Progressive vs Farmers
Progressive is the cheaper of these two on the published averages. Whether that makes it the better buy depends on three things the price never tells you.
The verdict
Rounds split 1–1; Progressive edges it on total score.
On averages Progressive is cheaper by about $1,147 a year — but get your own quote from both, because the published averages disagree with each other by nearly as much as they differ from one another.
Choose Progressive if…
- • You want Progressive's lower average rate
- • You drive well and will accept being monitored
Choose Farmers if…
- • You want Farmers's particular strengths
- • You want a telematics programme that cannot raise your rate
Round by round
- Round 1What you actually payProgressive winsProgressive9/10
$2,060
average annual full-coverage premium
- Cheaper on the published averages
- Figures from independent rate studies
- Your own quote may differ sharply
Source: https://www.usnews.com/insurance/auto/cheapest-car-insurance-companies
Farmers5/10$3,207
average annual full-coverage premium
- Rates vary widely by driver
- Figures from independent rate studies
- About $1,147/yr more on average
Source: https://www.usnews.com/insurance/auto/cheapest-car-insurance-companies
About $1,147 a year apart — and Progressive is the cheaper one.
- Round 2Being tracked for a discountFarmers winsProgressive5/10
30% max
Snapshot — can increase your rate
- Advertised up to 30%
- Opt-in
- Bad driving can increase your premium
- Typical real saving is nearer 10%
Source: https://www.insuremojo.com/telematics-insurance-discount-programs/
Farmers8/1015% max
Signal — discount only, never an increase
- Cannot be used to raise your rate
- Opt-in
- Advertised maximum is rarely reached
- Typical real saving is nearer 10%
Source: https://www.insuremojo.com/telematics-insurance-discount-programs/
Farmers can only discount you. The other one can charge you more.
- Round 3What happens when you claimTieProgressive6/10
see note
undercuts the market on premium but does not reach the top three on claims satisfaction
- Large enough to have a mature claims operation
- Not a leader on claims satisfaction
Source: https://www.jdpower.com/business/insurance/auto-claims-satisfaction-study
Farmers6/10no standout record
nothing notable in the published studies
- Large enough to have a mature claims operation
- Not a leader on claims satisfaction
Source: https://www.jdpower.com/business/insurance/auto-claims-satisfaction-study
The cheap ones are rarely the ones you want on the phone after a crash.
- Round 4Size, reach and who you deal withTieProgressive7/10
top-three auto insurer by market share
market position
- Established national carrier
Source: https://www.usnews.com/insurance/auto/cheapest-car-insurance-companies
Farmers7/10major national insurer, agent-based
market position
- Established national carrier
Source: https://www.usnews.com/insurance/auto/cheapest-car-insurance-companies
Both are big enough to pay a claim. That is the floor, not a feature.
ProgressiveSide by side
- Rates vary widely by driver
- Figures from independent rate studies
- Advertised up to 30%
- Opt-in
- Rates vary widely by driver
- Figures from independent rate studies
- Cannot be used to raise your rate
- Opt-in
- About $527/yr more on average
- Bad driving can increase your premium
- Typical real saving is nearer 10%
- Not a leader on claims satisfaction
- About $1,177/yr more on average
- Advertised maximum is rarely reached
- Typical real saving is nearer 10%
- About $1,147/yr more on average