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 4.5 out of 5, 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 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 March 14, 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.

FactorProgressiveState Farm
IQ Score3.94.5
J.D. Power customer satisfaction score812833
Average quote: liability only$82$53
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.
  • Insurify uses an in-house, proprietary method to rate and review the best car insurance companies. The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 crucial criteria, including average premiums, customer satisfaction, discounts, third-party ratings, and more, to calculate a final score for a company.

    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. With the IQ Score, Insurify is able to provide quantitative ratings for drivers to better compare car insurance companies and make informed decisions to meet their coverage needs.

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).

Compare personalized, real-time quotes
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.
$82/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.
$146/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

Help lower my cost.

Reine - December 4, 2023
Verified

Excellent customer service.

Cheryl - December 3, 2023
Verified

Best overall insurance cost with options to easily change as needed.

Jeffrey - December 3, 2023
Verified
Read our Progressive review

State Farm

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

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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.
4.4
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
842
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.
$53/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.
$116/mo

State Farm has been in business for more than 100 years, and today sells auto and other vehicle insurance, homeowners, life, health, pet, disability, and small business insurance. Available in all 50 states, State Farm car insurance policies offer multiple ways to save, from customizing coverage types, to a robust list of discounts. The company has far fewer complaints than expected for the industry, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer Complaints Index. State Farm also ranks among the top 10 companies for customer satisfaction in every region on the J.D. Power Overall Customer Satisfaction Index.

Pros
  • High rates of customer satisfaction

  • Rideshare insurance available

Cons
  • No gap insurance offering

  • May not be the cheapest choice for drivers with violations

I am happy with their coverage. I just bought a new car, and my insurance quadrupled. YIKES.

Stacy - December 4, 2023
Verified

Friendly service.

John - December 4, 2023
Verified

Got insurance established fast.

Robert - December 3, 2023
Verified
Read our State Farm review

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 TypeProgressiveState Farm
Clean driving record$82$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.

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 TypeProgressiveState Farm
Drivers with a speeding ticket$102$59
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 TypeProgressiveState Farm
18-year-old$146$87
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 TypeProgressiveState Farm
Drivers with bad credit$90$83
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 TypeProgressiveState Farm
Senior drivers$51$38
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.

CoverageProgressiveState 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.

DiscountProgressiveState 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?." Accessed November 27, 2023
  2. Insurance Information Institute. "Background On: Teen drivers." Accessed November 27, 2023
  3. Insurance Information Institute. "Facts + Statistics: Insurance company rankings." Accessed November 27, 2023
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.

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.

Featured in

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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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