- Customer satisfaction ratings are average for auto insurance.
- Relative to its size, Progressive auto insurance gets fewer complaints to state regulators than other companies
- Offers a variety of helpful tools and apps for tech-savvy consumers.
Progressive is probably best known for its car insurance, although it also offers insurance for just about anything with a motor. The country’s third-largest auto insurance provider also offers home, renters and life insurance through third parties.
Progressive insurance review details
Auto insurance rating
Progressive ranked 19th out of 24 insurers in NerdWallet’s ranking of the best car insurance companies, earning 3.5 stars out of 5 for overall performance. NerdWallet’s rating is a score based on:
- J.D. Power ratings for customer service, claims satisfaction and shopping satisfaction.
- Consumer Reports customer satisfaction ratings.
- Consumer complaints against the insurer, based on data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Progressive auto insurance coverage options
Progressive offers the usual auto insurance choices, as well as many add-on options. Depending on your state, you can choose from:
- Roadside assistance, which pays for help if you run out of gas or in case of a breakdown, flat tire, dead battery or keys locked in your car.
- Gap insurance, under which Progressive pays up to 25% above the value of your car if it’s totaled, to cover a loan or lease balance.
- Custom parts and equipment value, which pays to fix or replace custom accessories you add to your car.
- Pet injury protection, included if you buy collision coverage. It pays veterinarian bills if your pet is injured in a car accident.
- Deductible savings bank: If you have comprehensive and collision coverage, you can opt into this program that reduces your deductible by $50 every six months you’re claim-free, all the way down to $0.
Snapshot is a free opt-in program that collects information on your driving habits, including speed, how much you drive and when you drive. Progressive uses the data to adjust your insurance rates up or down next time you renew, and you get an automatic discount for signing up. Data is collected either from a device you plug in to your vehicle or a mobile app.
Rideshare insurance is available from Progressive for residents in 32 states and the District of Columbia who drive for companies such as Uber and Lyft. Typical insurance from ridesharing companies only covers the period between accepting a ride and dropping off a customer. This add-on insurance expands your personal auto policy anytime you have the app on, so you’re covered even between rides.
» MORE: Rideshare insurance for drivers
Other types of insurance from Progressive
In addition to auto insurance, you can get the following types of policies directly from Progressive:
| Progressive Insurance policy options | |
|---|---|
| Commercial auto insurance | Snowmobile insurance |
| Boat insurance | Travel trailer insurance |
| All-terrain vehicle insurance | Segway insurance |
| Recreational vehicle insurance | Umbrella insurance |
Progressive offers other policies through third parties. You can get a quote and sign up for these policies through Progressive, and even receive a discount on your existing Progressive policy if you combine the policies. Here are other types of insurance you can get from Progressive’s partners:
| Third-party insurance through Progressive | |
|---|---|
| Homeowners insurance | Classic car insurance |
| Renters insurance | Mechanical repair insurance |
| Mobile home insurance | Travel insurance |
| Condo insurance | Wedding and event insurance |
| Flood insurance | Pet insurance |
| Business insurance | ID theft insurance |
| Life insurance | Insurance for driving in Mexico |
» COMPARE: Home insurance quotes from Progressive
Progressive at a glance
Financial strength: A+ (“superior”)
Progressive’s financial strength is “superior,” according to ratings agency A.M. Best. Financial strength is important because it indicates how well an insurer can pay claims.
Complaints
Progressive had fewer than the median number of complaints to state regulators for auto insurance in 2018 relative to its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Customer satisfaction
Progressive does relatively poorly in recent Consumer Reports surveys, and average in J.D. Power studies.
| 2018 J.D. Power Study | Progressive ranks... |
|---|---|
| Insurance Shopping (Auto) | About average |
| Auto Insurance Claims Satisfaction | About average |
More about Progressive
Website: Progressive’s website includes an insurance quote tool and a portal where customers can log on, pay bills and see claim statuses. Additional helpful features include:
- The Name Your Price tool, which helps you find a policy to fit your budget. Keep in mind that a lower price will come with a trade-off in coverage.
- A comparison feature that shows competitor rates alongside Progressive’s quote for the same policy options.
- Auto financing resources that allow you to get an auto loan quote or refinancing quote from Capital One, a Progressive partner.
Mobile app: Progressive’s main smartphone app allows you to report a claim and helps you find a repair service center.
Snapshot mobile app: When you sign up for Snapshot, this app can tell you about your driving behavior, details about your trips and provide custom tips to improve your driving. It can also monitor your driving, instead of plugging a device into your car’s data port, but that feature isn’t available in every state.
Virtual assistance: If you have a Google Home device, you can use it to ask Progressive’s digital voice assistant a variety of insurance questions. Or you can use Facebook Messenger to get a quote from Progressive’s Flo Chatbot, or ask her an insurance-related question.
» MORE: Compare car insurance
