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Progressive vs. AAA
Edited by
Exploring the differences between Progressive and AAA can help you identify which insurer may better suit your individual insurance needs and preferences.
Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
Established in 1937, Progressive Insurance has distinguished itself as a pioneer in the industry by becoming the first to underwrite nonstandard auto insurance. It has since expanded its offerings to include motorcycle, homeowners and commercial insurance, serving over 18 million policyholders. As of the latest figures from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), Progressive holds the position as the nation's second-largest personal car insurance provider with 16.72 percent of the market share. Known for innovative tools like the "Name Your Price" feature and iconic advertising featuring its spokesperson Flo, Progressive offers comprehensive customer service options, accessible 24/7 across multiple platforms.
The American Automobile Association, better known as AAA, was founded in 1902 and previously comprised just nine local motor clubs focused on safe roads for motorists. Now, the company has more than 40 motor clubs across the U.S. It works with a number of insurance groups to underwrite policies, including CSAA Insurance Group, which is the 14th largest insurer in the U.S. with 1.33 percent of the auto insurance market share. AAA is one of the few insurance companies requiring a club membership before drivers can hold AAA insurance. AAA is almost synonymous with roadside assistance and, aside from its auto insurance policies, is also well-known for its trip planning, tourism discounts and international affiliate programs.
Our verdict
Progressive may be preferable for those seeking affordable annual premiums, coverage options and available discounts. However, price is only one factor when looking for the best car insurance. Alternatively, AAA may be slightly better in terms of customer service and support. Both companies have strong financial stability ratings, which is a positive sign that Progressive and AAA have historically met their financial obligations in making claim payouts.
Progressive vs. AAA comparison
When deciding which car insurance carrier has the best rates and coverage, looking at each company’s positive and negative aspects can help you zero in on what matters to you the most. To take the stress out of the research, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team has broken down Progressive vs. AAA in the table below.
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Featured
Progressive
4.4
Bankrate scores primarily reflect a weighted rank of industry standard ratings for financial strength and customer experience, in addition to average quoted rates. A secondary assessment of each provider's online and mobile resources and policy management options also contributed to overall ratings
Cost & ratings 4.0Coverage 5.0Support 4.3 |
AAA
3.8
Bankrate scores primarily reflect a weighted rank of industry standard ratings for financial strength and customer experience, in addition to average quoted rates. A secondary assessment of each provider's online and mobile resources and policy management options also contributed to overall ratings
Cost & ratings 4.6Coverage 3.0Support 3.0 |
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OVERVIEW
Bankrate identified key carrier features, coverage offerings, discounts and more
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Policyholders who value digital capabilities, want a company that can follow them throughout the country or need high-risk insurance might consider Progressive as their company of choice.
Read More
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AAA is a large insurance carrier offering affordable auto insurance options, as well as membership perks. Those who like convenience may also appreciate that some of AAA’s offices also offer services like DMV transactions, notary services and travel planning.
Read More
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STANDOUT FEATURES
These features are some of the carrier’s most impressive
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Name Your Price shopping tool
Snapshot telematics program
Online quote and signing discount
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Geographic-focused coverage
Local agents available
Access to additional AAA perks
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AVG FULL COV. AUTO RATE
Average national annual cost of a full coverage auto insurance policy
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$2,210 |
$2,400 | |
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AVG MIN COV. AUTO RATE
Average national annual cost of a minimum coverage auto insurance policy
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| $718 |
$654 |
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J.D. POWER AUTO SCORE
J.D. Power’s Auto Claims Satisfaction Study assesses customer satisfaction with the claims experience on a 1,000-point scale
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| 672/1000 |
701/1000 |
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AM BEST RATING
AM Best ratings assess companies’ financial strength based on historical ability to pay out claims, among other financial obligations
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A+(Superior) |
A(Excellent) | |
Progressive pros and cons
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24/7 claims, customer service and roadside assistance
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Multiple methods of communication via chat, email, phone and social media
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Plentiful discount opportunities with lower annual average premiums than many other carriers
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Offers coverage for high-risk drivers who need SR-22 forms
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Online quotes and agency quotes may differ
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Lower-than-average J.D. Power claim and customer service satisfaction scores
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Policies purchased through an agent or broker may include commission fees
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Rates may differ between online and agent quotes
AAA pros and cons
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Regional offices may provide coverage and advice specific to your location
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Discounts on shopping, dining, hotels and more
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Gap insurance available
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Offers additional products: home, life, motorcycle and travel insurance
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Usually requires an AAA roadside assistance membership
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Limited methods of communication and online tools
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Third-party customer satisfaction varies by club location
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May need to work with an agent to make policy changes
Is Progressive cheaper than AAA?
