USAA vs. Progressive
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At Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have licensed insurance professionals on staff who have spent a combined 47 years in the auto, home and life insurance industries. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of . Our content is backed by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our .
USAA and Progressive are two of the top five auto insurance carriers by market share in the United States. While Progressive is known for providing new and innovative ways to make shopping for car insurance and making claims a seamless, customer-friendly process, USAA is known for its wide variety of insurance and financial products targeted to military members and qualified family members. It might seem overwhelming to compare these two carriers and their auto insurance policies, but Bankrate’s research can help you decide which is best for you
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Compare auto insurance rates
Save on auto insurance with quotes from trusted providers like:
Drivers switch & save an average of $750+/year
Are you overpaying for auto insurance?
Safe drivers choose Allstate®
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.
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USAA vs. Progressive: Car insurance rates comparison
If deciding between Progressive vs. USAA is a dilemma for you, know that both are among Bankrate’s choices for the best car insurance companies. Both companies have a history of financial stability and competitive average rates based on information from Quadrant Information Services.
However, there are differences between the two carriers, including average premiums and J.D. Power customer service ratings. Each company also has its own unique policy features and discounts, as well as mobile app experience and in-person agent availability. To help give a quick snapshot of each company, Bankrate’s editorial team rated insurance carriers in all of those categories and more to determine its Bankrate Score. The better a company performed in each category, the higher its overall Bankrate Score, for a maximum score of 5 out of 5.
Due in part to its consistently higher-than-average J.D. Power score and low average rates, USAA is the only car insurance carrier among those we studied to receive a perfect Bankrate Score of 5. However, since USAA is not available to everyone, Progressive might be worth considering.
| Car insurance company | Bankrate score | AM Best | J.D. Power | Average annual premium for minimum coverage | Average annual premium for full coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | 5.0 | A++ | 909* | $354 | $1,209 |
| Progressive | 4.4 | A+ | 862 | $542 | $1,561 |
*USAA not officially ranked by J.D. Power due to eligibility restrictions.
Rates by credit score
While California, Hawaii and Massachusetts prohibit the use of your credit score as an auto insurance rating factor, insurance companies in most states do take your credit under consideration when rating your policy. Michigan is another state that does not allow the use of credit scores, but companies can use factors related to your score.
Generally, the higher your credit score, the lower your premium will be. Based on your credit situation and whether or not a provider factors it into your rate, one provider may offer more competitive rates than another. The best way to determine which fits your circumstances, whether you have excellent, good, average or poor credit, is to obtain quotes and compare. In keeping with each company’s general average rates, USAA consistently offers lower average rates across each credit tier.
Average annual full coverage car insurance rates by credit tier
| Car insurance company | Poor | Average | Good | Excellent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | $2,317 | $1,309 | $1,209 | $1,070 |
| Progressive | $2,820 | $1,745 | $1,561 | $1,208 |
Rates by life stage
Life event changes can impact the cost of car insurance premiums. Married couples, for example, may find that their rates are cheaper than when they were single. Average rates for both USAA and Progressive are cheaper for individuals who are married compared to those who are single.
Adding a teen driver typically has the opposite effect on your insurance policy, as younger drivers are typically less experienced and more likely to be involved in an accident than older drivers. To account for the higher risk, insurance companies typically charge younger drivers more for coverage. When comparing USAA vs. Progressive for a young driver, USAA is cheaper for full coverage, on average, if the teen is added to their parents’ policy.
Average annual full coverage car insurance rates by life stage
| Car insurance company | Single | Married | Married with a 16-year-old driver* |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | $1,209 | $1,038 | $3,001 |
| Progressive | $1,561 | $1,478 | $3,302 |
*16-year-old rate reflects a male or female and their married parents on one full coverage policy.
Rates by driving record
Insurance premiums are based partly on the risk of you filing future claims. Because of this, drivers with accidents, tickets or DUIs on their records typically pay more for insurance than drivers with clean records. Rate hikes from these incidents typically last for three to five years as long as no other incidents occur.
Average rates for USAA for drivers with a speeding ticket or accident appear to be lower compared to Progressive. However, Progressive’s average full coverage premium is slightly lower for drivers with a DUI conviction.
Average full coverage car insurance rates by driving record
| Car insurance company | Clean driving record | Speeding ticket | Accident | DUI conviction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | $1,209 | $1,464 | $1,742 | $2,313 |
| Progressive | $1,561 | $2,030 | $2,507 | $2,049 |
USAA vs. Progressive: Discounts
You may be able to reduce your car insurance premiums by taking advantage of the auto insurance discounts a provider may offer. Most car insurance companies offer at least a few discounts, ranging from paying your premium annually or signing up for paperless billing to insuring multiple products, like your home and auto, with the same company.
When it comes to discounts, this is how USAA and Progressive compare:
USAA
- Bundling discount: Buying your car insurance along with your home or renters insurance through USAA could save you up to 10% on your home policy.
