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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Progressive offers slightly cheaper premiums than Allstate
• Allstate offers more discounts than Progressive
• Progressive has less expensive rates for policyholders who may not have much of a commute

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering considerable discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might be considering Allstate or Progressive, but which company has more affordable premiums for car insurance?

As you can see, Progressive is about $19 per month cheaper than Allstate when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

But Progressive may not be the cheapest or best option for each driver out there. Auto insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on where you live or how good your credit score is (among a whole bunch of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Allstate or Progressive is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each carrier broken down by many different rate factors.

Allstate or Progressive: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Allstate and Progressive compete against each other in 41 states, with Allstate offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all but nine of them. If you live in Alabama, Georgia, Nebraska, , Oklahoma, or Vermont, Allstate is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at the overall average rates, but Progressive is the cheaper option in most of the others.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just where you call home. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. Typically, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of $3 less a month by choosing Allstate over Progressive.

However, both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Allstate policyholders reduce nearly 65% and Progressive's prices drop almost 70% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the lowest insurance premiums out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually reduces their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

When looking at Allstate and Progressive specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Progressive gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $131 a month compared to Allstate's $152.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly less expensive auto insurance premiums than single drivers. This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one car on their policy -- something quite a few car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, the two companies are comparable for those who are single, with rates only differing about $10 per month, on average. The advantage for married drivers is more obvious, where drivers who use Progressive save nearly 20% a month.

Allstate vs. Progressive: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which means they'll typically end up paying more for insurance than women.

With Allstate, women generally pay almost $10 per month less than men, while with Progressive, the difference is closer to $5 a month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Progressive offers the most affordable average prices for both men and women. On average, women save about $16 per month and men save around $20 with Progressive compared to the average Allstate policyholder.

Allstate 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.

For most people, auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with liability).

In this case, Allstate offers the cheapest average rates for state minimum liability insurance, while Progressive has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $3 with Allstate, while full coverage comes out to be about $40 more affordable with Progressive.

Is Allstate or Progressive Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the most affordable premiums to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Allstate policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $27 a month if they get a ticket, while Progressive normally raises rates around $31 per month, on average.

That being said, Progressive is usually the cheaper option for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 4% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 2% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Allstate can expect to see about an $73 -- or around 32% -- increase in their car insurance prices. Drivers who use Progressive for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $65 (or 30%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance company.

Overall, drivers who use Progressive end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $214 compared to Allstate's $229.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. Allstate drivers usually see a 31% raise in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Progressive will normally increase prices by around 16%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Progressive tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $177 monthly compared to $227 from Allstate.

How does Credit Score Impact Allstate and Progressive Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (for example, California and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect a lot of policyholders out there.

Car insurance carriers argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Allstate and Progressive, which one has the lowest rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Progressive. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save 6% compared to Allstate, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $15 or 9% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Progressive typically offers lower premiums than Allstate when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $22 a month less with Progressive compared to Allstate, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about $28 per month.

Is Allstate 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. Typically, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Progressive charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Allstate, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $3 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Progressive is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you park your car can have a big impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Usually, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Progressive boasts the most affordable average premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the lowest rates from both companies, but Progressive comes out on top with average premiums about $154 monthly. Progressive also has cheaper average rates for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 7% and 10% per month respective difference when compared to Allstate policyholders in similar areas.

Allstate 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 where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you qualify for.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Allstate and Progressive offer their customers so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Allstate blows Progressive away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering six more discounts than Progressive.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and DRL discounts -- but Allstate also offers alert driving discounts, annual mileage discounts, drive wise discounts, and more that Progressive does not.

On the flip side, Progressive has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advanced safety feature discounts, continuous insurance discounts, e-signature discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Allstate 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 company is the right company for you and your specific driver profile?

Progressive might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• You live in an urban area.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

Allstate might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (Allstate offers the most).
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

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

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

Allstate vs. Progressive FAQs

Is Allstate or Progressive cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Progressive is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $180 a month compared to $199 for Allstate. But Progressive won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for each policyholder, since there are a range of different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Allstate or Progressive?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Allstate and Progressive offer me different rates?

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

How do I know if Allstate 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 multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Allstate 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.