Progressive vs. USAA: Which Is Best? (2024)

USAA’s high customer satisfaction, financial strength, and highly rated mobile app earn it an IQ Score of 4.5 out of 5.

Jamie Johnson
Written byJamie Johnson
Jamie Johnson
Jamie Johnson
  • 6 years experience in personal finance writing

  • Featured on Credit Karma and Insider

Jamie is a meticulous researcher who has published 2,000+ personal finance articles. Her expertise is trusted by major brands like Bankrate and Rocket Mortgage.

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Katie Powers
Edited byKatie Powers
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Katie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
  • Licensed auto and home insurance agent

  • 3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing

Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
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Konstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
  • 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 April 17, 2024

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USAA and Progressive are popular options for auto insurance and two of the largest car insurance companies in the U.S. by market share.[1] Both car insurance companies provide national coverage, but USAA only sells coverage to former, active, and reserve military members and their families. If you qualify for membership, USAA offers the cheapest option overall.

However, it’s crucial to compare your options when shopping for car insurance. In addition to the average rates, you’ll want to take a closer look at the customer experience, discounts, and coverage options available when deciding on an insurer.

Quick Facts
  • USAA provides cheaper rates than Progressive for liability-only and full-coverage auto insurance, on average.

  • Progressive earned a slightly higher financial strength rating from AM Best than USAA.

  • Progressive offers more unique coverage options, but USAA provides more discounts to drivers.

Progressive vs. USAA: The verdict

USAA is the best option when it comes to overall customer service satisfaction — the company received an above-average ranking in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, while Progressive ranked below average.[2] Both companies are available nationwide, though USAA only serves veterans, military members, and their families.

Both companies offer standard coverage options, though Progressive has a wider variety of available policy add-ons, like pet injury protection and trip interruption coverage. USAA offers slightly more discounts than Progressive.

Learn more about the two companies below.

FactorProgressiveUSAA
IQ Score3.94.5
J.D. Power customer satisfaction score812 out of 1,000876 out of 1,000
Average quote: liability only$81$46
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 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. Criteria are weighted 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 5 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. We update ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.

    • Third-party financial ratings: We use 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 20,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also considered 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 United States, 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 identified the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share to score availability and reach.

Progressive

Progressive is the second-largest auto insurance company in the U.S. and provides various unique coverage options. The company sells many other insurance products, including homeowners, condo, renters, flood, life, travel, and business insurance.

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IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
4
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
819
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.
$81/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.
$143/mo

Although its founding in 1937 makes Progressive comparatively young, it is among the largest car insurers in the U.S. The company offers car, home, renters, commercial, and other types of insurance. Progressive customers can enjoy savings by bundling their car insurance with another type of Progressive policy – typically homeowners or renters. Available discounts range from multi-policy and multi-car discounts, to the Snapshot save driver discount. Progressive has an A.M. Best rating of A+ for financial stability. However, the company has a slightly higher-than-expected number of complaints in the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer Complaints Index.

Pros
  • Rewards for good drivers

  • Numerous coverage options and discounts available

Cons
  • Higher-than-expected amount of complaints

  • Ranked 11 out of 15 companies in the J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking

Read our Progressive review
Kevin - April 17, 2024
Verified

Wonder Why They Did That?

They dropped me without any explanation, yet they let me renew without asking any questions.

Ishmeal - April 17, 2024
Verified

Too high for someone who's been driving for over 50 years with no tickets

I wouldn't recommend them; it's too expensive.

Stanley - April 17, 2024
Verified

Still Shopping

They are overpriced. I have one speeding ticket in 50 years and they won't forgive it. I've been driving for 67 years and have NEVER had a DWI.

USAA

USAA auto insurance consistently earns high rankings for customer service, and the company provides some of the lowest rates available. The company received an A++ (Superior) rating for financial strength from AM Best. Unfortunately, USAA membership is only available to veterans, active-duty and reserve service members, and their eligible family members.

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IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
4.3
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
880
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.
$46/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.
$100/mo

In business for more than 100 years, USAA exclusively serves members of the military and their immediate families. The company offers multiple types of insurance products, as well as banking, investing, and retirement services. Auto insurance customers have access to a number of discounts, including for bundling, insuring multiple vehicles, living on a military base, and more. A.M. Best gives USAA an A++ rating for financial strength, and the company had the highest or second-highest rating of all insurers in every region in J.D. Power’s Overall Customer Satisfaction Index. Customer reviews are mixed for service and claims processing.

Pros
  • Low premiums

  • SafePilot program rewards good driving with up to 30% discount

Cons
  • Only available to active-duty military, veterans, military spouses, or children of service members or veterans

  • No 24/7 customer phone support

Read our USAA review
Tom - April 16, 2024
Verified

USAA Excellence for Auto and Personal Property Insurance

Excellent.

Joseph - April 13, 2024
Verified

Excellent

It has been very good for a long time.

Candace - April 12, 2024
Verified

USAA Didn't Look Out for Me!

I was overcharged and rated incorrectly.

Progressive Snapshot vs. USAA SafePilot

Progressive Snapshot and USAA SafePilot are both usage-based insurance programs that reward customers for safe driving habits.

The Snapshot program focuses on usage-based driving, so how often you actually drive will influence your car insurance rate. You’ll track your mileage using a plug-in device or the company’s mobile app. You can maximize your discounts by limiting hard braking and accelerations, avoiding late-night trips in the car, and staying off your phone.

You’ll automatically save 10% by enrolling in the USAA SafePilot program and could save up to 30% at your next policy renewal. To start, you’ll download the SafePilot app, which will collect information about how much time you spend driving, what time of day you drive, and other factors that influence your safety on the road.