When considering if AAA is cheaper than Progressive, it generally appears that Progressive may offer lower average annual premiums across various driver profiles. The concept of insurance as a risk pool typically benefits bigger insurers. With Progressive having a significantly larger base of policyholders compared to AAA, this scale often allows them to offer more competitive premiums.
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Progressive avg. full coverage premium
$2,736
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AAA avg. full coverage premium
$2,878
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Progressive avg. full coverage premium
$2,090
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AAA avg. full coverage premium
$2,360
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Progressive avg. full coverage premium
$2,210
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AAA avg. full coverage premium
$2,400
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Progressive avg. full coverage premium
$3,849
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AAA avg. full coverage premium
$4,948
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Progressive avg. full coverage premium
$2,860
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AAA avg. full coverage premium
$3,250
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Progressive avg. full coverage premium
$3,319
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AAA avg. full coverage premium
$3,332
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Progressive avg. full coverage premium
$3,130
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AAA avg. full coverage premium
$4,311
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Bankrate's take
Progressive often stands out for its competitive rates across various driver profiles, making it a potentially cost-effective option for many. However, since insurance costs depend on factors like location, driving history and coverage needs, comparing quotes is an important step toward ensuring you're getting both affordability and the right coverage for your situation.
Progressive vs. AAA: discounts
Taking advantage of car insurance discounts can be a great way to save money on insurance without sacrificing coverage. Many companies offer similar discounts; others have uncommon offerings. The key to saving the most money is figuring out which discounts you’re eligible for. Below are some of the best car insurance discounts from Progressive and AAA.
Discounts available from both carriers
Both Progressive and AAA offer a variety of discounts that can help policyholders save on their auto insurance premiums. These discounts are generally aimed at rewarding safe driving habits, promoting educational success among student drivers and encouraging responsible financial behavior. Here are some common discounts provided by both insurers:
- Bundling discount: Policyholders may be able to reduce their overall insurance costs by bundling home and auto insurance policies with the same carrier.
- Good student discount: Students who maintain a certain grade point average may be rewarded with lower premiums.
- Pay in full discount: Potential reduction in overall premium costs when policyholders choose to pay their entire premium up front rather than in monthly installments.
- Distant student discount: Available for students who attend school more than 100 miles away from home without a car, this discount recognizes the reduced risk of accidents during the school term.
Progressive discounts
- Continuous insurance discount: If you switch to Progressive from another company, you could earn a discount based on how long you were insured with your previous provider. This discount is unavailable to California drivers.
- Online quote discount: Drivers who start their quotes online may save up to 7 percent on their car insurance, but is unavailable to New York and California drivers.
- Sign online discount: Anytime you sign up for a new car insurance policy, there are forms to complete. Progressive offers a discount of up to 9 percent for drivers who complete their forms online, except those in California.
- Snapshot discount: Drivers who enroll in Progressive’s Snapshot safe driver reward program can save an average of $231 on their premium by demonstrating safe skills behind the wheel, which is monitored via the Snapshot mobile app.
AAA discounts
- AAA member discount: Drivers who have an active AAA membership can get a discount on their car insurance policy.
- TeenSmart: This discount is a three-step process that, once completed, can offer teen drivers up to a 24 percent discount on their car insurance. Discounts can vary depending on your state.
- Education and occupation: With AAA, if you have a certain level of education or work in a qualifying field, you may be eligible for a discount.
