Progressive Auto Insurance Review

Overview

Progressive’s affordable rates and easy-to-use online interface make it a good choice for many drivers, but its score on the J.D. Power 2018 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study puts it below the industry average and behind many of its similar competitors when it comes to claims satisfaction, meaning it may not be the best choice for those who value reliably great customer service.

That said, Progressive is one of the largest auto insurance providers in the country, and it writes policies in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia — so it services a wide range of drivers with a wide range of needs.

Progressive offers all the standard coverage options that you’d expect from a major car insurance company, as well as some less-standard coverage, like coverage for rideshare drivers, available in many states, as well as an optional “deductible savings bank” feature, which knocks $50 off your comp and collision deductible for every six months you go without a claim.

Where Progressive stands out from the crowd is its discounts and savings options. The Progressive Snapshot program is a usage-based program that tracks your driving through a smartphone app or a plug-in device in your car and offers you savings based on how much, and how safely, you’re driving. For drivers who are confident in their abilities and don’t mind being monitored, the Snapshot program could be a good savings option.

And Progressive has a wide range of available discounts that are easy to track and apply to your policy, including a teen driver discount to help offset the cost of adding a young and inexperienced driver to your policy, and loyalty discounts that keep your rates steady even after a claim. Progressive also offers a “name your price tool” to help you build your coverage around your ideal monthly payment — although shoppers should be wary of dropping their coverage limits too low in an effort to save money. Choosing lower coverage limits can lead to lower monthly payments, but can also leave you unprotected and on the hook if you cause more damage than your insurance will cover.

Progressive by the numbers

Founded: 1937

Market Share: 10.99%

A.M. Best rating: A+

Better Business Bureau rating: B-

J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction rating: 849

Which states is Progressive car insurance available in?

Progressive auto insurance is available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Policy Details

For drivers looking for a full coverage policy, meaning auto insurance that includes liability plus comprehensive and collision coverage, Progressive offers all the standard coverage options you’d expect from an insurance provider of its size. Their website also includes helpful examples of when you might need different types of coverage. However, it has fewer “premium” coverage options than some other carriers.

Standard coverage options

• Liability coverage - Liability coverage, required in most states, covers the cost if you injure someone or damage property in a car accident.

• Personal injury protection - Covers medical expenses or other expenses, like lost wages if you or your passengers are injured in an accident.

• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage - Covers the cost if you’re in an accident that was caused by a driver who doesn’t have insurance, or whose insurance doesn’t cover the full extent of the damage.

• Collision coverage - Covers damage to your own car after a car accident, regardless of who was at fault.

• Comprehensive coverage - Covers damage to your car that wasn’t caused by a collision, including damage from extreme weather, hail, flood, fire, falling objects, vandalism and theft.

Additional coverage and features

• Roadside assistance - Pays for towing if your car breaks down, plus lock-out services, flat-tire changes and fuel or fluid delivery.

• Loan/lease payoff - Also called gap insurance, this coverage helps you if your car is totaled in an accident while you’re still making payments on it. Loan/lease payoff will pay out the difference between what your car was worth before it was totaled and what you still owe on your loan or lease.

• Rental car reimbursement - Pays up to a certain amount for a replacement rental car if your car is in the shop after a covered accident.

• Custom parts and equipment coverage - if you have custom additions to your car, like custom rims, sound systems or exterior paint, that won’t be covered in an accident unless you add custom parts and equipment coverage.

• Rideshare coverage - This add-on extends your regular car insurance coverage to your car while you’re driving for services like Lyft and Uber, covering you when the app is on but you don’t have passengers.

How much does Progressive cost?

Car insurance rates are determined by a number of factors, including a driver’s age, gender, driving history, credit score and credit history and the make and model of car.

All those variables make it hard to predict what any given driver will pay for a policy from any given car insurance company. That said, let’s take a look at a sample Progressive policy to see what one driver might pay for car insurance.

Our sample driver is a single, 30-year-old woman in Minneapolis, Minnesota who drives a 2014 Toyota Camry. Progressive quoted her a total of $578 for a six-month policy, which would be $1,156 for a year at the same rate.

Monthly premium = $104.81 after an initial payment of $54.48

Discounts

Progressive offers a wide range of discounts, and lists online what average savings its customers see for each type of discounts. The discounts on offer at Progressive include discounts for insuring multiple cars on one policy, discounts for bundling home and auto, discounts for consistently staying insured, even with other carriers, discounts for owning a home and discounts for making the entire policy payment up-front. There are also driver’s discounts like a discount for signing up for the Progressive Snapshot program, which monitors your driving, as well as discounts for students who keep up a certain GPA.

Company details

Application process

Progressive has one of the easiest online quote processes in the game. Applicants can enter their details online and get quotes for different coverage levels and the price for each. When we were testing it out, it was easy to go back several steps and edit information. The website also saves quotes so buyers can return to them easily, a feature that not every competitor has figured out. Drivers can also apply over the phone.

Claims process

When it comes to claims satisfaction, Progressive scored 849 on the J.D. Power 2018 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, putting it below many of its competitors, including GEICO, Esurance, Allstate, State Farm and Nationwide, and well below the industry average of 861.

Online, some Progressive customers praised the company’s customer service during the claims process, but some customers had complaints. Progressive drivers can file a claim online or over the phone, and can report a claim and track it through the Progressive mobile app.

Other types of insurance offered

• Motorcycle/ATV insurance - Coverage for your bike or all-terrain vehicle

• Snowmobile insurance - Coverage for your winter ride

• Renters insurance - Coverage for the stuff inside your rented home

• RV/Trailer insurance - Coverage for your home on wheels

• Classic car insurance - Coverage for a vintage or classic car

• Boat/PWC insurance - Coverage for your watercraft

• Homeowners insurance - Coverage for your house

• Condo insurance - Coverage for anything your HOA’s master policy doesn’t cover

• Golf cart insurance - Coverage for your cart

• Segway insurance - Coverage for your two-wheeled toy

Digital tools

• Easy to use online quote generator

• Progressive smartphone app for bill-paying, claims-tracking and roadside assistance

• Simple and attractive website

Contact info

Website: www.progressive.com

Phone: 1 (800) 776-4737

Headquarters: 6300 Wilson Mills Road, Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143

Compare Progressive to other top carriers

• Progressive vs GEICO