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Progressive is a better option than State Farm in many cases thanks to its low rates and robust coverage offerings. Make sure to compare other insurers as well, since neither company could turn out to be your optimal option.
Comparing Progressive vs. State Farm Car Insurance
1
Progressive
Average annual cost for good drivers
$1,826
Average annual cost for drivers with a speeding ticket
$2,350
Complaint level
Low
2
State Farm
Average annual cost for good drivers
$2,025
Average annual cost for drivers with a speeding ticket
$2,270
Complaint level
Low
Progressive earned 4.4 stars in our analysis of the best car insurance companies, outperforming State Farm’s 3.5 stars. Our analysis factored in cost, coverage options, collision repair and complaints against each company. Despite Progressive’s good rating, you may be able to find better options depending on your driving record.
Progressive vs. State Farm: Customer Satisfaction
In our analysis of complaints against both companies, Progressive auto insurance and State Farm were very similar: Both insurers are below the national average for complaint levels, which reflects good customer service.
In customer satisfaction studies by J.D. Power, State Farm does far better than Progressive. In the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, for example, State Farm was ranked No. 5 and scored 891 points out of 1,000 points, vs. Progressive at No. 18 with 870 points—well below the study average. The study looks at customer satisfaction with the claims process.
State Farm also did better than Progressive in J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study. This study looks at customers’ satisfaction with the insurance buying experience. State Farm came in at No. 4 with 695 points out of 1,000, but Progressive came in rather low at No. 12 with 664 points and below the industry average score
Progressive vs. State Farm: Availability
Both Progressive and State Farm are available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. For people moving states, wide availability is convenient, so you don’t have to switch insurers if you don’t want to.
Progressive vs. State Farm: Which Is Better?
If you’re choosing between Progressive and State Farm, your pick may ultimately come down to price and who can offer you the best rates. Progressive has better rates for most of the typical driver profiles we examined.
Progressive Is Better for Good Drivers
Our analysis found Progressive has better rates for good drivers who have no tickets or accidents on their records.
Company | Average national cost per year for a good driver |
---|---|
Progressive | $1,826 |
State Farm | $2,025 |
While Progressive’s average rates are better than State Farm’s, good drivers can likely get even cheaper car insurance. Our analysis found that Nationwide and Travelers have more competitive rates. If you’re a veteran or in the military, or in a military family, check quotes from USAA.
State Farm Is Better If You Have a Speeding Ticket
State Farm will likely be the better option for drivers with a speeding ticket on their records. But rates from both insurers were in the middle of our analysis. Erie and Nationwide had the lowest average costs.
Company | Average national cost per year for a driver with a speeding ticket |
---|---|
Progressive | $2,350 |
State Farm | $2,270 |
State Farm Is Better for Drivers Who Have Caused an Accident
State Farm’s rates are also better for drivers who have caused an accident with an injury. But cheaper options are likely available cheapest. Erie and Travelers are going to be better choices, based on our analysis of rates. And USAA is typically a good choice if you qualify as a military member, veteran or family member.
Company | Average national cost per year for a driver who caused an accident |
---|---|
Progressive | $2,770 |
State Farm | $2,428 |
Progressive Is Better for Drivers With a DUI
It’s hard to beat Progressive’s rates if you have a DUI on your record. Progressive was the cheapest company in these cases among the insurers in our analysis.
Company | Average national cost per year for a driver with a DUI |
---|---|
Progressive | $2,307 |
State Farm | $2,716 |
Progressive Is Better for Drivers With Poor Credit
State Farm is likely going to be extremely expensive for drivers with poor credit. Our analysis found that State Farm is 147% more expensive than Progressive for poor credit drivers.
If you have credit issues, Geico and Nationwide offer much more competitive rates. Military members, veterans and their families should check quotes from USAA.
Company | Average national cost per year for a driver with poor credit |
---|---|
Progressive | $3,221 |
State Farm | $7,961 |
Progressive Is Better for Adding a Teen Driver
Progressive is superior if you’re adding a teen driver to a policy.
Because insurance for teen drivers can pack a wallop to your wallet, it’s smart to compare car insurance quotes. We found that Erie and Nationwide have the most competitive rates for teens. Military members and veterans should check USAA’s quotes.
Company | Average national cost per year for a driver adding a teen driver age 16-19 |
---|---|
Progressive | $3,864 |
State Farm | $4,078 |
Progressive Is Better for Senior Drivers
State Farm and Progressive have similar average rates when it comes to senior drivers, but Progressive has a small edge.
You can likely find cheaper options for senior car insurance, such as Nationwide, USAA (if you qualify) and Travelers.
