USAA vs Progressive
USAA 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
USAA takes it, 2–1 on rounds.
On averages USAA is cheaper by about $527 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 USAA if…
- • You want USAA's lower average rate
- • You want a telematics programme that cannot raise your rate
Choose Progressive if…
- • You want Progressive's particular strengths
- • You drive well and will accept being monitored
Round by round
- Round 1What you actually payUSAA winsUSAA9/10
$1,533
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
Progressive5/10$2,060
average annual full-coverage premium
- Rates vary widely by driver
- Figures from independent rate studies
- About $527/yr more on average
Source: https://www.usnews.com/insurance/auto/cheapest-car-insurance-companies
About $527 a year apart — and USAA is the cheaper one.
- Round 2Being tracked for a discountUSAA winsUSAA8/10
30% max
SafePilot — 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/
Progressive5/1030% 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/
USAA can only discount you. The other one can charge you more.
- Round 3Whether you can even buy itProgressive winsUSAA3/10
military members, veterans and their families only
who is allowed to buy a policy
- Consistently the cheapest major insurer
- Military affiliation required
Source: https://www.usnews.com/insurance/auto/cheapest-car-insurance-companies
Progressive9/10open to all
who is allowed to buy a policy
- Anyone can buy it
Source: https://www.usnews.com/insurance/auto/cheapest-car-insurance-companies
USAA wins on paper and is unavailable to most people.
- Round 4What happens when you claimTieUSAA6/10
no 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
Progressive6/10see 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
The cheap ones are rarely the ones you want on the phone after a crash.
- Round 5Size, reach and who you deal withTieUSAA7/10
consistently the cheapest major insurer
market position
- Established national carrier
Source: https://www.usnews.com/insurance/auto/cheapest-car-insurance-companies
Progressive7/10top-three auto insurer by market share
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
- Cheaper on the published averages
- Figures from independent rate studies
- Consistently the cheapest major insurer
- Established national carrier
- Rates vary widely by driver
- Figures from independent rate studies
- Advertised up to 30%
- Opt-in
- Your own quote may differ sharply
- Military affiliation required
- Advertised maximum is rarely reached
- Typical real saving is nearer 10%
- About $527/yr more on average
- Bad driving can increase your premium
- Typical real saving is nearer 10%
- Not a leader on claims satisfaction