Farmers vs. Progressive: Which Car Insurance Wins in 2026?
Side-by-side breakdown of Farmers and Progressive auto insurance — premium, claims, telematics, discount stack, and the driver profile each carrier fits best.
Editor verdict
Who wins for the average reader?
Progressive wins on price (25-40% lower) and high-risk profiles. Farmers wins specifically for new-car buyers wanting New Car Replacement coverage and drivers who prefer captive-agent service.
Pick Farmers
Pick PROGRESSIVE for price-led shopping, high-risk profiles, or Snapshot telematics.
Pick Progressive
Pick FARMERS for new-car buyers wanting guaranteed-replacement coverage, or drivers in Farmers-strong states (CA, AZ, TX, OK).
Option A
$148 – $216Farmers
New-car-replacement specialist with strong agent UX.
Pros
- New Car Replacement coverage (free for the first 24,000 miles or 2 model years) is unique among the top-10 carriers — if you total a new car, Farmers buys you a brand-new replacement, not just depreciated cash value.
- Premium tier: Premium-tier (niche coverage extras).
- Telematics: Signal — 5-15% off.
- Best for: New-car buyers (within 2 model years) who want guaranteed replacement-value coverage.
Cons
- Premiums run 30-40% above GEICO baseline for clean records.
- Worst for: Used-car owners or budget-conscious shoppers who'd pay more for unused benefits.
- NAIC complaint index: 0.93 (near industry average)
- Financial strength: A.M. Best A (Excellent)
Option B
$112 – $178Progressive
Best for high-risk profiles and pay-as-you-drive.
Pros
- Industry-leading underwriting for high-risk profiles — DUI, multiple accidents, lapsed coverage.
- Premium tier: Mid-tier (best for high-risk niches).
- Telematics: Snapshot — 10-30% off after 6 months.
- Best for: High-risk drivers (DUI, multiple at-fault claims, SR-22 required) or low-mileage drivers who'll benefit from Snapshot.
Cons
- Premiums for clean-record drivers are middling vs.
- Worst for: Aggressive drivers who'd see telematics surcharges, or clean-record drivers who'll find GEICO cheaper.
- NAIC complaint index: 0.95 (near industry average)
- Financial strength: A.M. Best A+ (Superior)
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | Farmers | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Typical monthly premium | $148 – $216 | $112 – $178 |
| Premium tier | Premium-tier (niche coverage extras) | Mid-tier (best for high-risk niches) |
| FICO target | 640+ | 580+ |
| Claims satisfaction score | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Telematics program | Signal — 5-15% off | Snapshot — 10-30% off after 6 months |
| A.M. Best financial strength | A.M. Best A (Excellent) | A.M. Best A+ (Superior) |
| NAIC complaint index | 0.93 (near industry average) | 0.95 (near industry average) |
Typical monthly premium
Farmers
$148 – $216
Progressive
$112 – $178
Premium tier
Farmers
Premium-tier (niche coverage extras)
Progressive
Mid-tier (best for high-risk niches)
FICO target
Farmers
640+
Progressive
580+
Claims satisfaction score
Farmers
4.2 / 5
Progressive
4.3 / 5
Telematics program
Farmers
Signal — 5-15% off
Progressive
Snapshot — 10-30% off after 6 months
A.M. Best financial strength
Farmers
A.M. Best A (Excellent)
Progressive
A.M. Best A+ (Superior)
NAIC complaint index
Farmers
0.93 (near industry average)
Progressive
0.95 (near industry average)
Which is right for you?
Pick Farmers if…
Price-conscious shopper, high-risk profile, or Snapshot-friendly driver. Beats Farmers 25-40% on premium.
Pick Progressive if…
New-car buyer wanting New Car Replacement, OR resident of CA/AZ/TX/OK where Farmers' captive agents drive competitive local pricing.
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