Company | Average national cost per year for a senior driver age 65-80 |
---|---|
Progressive | $1,937 |
State Farm | $2,009 |
Progressive vs. State Farm: Comparing Discounts
Progressive outpaces State Farm when it comes to discounts. Progressive is especially good for drivers who prefer an online experience, thanks to its discounts for getting an online quote, going paperless and signing documents online.
Progressive Auto Insurance Discounts
- Automatic payments (for using automatic payments from your checking account)
- Continuous insurance (for those who have had an auto insurance policy with no gaps or cancellations)
- Distant student (for customers with a driver age 22 or younger who goes to school at least 100 miles away and won’t be driving your vehicles)
- Good student (for full-time students under age 23 on your policy who maintains a “B” average or better)
- Homeowner (even if you don’t insure your home with Progressive)
- Multi-car (when you insure more than one car with Progressive)
- Multi-policy (when you have two or more Progressive policies)
- Online quote (for getting a quote online)
- Paperless (if you receive paperless statements)
- Pay in full (when you pay your full insurance bill upfront)
- Sign online (for signing policy documents online)
- Teen driver (for teens age 18 or under on your policy who have been insured with Progressive for at least 12 months)
State Farm Auto Insurance Discounts
- Accident-free (for causing no accidents three years in a row)
- Anti-theft device
- Buying multiple policies (bundling)
- Defensive driving course (for taking a defensive driving class)
- Driver training (for young drivers under age 21 on your policy who complete driver training)
- Good driving (for three years with no at-fault accidents or moving violations)
- Good student (for full-time high school or college students age 16 to 25 with good grades)
- Multi-vehicle (when you insure more than one car with State Farm)
- Safe vehicle (based on your car’s safety features)
- State Farm’s Steer Clear Program (drivers under 25 with no at-fault accidents or violations in the past three years can sign up for the State Farm Steer Clear app)
- Student away at school (if one of the drivers on your policy is a student under age 25 who moves away to go to school)
Discount availability can vary by state. Additional discounts may be available in your state.
Progressive vs. State Farm: Coverage Types
All major auto insurance companies sell basic coverage types such as liability, collision and comprehensive, and uninsured motorist coverage. But when you want certain add-ons, not all companies are created equally.
When it comes to optional coverage types, Progressive is clearly the better choice vs. State Farm. It can provide add-ons like accident forgiveness and gap insurance that you won’t find with State Farm.
Coverage type | Does Progressive offer it? | Does State Farm offer it? |
---|---|---|
Accident forgiveness | Yes | No |
Decreasing/vanishing deductible | Yes | No |
Gap insurance | Yes | No |
New car replacement | No | No |
Non-owners insurance | Yes | Yes |
Pay-per-mile insurance | No | No |
SR-22s | Yes | Yes |
Usage-based insurance | Yes, Snapshot | Yes, Drive Safe & Save |
Coverage availability can vary by state.
If you’re looking for usage-based insurance, though—which uses your actual driving to help set rates—take caution before choosing Progressive. Your rate could go up if your driving scores poorly, and about 20% of drivers in Progressive’s program get a rate increase. State Farm’s Drive Safe & Save program will not increase your rate.
Other Things To Consider
Collision Repair
We like to look at collision repair grades when comparing auto insurers. Progressive and State Farm are both only about average when it comes to their collision repair processes:
- Progressive: C
- State Farm: C-
Grades are from the CRASH Network, which performs an annual survey of the opinions of collision repair professionals.
Digital Functionality
If a robust digital experience is important to you, Progressive is going to be the better choice. In our analysis of mobile apps and website features, Progressive earned 4 stars compared to State Farm’s 4.6 stars. (Geico was the only 5-star winner in our analysis.)
Progressive vs. State Farm Car Insurance: Customer Service and Claims
Both Progressive and State Farm offer 24/7 customer service and allow you to submit and track claims online.
One notable difference is that State Farm has its own agents while Progressive uses a network of more than 38,000 independent agents. While neither system is necessarily better than the other, you’ll find that State Farm agents are very knowledgeable about the company’s products. But independent agents like Progressive’s can help you compare quotes from other insurers to find the best fit.
Methodology
We used data from Quadrant Information Services to find average rates from each company. Rates are based on a 40-year-old female driver with a Toyota RAV4 and coverage of:
- $100,000 for injuries to one person, $300,000 for injuries per accident and $100,000 of property damage (known as 100/300/100).
- Uninsured motorist coverage of 100/300.
- Collision and comprehensive insurance with a $500 deductible.
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