Progressive vs. State Farm: Which Is The Best? (2024)

State Farm’s low rates, solid coverage, and extensive discounts earn it an IQ Score of 9.3 out of 10, making it a top option for car insurance.

Taylor Milam-Samuel
Taylor Milam-Samuel
  • 8+ years writing for major outlets, including MarketWatch and Business Insider

  • Master’s in Education

Taylor Mlam-Samuel is a personal finance writer and credentialed educator. When she’s not helping readers better save and spend money, she can be found teaching.

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Ashley Cox
Edited byAshley Cox
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Ashley CoxSenior Managing Editor
  • 7+ years in content creation and management

  • 5+ years in insurance and personal finance content

Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
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Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

Updated December 19, 2024

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State Farm and Progressive are large insurance companies with policies available in all 50 states. State Farm is known for its competitive pricing and high J.D. Power customer satisfaction ratings. Progressive stands out due to its robust coverage options, including loan payoff protection and pet injury coverage.

Both companies offer solid coverage, but depending on your priorities, one might be better for you. To determine the best option for you, compare rates, customer service reviews, and discount options. Your age, driving record, location, and chosen coverage levels can also help determine which insurer is better for your unique situation.

Here’s how Progressive and State Farm compare.

Quick Facts
  • State Farm’s rates are lower than Progressive’s for every type of driver, including for seniors and teenagers.

  • Progressive stands out with add-on coverage options that State Farm doesn’t have.

  • State Farm and Progressive both offer optional telematics programs that track your driving, allowing you to earn discounts for safe behavior.

Progressive vs. State Farm: The verdict

State Farm earns a higher Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and offers lower average rates, making it an excellent pick for budget-conscious drivers with high standards. Drivers can also expect top-notch customer service since the company regularly ranks above average for customer satisfaction in J.D. Power’s auto insurance studies.

Progressive, on the other hand, has more coverage options. Drivers can get pet injury protection and loan/lease payoff coverage, which aren’t available from State Farm.

Progressive’s average rates are higher than State Farm’s, but the company offers a few more discounts, which could help you lower the costs of a Progressive auto insurance policy. And some drivers might consider access to more add-ons worth slightly higher rates.

Factor
Progressive
State Farm
IQ Score8.49.3
J.D. Power customer satisfaction score812833
Average quote: liability only$97$54
Number of discounts1310
Number of states where it operates5050
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
  • Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.

    We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.

    • Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
    • Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 55,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
    • Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
    • Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
    • Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.

Progressive

Progressive is the second-largest car insurance company in the U.S., based on market share, according to data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

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JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
819
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
8.4/10
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$97/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$152/mo

Progressive is the second-largest U.S. auto insurer by market share. The company offers more than 30 insurance products, including auto, home, renters, motorcycle, life, and more. Progressive customers can save through numerous discounts, including ones for bundling auto with a Progressive home or renters policy, for good students or students away at school, enrolling in automatic payments, and more. The insurer’s optional coverages are robust, from loan/lease payoff coverage to providing up to $1,000 for veterinary bills if your pet is injured while riding in your car with you.

Pros
  • Rewards for good drivers

  • Numerous coverage options and discounts available

  • Optional coverage for pet injuries

Cons
  • Much lower-than-average overall customer satisfaction ranking in J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study

  • Trustpilot rating of 1.1 stars (out of 5) from more than 1,000 reviews

  • Rates trend higher than rates from many competitors

Read more driver reviews of Progressive
Robert - December 19, 2024
Verified

Average

They did not call me back as they promised they would.

Vincent - December 19, 2024
Verified

Poor

Too expensive.

Lester - December 19, 2024
Verified

Beware!

Beware of the inaccurate snapshot readings that Progressive uses to increase quotes.

State Farm

State Farm is the largest car insurer by market share in the U.S, according to the NAIC.

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User Reviews
3.2
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
9.3/10
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$54/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$119/mo

State Farm is the largest U.S. auto insurer by market share and has operated for more than 100 years. Available in all 50 states, State Farm stands out for its customer service, extensive discounts, and optional coverages. The insurer ranked fifth for overall customer satisfaction in the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. Safe drivers can enjoy many State Farm discounts, including ones for young motorists who complete an approved driver training course, for having a vehicle with certain safety equipment, and for going three years or longer without violations or at-fault accidents.

Pros
  • High rates of customer satisfaction

  • Rideshare insurance available

  • Savings for bundling auto with home, renters, condo, or life insurance

Cons
  • No gap insurance offering

  • May not be the cheapest choice for drivers with violations

  • Accident forgiveness limited to longtime customers with clean driving records

Read more driver reviews of State Farm
Al - December 19, 2024
Verified

My Opinion

Way too high premium.

Agnes - December 19, 2024
Verified

Best Insurance Company

I have been with them for a long time. Claims are handled quickly. I never had a problem, even when I had three teenagers driving.

Gabriel - December 18, 2024
Verified

My Experience with State Farm

Beware, some companies are more interested in making money than meeting the customers' needs. My wife had a medical issue while driving, and they covered it. A year later, there was a fender bender involving two moving vehicles. To me, it was no fault, but they considered it a second incident. We also had hail damage to our roof. They said there wasn't enough damage, yet my next-door neighbors received a new one. Now, they're canceling me for too much.

Progressive Snapshot vs. State Farm Drive Safe & Save

Progressive and State Farm have optional telematics programs that allow drivers to opt in to tracking through a mobile app. Drivers can earn discounts for safe driving decisions, like following the speed limit, staying off phones, and obeying traffic signs.

