Auto Insurance · Editor review
Progressive review.
Best for: Drivers with imperfect records (tickets, accidents) and shoppers who want their telematics data to actively lower their rate.
Avg annual premium
$1,633
A.M. Best rating
—
Provider type
carrier
Coverage
50 states
What we like
- +Aggressive underwriting for drivers with accidents, tickets, or coverage lapses
- +Snapshot telematics discount averages 10–25% for safe drivers (per Progressive's published disclosures)
- +Name Your Price tool lets you build a policy from your budget down
- +Strong A.M. Best financial strength rating (A+, Superior)
What we don't
- −Snapshot can RAISE your rate at renewal if scores poorly (notably for night driving + hard braking)
- −Customer-service satisfaction historically below State Farm and USAA in J.D. Power surveys
- −Add-on coverages (rental, roadside, gap) priced above industry median in many states
- −Some discounts (e.g., paid-in-full) are smaller than competitors offer
Editor's verdict
Progressive is the third-largest U.S. auto insurer (NAIC 2024) and pioneered telematics-based usage pricing with Snapshot. Their underwriting is famously aggressive for non-standard risks — accidents, DUIs, lapses in coverage — so they're often the lowest rate where other carriers' programs decline or surcharge heavily. The Name Your Price tool is a UX win for budget-constrained shoppers. Snapshot is genuinely good for safe drivers (typical 10–25% savings) but reads phone-handling and hard braking aggressively, so it doesn't pay every applicant.
Advertiser disclosure: Offers below are from partners that compensate us when you click or apply. Compensation does not determine our rankings. How we make money.
Progressive FAQ
Does Snapshot actually save money?+
On average yes (10–25% per Progressive's published data) — but only for drivers who genuinely don't brake hard, drive late at night, or handle their phone while driving. Snapshot reads phone-handling aggressively starting in late 2024 enrollment cohorts. If you have a long highway commute and don't touch your phone, Snapshot is a net win. If you have a stop-and-go urban commute, your score may not improve your rate.
Is Progressive cheaper than GEICO?+
It depends on your driving record. For clean records and standard vehicles, GEICO is more often the lower published rate. For drivers with at-fault accidents in the past 3 years, drivers with a DUI, drivers who let coverage lapse, or non-standard vehicles — Progressive's underwriting is more often the cheaper accept. Always quote both before binding.
Does Progressive offer accident forgiveness?+
Yes, with two flavors: small-accident forgiveness (built in after 3 years claim-free with Progressive) and large-accident forgiveness (paid add-on). The built-in version is genuinely free; the paid add-on costs roughly $30–80/year depending on state and tier. Compare against the rate increase you'd actually pay after a claim before buying — it's not always worth it.