Progressive auto insurance review (2021) - MarketWatch

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Progressive is the third-largest provider of private-passenger auto insurance in the U.S. and has flexible offerings like usage-based insurance and rideshare insurance, appealing to a wide range of drivers. It also regularly tops industry studies as one of the best car insurance companies in the country. But just how good is the service and is a Progressive policy worth the money? In this review, we’ll break down the options for coverage, who Progressive might work best for, and compare it to other popular providers.

Anytime you shop for car insurance, no matter what company you’re leaning towards, compare prices from multiple providers to get the best deal. You can get free quotes from providers in your area using the tool below.

In this article:

About Progressive
Progressive car insurance coverage
Progressive pricing and discounts
Progressive insurance reviews
Bottom line: Progressive is best for high-risk drivers
Frequently asked questions
Our methodology

About Progressive

Progressive has been in business since 1937, and today it is a one-stop shop for a variety of insurance products. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the insurer wrote over $32 billion in auto insurance premiums in 2020. It’s the third-largest auto provider in the nation (behind State Farm and Geico) with 13.3% of the market share.

In 1956, Progressive began targeting high-risk drivers and became an often affordable choice for many people with at-fault car accidents or other violations on record. The insurer also stands out for its focus on technology. It was the first major provider to have a website and allow consumers to purchase plans online. In the present, features like the Name Your Price^® tool can make selecting coverage easy for tech-savvy drivers.

Progressive has high ratings from experts, with an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best and an A- rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Progressive insurance reviews from customers, however, are mixed.

How we rate Progressive

	Score
Overall Rating	9.0
Reputation	9.0
Availability	10.0
Coverage	9.0
Cost	8.5
Customer Experience	8.5

*Ratings are determined by our editorial review team. Learn more about our scoring methodology below.

Progressive car insurance coverage

Progressive offers the following standards types of coverage:

You can also get these extra coverage options from Progressive:

Roadside assistance: Progressive roadside assistance covers jump-starts, spare tire installation, fuel delivery, lockout assistance and towing.
Rental car coverage: This option covers a rental car up to $60 per day in the event of a covered accident.
Loan/lease payoff: If your car is totaled, this coverage can pay the difference between your car’s actual cash value and the amount you still owe on your loan or lease. Some providers refer to this insurance policy as guaranteed asset protection, or GAP insurance.
Custom parts and equipment value: This policy covers aftermarket accessories like audio systems, navigation systems and custom paint.
Rideshare coverage: Rideshare insurance covers you while you are between rides when working for a rideshare or delivery service. State availability varies.
Pet coverage: Progressive offers pet injury insurance on comprehensive plans.
Deductible savings bank: This option will decrease your deductible by $50 for every six-month term you go without an accident or violation.

Snapshot program

If you’re looking for a plan tailored to your driving, you can try Progressive’s Snapshot^® program. The insurer will track your driving through the Snapshot app or a plug-in device for a period of time after signing up. Depending on how safe you are on the road, you may be able to get a car insurance discount on your policy.

There is a potential downside though: You may see your rate increase if Progressive determines that you are a bad driver. This contrasts other usage-based programs like State Farm’s Drive Safe & Save^TM, which doesn’t raise your rate no matter how poorly you drive.

According to Progressive insurance reviews, many drivers find affordable rates through the Snapshot program. It can be especially effective for people who don’t drive very much or who don’t regularly drive at night.

Progressive pricing and discounts

According to Progressive, drivers paid an average of $101 to $223 per month between 2019 and 2020 for liability coverage. Our team found that Progressive is an often affordable choice for most drivers when comparing rates to those of other leading providers. However, rates are unique to each person and based on factors such as driving history and age.

To help consumers save money on car insurance premiums, the insurer has a number of discount opportunities:

Multi-policy discount
Multi-car discount
Continuous insurance discount
Snapshot discount
Teen driver discount
Good student discount
Distant student discount
Homeowner discount
Online quote discount
Sign online discount
Paperless discount
Pay-in-full discount
Automatic payments discount

The number of available discounts is comparable to what you will find with other top insurers. However Progressive has a few more options than some competitors to help you save money based on how you pay for your policy.