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Progressive vs. USAA: Which is the cheapest?

USAA is the cheapest option overall for liability-only and full-coverage auto insurance. However, the exact cost of your coverage will vary depending on multiple factors. Your driving record, location, age, and credit all affect your car insurance rates. For example, if you live in a ZIP code with high vandalism rates, you can expect to pay more for auto insurance.[3]

USAA: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record

USAA is the cheapest option for drivers with a clean driving record, but both companies fall below the national average for both liability and full-coverage insurance.

Driver TypeProgressiveUSAA
Clean driving record$81$46
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.

USAA: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket

Speeding puts others at risk, so receiving even one speeding ticket can cause your car insurance rates to increase. Progressive offers lower rates for high-risk drivers who have received a speeding ticket.

Driver TypeProgressiveUSAA
Drivers with a speeding ticket$101$53
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.

USAA: Cheapest for teen drivers

Young drivers have a higher risk of having a fatal crash due to their lack of driving experience and potential for risky behaviors. The insurers offer similar quotes for teen drivers.

Driver TypeProgressiveUSAA
18-year-old$147$71
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.

USAA: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit

In most states, insurance companies can consider your credit-based insurance score to determine your premiums. Drivers with good credit typically find cheaper car insurance rates than people with poor credit.

Driver TypeProgressiveUSAA
Drivers with bad credit$88$58
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.

USAA: Cheapest for senior drivers

On average, senior drivers will find the lowest rates for car insurance by choosing USAA. However, both Progressive and USAA offer affordable coverage for senior drivers.

Driver TypeProgressiveUSAA
Senior drivers$50$36
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. USAA

Progressive and USAA offer the standard types of coverage you’d expect to see in an auto insurance policy. That includes liability, collision, uninsured motorist, and comprehensive coverage.

However, Progressive offers more unique add-on coverage options than USAA. For example, if your pet incurs an injury while riding in the car with you, Progressive will cover up to $1,000 in veterinary bills. The company also offers trip interruption coverage, which pays for up to $500 in costs if your vehicle breaks down more than 100 miles from home.

Certain coverage options can vary depending on your location. For instance, USAA provides rideshare insurance to customers in every state except Hawaii, North Carolina, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, New York, South Carolina, and Virginia.

CoverageProgressiveUSAA
Gap insuranceYesNo
Roadside assistanceYesYes
Rental reimbursementYesYes
Rideshare insuranceYesYes
Pet injury coverageYesNo
Trip interruptionYesNo

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Compare discounts: Progressive vs. USAA

USAA offers slightly more discounts than Progressive, which may partially account for why it’s the cheapest option overall. With USAA, you can receive a discount for driving a vehicle less than 3 years old or for having anti-theft devices installed. USAA also offers a discount to low-mileage drivers and to anyone storing their vehicle temporarily.

Progressive offers a discount to homeowners and students attending school more than 100 miles from home, which USAA doesn’t.

DiscountProgressiveUSAA
Clean driving recordYesYes
Defensive driving courseNoYes
Multi-policyYesYes
Multi-carYesYes
Low mileageNoYes
Telematics (safe driving app)YesYes
Anti-theft deviceYes, in some statesYes
New carNoYes
Military/affiliationNoYes
Good studentYesYes
LoyaltyYesYes
Auto payYesYes
Student away at schoolYesNo
HomeownerYesNo
Alternative fuelNoNo

Progressive vs. USAA FAQs

Progressive and USAA are both excellent car insurance options to consider. The best car insurance company for you depends on your needs and financial situation. Here’s some additional information you can consider.

  • Is Progressive as good as USAA?

    Progressive ranks higher than USAA in some categories but falls behind in others. For example, USAA offers more competitive rates overall, but Progressive provides more coverage options and add-ons. USAA has higher customer satisfaction rankings, and Progressive doesn’t limit coverage to military members.

  • What are the disadvantages of USAA?

    The biggest disadvantage of USAA is that it’s only available to veterans, active-duty and reserve service members, and their eligible family members. Most drivers don’t qualify for USAA membership, and you must become a USAA member before you can receive a quote for auto insurance.

  • Is USAA car insurance really cheaper?

    USAA car insurance consistently offers some of the cheapest options for car insurance. Compared to Progressive, it’s the best option for drivers with a clean record, teen drivers, and seniors. If neither option works for you, you may want to consider other insurers, like State Farm, GEICO, or American Family.

  • What are the key differences between Progressive’s and USAA’s insurance policies?

    Progressive and USAA both offer the standard coverage options you’d expect to see. However, Progressive offers more unique coverage options, like pet injury, gap, and trip interruption coverage.

Methodology

Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.

Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).

Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:

  • Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
  • Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
  • No additional coverage
Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:
  • Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
  • Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible

Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.

Sources

  1. National Association of Insurance Commissioners. "Property and Casualty Insurance Industry 2022 Top 25 Groups and Companies By Countrywide Premium."
  2. J.D. Power. "Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Plummets as Rates Continue to Surge, J.D. Power Finds."
  3. Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
Jamie Johnson
Jamie Johnson

Jamie Johnson is a Kansas City-based personal finance writer whose work has been featured on several of the top finance and business sites in the country, including Insider, Credit Karma, Bankrate, Rocket Mortgage, Fox Business, Quicken Loans, and The Balance. For the past six years, she's dedicated more than 10,000 hours of research and writing to more than 2,000 articles about personal finance topics.

Katie Powers
Edited byKatie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
Photo of an Insurify author
Katie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
  • Licensed auto and home insurance agent

  • 3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing

Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
  • 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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