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Progressive Car Insurance
Progressive is one of the largest auto insurers in the United States, with over 10 million policies. Competitors include Allstate, GEICO, Farmers Insurance Group, Nationwide Insurance, State Farm, and USAA. Auto insurance is sold through over 30,000 independent insurance agents, or direct over the phone or net. You may have seen their adjusters driving around in white Ford Explorers and Ford Escapes with the giant Progressive logo
Progressive scored below average in J.D. Powers 2011 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. Meaning they are more expensive than some other carriers. Shop around in the manila zip code box above! They also earned got top honors as the best car insurance website for customer experience, according to a study by Keynote Competitive Research.
- Pricing
- Snapshot Discount
- Bundling
- Name your price campaign
- Auto insurance discounts (California)
- Progressive Insurance Comparison
- Politics
- Auto Insurance Litigation
Pricing
Rates may be different If you buy through an agent, your rate would include a sales commission. If you buy directly from Progressive, the rate reflects their overhead and acquisition costs. Progressive scored only about average in J.D. Powers 2011 U.S. Auto Insurance Pricing Study.
The Snapshot Discount
Progressive offers the possibility saving up to 30% (or being penalized up to 9% in Kansas or Rhode Island) if you let them install a device that plugs into the vehicle's onboard diagnostics port. So your car has to be 1996 or newer. Also you need to be in the 30 states they offer Snapshot: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin.
Progressive's Snapshot tracks your mileage. It's a great way to verify mileage for probably the majority of their customers who under report. Time you drive: When you drive your car may determine your chances of getting into an accident. Hint; rush hour and after the bars close are not good. And Progressive tracks sudden braking, which would indicate high speed, distracted driving, or tailgating. Progressive has your race results within 7-10 days after sign up.
In Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, Rhode Island and South Carolina, you'll pay a $30 "technology expense" to get the snapshot installed. I guess tech is more expensive in those states, for Progressive! If you unenroll from the Snapshot program, Progressive claims they won't use the info they complied.
More than 100,000 drivers have signed up for the Snapshot policy, which is currently offered in 27 states. California also recently approved such plans for competitors State Farm and AAA.
Progressive claims when you bundle your home and auto insurance with, you will save money via a “multi policy” discount. Progressive does not “write” homeowners insurance, half of the multi. They just get paid by Homesite Insurance Group and IDS Property Casualty Insurance Company for selling it.
Progressive's "Name Your Price” jingle is a nice widget where you pick how much you want to pay for coverage, then it gives your options. The problem, every carrier gives you the chance to choose separate limits nowadays. It makes sense, since Progressive is a direct writer, so they are giving you one tool which helps you decide coverage vs. speaking to a sales rep.
The name your price feature is useful, but in the end, is not a special deal or discount. There is no way to price match to other car insurance companies's premiums.