Progressive and AAA telematics programs
Telematics programs or usage-based car insurance is becoming more common and could be a great way to improve your driving skills and save money on car insurance. Both Progressive and AAA now have their own telematics tool. Progressive offers two choices, a mobile app or a plug-in device, while AAA is solely app-based. Refer to the table below for a side-by-side comparison.
| Progressive Snapshot | AAADrive | |
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| Device | Mobile app or plug-in device | Mobile app |
| Can it raise your rate? | Potentially | Increases depend on accidents and other events but not on driving performance alone |
| Availability | Not available in California | Select states |
| Discount | The average savings at signup is $94 and the average savings at program completion is $231. Not all states and drivers are eligible for all discounts related to Snapshot and savings can vary. | 10% for signing up, up to 15% for enrolling all family members and up to 30% at renewal based on score |
| What it monitors | Hard brakes, fast accelerations, time of day, annual mileage and phone habits | Time of day, distracted driving, speed, acceleration, harsh braking, driver fatigue, location, route traveled, distance driven |
Progressive vs. AAA: customer experience comparison
Customer service and satisfaction play an important role in selecting a car insurance provider. AAA’s personalized approach to customer support, including the benefit of local offices, can particularly appeal to those who value one-on-one assistance for managing policies. Progressive, on the other hand, shines in its digital capabilities, offering robust online and mobile tools. Insights from mobile app ratings and the 2024 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study can further highlight how effectively each company meets policyholders' needs.
| Progressive | AAA | |
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| Apple store | 4.8 of 5 | 4.7 of 5 |
| Google play | 4.6 of 5 | 4.4 of 5 |
| J.D. Power claims satisfaction | 672/1,000 |
Auto Club of Southern California: 706/1,000 CSAA Insurance Group: 704/1,000 Automobile Club Group: 692/1,000 |
Customer complaints
Understanding how insurance companies handle customer complaints can be crucial when choosing a provider. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Complaint Index is a helpful tool for this analysis. It measures an insurer's complaint ratio relative to companies of its size in the market. An index score of 1.00 means the insurer's complaint ratio is average for the industry. A score higher than 1.00 suggests more complaints than average, while a score lower than that indicates fewer complaints. This metric can help potential policyholders gauge an insurer's reliability and customer service.
Progressive auto insurance customer complaints
Progressive's 2024 NAIC Complaint Index for private passenger auto insurance stands at 0.97, which is slightly below the baseline for companies of similar size. This trend suggests a focus by Progressive on its customer service practices, which have remained below average for the past three years. The slight decrease in the complaint index since 2022 may imply that Progressive is becoming increasingly effective in addressing and resolving customer issues.
AAA auto insurance customer complaints
AAA auto insurance is different in that its policies are underwritten by multiple companies, which can affect the consistency of customer experiences and complaints. To provide a clearer picture, we examined the NAIC Complaint Indexes for three of the largest AAA insurers: Auto Club Property-Casualty Insurance Company, Automobile Club Group and CSAA General Insurance Company. Overall, the complaint indexes for AAA insurers suggest a trend toward improvement in customer satisfaction.
Auto Club Property Casualty Insurance Company NAIC Complaint Index
Automobile Club Group NAIC complaint Index
CSAA General Insurance Company
Frequently asked questions
Methodology
Rates
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze May 2025 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates for our base profile are based on the following characteristics and full coverage limits with bundling and paperless billing discounts applied:
Bodily injury liability
$100,000 per person$300,000 per accident
Property damage liability
$50,000 per accidentPersonal injury protection
$100,000 per accidentUninsured motorist bodily injury
$100,000 per person$300,000 per accident
Collision deductible
$500Comprehensive deductible
$500To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes. Your quotes will differ.
If otherwise specified, the base profile has been modified with the following driver characteristics:
Other profiles
Bankrate Score
Our 2025 Bankrate Score for auto insurance considers key variables that our insurance editorial team determined impact policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These factors include a robust assessment of each company’s cost of coverage, product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. We grouped these factors into three essential categories — cost and ratings, coverage and savings, and support — which we then weighted in a tiered approach.
Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.
- Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto insurance companies satisfy these priorities, our team analyzed quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, Demotech and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
- Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated the discount options listed on each company’s website.
- Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored in a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.
Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.
