Progressive has become a household name due its huge advertising campaigns, but a familiar brand name doesn’t guarantee that it’s the best fit for you. To help you make that decision, CarInsurance.com’s Progressive Auto Insurance review surveyed current policyholders to determine how the company performed on key customer satisfaction criteria.
Progressive car insurance customer satisfaction review
CarInsurance.com commissioned Op4G to survey more than 3,100 insurance customers of 20 of the nation’s largest auto insurers and asked them about their experience with their carrier.
Here’s how Progressive scored (out of 100):
| Metric | Score |
|---|---|
| Claims Service | 90 |
| Customer Service | 87 |
| Value for Price | 84 |
| Usefulness of website/apps | 84 |
What some Progressive customers said:
- “This company provides simple and clear information on what is covered and what isn’t, also helps me feel confident I will select the correct plan for my needs.”
- “Pretty good price, give several options at different price points.”
- “Their website and apps are adequate, but their person-to-person availability is not very good.”
- “Great service but high price.”
Bottom line: Progressive has a reputation for helping out all types of drivers, from those that have excellent driving records to drivers who may have a recent accident on their record.
Progressive offers auto, home, motorcycle, RV, watercraft and life insurance, so consider Progressive to bundle multiple insurance coverages. Not only can the company provide one-stop shopping, but there are several discounts that you can take advantage of with multiple policies and multiple vehicles.
Excellent choice for:
- Experienced drivers
- Safe drivers who travel a few miles who want to be rewarded for their good driving habits through its Snapshot program
- Drivers who must file SR-22 certificates
- Non-owner policies
- Drivers who have had a recent accident
- Drivers with recent DUI convictions
Car insurance company comparison: Progressive rates for common coverage levels
Progressive wasn’t the cheapest company in CarInsurance.com’s rate analysis for full coverage, or state minimum liability requirements. But ninety percent of those surveyed said they would renew their Progressive policies, while 85 percent said they would recommend the insurance company to others.
Also, in some cases, you may pay a comparatively low base rate for coverage, but then see significant increases should you file a claim. In contrast, companies that may charge a higher annual rate may not hike your cost by that much if you get a ticket or have an accident.
While no one should choose a car insurance company based solely on price, smart shoppers know what to expect to pay and how it compares to the competition.
Here are nationwide average car insurance rates by company for state-required minimum liability coverage:
| Company | Average Rate |
|---|---|
| Geico | $338 |
| State Farm | $454 |
| Nationwide | $523 |
| Progressive | $552 |
| Farmers | $659 |
| Allstate | $667 |
Here are nationwide average car insurance rates by company, for full coverage, with a $500 deductible:
| Company | Average Rate |
|---|---|
| Geico | $901 |
| Nationwide | $1,227 |
| State Farm | $1,313 |
| Farmers | $1,351 |
| Progressive | $1,415 |
| Allstate | $1,758 |
Rate increases for adding a teen driver, accidents, speeding, DUI and poor credit
Adding a teen driver
If you have a teen you are insuring or are about to add to your policy, your rates will go up, as insurers consider inexperienced drivers as high-risk. You’ll pay 160 percent more per year, on average by adding a teen driver to your coverage. But you can still save by comparing insurance companies.
CarInsurance.com’s rate analysis shows you how average premium increases compare to drivers adding a 16-year-old to their policy, and you’ll see below that Progressive is in the middle of the pack, coming in under the national average.
- Nationwide – 68% increase
- Farmers – 130% increase
- Progressive – 150% increase
- Geico – 155% increase
- Allstate – 166% increase
- State Farm – 223% increase
At-fault accident
Progressive has the lowest premium increase for one at-fault property damage accident resulting in over $2,000 worth of damage, according to CarInsurance.com’s analysis of six top insurers. The average hike for such a claim is 31%. Here’s how Progressive compares to other top carriers.
- State Farm – 19%
- Progressive — 22%
- Farmers – 38%
- Allstate — 41%
- Geico – 43%
- Nationwide – 57%
Speeding ticket
For a speeding ticket for exceeding the limit by 16 to 29 miles per hour, Progressive’s premium increase is nine points higher than the national average of 22%, as is Geico.
- Nationwide – 19%
- Allstate – 20%
- Farmers – 24%
- State Farm – 27%
- Progressive – 31%
- Geico – 31%
DUI
A driving while intoxicated (DUI) conviction will raise your rate by 79%, on average, but Progressive’s increase for a DUI violation is much less than that and is the lowest when compared to other companies in our analysis:
- Progressive – 33%
- State Farm – 38%
- Farmers – 47%
- Allstate – 65%
- Nationwide – 125%
- Geico – 192%
Poor credit
Drivers with poor credit can expect to pay 69% more for car insurance, on average, than those with excellent credit. Progressive comes in a bit higher than that, by eight points.
- Nationwide – 41%
- Allstate — 56%
- Progressive – 77%
- Farmers – 78%
- Geico — 85%
- State Farm – 113%
Progressive Car Insurance Discounts
| Discount | How it Works | Estimated Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-policy | Have two or more policies | up to 5% |
| Snapshot | A plug-in device or app monitors safe driving performance (no hard-braking etc.) and mileage | up to $130 |
| Safe-driver discount | No accidents of moving violations for past three years | up t0 31% |
| Multi-car | Have more than one car listed on your policy | up to 10% |
| Homeowner | Own your home | up to 10% |
| Sign online | Sign documents online digitally | up to 8% |
| Online quote | Start or complete the quote process online (can finish it over the phone) | up to 7% |
| Automatic payment | Automatic payments set up through your checking account | varies |
| Teen driver | Discount for drivers age 18 and 19 | varies |
| Pay in full | Pay six-month policy up front | varies |
| Good student | Average grade point average of “B” | varies |
| Continuous coverage | Rewards you for no lapse in coverage between policies | varies |
| Paperless | Receive documents via email | varies |
| Student away | College student, age 22 or younger, who lives at least 100 miles away | varies |
Source: Progressive
Financial strength rating
The financial rating of an insurance company is important because it measures its ability to pay out claims. Progressive has a “superior” rating of A+ from A.M. Best.
Average rate by company for state minimum and full coverage: CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to provide a report of average auto insurance rates for a 2016 Honda Accord for nearly every ZIP code in the United States. We calculated rates using data for up to six large carriers (Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, Nationwide, Progressive and State Farm). Averages rates are based on full coverage insurance for a married 40-year-old male who commutes 12 miles to work each day, with policy limits of 100/300/100 ($100,000 for injury liability for one person, $300,000 for all injuries and $100,000 for property damage in an accident) and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage.The rate includes uninsured motorist coverage. This hypothetical driver has a clean record and good credit. Average rates are for comparative purposes. Your own rate will depend on your personal factors and vehicle.
Average rate by company for infractions, teen driver, poor credit: Based on 10 ZIP codes in each state.
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Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
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John McCormick
Editorial Director
John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.
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Leslie Kasperowicz
Executive Editor
Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.
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Nupur Gambhir
Managing Editor
Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.