| I'm different because I believe many people are OVERinsured. Don't just drop coverage, look at the parts of an are youautop policy you are not using. Like car rental, if you have a car you can borrow. Drivers who used our service get multiple rates, save money and get better coverage. There over 100 car insurance companies, so don't try and determine the discounts for every carrier on your own. For low auto insurance rates, choose your state to the right. |
Progressive West auto insurance discounts in California:
- Anti-Theft Device discount of 20%
- Mature Driver course discounts of 5%
- Group programs of 12%
- Snapshot Discount of up to -9% (penalty) up to 30%
- Multi car discount of 10% - 28%
- Good student discount of
- Multi-policy discount of up to 10%
Progressive West does not give discounts in California for:
- Anti-lock brakes
- Drivers training
- Low mileage
- Mature drivers
- Daytime auto running lights
- Low mileage
- Passive restraints (seat belts)
Comparison of Auto Insurance Carriers & Brokers
| Carrier Name | Pay by mile? | JD Powers Claims paying |
JD Powers Rates Out of 5 |
JD Powers Overall Out of 5 |
Editor Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21st Century | Yes | 2 | 3 | 2 |  |
| AAA | Yes | 2 | 2 | 2 |  |
| AIG | No | *NR | *NR | *NR |  |
| Acceptance Ins. | No | *NR | *NR | *NR | |
| American Family | No | 4 | 3 | 3 | |
| Affirmative Insurance | No | *NR | *NR | *NR | |
| Allied | No | *NR | *NR | *NR | |
| Allstate | Yes | 3 | 2 | 3 | |
| Ameriprise | No | No | 5 | 4 |
|
| Amica | No | 4 | 5 | 5 |  |
| California Casualty | No | *NR | *NR | *NR | |
| Coast National | No | *NR | *NR | *NR | |
| CSAA | No | 3 | 4 | 3 | |
| Direct General | No | *NR | *NR | *NR | |
| Electric Insurance | No | *NR | *NR | *NR | |
| Encompass Insurance | No | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Erie | No | 3 | 5 | 4 | |
| Esurance | No | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| Explorer | No | *NR | *NR | *NR | |
| Farmers | No | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Geico | No | 3 | 4 | 3 | |
| GMAC | Yes | *NR | 3 | 2 | |
| The Hartford | No | 4 | 3 | 3 | |
| The Hanover | No | 3 | 2 | 2 | |
| Horace Mann | No | *NR | *NR | *NR | |
| Infinity | No | *NR | *NR | *NR | |
| Liberty Mutual | Business | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| Mercury | No | 3 | 3 | 2 | |
| Metlife | No | 3 | 3 | 2 | |
| MileMeter | Yes | *NR | *NR | *NR | |
| Nationwide | No | 3 | 2 | 2 | |
| New Jersey Manufacturers | No | No | 5 | 5 | |
| Progressive | Yes | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| Prudential | No | *NR | *NR | *NR | |
| Safeco | No | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| Safeway | No | No | Yes | *NR | |
| State Farm | Yes | 4 | 3 | 4 | |
| Titan | No | No | No | *NR | |
| Travelers | No | 3 | 3 | 2 | |
| Unigard | No | *NR | *NR | *NR | |
| Unitrin Direct | No | *NR | *NR | *NR | |
| USAA | No | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
| Viking | No | *NR | *NR | *NR | |
| Wausau | No | *NR | *NR | *NR | |
| Wawanesa | No | *NR | *NR | *NR | |
| Western General | No | *NR | *NR | *NR |
|
| Western United | No | *NR | *NR | *NR | |
| Workmens | No | *NR | *NR | *NR | |
| Carrier Name | Pay by mile? | JD Powers Claims paying |
JD Powers Rates Out of 5 |
JD Powers Overall Out of 5 |
Editor Rating |
- Acceptance Insurance services AZ, AR, CO, GA, IL, IN, IA, NE, ND, WI
- CSAA or California State Automobile Association services Northern California, Nevada, and Utah
- Esurance services only AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, MD, MI, MO, NJ, NV, NY, OH, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, & MN
- Mercury services only AZ, CA, FL, GA, IL, MI, NJ, NY, NV, OK, PA, TX, & VA
- Viking Insurance is available in the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Progressive Insurance Politics
Progressive has made headlines in the past by donating to liberal causes like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Democracy Alliance and Media Matters.
Progressive Auto Insurance Litigation
In 2009, Progressive was sued for allegedly deceiving policyholders by employing illegally-operated, unlicensed body shops to make repairs on vehicles for their clients in order to save money. The class action lawsuit of Blue Ash Auto Body Inc. v. Progressive Insurance is pending in Ohio.
In 2007, the company apologized after hiring Private Investigators to spy on a church group to collect information on litigants. A lawsuit was filed by the litigants for invasion of privacy and fraud.
In 2002, the company settled with the State of Georgia in a class action lawsuit over diminished value claims brought by policyholders.
Written by Craig J. Casey
Financial Writer helping people with their insurance problems on the net since 1998.
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