- Vehicle storage discount: If you are deployed and store your vehicle while you are serving overseas, you might receive up to 60% off your premiums.
- Family discount: Young adults may get 10% off on car insurance if their parent(s) are insured with USAA.
Progressive
- Good student discount: Full-time students who have a B or better letter-grade average might qualify for an average discount of 10% off.
- Homeowner discount: Owning your home could qualify you for 10% off your auto policy, even if the property is insured with a different carrier.
- Sign online discount: If you handle all your application paperwork digitally, you could receive a savings of up to 9%.
Typically, you can apply as many discounts to your policy as you qualify for. Taking advantage of as many savings opportunities as you can could help you lower your auto insurance premium.
USAA vs. Progressive: Online and mobile experience comparison
When comparing USAA vs. Progressive’s digital experience, both provide the ability to handle your insurance needs online or through a mobile app. USAA’s interface is simpler and no-frills, which makes it typically more stable and faster loading.
Progressive’s online experience is more than a place where you manage your account, though, where some customers may like. Progressive customers can go online to download your ID card, pay your bills and file claims. You can also access a variety of Progressive tools to calculate pricing, get updated insurance quotes and access insurance discounts.
When it comes to mobile apps, this is how USAA and Progressive stack up against each other:
USAA
- Apple store (4.8/5): The USAA app has over 1.5 million reviews. You can view your ID card, report a claim or request roadside assistance from the app and view any USAA banking services that you have.
- Google Play (4.3/5): Over 185,000 users awarded the Android version of the USAA mobile app its current score. Although the app has the same features as the iOS version, users do occasionally report connectivity issues.
Progressive
- Apple store (4.6/5): The Progressive app has only been reviewed by roughly 20,000 users, but you can do quite a bit with it, such as receiving quotes, taking photos for a claim or making changes to your policy. However, users do mention that integration between various policy types could be better.
- Google Play (4.7/5): With a score of 4.7 out of 5 from almost 52,000 users, the Android version of Progressive’s mobile app seems to function more seamlessly than Apple’s. However, users report that there are still occasionally glitches.
Frequently asked questions
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To get car insurance through USAA, you will need to become a member. USAA membership is free and available to current and former members of the Armed Forces, veterans and qualified family members.
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Although the average rates we studied showed USAA typically has lower rates, your actual rates will be based on multiple factors and will vary. Both companies will take note of things like your driver profile and driving record, the type of vehicle you drive and its usage, as well as your policy selections. To find the cheapest policy for you, first consider which coverage options and limits you want most in your car insurance, and then consider if you qualify for any discounts. Keep in mind that certain life events, such as receiving a mark on your driving record or adding a young driver to your policy, may have a significant impact on your final premium.
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The national average cost of car insurance is $1,771 per year for full coverage. Minimum coverage car insurance is around $545 per year. Because insurance is such a personalized product, your actual rates will vary. Each car insurance company weighs car insurance rating factors differently, so it is advantageous to quote more than one carrier to see which offers the best policy features within your budget.
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Methodology
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2022 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $500 collision deductible
- $500 comprehensive deductible
To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2020 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
Credit-based insurance scores: Rates were calculated based on the following insurance credit tiers assigned to our drivers: “poor, average, good (base) and excellent.” Insurance credit tiers factor in your official credit scores but are not dependent on that variable alone. Four states prohibit the use of credit-based insurance scores as a rating factor in determining auto insurance rates: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan.
Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), at-fault accident, single speeding ticket, single DUI conviction and lapse in coverage.
Life stage: Rates were evaluated based on the following marital/family status: single (base), married, 40 year married man and woman with a 16-year-old teen driver. Marital status is not a rating factor in HI and MI. Age is not a factor in HI and MA.
Bankrate Score
Bankrate Scores primarily reflect a weighted rank of industry-standard ratings for financial strength and customer experience in addition to analysis of quoted annual premiums from Quadrant Information Services, spanning all 50 states and Washington, D.C. We know it is important for drivers to be confident their financial protection covers the likeliest risks, is priced competitively and is provided by a financially-sound company with a history of positive customer support.
To determine how well the best car insurance companies satisfy these priorities, third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, S&P, NAIC, and Moody’s had the most impact on the companies’ Bankrate Scores. As price is a common consideration for drivers, we analyzed quoted premiums based on 40-year-old male and female drivers with a 2019 Toyota Camry. This profile, assessed across nearly 35,000 ZIP codes in the U.S., provided a basis on which drivers may compare each provider.
While coverage options, insurer availability, affordability and customer experience are often the top priorities, Bankrate also analyzed each insurer’s online and mobile resources for policy management and claims handling. Insurance is rapidly evolving to keep pace with our digital world, so these aspects also carried weight in determining Bankrate Scores.
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