There’s also the Name Your Price tool, a unique feature on Progressive’s website that can help drivers find coverage that fits within their monthly budget. Enter your preferred monthly payment to get a few options for coverage.

Progressive insurance reviews

Progressive earned 848 out of a possible 1,000 points in J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study^SM, which polled customers to determine satisfaction with each stage of the shopping experience. USAA and Geico earned 900 and 867 points, respectively, and the average was 860.

The insurance company performed similarly in J.D. Power’s 2020 US. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study^SM with 856 out of a possible 1,000 points (the average was 872). The study considered responses from 11,055 auto insurance customers who had settled claims in the past six months. Our team reached out to Progressive for a comment on these scores but did not receive a response.

When it comes to the mobile experience, drivers leave largely positive reviews. The Progressive app has a 3.5-star rating out of five in the App Store and 4.2-star rating with Google Play.

Bottom line: Progressive is best for high-risk drivers

We rate Progressive at 9.0 out of 10.0 and recognize it as the best for high-risk drivers in 2021. The insurer has a wide selection of auto insurance policies and add-on coverage, although Progressive insurance reviews from customers are mixed.

Progressive Pros	Progressive Cons
A+ financial strength rating from AM Best and A- rating from the BBB	Average customer service ratings
Wide selection of coverage	Snapshot program can raise rates for some drivers
Usage-based insurance discount
Highly rated mobile app

Progressive auto insurance is available in every state. The insurer also offers the following types of coverage:

All-terrain vehicle insurance
Boat insurance
Classic car insurance
Golf cart insurance
Motorcycle insurance
Recreational vehicle insurance, including Segways
Home insurance
Renters insurance
Business insurance
Health insurance

Other recommendations for car insurance

Because car insurance is based on a variety of factors, what works for one driver may not work for another. The best way to get a good rate is to compare multiple auto insurance quotes. Use the free tool below to compare prices from reputable providers in your area.

Geico: In our industry-wide review of leading car insurance companies, we named Geico the best overall choice for automobile coverage. The provider has a strong reputation, a variety of choices for coverage and mostly positive reviews from consumers. Discounts for military service members and federal employees can make insurance especially affordable for some drivers.

USAA: If you or someone in your immediate family is affiliated with the military, you may be considering USAA. This insurer is known for affordable rates — with discounts for garaging your vehicle on base and more — and consistently scores well in industry studies. Our review team named USAA the best for military families in 2021.

Frequently asked questions

Is Progressive a good insurance company?

With a long history in the insurance industry and strong financial ratings, Progressive is in good standing. Our expert review team gave the insurance company a score of 9.0 out of 10.0 after considering factors such as policy offerings and the customer experience.

Is Progressive cheap?

Auto insurance prices are based on many factors, so it’s not uncommon for providers to offer you different rates as you compare plans. Many drivers find cheap car insurance with Progressive — especially those that qualify for discounts — but the only way to find the most affordable coverage for you is to shop around.

Is Progressive or Geico better?

Progressive and Geico are two of the most popular insurance companies in the nation. Progressive has a few more coverage options than Geico, while Geico generally has higher customer service ratings. Both providers offer competitive car insurance quotes for the industry.

Does Progressive raise insurance rates after six months?

Some Progressive insurance reviews report rate increases after the first six-month policy period. This can happen for a number of reasons, including new driving violations, poor driving behavior while using the Snapshot app or even general rate increases for the area that have nothing to do with the individual driver.

Our methodology

Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.

Here are the factors our ratings take into account:

Reputation: Our research team considered market share, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
Availability: Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements scored highest in this category.
Coverage: Companies that offer a variety of choices for insurance coverage are more likely to meet consumer needs.
Cost: Average auto insurance rates and discount opportunities were both taken into consideration.
Customer Experience: This score is based on volume of complaints reported by the NAIC and customer satisfaction ratings reported by J.D. Power. We also considered the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.

*Data accurate at time of publication.

The MarketWatch Home Media team includes five auto experts with hundreds of hours of experience reviewing car services and products. We have researched more than 200 service providers, and we personally have owned 15 cars and have over a dozen experiences selecting and switching between auto insurance companies. Our goal is to help consumers make smarter financial decisions around vehicle ownership and maintenance.

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