Progressive vs. State Farm

Progressive came out on top as the best overall car insurance provider for price according to our most recent data, but State Far, may be better for specific circumstances, such as if you have an accident on your record.

Progressive vs. State Farm: Pros and Cons of Each

Progressive Is Better For:

• Policyholders who prefer to purchase and manage their policy online due to certain related discounts
• Drivers with clean records, as well as those with low credit or a DUI on their record
• Those who may benefit from accident forgiveness

State Farm Is Better For:

• Drivers with accidents or speeding tickets
• Those who drive fewer than average miles annually
• Policyholders who prioritize customer service

Cost is naturally one of the most important factors when you’re choosing an auto insurance company. In this category, Progressive comes out on top for drivers with clean records, DUIs and low credit, as the company offers lower rates, on average, for standard full coverage. State Farm is cheaper for drivers with a speeding ticket or an accident on their record.

All of these rates are averages, so keep in mind that your quoted premiums may differ. It’s always wise to get rates from more than one company because a different one may be cheaper for your specific profile.

Both Progressive and State Farm offer the standard coverage options, including liability, comprehensive, collision, medical payments, personal injury protection, and uninsured/underinsured motorist.

Notably, State Farm does not offer accident forgiveness, which could be a dealbreaker if this is important to you

In addition, both offer optional add-on coverage options that can provide more robust financial protection based on your situation:

*Vehicle loans from State Farm Bank include Payoff Protector coverage, which is similar.

Coverage options can vary by state, so always check your quote and talk with an agent to confirm what’s available in your area.

Both State Farm and Progressive offer various auto insurance discounts. These include common discounts, such as those for bundling different types of policies with one insurer, as well as teen-specific discounts, such as good-student discounts.

However, certain discounts are offered by only one of the two companies. So if you can benefit from these, it may affect your rate and, therefore, your choice of insurer. For example, only Progressive offers discounts for online quotes and paperless billing, so if you prefer to manage your policy online, this is a plus.

State Farm offers discounts for having certain safety features and/or anti-theft devices in your vehicle, however. So if you have a newer car, these discounts are worth investigating.

Below is a full list of the main discounts offered by both companies. Keep in mind that discounts vary by state, so always confirm what’s available where you live.

Progressive vs. State Farm Telematics Programs

In addition to their standard discounts, Progressive and State Farm offer telematics discount programs. Progressive has Snapshot, while State Farm has Drive Safe & Save and Steer Clear, the latter of which is specifically for new drivers. These programs use a Bluetooth or plug-in device that you put in your car, as well as the mobile app, to track your driving habits and reward you with a discount for good driving.

When you sign up for Drive Safe & Save, you can get a discount of 5 to 10 percent, and you may get up to 30 percent or more at your next renewal, depending on your state and driving habits. The program is not available in California, Massachusetts or Rhode Island.

Progressive doesn’t advertise the maximum percentage discount for Snapshot, but it claims that safe drivers save an average of $231 when they renew their policy and an average of $94 at sign-up. Snapshot is not available in California, and the sign-up discount is not offered in Hawaii or New York.

State Farm’s telematics program ranked slightly higher than Progressive’s in J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, with a score of 820 compared with Progressive’s 816. Both fell slightly below the average score of 821.²

Overall, customers seem to be more satisfied with State Farm’s customer service than with Progressive’s. Here’s how they stack up in various customer experience areas.

Claims Satisfaction

In the 2024 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, State Farm scored 710 out of 1,000, placing it sixth in the country and above the average of 697.³ Progressive, on the other hand, scored 672 out of 1,000, placing it 20th and below average.

However, in the 2024 CRASH Network Insurer Report Card, which tracks auto shops’ experiences dealing with insurers, Progressive received a slightly higher score than State Farm.

Customer Service

Meanwhile, J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, which measures overall customer satisfaction with insurers, ranked State Farm between first and fifth in most regions. Progressive ranked below average in every region.

Here is a breakdown of each company’s score (out of 1,000) by region:

In addition, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), a group that logs customer complaints against insurers, both companies receive more complaints than average, but State Farm fares slightly better. As of 2023, State Farm had an NAIC Complaint Index score of 1.96,⁴ while Progressive’s was 2.13.⁵ A score of 1 is considered the expected amount of complaints for a company in the market.

Shopping

When it comes to shopping around for and purchasing an insurance policy, customers are more satisfied with State Farm’s process than Progressive’s, on average. Both companies offer flexible options for getting a quote, including online and on the phone with an agent. However, only Progressive allows customers to purchase a policy online.

It’s notable, therefore, that State Farm ranked more highly for customer service in J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study despite not offering the ease of online purchasing. It ranked fourth in the study, while Progressive ranked ninth.⁶ The study evaluates insurers on factors such as the policy offerings, price, quote process and distribution channel. Therefore, State Farm’s ranking suggests customers are satisfied with aspects such as pricing and availability of agents.

Both Progressive and State Farm have robust online tools, including mobile apps, for customers to access policy information, file claims, get roadside assistance and more. Here’s a breakdown of each app:

Based on J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Insurance Digital Experience Study, customers are most satisfied overall with Progressive’s digital tools. In the service category, the company ranked first out of 16 national insurers, with a score of 737 out of 1,000. Meanwhile, State Farm came in sixth, with a score of 703. Both companies scored above the segment average.⁷

In the shopping category, Progressive scored above average, with a score of 519 out of 1,000, while State Farm scored below average, with a score of 513. The scores likely reflect that Progressive offers online quotes, while State Farm relies more on in-person agent interactions.

Both Progressive and State Farm are national insurers with good reputations overall. Progressive may be cheaper, on average, for most drivers, but you should always get quotes from both companies to compare, and at least one other company as well. If you have an accident or a speeding ticket on your record, you may get better rates from State Farm.

Overall, State Farm fares better for customer service and claims handling, so if those are priorities for you, this is an important consideration to keep in mind. Both companies offer a variety of discounts that may affect your rate, depending on where you live and what you qualify for. Both also offer telematics programs, but only Progressive’s program could increase your rate; sign up only if you are confident in your safe driving habits.

When it comes down to it, if you’re considering either option and get a good rate, you’ll likely have a decent experience, and you can always switch providers if you’re unhappy.

At AutoInsurance.com, we use four key factors to evaluate auto insurers:

• Price (40%): We analyze average premiums for both full and minimum coverage for a standard driving profile of a good driver with good credit. We also look at rates for other driver profiles, including those with violations or low credit. We also consider available discounts. Full-coverage averages use the following limits:
  • Bodily injury liability: $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $50,000 per accident
  • Uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident
  • Comprehensive and collision: $500 deductible
• Claims handling (25%): An auto insurer’s claims handling process should be quick, transparent and efficient, with clear communication, fair evaluation of damages, and timely payment or resolution. We assess claims practices using sources like the CRASH Network Insurer Report Card and J.D. Power’s Claims Satisfaction Report, and financial strength from sources like AM Best and S&P. We also include real-life customer experiences when possible.
• Customer experience (25%): We evaluate the ease of the customer journey, from getting a quote and purchasing a policy to making changes or accessing documents. We consider the availability and quality of both online and agent interactions, as well as the functionality of the company’s website and mobile app. Our sources include J.D. Power studies, the NAIC Complaint Index, BBB ratings, and app store reviews.
• Coverage options (10%): We review each company’s coverage offerings and prioritize providers with options beyond the state-required minimums, such as accident forgiveness, gap coverage and rideshare coverage.

Read more about our ratings and methodology.