Progressive Auto Insurance Review 2024: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives (2024)

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Founded in 1937, Progressive is known for the TV character "Flo" and its Insurance Superstore commercials. But fame aside, Progressive offers various insurance products, including auto, home, pet, and other products that can be easily bundled.

Progressive is often thought of as an online insurance company. This is because quotes are still easily accessible online. However, policies can also be quoted by independent insurance agents who receive regular training updates from Progressive.

If you're bundling multiple insurance policies with Progressive, working with a professional may simplify the process allowing you to compare quotes more efficiently and ensure you get all applicable discounts. In addition, Progressive customers can buy auto and home insurance in all 50 states.

Types of Car Insurance Plans from Progressive

Progressive Auto Insurance offers the following auto insurance coverages:

• Liability Coverage - This includes bodily injury liability, which pays for another's medical bills if you're liable, and property damage liability, which pays for another's vehicle or property. It's the state-required portion of most auto insurance policies. Increasing your liability limits to protect yourself from costs associated with more severe accidents may be cheaper than you think.
• Comprehensive - It covers the vehicle in events not covered by collision coverage, such as fire, theft, vandalism, hitting an animal, glass breakage, or acts of nature.
• Collision - It covers the repair or replacement of a damaged vehicle if it collides with another object, such as a vehicle, tree, guardrail, or fence.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist - It fills in coverage gaps if you're hit by an uninsured driver or somebody with minimal liability coverage below your accident-related costs. It can also come in handy if a drunk driver hits you. Your limits will mirror your chosen liability limits, and premiums for this additional coverage are also small. So it pays in more ways than one to raise your liability limits.
• Medical payments or PIP (Personal Injury Protection) insurance - It helps pay for medical and funeral expenses for yourself and your passengers, regardless of fault. It can come in handy for ambulance expenses and other short-term costs.

Liability auto insurance is required in 49 states, while Collision and Comprehensive coverages are necessary if you have a loan on your vehicle. New Hampshire may not require auto insurance, but it does require proof of "financial responsibility." One option for New Hampshire residents is auto insurance. Underinsured/uninsured and medical payments or PIP coverage may also be required depending on the state.

Additional Coverage Options (Riders)

Besides the standard auto insurance policies Progressive offers, several add-ons should be considered including:

• Loan/lease payoff - If you finance or lease a car, this coverage can close the gap between what you owe on the vehicle and its worth.
• Rental car reimbursem*nt - If your car is in an accident, this covers the cost of a rental car while your vehicle is in the shop
• Custom parts and equipment value - It can cover things such as a stereo, custom wheels, navigation system, or a custom paint job, typically up to a $5,000 limit. If you've upgraded your wheels, added a spoiler, or anything else out of the ordinary, etc., custom parts coverage could ensure you can replace your car to its state before the accident.
• Rideshare coverage - If you drive for a rideshare company, this covers you when you're logged into the app and waiting for a trip/customer. Unfortunately, your regular auto insurance coverage stops once you turn on the app. Rideshare app coverage doesn't start until you have a scheduled ride. You'd see a similar lapse in coverage if you're working in food or grocery delivery.
• Roadside assistance - It pays for towing service on the road or at home and assists if you lock yourself out, run out of gas, or need a flat tire change.
• Deductible savings bank - Adding this coverage subtracts $50 from your collision and comprehensive deductible for every claim-free policy period (six months). Some auto insurance companies offer similar products, but the deductible savings bank is specific to Progressive.

How Much Does Progressive Car Insurance Cost?

Many factors play into how much auto insurance premiums cost, including age, location, driving record, type of vehicle, vehicle usage, credit score, how you pay, any lapses in coverage or recent changes, any speeding/traffic tickets or accidents, and marital status.

Progressive offers data on what users can expect to pay depending on the state:

Low-cost states include California, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The average cost of carinsurance on a six-month liability-only policy in these states is $78/month.

Medium-cost states include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, Texas, and Utah. The average cost of a six-month liability-only policy is $100/month.

High-cost states include Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and West Virginia. The average cost of a six-month liability-only policy in these states is only $146/month.

How to File a Claim

Progressive Auto Insurance makes it easy to file an auto insurance claim. You can log into your policy to make a claim online, call its claims number at 1-800-776-4737, or use the Progressive app.

Progressive has long been an online company but sells policies through broker agents. If you purchased through a local insurance agent, you could also contact them to help you with claims.

Progressive Car Insurance FAQs

Methodology: How We Reviewed Progressive Car Insurance

We evaluate auto insurance companies based on a combination of important factors. For example, customer service ratings, accessibility, price, user-friendliness, and other factors all play a role in the overall performance of an auto insurance company. You can read more about our insurance rating methodology to see how we assign ratings.

Our rating is only one aspect of a review. We break down the pros and cons to help consumers make informed decisions. Whatever your auto insurance needs, we recommend getting three quotes to compare companies and find your most competitive option.

Compare Progressive Car Insurance vs. AAA

Progressive and AAA Auto Insurance are ranked in JD Power's Auto Insurance Study. Progressive ranks lower than AAA in some regions, but AAA is not available in all states, while Progressive offers auto insurance in all 50 states and Washington, DC. In addition, AAA may require a membership, while Progressive does not.

While both companies offer free quotes online, AAA also provides AAA Triple Check, which helps individuals determine if they have enough coverage and all available discounts. If you're running quotes for yourself online, we recommend letting AAA Triple Check evaluate your plan. Then ensure your Progressive coverages match to see which company is more affordable.

Progressive's licensing in all 50 states is particularly handy for drivers looking to travel or move to a new state for school, work, or something else. However, AAA's roadside service and other membership perks may appeal more to existing AAA members.

Compare Progressive Car Insurance vs. Nationwide

Progressive and Nationwide Auto Insurance earned high rankings on JD Power's latest auto insurance study. Still, this time Progressive ranks higher than Nationwide. Neither company requires membership to obtain auto insurance, and both companies offer similar auto insurance discount programs.

An important distinction between Progressive Snapshot and Nationwide SmartRide should not be ignored. Nationwide SmartRide is exclusively designed to be used as a discount program. Progressive Snapshot, on the other hand, evaluates your driving to set your rates. So your semi-annual premiums could also rise because of Snapshot data.

Progressive and Nationwide have long operated as online insurance providers. However, you can buy either brand through an insurance agent if you need a more personal touch. The best way to compare these two similar companies is by running side-by-side quotes. Ensure your liability limits and other coverages match to ensure you're getting the most competitive pricing for the coverage you want.

Compare Progressive Car Insurance vs. Lemonade

Lemonade Auto Insurance is an InsurTech company offering auto insurance 100% online. It provides auto, home, life, pet, and renters insurance in many states. However, interested customers should check the company's website to verify their state is covered.

Lemonade uses location-based technology to set premiums, similar to Progressive's Snapshot program. In addition, the Lemonade app assigns discounts for driving less or owning an electric or hybrid vehicle. It can also alert Emergency services if you've been in an accident and offers free roadside assistance.

Like Progressive, Lemonade offers discounts for bundling your auto insurance with another product. It touts prices as low as $30/month on its website for liability coverage, making Lemonade the cheaper option. However, there may be better options for less tech-savvy buyers or those looking for stable premiums based on traditional underwriting guidelines (driving history, credit score, insurance history, etc.). Progressive is the more trusted option among many drivers, with its licensing in all 50 states and a network of broker agents working alongside its website and mobile app.

Like we've said with the other comparable products, match up the coverage on your quotes if you're debating between Lemonade and Progressive. Ensure you're getting the most competitive price and not cutting coverage to save money.