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When shopping for automobile insurance coverage, the overall premium is often the one thing consumers tend to look at, but there’s so much more to selecting a car insurance company that’s right for you. Other considerations include customer service, discounts available, and your driving history’s impact on your premiums. Some auto insurance providers are better suited for high-risk drivers, while others are best for teens or senior drivers. It’s all about matching your needs to the best insurance company for you. Let’s examine Progressive insurance versus GEICO as potential automobile insurance providers.
What Is Progressive?
Many people recognize Progressive insurance, thanks to their funny spokesperson, Flo. But, how much do you know about Progressive? Progressive insurance was founded in 1937 with its headquarters in Mayfield Village, Ohio. Automobile insurance coverage is available in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. Progressive also offers homeowners, renters, commercial, and other insurance services for your various needs. Anyone can apply for insurance coverage through Progressive, working through a network of independent insurance agents that offer Progressive as one of their many options for insurance.
What Automobile Insurance Coverage Is Available Through Progressive?
Progressive offers the six main categories of automobile insurance coverage: liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured, personal injury protection, and medical payments. Additional coverage options include:
- Roadside assistance
- Rental car reimbursement coverage
- Rideshare insurance
- Usage-based insurance available in 48 states
- loan/lease payoff coverage or gap insurance
- Custom parts and equipment coverage
Usage-based insurance uses Snapshot, an app that tracks your driving habits, such as phone use, speed, the amount you drive, and more. This coverage is available everywhere except California and North Carolina.
What Discounts Are Offered Through Progressive Automobile Insurance?
Discounts can be a great way to save money on car insurance, and many companies offer a variety of options for discounts. Progressive offers the following discounts to their policyholders:
- Good student
- Distant student
- Multi-vehicle
- Multi-policy
- Continuous coverage
- Safe driver reward program
- Teen driver
- Homeowner
- Online quote
- Sign online
- Paperless statements
- Pay in full
- Automatic payments
- Claim free
Progressive also offers a few money-saving features on top of the discounts offered. You can enjoy the deductible savings bank that reduces your deductible by $50 for comprehensive and collision per policy period without a violation or accident. Small accident forgiveness doesn’t raise your rates after your first claim if it’s under $500. If you’re a Progressive policyholder for five years and don’t have an accident for three of those years, your rates won’t increase after an accident, thanks to large accident forgiveness.
Many factors determine your car insurance premium, including your age, accident history, driving history, credit history, type of vehicle, and location. These discounts are applied to your premium after considering these factors to get you the best rate possible.
What Are the Average Annual Insurance Premiums for Progressive Drivers?
While insurance premiums are dependent on many factors, the average for drivers with Progressive insurance is as follows:
- Low-risk driver: $2,298.38
- High-risk driver: $3,051.13
What Is GEICO?
GEICO started in 1936 as the Government Employees Insurance Company, offering insurance coverage to government employees only. GEICO still has discounts for federal employees, but now they also provide insurance coverage to all drivers across the United States. You no longer have to be a government employee to take advantage of GEICO’s rates.
What Automobile Insurance Coverage Is Available Through GEICO?
With GEICO, you can get coverage through six main categories: liability, uninsured/underinsured, comprehensive, collision, medical payments, and personal injury protection. Additional insurance coverage options include:
- Roadside assistance
- Rental car reimbursement coverage
- Rideshare insurance
- Usage-based insurance available in 20 states
- Mechanical breakdown insurance
GEICO uses DriveEasy for usage-based insurance tracking. DriveEasy is a mobile app designed to track the road type, time of day, weather, smoothness, distance driven, hard braking, distracted driving, and cornering. DriveEasy shares this data with GEICO, which may use it to increase your premiums if the information deems that you should be considered a high-risk driver.
What Discounts Are Offered Through GEICO Automobile Insurance?
GEICO insurance offers a plethora of discounts to its policyholders as well, including:
- Good student
- Multi-policy
- Multi-vehicle
- New vehicle
- Good driver
- Driver’s education course
- Defensive driving course
- Anti-theft device
- Anti-lock brakes
- Air bags
- Daytime running lights
- Passive restraint
- Seatbelt use
- Membership and employee
- Federal employee
GEICO also offers a 15% discount to active military and veterans and a 25% discount for those deployed to danger pay zones.
What Are the Average Annual Insurance Premiums for GEICO Drivers?
The same criteria are used to determine insurance premiums for drivers with GEICO, with averages as follows:
- Low-risk: $1,825,28
- High-risk: $3,299.17
Progressive Insurance Vs. GEICO Customer Service
When comparing car insurance companies, another aspect you need to consider is their customer service. Customer service includes everything from the application process to questions regarding your policy, policy changes, and filing a claim. Some car insurance companies offer phone support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to be at your beck and call for your insurance needs. Other companies rely on an automated bot to answer basic car insurance questions at all hours, while others offer a limited business hour-only hours availability for customer support. You need to know the customer service schedule fits your needs best.
According to the J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction Study in 2021, GEICO received 881 out of 1,000 points, while Progressive earned 862 out of 1,000. The ranks ranged from an unofficial 909 for USAA and an official 905 for The Hartford to Kemper at 798. Both Progressive and GEICO have an excellent customer service rating overall, making either one a good choice.
Final Thoughts
Progressive and GEICO are top choices for auto insurance in the market today. While GEICO tends to offer lower rates for most policyholders, Progressive provides excellent options for those drivers labeled high-risk. When shopping around for a new policy or looking to renew your current one, be sure to get quotes from several insurance providers, including GEICO and Progressive. You may find that another company offers better deals for your teen driver or type of vehicle. Get personalized free quotes from top providers to ensure you’re getting the best coverage and value for your money.
At FIXD, our mission is to make car ownership as simple, easy, and affordable as possible. Our research team utilizes the latest automotive data and insights to create tools and resources that help drivers get peace of mind and save money over the life of their car.