With State Farm’s Drive Safe & Save program, you can reduce your car insurance rate by up to 30% — a significant savings. You can enroll in two ways: Download the Drive Safe & Save app or register an eligible vehicle in Connected Car. Your choices on the road determine how much you can save, and State Farm calculates deductions each time your policy renews (typically every six months).

Progressive’s Snapshot program is similar. Policyholders can participate in the program with the mobile app or a plug-in device. Most drivers save around $231 per year with Snapshot, but your actual rate deduction depends on your driving patterns and the amount you drive. You also earn a discount when you sign up.

Good to Know

Both companies’ apps or devices track your driving, including unsafe driving patterns. Reckless driving, like speeding and texting, can increase your rate.

Progressive vs. State Farm: Which is the cheapest?

State Farm has the lower average rates of the two, according to Insurify data. But other factors also affect how much you’ll pay, including your ZIP code, credit history, driving record, and age.[1]

Here’s how State Farm and Progressive rates compare for different driver categories.

State Farm: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record

State Farm has cheaper average rates for drivers with clean records.

Driver Type
Progressive
State Farm
Clean driving record$97$54
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

State Farm: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket

Regardless of the insurer, car insurance rates usually increase after a speeding ticket or accident. State Farm’s rates for drivers with a speeding ticket are lower than Progressive’s.

Driver Type
Progressive
State Farm
Drivers with a speeding ticket$115$63
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

State Farm: Cheapest for teen drivers

Due to inexperience and reckless driving, teen drivers typically pay a higher rate.[2] Because of that, it can be even more essential to find competitive rates. State Farm offers lower average rates for young drivers — nearly half the price of Progressive.

Driver Type
Progressive
State Farm
18-year-old$176$95
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

State Farm: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit

Drivers with good credit typically pay less for coverage, while drivers with bad credit tend to pay more. State Farm auto insurance has slightly lower rates for drivers with bad credit. However, the difference in cost between State Farm and Progressive is minimal.

Driver Type
Progressive
State Farm
Drivers with bad credit$116$82
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

State Farm: Cheapest for senior drivers

State Farm’s average rates for senior drivers are more competitive than Progressive’s average rates, which likely makes it a better choice for drivers on a budget.

Driver Type
Progressive
State Farm
Senior drivers$60$39
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Compare coverages: Progressive vs. State Farm

Progressive and State Farm offer many car insurance options, including liability insurance, personal injury protection, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, medical payments, collision, and comprehensive. Both insurers also have optional coverage for roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and rideshare coverage.

The primary difference between the companies is that Progressive offers lease/loan payoff coverage, while State Farm doesn’t. This coverage is similar to gap insurance, which helps cover the difference between what you owe and what your car is worth if it’s totaled. Progressive customers can also access pet injury protection, a unique perk for pet owners.

Here’s how the optional coverage selections for State Farm and Progressive compare.

Coverage
Progressive
State Farm
Gap insuranceYesNo
Roadside assistanceYesYes
Rental reimbursementYesYes
Rideshare insuranceYesYes
Travel expense coverageYesYes
Pet injury coverageYesNo

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Compare discounts: Progressive vs. State Farm

State Farm has better discounts than Progressive. State Farm drivers can earn discounts for completing a defensive driving course, maintaining a clean driving record, and installing an anti-theft device — none of which are available from Progressive. However, neither company offers discounts for military affiliation, low mileage, or alternative fuel.

Here’s how the discount options compare.

Discount
Progressive
State Farm
Clean driving recordNoYes
Defensive driving courseNoYes
Multi-policyYesYes
Multi-carYesYes
Low mileageNoNo
Telematics (safe driving app)YesYes
Anti-theft deviceNoYes
New carNoNo
Military/affiliationNoNo
Good studentYesYes
LoyaltyYesYes
Auto payYesNo
Student away at schoolYesYes
HomeownerYesYes
Alternative fuelNoNo

Progressive vs. State Farm FAQs

State Farm and Progressive are well-known insurers with solid coverage, but they have some notable differences. Here’s what to consider as you decide between the two companies.

  • Is Progressive or State Farm more expensive?

    Progressive is more expensive than State Farm based on average car insurance rates since State Farm’s rates are lower. However, your car insurance company is only one factor that affects how much you pay — others include your location, age, driving record, and vehicle type.

  • Is Progressive bigger than State Farm?

    State Farm is the largest auto insurer by market share, which means it’s the most prominent car insurance company in the United States. Progressive has the third-largest market share.[3] Both auto insurance companies have solid financial strength and provide insurance nationwide.

  • Is State Farm the same as Progressive?

    State Farm and Progressive aren’t the same company. Both companies offer car insurance coverage and other insurance products for consumers, including homeowners and life insurance. But the companies aren’t connected.

  • Is Progressive or State Farm better for car insurance?

    The best car insurance company depends on what you’re looking for in an insurer. State Farm is probably the best choice if you’re looking for the cheapest rates. However, Progressive auto insurance might be better if you need lease/loan payoff protection or want auto insurance coverage for your pet.

Sources

  1. Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
  2. Insurance Information Institute. "Background On: Teen drivers."
  3. Insurance Information Institute. "Facts + Statistics: Insurance company rankings."
Taylor Milam-Samuel
Taylor Milam-Samuel

Taylor Milam-Samuel is a writer and credentialed educator who is fascinated by how people earn, save, and spend their money. When she's not researching financial terms and conditions, she can be found in the classroom teaching.

Taylor has been a contributor at Insurify since February 2023.

Ashley Cox
Edited byAshley CoxSenior Managing Editor
Headshot of Managing Editor Ashley Cox
Ashley CoxSenior Managing Editor
  • 7+ years in content creation and management

  • 5+ years in insurance and personal finance content

Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

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