AFR vs. Progressive: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, AFR offers significantly less expensive premiums than Progressive
• AFR tends to be a much more affordable option for policyholders who live in the suburbs
• Progressive has cheaper rates for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

AFR vs. Progressive: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to AFR or Progressive for your next policy, but which one will offer you less expensive prices?

Looking at nationwide averages, AFR has average rates that are about 24% per month more affordable than those from Progressive.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean AFR will be the cheaper option for every single driver. After all, insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, where you call home, your credit score, or even your age (among other things), so rates could differ drastically from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of AFR or Progressive is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each company broken down by a bunch of different rate factors.

AFR or Progressive: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance cost than just the state you live in. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance prices. As you can see above, teens who use AFR save more than $250 a month compared to those who use Progressive.

But both carriers will reduce premiums once you turn 25. Progressive offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, AFR still has the cheapest prices at $135 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the lowest car insurance rates you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for insurance.

So, which carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? AFR gets the slight edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older around 5% less expensive than the national average for Progressive.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly cheaper auto insurance rates than single policyholders. That's because policies for married drivers generally cover more than one car, which lots of companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, AFR is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums about $73 per month more affordable than Progressive, on average. But for married couples, that advantage is much less clear - AFR has the edge when it comes to average prices , but the difference is less than $5.

AFR vs. Progressive: Average Rates by Gender

Men normally pay more for car insurance than women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into an accident, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

Men generally pay around 3% more a month than women with AFR, while with Progressive, the difference is closer to 3% per month.

Looking at overall affordability, AFR comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average prices $44 less for men and $43 cheaper for women.

AFR or Progressive: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

Insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, AFR normally offers significantly cheaper rates of $65 compared to Progressive's $111. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, AFR again has the edge, with policies about $40 a month more affordable than Progressive, on average.

Is AFR or Progressive Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

Accidents and tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is AFR or Progressive less expensive for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

AFR policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $35 per month if they get a ticket, while Progressive usually raises premiums around $31 a month, on average.

That being said, AFR has more affordable prices for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save about $51 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $47 a month with AFR Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through AFR can expect to see about an $0 -- or around 0% -- increase in their auto insurance rates. Drivers who use Progressive for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $65 (or 30%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance company.

Overall, AFR offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $98 compared to Progressive's $214.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even a collision. AFR drivers usually see a 55% climb in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Progressive will typically increase premiums by around 16%.

How does Credit Score Impact AFR and Progressive Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating prices? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for quite a few drivers.

The reasoning insurance carriers use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper rates, while those with poor credit will normally be forced to pay more.

Looking at AFR and Progressive specifically, which company has the best premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is AFR or Progressive Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in your monthly prices. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

In this case, neither AFR or Progressive report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, AFR comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car yearly, with average rates of $137 per month for both.

AFR vs. Progressive: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your vehicle can have a sizable impact on your monthly car insurance bill. Generally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers because of the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, AFR usually comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the lowest rates from both carriers, but AFR comes out on top with average prices about $109 monthly. AFR also has less expensive average rates for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $44 and $40 a month respective difference when compared to Progressive policyholders in similar areas.

AFR vs. Progressive Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to find all the ones you qualify for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both AFR and Progressive so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Progressive knocks AFR out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 25 more discounts than AFR.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company. Progressive also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, advanced safety feature discounts, and more that AFR does not.

On the flip side, AFR has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for getting driver training, good payer discounts, and new business discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is AFR or Progressive Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best one for you and your specific driver profile?

AFR might be best for you if....

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You're buying auto insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Progressive might be best for you if...

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- undefined only offers policies in.
• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between AFR and Progressive and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just AFR and Progressive. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

AFR vs. Progressive FAQs

Is AFR or Progressive cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, AFR is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $137 per month compared to $180 for Progressive. However, AFR won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for every policyholder, since there are multiple different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, AFR or Progressive?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Progressive offers less expensive rates for drivers with a recent DUI, while AFR is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do AFR and Progressive offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at a lot of different factors when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Things like where your home is, age, where you live, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both AFR and Progressive calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

How do I know if AFR or Progressive is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be AFR or Progressive at all!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.