive’s mobile app:

  • Reviewing policy information
  • Paying your policy
  • Viewing, saving, sharing, and printing ID cards and documents
  • Filing a claim
  • Getting roadside assistance

You can also access these services through Progressive’s website.

Third-Party Ratings

  • AM Best: Progressive has an AM Best rating of A+.3 AM Best is the largest credit rating agency in the world and specializes in insurance, so a rating of A+ means Progressive has an excellent standard of paying claims and meeting financial obligations.
  • Better Business Bureau (BBB): Unfortunately, Progressive’s BBB customer review rating is 1.08 out of five stars. The BBB itself gives Progressive an F rating for failure to respond to 100 customer complaints. That being said, Progressive has a 98 percent response rate and has closed nearly 4,000 complaints from 2019 to 2022, so take that letter grade with a grain of salt.4
  • Moody’s: Moody’s risk assessment firm gives Progressive a rating of Aa2. An Aa2 rating is the third-highest long-term rating and indicates that a company has a low risk when it comes to credit.
  • National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC): The NAIC Complaint Index tracks and categorizes customer complaints based on the policy type. The standard rating is 1.00, which means a company has an average number of complaints, and anything below a rating of 1.00 is a good score. Progressive has an NAIC complaint index score of 0.06.
  • Standards and Poor: The S&P rates Progressive with an AA score, which means the company is stable and can meet its financial obligations.
  • JD Power: As of 2021, Progressive has an 819 out of 1,000 customer satisfaction rating from JD Power in California.5 This rating shows that, overall, consumers have a favorable and positive experience with Progressive auto insurance in that region.

Company History

  • 1937: On March 10, 1937, lawyers Joseph Lewis and Jack Green founded Progressive. Progressive is the first auto insurance company to offer customers installment payment plans and drive-in claims, facilities where claimants take their cars to determine the extent of damage and settle claims on the spot.
  • 1977: Progressive became the first auto insurance company to publish its loss reserve report. Loss reserves are an estimate of what an insurance company will have to pay on future underwritten policy claims.
  • 1995: Progressive was the first auto insurance group to launch a website.
  • 2020: Progressive was the third-largest auto insurance provider in the U.S. in terms of premiums written, with 13 percent of the market share.6 State Farm had 16 percent of the market share, while GEICO had 14 percent.

Other Insurance Progressive Provides

Progressive insurance  Types of policies 
Personal vehicle
  • ATV/UTV
  • Bundle
  • Boat
  • Classic car
  • Golf cart
  • Mechanical breakdown
  • Mexico auto
  • Motorcycle
  • Personal watercraft
  • RV & travel trailer
  • Segway
  • Snowmobile
Commercial auto
  • Truck
  • Tow truck
  • Van
  • Box truck
  • Dump truck
  • Food truck
Business
  • General liability
  • Workers comp
  • Contractors
  • Business owners policy
  • Professional liability
  • Cyber
Personal
  • Dental
  • Health
  • Identity theft protection
  • Jewelry
  • Life
  • Pet
  • Electronic device
  • Travel
  • Umbrella
  • Vision
  • Wedding & event

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel your auto insurance policy with Progressive at any time and for any reason. Some Progressive independent agents may require you to fill out a cancellation form. You can also cancel your auto policy by calling 1-866-416-2003.

You cannot cancel your policy through your app or online. If you prefer to cancel by mail, send a written notice with your name and policy number to the following address:

  • Corporate Headquarters
  • The Progressive Corporation
  • 6300 Wilson Mills Rd.
  • Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143

FYI:

Since so many independent agents offer Progressive auto insurance, the process for canceling your policy may depend on whether you went directly through Progressive or an independent agent that offers Progressive.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Progressive help me find the best coverage for my needs?

Progressive’s online quote option can help you find the best coverage for your needs. Once you enter your information online, Progressive will customize a list of coverage options according to the information you provided. In addition, you can always get in touch with a local agent and they can help you find the most suitable coverage.

How can I avoid Progressive from charging me an installment fee?

If possible, pay the total premium at the start of your policy to avoid any installment fees. Also, if you enroll in automatic payments, you will get a discount.

Does Progressive allow me to make any changes to my policy before the renewal date?

You can change your policy any time before the renewal date. To update your account information, add someone to your policy, or change your billing information, log in to your account online at https://www.progressive.com/manage-policy/ or call 1-800-776-4737 to speak with a Progressive representative.

Are Progressive’s online rates the same as with an independent agent?

If you get an online quote from Progressive, that rate may differ from the quote you will receive from an independent agent. Consider getting an online quote and reaching out to an independent agent to see which rate best suits your circumstances.

Citations

  1. Automobile insurance guide. Texas Department of Insurance. (2022).
    https://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/consumer/cb020.html

  2. Types of Car Insurance. Progressive. (2022).
    https://www.progressive.com/auto/insurance-coverages/

  3. AM BEST Ratings. AM BEST. (2022).
    https://ratings.ambest.com/CompanyProfile.aspx

  4. Progressive Corporation. Better Business Bureau. (2022).
    https://www.bbb.org/us/oh/mayfield-vlg/profile/insurance-companies/progressive-corporation-0312-15000696

  5. Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Stalls Despite $18 Billion in Premium Relief, J.D. Power Finds. J.D. Power. (2022).
    https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2021-us-auto-insurance-study

  6. Top 10 Writers Of Private Passenger Auto Insurance By Direct Premiums Written, 2021. Insurance Information Institute. (2021).
    https://www.iii.org/table-archive/20598